Breastfeeding & Your Period: What They Don’t Tell You & How I Power Through

Finding out you’re pregnant has to be THE life-changing, heart stopping, OMGEEE worthy moment in any woman’s life. From this point on, her life will officially never be the same again. 

However, we often are under the misconception that the excitement and roller coaster of bodily and emotional changes end, (or at least start to normalize), once we hit that 6-8 week postpartum period where we are deemed “healed” by our doctors. (I DO hope you can visualize the literal air quotes for the word healed because they were surely made while writing this). 

However, I’ve learned from my first pregnancy and introduction to motherhood,  our healing and adjustment period is much longer than we are told. In addition, if we choose to breastfeed, the time could be even longer before our hormones are completely back in balance.

When I approached my 6th month of breastfeeding this second time around, I just knew that I would end up getting my period. Aside from the fact that I was starting to introduce solids into my daughter’s diet, the negative nasties in my head convinced me I couldn’t be one of the lucky women who go without their period for almost a year after delivery.

On the flip side, I was happy to get it because it meant I could now start to track my cycles again. So, it’s bittersweet to say the least.

However, I was also a bit worried because I had read that getting your period back could effect milk production, so I was trying to keep that all in mind.

Low and behold, my period showed up on that 6th month. Here is a bit of a breakdown of my experience:

The First Period After Delivery

Despite the many terrible experiences I have heard from other women, this first period was pretty non-eventful and run of the mill…which is a great thing.

Anyone that knows me even a little bit knows I try to care for my hormones as much as I realistically can. I have switched beauty and cleaning products, opt for natural detergents and soaps, and buy organic as much as economically possible. And don’t even get me started with my love of non-toxic feminine products.

So, I’m convinced this ho hum period even after my small fibroid discovery during pregnancy, (which I will get into in another post at a later time), is a testament to these changes.

I pretty much picked up like I left off pre-pregnancy and opted for my non-toxic pads and menstrual cups. Admittedly, I didn’t use the cup on day one just out of non-sensical post delivery worry. But I told myself to get over it and try it out because it was 6 months post. All was well in the end.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor and am only sharing my personal experience. Please consult your medical professional with any questions.

How Did My Period Effect My Milk Production

As mentioned by many lactation consultants, and this AMAZING book from the La Leche League, my milk production did decrease within the days leading up to my period and the first few days into the flow.

I was able to tell when pumping because I wasn’t extracting as much as usual. Yes, there’s other reasons why this can happen. And yes, using the amount pumped as a measure isn’t always the best idea (i.e. your pump parts might need replacing, you might be dehydrated, etc etc etc). However, I was sure that was the issue because I checked all those issues before pumping.

In these same lactation sites and resources, they recommend taking 2 supplements to help counter the dip in supply. According to this book from the La Leche League, they recommend “a daily dose of 500 to 1,000 mg of a calcium and magnesium supplement from the middle of your cycle through the first 3 days of your period. ”

I am a huge advocate of magnesium anyway since it can help relieve stress. I for one know it helps as I ease into that phase of my menstrual phase of my cycle because it helps alleviate cramps not only in the pelvic area but throughout the body. That is why the old school remedy of an epsom salt bath (which is basically magnesium), works so well.

Additionally, women often crave chocolate during the week before their period mostly because it is high in magnesium, well the good chocolate that is. (Here is the cocao powder I use for hot chocolate and other drinks throughout the month).

I purchased this magnesium supplement from my local whole foods and this calcium supplement online because they were the best options for me given my needs. Yes, this magnesium supplement is NOT fully plant or food based. Also, please know it’s completely possible to get both of these compounds through foods alone. However, it is kind of difficult and expensive to opt for fully plant or food based supplements when these high dosages are needed. PLUS, any new mom knows it’s HARD to even get a shower sometimes, forget about monitoring the amount of food you need to hit nutritional targets on a daily basis. It’s not impossible, but just difficult in real life.

Please make sure to take mental note of the amount of calcium and magnesium in each supplement since many are made with a combination of Vitamin D3 & Magnesium. These are best used together for bodily function so they are often constructed this way. However, I like having an additional magnesium supplement that I can take on it’s own when I have muscle cramps or headaches.

Lastly, my research has shown it’s best to space out your calcium and iron supplements (if you do take them). I am slightly anemic and take this one on occasion. But I try to give myself some time between them if I take them on the same day. The calcium has the potential to block iron absorption.

By using these supplements, I have seen less of a dip over the last couple cycles.

Hopefully this (over)share of information is a launching pad for your own personal research. Let me know in the comments if you’ve experienced anything like I’ve mentioned above.

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