Will my milk supply decrease during my menstrual period while I am breastfeeding? What should I do if my milk supply decreases during my menstrual period while I am breastfeeding?

Will the milk supply decrease during menstruation during breastfeeding? Many new mothers have heard from their elders that they need to stop feeding their babies during menstruation during breastfeeding. Is this really feasible? Will the milk supply decrease during breastfeeding? Let's talk about the relationship between menstruation and milk supply during breastfeeding.

Will my milk supply decrease during my period?

When menstruation comes, the amount of milk produced by breastfeeding mothers will generally decrease, and the quality of the protein and fat in the milk will also change slightly, with a higher protein content and a lower fat content. This kind of milk may sometimes cause indigestion symptoms in infants, but this is a temporary phenomenon and will return to normal after the menstrual period. Therefore, there is no need to stop breastfeeding whether during or after the menstrual period.

What to do if the amount of milk decreases during menstruation during breastfeeding

Don't worry, the baby will still be full. If you have your period during the postpartum breastfeeding period, it is recommended that you drink more soup so that the milk will not be too thick; at the same time, eat more fish, milk, poultry, etc. to help breast milk secretion.

Can I still breastfeed when I have my period?

Must! Must! Can!

There are always people who say that breast milk has no nutritional value after menstruation, or even that breast milk is poisonous and cannot be given to babies. This is pure nonsense.

After menstruation, breast milk is more concentrated than usual, contains less fat and more protein, and this kind of breast milk is harmless to the baby. So don't pay any attention to the saying that "you need to wean during menstruation". Feed your own baby and let others talk about it!

Some mothers may feel that their milk supply will decrease during menstruation. This is due to the effect of hormones, which will slightly affect the secretion of milk, but it is normal. At this time, there is no need to worry, just feed the baby normally and drink more water. After the "old friend" leaves, you are still a "big cow".

Will menstruation affect breast milk during breastfeeding?

The quality of milk will not deteriorate and breastfeeding can continue

There is a popular saying that breast milk becomes less nutritious after the onset of menstruation. In fact, this is not true. As we all know, breast milk quality is best within 4 months after delivery. After the onset of menstruation, breast milk quality does not deteriorate, but sometimes it becomes more concentrated, and the secretion of breast milk of some mothers decreases. The quality of protein and fat in breast milk also changes slightly, with a higher protein content and a lower fat content.

This kind of milk sometimes causes indigestion symptoms in babies, but this is a temporary phenomenon and will return to normal after the menstrual period. These situations are mainly due to changes in prolactin levels in the body. However, since the secretion of milk is closely related to the baby's sucking and the mother's diet, appropriately increasing the baby's daily sucking time and frequency can achieve the effect of promoting milk secretion.

Therefore, whether you are in your menstrual period or after your menstrual period, you do not need to stop breastfeeding. When your menstrual period comes, the amount of milk a breastfeeding mother produces will generally decrease.

Breastfeeding myths

Minefield 1: Breastfeeding when angry

An experiment by American physiologist Irma showed that toxins can be produced in the body when a person is angry. This suggests that mothers should not breastfeed when they are angry or just after getting angry, so as to prevent the baby from inhaling milk containing "toxins" and causing various physical discomforts.

Minefield 2: Breastfeeding after exercise

When people exercise, lactic acid is produced in the body. Lactic acid retained in the blood will change the taste of breast milk, and babies will not like it. According to tests, moderate or above intensity exercise can cause this condition, so mothers who shoulder the responsibility of breastfeeding should only engage in some mild exercise, and rest for a while after exercise before breastfeeding.

Minefield 3: Breastfeeding in work clothes

Mothers who work in special places such as hospitals and laboratories will cause trouble for their babies if they breastfeed while wearing work clothes, because work clothes are often stained with many invisible viruses, bacteria and other harmful substances. Therefore, no matter how busy the mother is, she should take off her work clothes (preferably her coat) and wash her hands before breastfeeding.

Minefield 4: Making people laugh while feeding

If the baby laughs because of teasing while feeding, the glottis in the throat may open and the inhaled milk may accidentally enter the trachea. In mild cases, the baby may choke on the milk, and in severe cases, it may induce aspiration pneumonia.

Minefield 5: Washing breasts with soap

In order to keep the breasts clean, it is necessary to wash them frequently, but soap should not be used for washing. This is because soap-like cleaning substances can remove the keratinized layer on the surface of the skin through mechanical and chemical effects, damaging its protective function and causing the skin surface to "alkalize", which is conducive to bacterial growth. Over time, it may also cause breast inflammation. Therefore, it is best for mothers to wash their breasts with warm water.

Minefield 6: Frequently wearing synthetic underwear

The biggest harm of chemical fiber underwear is that the tiny fibers fall off and easily cause the mammary duct to be blocked, resulting in no milk. Therefore, mothers who need to breastfeed should not wear chemical fiber underwear for the time being, and should wear pure cotton underwear.