Breastfeeding Period

One thing that many women don’t realize is that breastfeeding can actually affect your period. Breastfeeding can actually suppress or delay menstruation in some women.

This means that quite a few women who breastfeed won’t begin having their period until quite some time after they give birth. Some women might not have a period for weeks, months or years during breastfeeding.

The absence of breastfeeding periods should not be anything to worry about. This is simply a natural side effect of breastfeeding that shouldn’t affect a woman’s life or health.

Some women may not notice that they are not having periods because of post pregnancy vaginal bleeding that occurs. This bleeding is not a breastfeeding period it is simply a normal condition women experience after pregnancy.

When do Periods return?

Most women will start having periods again once they stop nursing. Others may start having a breastfeeding period when they reduce the amount of breastfeeding they do.

In most cases the woman will keep producing breast milk after menstruation returns. One thing that every woman should keep in mind is that she should be using birth control because menstruation could start at any time during breastfeeding.

The supply of milk in the breasts will often decrease when menstruation returns. This is another normal process and should not be a concern.

A woman should get concerned if menstruation doesn’t begin within the first year after pregnancy. This could be a sign of a serious problem and a cause to seek a doctor’s advice.

Why Do Periods Stop During Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding affects periods because it is caused by hormonal effects related to pregnancy. It has long been known that hormones can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle.

The “no-period” birth control works by increasing the amount of some hormones in the body that suppress menstruation. Hormone therapy and hormone or thyroid problems can also affect menstruation.

Since breastfeeding is related to hormones, it is a safe bet that hormones will affect periods during breastfeeding. Not resuming normal periods can be a symptom of a hormonal problem or deficiency.

Treatments for Problems Related to Breastfeeding Periods

There are some herbal remedies that can help a woman who is having problems related to a breastfeeding period. Some of these herbal remedies may work because they help a woman restore her normal hormonal balance.

If a woman’s hormonal balance is off during pregnancy some side effects could result. These include a fall in milk production and soreness in the nipples.

The use of the herb evening primrose can alleviate the nipple soreness that some women feel during breastfeeding periods. Taking one capsule containing this herb should alleviate the soreness.

Adding a calcium/magnesium supplement to a woman’s daily routine can help her restore milk production during her breastfeeding periods. The hormonal imbalances related to breastfeeding can be a cause of losses of milk production particularly during periods. Such a supplement should be taken once a day to keep the hormonal balance normal.