Breastfeeding and Periods

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Hormonal Changes and Milk Supply

3. Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mother and Baby 

4. How Menstruation Typically Returns for Breastfeeding Mothers

5. Tips for Managing Periods while Breastfeeding  

6. Do Periods Affect Your Milk Supply?

7. Will Having Periods Affect my Breast Milk Supply?

8. Myths and Facts on Periods while Breastfeeding

9. Take-Home Points

10. FAQs

Introduction

Are you expecting a baby or a new mother looking for a relationship between breastfeeding and periods? Many new mothers have questions regarding periods while breastfeeding; there might be questions about what to expect, How it might affect your breast milk supply and what it will be like to transition through this phase of motherhood.

As you transition through this beautiful phase of motherhood it is important to understand the relationship between breastfeeding and periods and how it affects and what are the benefits of breastfeeding?

In this blog, we will cover everything that you need to know about breastfeeding and periods so that you can easily get through this phase. We will cover Hormonal changes and milk supply, benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby, Tips for managing periods while breastfeeding, etc.

Hormonal Changes and Milk Supply

Breastfeeding and periods are influenced by hormonal changes during pregnancy and lactation. There are specific hormones which rise during breastfeeding which influence your periods:

1. Prolactin: Prolactin is also called the “milk-making hormone". This is a main player during breastfeeding. Prolactin prevents ovulation as well as helps in producing milk. Due to high prolactin during exclusive breastfeeding mothers don't get their period

2. Oxytocin: Oxytocin is also called the “letdown hormone". It causes the release of breast milk during feeding; it also helps in the contraction of the uterus after birth and helps in the bonding of mother and baby. Oxytocin is released when there is skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby.

Hormonal interplay during breastfeeding

1. Early Postpartum Phase: during the early postpartum part of the face, there is a high prolactin level. Due to this, there is suppression of menstrual hormones, and there is increased milk production. This can be thought of as the Natural Birth Spacing method.

2. Established Breastfeeding: As breastfeeding establishes there is a regular milk supply, the hormone level stabilizes and breast milk production is maintained by suckling of the baby, which leads to ovulation suppression due to high prolactin.

3. Return of menstruation phase: In the later stages, estrogen and progesterone gradually rise, and there may be slight decreases in the milk supply and return of cycling menstruation pattern.

Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mother and Baby  

There can be several benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby which can never be replaced by top feeding. Therefore, it is important to breastfeed the baby exclusively for 6 months and continue breastfeeding with complementary feeds after 6 months till 2 years of age.

Benefits of breastfeeding to the baby:

1. Optimal Nutrition: breast milk provides optimal nutrition to the baby which is required for the growth and development of the baby

2. Improves immunity: breast milk contains immunoglobulins, which are a part of the immune system, and they help prevent infection in the baby.

3. Reduces the risk of non-communicable diseases: children who are breastfed are less likely to develop cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes. 

4. Improves Gut Health: breastfeeding improves flora and reduces the chances of necrotising enterocolitis.

5. Species-specific: breast milk is species-specific, meaning it is human milk for a human baby, unlike the top feed, which is generally cow milk given to human babies.

6. Reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome

Benefits of Breast Milk for Mother

1. Bonding: breast milk helps in bonding with the child

2. Reduces the risk of postpartum depression: breastfeeding reduces the risk of postpartum depression and improves mood and stress response.

3. Reduces risk of breast and ovarian cancer: breastfeeding is protective against breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer.

4. Helps in shedding weight: breastfeeding helps the mother lose the extra weight that she had gained during the pregnancy.

5. Natural spacing between pregnancies: breastfeeding suppresses ovulation thereby preventing further pregnancy. 

6. Economical and environment friendly: breastfeeding is free of cost and thereby doesn't overburden the mother and family.

How Menstruation Typically Returns for Breastfeeding Mothers

The relationship between breastfeeding and periods is different for different individuals but some similarities are seen:

1. For Exclusive Breastfeeding: if you are exclusively breastfeeding your child, your period might not return for longer. Most mothers notice their period returns between 9 and 18 months after giving birth due to high levels of prolactin in the initial months.

2. For Partially Breastfeeding Mothers: for partially breastfeeding brothers your period may take less time to return usually 6-8 weeks after birth.

Return of periods while breastfeeding depends upon the following factors

1. If your child sleeps longer through the night the chances of periods returning sooner are high

2. If you start supplementing formula feed then the  period returns sooner

3. It depends upon the frequency of breastfeeding; if you breastfeed your baby less frequently, the period will return in less time.

4. If you start introducing solid foods earlier your period will return sooner.

WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months so it is not advisable to introduce solid foods before that.

Tips for Managing Periods while Breastfeeding  

Here are some tips for managing your periods while you are breastfeeding:

1. Stay Hydrated: staying hydrated during your periods while breastfeeding will help in the proper nourishment of your baby

2. Keeping Track Of Feeding Schedule: Keeping track of breastfeeding schedule and introducing night feeds to your baby helps in maintaining milk production while you breastfeed.

3. Calcium And Magnesium: you can consider taking calcium and magnesium supplements after consultation with your Doctor.

4. Don't hesitate to breastfeed during periods: don't stop breastfeeding your baby while you are on periods, if your baby seems to be hungry during your period.

5. Maintaining a Healthy Diet: Maintaining A healthy diet during periods while breastfeeding can help replenish nutrient stores; a diet rich in iron and other essential nutrients can help.

6. Maintain a Comfortable environment: Maintain a comfortable environment for your baby and yourself.

Do Periods Affect Your Milk Supply?

It is common for mothers to experience a slight decrease in milk production some days before and during menstruation. It is important to keep in mind that this decrease in breast milk production is temporary and returns to normal after the period ends.

Why does this happen?

It happens because of hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle which can temporarily affect your breast milk production. However human body is designed in a way to maintain adequate milk production to meet the demands of the baby

Will Having Periods Affect my Breast Milk Supply?

Periods while breastfeeding usually do not affect breast milk supply, which is required by the baby to meet his nutritional demands. Here are some changes which you can notice during breastfeeding and periods:

1. Your baby may feed more during your periods 

2. Some babies may be fussier at breast 

3. The taste of the milk might change slightly due to hormonal changes during periods

4. The breastmilk supply might slightly decrease but it returns to normal after your period ends

Myths and Facts on Periods while Breastfeeding

Let's debunk some myths about breastfeeding and periods.

• Myth 1: " You can't get pregnant while you are breastfeeding"

• Fact: You can get pregnant while you are breastfeeding, Although breastfeeding can act as Natural contraception(lactational amenorrhea) it is always advisable to use other methods because lactational amenorrhea can vary for different individuals

• Myth 2: "Periods while breastfeeding means you have to stop breastfeeding"

• Fact: It is never recommended to stop breastfeeding before 6 months shouldn't affect your breastfeeding. Don't stop breastfeeding even when your menses start.

• Myth 3: “Breastfeeding during periods can harm your baby"

• Fact: Breastfeeding is safe during periods and does not harm your baby.

• Myth 4: " Breast milk supply reduces during periods this means you have to introduce top feed"

• Fact: A temporary decrease in breast milk during periods does not require supplementation of top feeds, but increasing the frequency of breastfeeding helps maintain the supply to the baby.

Take-Home Points

1. Breastfeeding and periods are influenced by hormonal changes during pregnancy and lactation.

2. Prolactin is also called a “milk-making hormone". This is a main player during breastfeeding.

3. Prolactin prevents ovulation as well as helps in producing milk.

4. Oxytocin is also called the “letdown hormone". It causes the release of breast milk during feeding

5. The benefits of breastfeeding for a baby are that it provides optimal nutrition, prevents communicable and non-communicable diseases, helps in the growth and development of the baby, etc.

6. The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers are that it helps in bonding, prevents postpartum depression, relieves stress, helps in losing weight gained during pregnancy, prevents ovarian and breast cancer, etc.

7. It is common for mothers to experience a slight decrease in milk production some days before and during menstruation.

8. It is important to keep in mind that this decrease in breast milk production is temporary and returns to normal after the period ends.

9. If you are exclusively breastfeeding your child your period might not return for a long time. Most mothers notice their period returning between 9 and 18 months after giving birth due to high levels of prolactin in the initial months.