M.V.
Hi J.,
Congratulations on the birth of your healthy boy! And congratulations on breastfeeding, too! I am one of the lucky (???) few who exclusively breastfeed and still get my period. With my daughter, it came at 6 weeks (no one believed me at first, and thought it must be a continuation of postpartum bleeding, except for the fact that it came every 4 weeks after that like clockwork.) I just had my second, and this time my period came at exactly 9 weeks (yea! I got 3 extra weeks, but I bled longer this time postpartum). I have been frustrated that there is not much information out there for people like me. I have discussed it with my doctors, and both my OB/Gyne and my family doctor said there are women who nurse exclusively and get their period and have assured me that I am normal. : )
However, I noticed several things about getting my period so soon that no one could tell me. YES, my milk production dropped severely with my first child every time my period came on. This was especially difficult because the hormones and moods that came with the first several periods were intense, kind of like mini baby blues. I also get menstrual migraines, and those came back, too. I found it really hard to mother with theses hormone surges, and because my supply diminished the baby wanted to nurse ALL THE TIME, which didn't allow me the space to get through the hormones.
I learned a lot from going through this with my daughter, and just finished my first period after the birth of my son, and it seems I have learned a thing or two about managing it, because this one was a lot better.
-Get as much extra rest as possible (yes, I know what you're thinking!) I found that the better I slept, the better my milk supply was.
-Get extra iron. I found that I craved chocolate, red meat and red wine intensely with my daughter (all sources of iron). If I had a little red wine when I felt my period come on, it always helped my supply. This time, I have been taking a good iron supplement since my son was born, and I didn't have the intense cravings.
-If you can express or pump some milk before the next one, it helps both baby (you know for certain he is getting what he needs) and you (you're not nursing non stop while dealing with hormones for 5+ days).
-Ask for extra help and don't expect as much from yourself when you've got your period. It is physically and mentally exhausting just to have a newborn, but even moreso when you have your period too.
I don't know if the progesterone could have brought it on for you - that's a conversation you'll have with your doctor. But since you're dealing wiht it, I hope some of what I've learned will help. Take care of yourself first, because your baby boy is depending on your body for nourishment. Good luck!
M.
