Menstruation: Does it cause a drop in milk supply?
I am nursing my third child. She is five months old and has been exclusively breastfeeding until a couple weeks ago, when she started on some solids. I have found that during my period, my baby seems fussy and not satisfied after nursing. Is there a drop in my milk supply during this time?
Question:Debbi Donovan
Debbi Donovan is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, as well as a retired La Leche League Leader. For more than a decade, Debbi... Read more
Some babies are a bit fussier during a nursing mother's menstrual period. Mothers sometimes report a temporary drop in their milk supply, just as your describe. The taste of your milk may also change slightly. Though many babies don't seem to notice, it does bother some. These changes may be related to the reduction in estrogen and progesterone that occurs as menstruation begins.
Continuing to nurse your baby frequently, especially prior to, and at the beginning of, your cycle may help, but this temporary reduction in supply may just be one of those hormonal "events" some nursing moms will continue to experience.
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