Mixed feeding and periods

[seoladair]

I had my baby 8 weeks ago and have been feeding her both breastmilk and formula. My period has started, and I wondered whether that means my milk supply is about to stop. It seems to be flowing just fine, so I had thought my periods might stay away for longer. I'd like to carry on with breastfeeding until she's at least a year old. Does the onset of my period mean the milk is drying up, or do you have to be exclusively breastfeeding for periods to stay away?

[TanteRosmerta]

no, your milk will not dry up - I was exclusively breastfeeding my DD and as soon as she started on solids at about 6 months, my period came back and I got pregnant again but went on to breastfeed her until she was 16 months old.

[seoladair]

Oh that's reassuring. Congratulations on your new pregnancy!

[TanteRosmerta]

actually, it was 12 years ago! those two tiny babies are now huge teenagers!

just mentioned it, because you CAN get pregnant even when breastfeeding so be careful!

[tiktok]

seoladair - your experience is different from Tanterosemerta....you have been mixed feeding since your baby was v. young. She was ebf till 6 mths . That's a major, major difference.

Mixed feeding with a young baby does impact on the length of time you can breastfeed for. If you are only giving one bottle of formula a day, then you may find this is not much of an impact, but more than this means your bf production will lessen. The fact your period has come back is possibly a sign of this, but plenty of people have early return of periods and are still ebf....honestly, I think it is unlikely you will maintain a breastmilk supply for as long as you want, and this is one of the main downsides of mixed feeding.

How much formula have you been giving and when did you start mixed feeding?

The more formula you give and the earlier you start giving it, the greater the impact on your bf and the less time you will maintain a production. This may not be what you want to hear, but is it the way the thing works!