Mango

I'm 5 weeks postpartum, and my period returned. I was breast feeding for 2 weeks, stopped for 2 weeks and recently started again as you will have seen from my other posts.

I was really surprised that my period returned already! Will this affect my milk supply or quality ladies? I thought my period would have stayed away even despite the 2 week break

marley2580

Sorry to hear this hun, but it probably was the break. According to my natural family planning book, BF only stops ovulation if you feed every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours at night. Don't worry though, it won't affect your milk.

freckleonear

Don't worry about it, I have been exclusively breastfeeding since Aaron was born, he feeds every 2 hours and goes 3 hours max at night, and my period returned at about 5 weeks postpartum (I think it was my period anyway!). So the two week break didn't necessarily cause it, it comes back in some women even if they are totally breastfeeding. And as Marley said, it won't affect your milk.

ab2401

WAIT!.... just wait a min. you can stop BFing and then just start back up????


I would like to know how.

my nipple ring got stuck in my nipple and wouldn't come out so I thought I would just give it some time..... the next day when my boobs felt like they where going to blow up I tried again and it still wouldn't come out.

So I pumped with them in (they are rubber) and it worked out great!

and then the next time..... not so great and then the next day..... they where dried up.

freckleonear

Your supply of milk is regulated by the demand, i.e. the more your baby feeds, the more milk you produce. Pumping is a little more difficult, as it doesn't stimulate the breasts as well. But yes, it is possible to increase your milk supply even months after stopping breastfeeding. Maybe these links will be helpful.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/ma...pply-pump.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/p..._decrease.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html

Jazzy

My period has started back up aswell hun, Jasmine has a couple of breastfeeds a day aswell as bottle and my milk is still fine

mickey

mine came after six week, although I was solely bf until today

today, we had banana for lunch and loved it (sorry off topic)

Mango

Cool!! Thanks for the reassurance ladies, I was worrying there for a moment!!

Ab2401, u sure can start breastfeeding again after stopping. It's called "Re-lactation". I have a thread in here called "Re-establishing Milk Supply" , check it out...

I stopped for two weeks and started back up again, Basically I reduced my lil one's formula bit by bit every day and started putting her back to the breast. Of course she barely got anything at first and would fuss like crazy, but the stimulation got my milk supply back up to the point where she can now get a full feed from my breast. It does not take long but be prepared for A LOT of fussing... for more info check out these two threads which Freckleoneear was kind enough to direct me to.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/decrease-formula.html
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/04enough_milk.html

NOTE: if you do decide to do this, your lil one should get a weight check every week to make sure all is well.