Perimenopause or hormones/ birth recovery?

[YukoandHiro]

I'm 39 and my second baby is only 9 months so body still affected by that. I'm breastfeeding but my periods have come back - I've had two so far (six weeks apart) and I can tell my third is on its way as I get sore nipples while feeding for the preceding week. (I had this with my first too, once my cycle returned, so normal for me).
What's new is that from the time I guess is ovulation to my period I've got a lot of pelvic discomfort. At first I thought I was just very weak post birth but it's obviously cycle related.
Is this a perimenopause thing? Seems a bit early but it could be 🤷🏻‍♀️ Or birth/feeding hormones? Or should I see a dr?

Bump. Feeling crampy again this morning.

I had this with all of mine. Had my last baby mid 40s and it was the same.
Not peri menopause for me, just I think, hormonal changes around my period making the ligaments etc and muscles in my pelvis sore.
That is my experience in any case.
I think if it is very bad pain then you should see the GP anyway, but I never did and it eventually stopped around a year or so (even though I was still breastfeeding).

I'm not sure as I've had pain issues in joints both times, noticeably linked to cycles, and it didn't really go away. I'm now mid 40s and beginning to wind down bf my toddler.

But, I was diagnosed with hypermobility and also have hypothyroidism which has been a bit wonky after both births and definitely affects joints and cycles. I've fed for 3 years + both times (no one can tell me if it has an impact! Though both times it actually got worse when I stopped / nightweaned. I think the loss of the oxytocin has an impact.) my joints were best, though a bit weak still from birth, before periods resumed tbh!

I do know that calcium and magnesium tablets at night really help with the nipple pain when feeding. I think it's helped joints too. Also taking b vits and omega 3; the breastfeeding vitamins have the right and high amount of everything or check kellymom for upper limits. Definitely also take vit d daily.

I also noticed that gentle weight baring exercise helped and Pilates. I got the MUTU programme which is a mix of both. Exercise is anti inflammatory.

You could also see a physio to check your pelvis is aligned; sometimes some adjustments really help with pain. They may suggest some exercises too.

Extra Zinc is also supposed to help painful periods.