Breastfeeding but periods have started after 2 months. What's going on inside the body?

Question

I'm curious to know I have periods just after a month of C-section. I'm fully breastfeeding my baby. Now he's 2.5 months old. Does periods happening decrease the production of breast-milk?

Answer 1

First, menstruation doesn’t necessarily influence breast milk production. Some women notice a slight drop in supply in the second half of their cycle and an increased sensitivity or discomfort, others are not affected. These reports are mostly about women with already regular cycles and are usually not that much that baby’s needs aren’t met, so no need to worry here. Just keep on nursing, feeding on demand should mitigate any temporary reductions.

The phenomenon that very regular breastfeeding can suppress fertility and regular cycles after birth is called lactational amenorrhea. The range of how long the absence of periods will last varies greatly. While for example La Leche league states that on average regular periods resume after nine to eighteen months for exclusively breastfeeding¹ mothers, some women regain fertility just a couple of weeks after birth and others don’t get their periods until after the baby is weaned.

Frequency of breastfeeding - especially round the clock feeding - is an important factor and while breastfeeding and the resulting lactational amenorrhea can decrease the probability of becoming pregnant again, please don’t consider it a reliable form of birth control unless you are ok with a potential pregnancy. (We have a “but I’m breastfeeding” surprise baby in our friends’ circle.)

In short, bleeding can be a sign of hormonal changes and may indicate that a woman’s body is ready for another pregnancy, or it may a singular event without full onset of fertility. You may want to double-check with your healthcare provider if you suspect anything irregular. ———

¹ “Regular” means really regular as in every few hours, 24/7. The one night when baby sleeps “through” may be a blessing for the tired parents, but can already be enough to void the contraceptive effect.