Women who just gave birth to their little ones have their own time to ovulate and may start their period once again. It actually depends on their body. When a mother is producing milk or lactating, it actually delays and affects the coming back of the period. They don’t get their monthly visitors yet for several months after their babies are born. Researchers say that there is no accurate time for a woman to ovulate again because it varies.   Â
Menstruation is somehow connected to pregnancy, fertility and even breastfeeding. If you are a new mother, you may ovulate when it’s actually the ninth to a tenth week after giving birth. After the ovulation, periods would most likely begin at the second week thereafter. Or it may also occur over a year before you start to ovulate again and your monthly visitor will resume again. However, for mothers who are breastfeeding, the normal time for them to become fertile and start their periods is an average of six months.
When would i have my period back?
As a mother, you can’t help but feel proud of yourself because you were able to produce milk for your little one. It’s a good thing that you tend to eat healthy foods as much as possible because everything you eat would make a great impact on your child’s health. You don’t want to risk your child’s health, do you?
When a mother’s period returns, it varies on the level of the hormone progesterone in her body. If the level of progesterone is low, periods would more likely return earlier than those who have higher levels. Take a look at some signs that your menstruation would probably be back soon, and these are:
- The sleeping time of your baby is more than four hours a day and when at night, the sleeping hour is more than 6 hours
- You are supplementing your milk with some formula milk
- You are feeding your baby less during the day and lesser time for each breastfeeding
- Your baby is slowly eating solid foods
Does your period lessen or affects your milk supply?
Mothers will not actually notice an adjustment in their milk supply when their periods return. But some other women may feel that their nipples are more sensitive at the time of ovulation and others would also claim to have lower milk supply when they have periods when they are breastfeeding. It is also possible that the return of your menstruation can cause:
- Tenderness of nipples
- An incline in your milk supply
- Tastes of breast milk changes
What to do if there is a sudden drop of milk supply?
It is only temporary to experience a sudden drop in milk supply when you get your period back. You may notice the drop a few days before your menstruation arrives. The moment you get your menstruation back, your milk supply should begin to rise again as the hormones are stable. Take time to read at some tips to do whenever there is a sudden drop in milk supply:
- Building a natural breast milk supply
- Drink herbal tea for breastfeeding to help boost the milk production
- Have a balanced diet with iron-rich foods such as red meat or leafy greens
- Keep yourself hydrated such as drinking milk and healthy soup
- Get useful advice to your doctor or any lactation consultant
If your breast milk drops very low, it could be a warning sign and might be dangerous to your baby. In this case, continue to see your doctor and the child’s pediatrician as well. If you’re your milk supply is declining to a point where your child is not getting plenty or enough, a supplement may be recommended by the pediatrician.
Reasons why periods are less likely to return
Breastfeeding can actually stop the coming back of your menstruation in a way for several months, a year or longer. It only is determined by a woman’s body if how frequent and how long they choose to do breastfeeding. Your period is less likely to return if:
- You often breastfeed your baby during the day and at night time
- Your baby has not yet started eating solid food
- You always keep your baby close and you co-sleep with your baby
- The baby is always carried close to you during the day so that he can catch on whatever he wants
- You avoid giving your child a bottle or a pacifier
- You do not supplement with water or formula
Final words
When you have periods, it can affect your breastfeeding and so is breastfeeding can affect your period. It can also have a great effect on your breast milk and your baby. While there are some mothers who neither notice nor giving much attention to their breast milk issues when their period returns, some mothers experience problems, inconvenience and trouble issues. On the brighter side, these problems are just temporary. Breast sensitivity may be very uncomfortable, and the drop of the milk supply might cause a problem, just keep going. Hang in there, these issues were just temporary and does go away on their own.
While it’s still harmless and helpful to breastfeed when you have periods, try to just go with the flow. But always remember to keep an eye to your child and be watchful if your breast milk will actually affect the baby. Some mothers choose to discourage breastfeeding once the period has returned. It may be easier if the baby is not as much of breastfeeding due to a reduced breast milk supply. It is without a doubt that the longer you feed your child with your natural milk is better for you and your child, but just be careful and always seek advice from experts. After all, it’s all about the safety of everyone.
Read also:
- The best magnesium supplement
- Overactive letdown during pregnancy
- How to increase breast milk production
