Periods and low milk supply

[StepfauxWife]

My period has just returned - DD is only eight weeks old! I've noticed that she has been fussy after a feed and waking more frequently.

Could it be that my milk supply is affected? If so, I'm hoping this is only a temporary issue. Is it better to express to boost my supply and then allow it to even out once things get back to normal?

[Redhead79]

I'm having a similar problem. Dd is 6 months and has been really fussy and almost impossible to feed for a few days and lo and behold my period just started today. I have seen a few suggestions that the hormones can alter the tast of your milk. I express a lot and haven't noticed any real drop in supply.

[CopperPot]

Yep! I got my period today and my milk was not coming last night. Had to make a bottle of formula as dd was going mental. V stressful. It's known to affect supply sadly, plus also around ovulation too apparently.

[CopperPot]

I got mine back at 6 weeks with ds and 8 weeks this time with dd. Crap.

[TormundGiantsbabe]

There is a growth spurt at 8 weeks so she's putting her order in. If you feed on demand, there's no need to express.

[icclemunchy]

My period came back just after 12 months and no problems with supply here. At 8weeks it's likely just cluster feeding due to growth spurt

[StepfauxWife]

Hmm I wonder if it was bad timing and a combination of low supply and a growth spurt. Anyway, I did express a little and my supply seems to have gone back to normal.

I wasn't anticipating my period's return so soon! I was hoping that if it arrived post weaning that any dip in supply wouldn't be quite do profound.

Will at least know to spot the signs next month. So gutted, I was hoping for at least another few months of period free bliss.

[TormundGiantsbabe]

There is no evidence that nursing tea (or cookies or whatever) actually work. The most effective way to boost supply is to feed more. Removing milk from the breast encourages milk production.

[jennywest224]

What you eat or drink, directly affects your supply and there're some foods or other things that help milk stimulation.

[TormundGiantsbabe]

No it doesn't. As long as you are eating and drinking, it doesn't matter what you are consuming. There is no evidence that galactagogues such as oats or fenugreek etc work.

What makes a difference to milk supply is regularly removing milk from the breast.

[Youremywifenow]

I'm also back on the periods after 8 weeks. My first child was bottle fed as he had a severe tongue tie but this one is EBF. It's so unfair, I feel cheated out of some more period free time.
Not noticed a drop in supply but the baby has broken out in spots and has had upset guts (as do I), mentioned it to my GP and she said it was probably because of my hormones.
Poor spotty, farty baby.

[Youremywifenow]

Female baby I should add. She also had a period at birth which I never knew was a thing.

[StepfauxWife]

Now you mention it, my DD had some spots too - I thought it might have been a reaction to her jabs. She has always been a bit windy so I didn't think anything of that.

It's so unfair isn't it?! A friend just got hers back fifteen months after her baby arrived. Mine only lasted a few days and wasn't painful so that's something. And at least I know what you look out for next month.

[StepfauxWife]

Hmm so my period is back again! Two weeks after the last one. I used to be incredibly regular so this is a surprise. DD has seemed short on milk over the last 24 hours and has the same rash as last time.

Is this normal or worth a trip to the GP?