period and less milk supply- connection?

I just got my period today. Katherine is about 4 1/2 months. I was shocked as for some reason I was not expecting it for some time. Also this week, I noticed my milk supply may be lower. I used to have so much that I often had to manually express some milk before feeding her as it came out too fast and all of a sudden it is different. Nothing really has changed. I still feed her late night and then two times in the middle of the night. I dont even know how exactly how much I feed her during the day but that hasnt changed. Every 3/4 hours probably. Why the sudden decrease in milk? Maybe what I have now is normal and before I had an over supply. I am nervous though. I dont want to have a low supply. I had to pump a little yesterday and today for an event tomorrow and I barely had enough to pump.

I wondered if there was a connection with my period (which by the way I am really bummed to have it again!!!).

Also do I need to be concerned with my lower supply I now seem to have? Im nervous all of a sudden.

Also I will ask in this thread...when did you star solids? With my bottle fed boys I began around 5 1/2 months.

 

It's very, very normal to have a dip in supply when you have your period each month. It should go back to normal within a couple of days. Just follow baby's lead - if she wants to nurse a bit more for those days that it's lower, go ahead. I'm sorry you got your period back though - that sucks!

As for solids, here's some good info from Kellymom - the general consensus these days seems to be 6 months, at the earliest. I'm all about guidelines that indulge my lazy mom tendencies.

 

I totally noticed a drop in supply when I got my period. I think it was when the boys were about 7 or 8 months? It came right back after the first couple of days. Try not to worry! Keep up with fluids, rest (yeah right with twins and an infant!) and I am sure you're doing just fine.

 

I noticed it a little bit but mine came back as we were weaning.

I think it's great that you don't have oversupply or know how much she's getting- that's exactly what's supposed to happen.

We waited until 6 months. I think solids are exciting but also a pain in the butt. I say wait- bm is cheap and not labor intensive.

 

Bummer about your period. I just got mine back last week and I noticed a difference too. I had to start Cooper on solids at 4 months. He just wasn't being held over by breastfeeding alone. I was having to either nurse him every 1 to 2 hours day and night, or give him some solids so solids at 4 months was the right choice for me. He was hungry enough that solids didn't interfere with breastfeeding.

 

yep, I know I had a dip in my supply too the week or so before I started my period back at 10 mo or so... ugh! so sorry yours came back early!!

we didn't start solids until almost 8 mo. like pp said... giving a boob for nutrition is a whole lot easier than making food, and having to spoon it in - especially when they are so young and don't even want a spoon in their mouth, and then to clean up the dishes! hold off! oh, and nutritionally bm is so much better! keep up the good work.

 

Thanks everyone! And Guess what, I think my supply already came back! Crazy how it all works!

Im in no rush to start solids! I love how easy this is!

 

Oooh Sorry about your period Nicole! But yay to your milk supply already coming back. Did you notice a difference in her eating habits when it was low? I always worry about mine...for no real reason other than I don't want to stop bfing before a year. I am also truly enjoying the simplicity of bfing and don't plan to start solids before 6 months. I told DH today it was my plan b/c I'm lazy and it's working so well. And I'm in no hurry to experience those very stinky food diapers. :lol:

 

Another good link from Kellymom - scroll down to the part about Low milk supply associated with menstruation. You CAN take a supplement to help increase milk that decreases due to your cycle

ETA: Often if you INCREASE the night time feeds, specifically between 12-5am you can supress your cycle again.... menstruation returning is normally directly related to the # of times a day/night a breast is suckled (even if not for milk removal) and the # of nighttime feeds. You dont want any long stretches without nursing.

 

No that is the strange thing. Her pattern has not changed. I want to go to a year too!!! I also dont want those diapers to change!

Thanks for the link. In your eta paragraph...that is what I dont understand. She eats a few times in the middle of the night. She basically sleeps with me and I feel like I am always feeding her! So I may not get it next month if I increase even more than I am?? This is so interesting!

 

Sorry about your period Nicole.

I think there are multiple factors, for example I read somewhere to the amount of body fat you are carrying affect it was well (the more fat the more likely to return to fertility).
I'm lucky that the night nursing works for me. I mostly only feed between 7 pm and 7 am now, and I had some light spotting for the first time last month (Drex is 19 months)

 

Read here and scroll down to the part that says 4 TIPS FOR USING BREASTFEEDING TO DELAY OVULATION and read from there on