Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
As Nursing Ends, Menstruation Returns | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
My milk supply seems to have decreased within the last few days. I haven' changed anything in my child's or my diet. He is eight months old and eats about three jars of solid, stage one food a day. I recently got my first period since giving birth to him. Could that have anything to do with it? My breasts just never seem as full as they used to.— Applepancake in Chicago | | | ANSWER |
February 6, 2002 | | | Dear Applepancake,
It's likely that your milk supply has gradually decreased because your son has gradually begun taking less and less milk, while getting more and more of his nutrition from solid foods. A woman's milk supply naturally adjusts to the need. That's why women can successfully nurse twins, and even triplets--and also why women who stop nursing or pumping their breasts see their milk production fall off and then stop altogether.
Prolactin is a hormone that is important in producing breast milk. Prolactin also suppresses the menstrual period, making it less likely that a woman will become pregnant again while breast-feeding (unlikely, but not impossible: breastfeeding is not a reliable form of contraception!). This arrangement probably had a great deal of survival value thousands of years ago when our species was evolving. By making women less feritle while they are nursing, it kept children from being born too close together. When food was in short supply, a mother might be able to care for one baby, while two babies might overtax her resources, and neither survive.
So, the return of your period probably is a consequence of your nursing less and less. Biologically, your body is signaling that it's ready for a new baby. You, of course, may have other plans!— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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