Will having a period affect breat milk supply

[buzzgirly]

My ds is 19 weeks and is mainly bfed, although he has had a few bottles. Today I got my first period since having him, bit of a shock as I thought I wouldn't have one will I stoppped feeding.

Will this affect my milk supply? Or is this my body's way of saying its time to stop? I would like to keep going until 26 weeks at least if still possible.

Thanks

Sometimes, people just get there periods back earlier than others.

Mine came back when ds was 14months old and am still BF him now at 20months old with no change in supply.

Shouldn't affect your supply to any great extent.

It is definitely not a sign you need to give up bf. I didn't have a period for 17mo while bf but my friend had them from 6 weeks while bf. She simply went straight back to clockwork periods again! It is just your own personal hormonal levels, nothing to do with whether you should keep feeding or not.

I always experience a temporary drop in supply when I get my period, just for around 36 hours. Then I'm back in business. Doesn't cause any problems :)

I got my period back when DS was 6 weeks old. Never affected supply as far as I could make out.

I only breast fed once whilst having a period (I was about to stop anyway as ttc) and felt my son seemed less keen. I think there is some truth in that it tastes slightly different although you probably also need to up fluids even more than usual. This blog post (although US) seems quite informative if you feel it is affected but I wouldn't feel "it's a sign" - it's just how your body happens to work.
blogginaboutbabies.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/milk-supply-during-menstruation/

Thanks everyone. I thought that breastfeeeding kept your period away so was worried that my milk was about to dry up! Thanks for the reassurance. He isn't keen on feeding at the moment, but I think that's more to do with the hot weather!

I'm in my 50th month breastfeeding and have only had 16 period-free months out of all that time! Some of us aren't so lucky it seems!

I never noticed any change in my supply during periods, TBH. My periods came back within two months of DS' birth, and I fed him for 23 months.

I noticed a slight drop in supply at 9 months when my periods came back. I didn't know they were coming back, just that DD was very restless a week or two beforehand and didn't seem 'satisfied' with her feeds. It did give me a wobble but when my period turned up and I'd figured out what had caused it, then I was back on an even keel. It was useful to have the forewarning when my period was due as they didn't settle down to a regular pattern for a few months.