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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Periods are back, does this mean an end to bfing?

23 replies

HeadFairy · 10/10/2010 10:41

I'm still doing 4 feeds a day (including a bit of a comfort feed most nights) so I'm surprised they're back. Last time I didn't get my periods back until I was down to 2 feeds a day. My supply is pretty patchy to say the least, so I'm wondering if the hormonal effects of periods will make it worse. I've had two very light periods now, both lasting only a couple of days, but each time I've seen a big dip in milk supply. I'm trying to feed her as much as possible and keep her on as long as possible but it's really hard as she's so in to every thing and just wants to get up and crawl everywhere. She's 9.5 months....

OP posts:

llareggub · 10/10/2010 10:45

No, it doesn't mean the end of bfing at all. I've been breastfeeding for 4 years and 2 babies, and neither pregnancy or periods have meant the end of bfing for me. Keep going as long as you want to.

chibi · 10/10/2010 10:45

i had a pseudoperiod (1 day v light spotting) before the next month's main show when dd was about 11 months old and like you giving her 3-4 feeds a day

i found that the first day of the period felt a bit awkward - let down was slow, i felt sensitive but then all was alright - i don't feel that it had any longterm effect on bf

she bf until 18 months when i was pg with ds and weaned her

hth

Besom · 10/10/2010 10:49

Don't think so. My period came back at 9 weeks post partum and I never had any problems as dd was ebf until 6 months and I still feed her now (2.5). I'd have thought your supply should be well established enough by now that it won't matter if it dips a bit or she doesn't feed so much at certain times.

Pannacotta · 10/10/2010 10:52

No, having periods doesnt mean an end of breastfeeding.

I breastfed both DSs for 2-3 years and my preiods came back both times at 6 months, with DS2 I was still feeding him around every 2-2.5 hours at the time so I was a bit miffed!
I did find that feeding was a bit sore when I ovulated which strange, but yes your supply will be fine at 9 months, even it is goes up and down a bit.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 10/10/2010 10:59

That's very reassuring thanks. I had problems maintaining supply last time but I was working four days a week then and could only really manage one feed a day and I thought that's what triggered the return of my periods but I guess I was wrong, I guess I just get my periods back after 9 months regardless.

Hey at least it makes contraception easier as I've been too lazy busy to sort anything else out

OP posts:

chibi · 10/10/2010 11:02

there may be something in that - mine came back at the same time for both babies

ClimberChick · 11/10/2010 01:30

well mine came back when she was 2months, 7 months now and we're still doing fine

NotQuiteCockney · 11/10/2010 08:53

Just because you had supply issues last time, doesn't mean you'll have problems this time. Infrequent feeds do cause supply issues, periods don't, afaik.

And mums tend to have better supplies, the more babies they've fed ...

Original poster

HeadFairy · 11/10/2010 21:57

I've definitely had a bit of a supply dip, dd's been getting hardly anything out, I've not been getting the big let downs I normally get when she gulps hard and fast for a couple of mins. She hardly got anything out yesterday, but I've chucked a couple of extra feeds in today and tried to keep her on the boob for as long as possible (not easy with a very distracting big brother around!) so hopefully it'll recover.

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GoldenHaze · 11/10/2010 21:59

No, as others have said, it doesn't mean the end at all. My period came back when DD was 6 months old (Christmas day - great!) but I BF'd her for another 18 months after that.

No probs!

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 11/10/2010 22:05

No not at all - I think mine came back when DS was 7 months and I was still feeding him when he was 2.

Definitely keep trying to get in a few extra feeds if you can - are you doing any at night?

lal123 · 11/10/2010 22:05

With both my babies my periods came back after about 3 months - DD1 was bf til 5 months, DD2 til 10. So no periods starting doesn't mean the end of bfing!

How do you know she's not getting as much? Is she still producing lots of wet nappies? It could be that she just doesn't need as much as I'm assuming she's on solids now?

Original poster

HeadFairy · 11/10/2010 22:28

Alibaba, yes I am doing night feeds, normally she'd just get a cuddle if she woke at night but because of the dip in supply I've been feeding her again.

Lal, I'm assuming she isn't getting as much because even a couple of days ago I usually had a strong let down sensation a few seconds after she latched on and dd would suck and gulp really fast. She's still sucking hard but she's noy swallowing, because she's not getting anything out I assume.

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Alibabaandthe40nappies · 11/10/2010 23:23

HeadFairy I think she's probably getting more than you realise. I remember this now with DS, that the gulping stopped but if he broke off mid-feed his mouth would be full of milk and clearly there was plenty there for him to drink.

The night feeds will help with supply I'm sure, and actually you may find that your periods disappear again or are v.light and irregular for a while until your DD drops feeds again.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 12/10/2010 20:48

Sorry alibaba, just coming back to this. Thanks for that. I do hope you're right. She's been getting a little constipated which I think means she's getting less fluid than she's used to, she's been having water with meals as normal, so the only thing that might have changed is the milk.

I've had a bit of a bonkers day today, new nanny, new cat, non stop all day, so I haven't actually fed her all day and I'm quite sore now (which in itself is reassuring). She did a bedtime feed but didn't have masses, she was really really tired. I'll make sure her dream feed is good and long, and I think I might express a little afterwards as well just to make sure I empty fully. I think you're right about the light periods, it's been very light and it was 5 weeks between my last one and now, and I'm normally a straight 28 day girl.

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Horton · 12/10/2010 21:03

Hey at least it makes contraception easier as I've been too lazy busy to sort anything else out

Just remember that once your periods are back, you are potentially fertile. So you probably need to sort something out pretty soon, even if it's only buying some condoms, if you don't want to be pregnant.

PuzzleRocks · 12/10/2010 21:07

It doesn't spell the end. Not if my experience (both times) is anything to go by.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 13/10/2010 20:41

A little update if anyone's interested.... period is pretty much over and let down is back with a vengeance. Really strong sensation at dd's bedtime feed. She fed really really well and already only an hour later I'm feeling bulgy again! I may have overdone the compensatory feeds :o

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whomovedmychocolate · 13/10/2010 20:47

First period post partum is always a shocker, and it seems worse when you are breastfeeding. I always felt ripped off.

But I have breastfed throughout pregnancy and DS is now 2.3 and my periods came back at 2 months post partum this time grrr. No difference really in levels of milk, but nipples are more sensitive at period time - apparently you feel pain more acutely then though so it may just be that?

Original poster

HeadFairy · 13/10/2010 22:13

The first one was teeny weeny, barely a day long. I actually thought I might be pregnant but I guess it was just my "warning period" This period hasn't been that big either, 2 days and very light. I guess everyone's different. Bloody pain that my milk obviously takes a bit dip, it means next time I'll have to do night feeds again to keep it going, and by then I'll be back at work so it'll be doubly hard. Grrr, the things we do etc....

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katiepotatie · 13/10/2010 22:17

Mine came back 10 weeks after the birth of dd( i was gutted!), bf her till she was 14 months with no probs. Same with ds, although think periods came back a little later but still fed till he was 16 months.

spiderlight · 13/10/2010 22:22

Mine came back at 13 months and I'm still bf at 3 1/2 with no discernible drop in supply. For the first few months my supply went down a bit a day or two before my period and my nipples were more sensitive, but that didn't last long.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 13/10/2010 23:02

ooh spiderlight, maybe my dip will only be for the first couple of periods, fingers crossed!

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