Do You Experience a Decrease in Milk Supply During Your Period?

After birth, your hormones have another dramatic shift. When the placenta is delivered, progesterone and estrogen drop significantly as there is a surge in prolactin and oxytocin. Oxytocin is the “feel good” or “love” hormone. It helps compensate for the drop in progesterone happening immediately after birth. Prolactin is the milk-making hormone. The rise in prolactin signals to start the milk-making, and around days 2-4, your colostrum, high in protein and fat, will transition to milk that increases in volume and has more carbohydrates. (7)

After you have your baby, the decrease in estrogen and progesterone signal for milk to increase. Milk transitions from colostrum to a mature milk supply. High estrogen and stress can lower your progesterone levels. Lower progesterone can affect your mood, which makes everything harder when trying to take care of a newborn. (2) Released during touch, skin-to-skin, when your baby sucks, and from warmth, oxytocin helps you bond with your baby. It enables you to feel relaxed and signals the milk ejection reflex. For some people, just the thought of their baby or hearing their baby or someone else's baby cry will trigger a letdown. Prolactin levels stay high, while progesterone drops after birth. (3) This change starts lactation and continues to keep milk being made for the first few weeks. As your baby removes milk, prolactin tells the body to keep up production as your milk supply regulates. This information contributes to the regulation of your milk supply.

Breastfeeding delays the onset of ovulation and the return of menses. This phenomenon, known as lactational amenorrhea, can last varying amounts of time depending on your hormone status as well as how breastfeeding is practiced. The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is nature’s method of natural child spacing and is used as a form of birth control. For a mother who is not breastfeeding, ovulation will occur about 6-8 weeks postpartum. (1) Moms who pump for their babies can still follow the practices to delay the return of their period and ovulation. 

• Follow your baby’s cues for nursing and offer to breastfeed often.

• Scheduling feeding and going for long stretches between feeding can trigger the return of your cycle.

• Continue to nurse in the middle of the night. Prolactin is highest at night and is also what helps extend LAM. (2)

• Avoid pacifiers and bottles and instead offer to nurse when your baby wants comfort.

• Keep your baby unrestricted while napping and sleeping and in close contact with you. This allows for their natural hunger cues to be expressed rather than suppressed.

• Avoid being separated from your baby for long periods of time.

• For exclusively pumping parents, frequent milk removal including overnight, is recommended.

The thyroid gland plays a major role in lactation by secreting hormones that regulate prolactin and oxytocin. The pituitary gland makes and releases TSH after getting the message from the Hypothalamus, which secretes TRH. Next, the thyroid gland responds and secretes T3 and T4. T4 is the non-active form of thyroid hormone, and T3 is the active form. (8) Hypothyroidism is the underactive or underproduction of thyroid hormones or the cell's ability to let the thyroid hormone in. Insulin resistance occurs when cells resist taking in glucose, elevating the glucose level in the blood. Because insulin has a relationship with prolactin, people with insulin resistance may have a difficult time making and maintaining their milk supply. (9) Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can affect fertility, growth of mammary gland tissue, and milk supply. Not all women with PCOS have a decreased supply but are at a higher risk for compromised supply. Women with PCOS have a higher risk of insulin resistance. (10)

• Eat nutrient-dense foods like oats, barley (unless you are gluten-sensitive or allergic), alfalfa, sesame seeds, flaxseed, and garlic to support healthy levels of estrogen and lactation. (18)

• Improving gut health can help keep progesterone and estrogen in balance. (17)

• Get plenty of rest and reduce your overall stress

• Avoid caffeine, sugary drinks, and processed foods high in carbohydrates that can deplete your body of important minerals. (18)

• Work with a holistic IBCLC who has completed an advanced education in gut and endocrine health.

hen menstruation and ovulation return, some women experience a dip in their milk supply. If you are feeding on demand, you may just notice a slight increase in the number of times your baby wants to nurse, and in a couple of days, things return to normal. A dip in calcium levels in the blood can be the reason for the lowered milk supply. (5) It is important to remember that your baby's nursing frequently continues to signal to make more milk. Less full breasts fill faster, and fuller breasts fill with milk more slowly. (6)

If a dip in your supply is disruptive to breastfeeding, it can be helpful to take a good quality calcium magnesium supplement beginning after ovulation, before your period begins, and during the first few days of bleeding. (4)

You can start taking it around the time you ovulate, and continue through the first few days of your period. Calcium is absorbed most efficiently when taken no more than 500 mg at a time, so divide it into several doses throughout the day. Take the magnesium to bowel tolerance — meaning you may need to start at a lower dosage and slowly increase the dosage to what you can tolerate.

The dip in milk supply typically occurs during the week or two weeks prior to your period. For many people, this slight dip doesn’t interfere with breastfeeding and rebounds quickly. Myo-inositol can benefit women who are experiencing a low milk supply, especially due to thyroid imbalance, PCOS, and insulin resistance. It is generally considered safe and compatible with breastfeeding with very low risk to the breastfeeding baby. (11) Myo-inositol helps signal glucose to be taken up by cells and out of the bloodstream and provides structure to your cells. (12) Myo-inositol is considered a safe and natural insulin sensitizer. It can help improve insulin sensitivity and endocrine function. (13) D-chiro inositol promotes glucose storage and glycogen synthesis. It is produced by Myo-inositol with the help of a specific enzyme and is highest in the liver and fat tissue. (14) The naturally occurring ratio of Myo-inositol to D-chiro inositol in the body is a 40:1 ratio. Women with PCOS may be less efficient with converting Myo-inositol to D-chiro inositol, which can have a role in causing insulin resistance. Because they work together, taking a high-quality supplement with both Myo and D-chiro inositol with a 40:1 ratio is recommended. (15) Before beginning supplements, check with your healthcare provider to ensure it is compatible with your individual health needs.

Moringa increases nutrition, promotes healthy lactation, and enhances milk supply. This superfood has been passed down through the generations to nourish new mothers and babies. Packed with vital vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, Moringa can boost energy levels, aid recovery after birth, raise iron and calcium levels, and support lactation throughout the breastfeeding journey. A double-blind, randomized controlled study of 68 mothers showed Moringa significantly increased milk production postpartum. There were 31 mothers in the treatment group who received a supplement made with Moringa leaves and 37 mothers in the control group taking a placebo. All of the parent’s babies were born before 37 weeks and were pumping milk for their babies in the NICU. They pumped their milk from days 1-5 postpartum for the study, and their volume of milk was measured. On day 3, the mothers taking Moringa had 28-32% more milk than the placebo group. By day 5, the Moringa group had a 152-176% increase in milk compared to the control group. (19) Moringa may help increase prolactin for increased milk production. (21) Moringa can help lower blood pressure and blood sugar, improve thyroid function, and may not be compatible with some medications so be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning any supplements.

Fun Fact: 100 grams of dried moringa has 9x the protein of yogurt, 17x the calcium of cow’s milk, and 24x the iron of spinach. (20)

Legendairy Milk’s Lactation Supplements with Moringa:

• Milkapalooza - a blend of herbs that includes Moringa and helps boost milk supply quickly and increase overall nutrition for the mom.

In conclusion, while experiencing a dip in your milk supply during your period can be concerning, it’s often a normal and temporary response to hormonal fluctuations. Understanding the role of hormones in the postpartum period and how factors like breastfeeding routines, hormone health, and diet impact your milk supply can empower you to take proactive steps. By maintaining a close breastfeeding relationship, supporting your body with nutrient-dense foods and supplements like calcium-magnesium and myo-inositol, and exploring natural lactation boosters like moringa, you can reduce the impact your period has on your milk supply. With a little support, your milk supply can stabilize, ensuring a continued positive and fulfilling breastfeeding journey for you and your baby.