Breastfeeding & the return of your first period during postpartum.

World Breastfeeding Week - August 2023. Photography By Taryn Mae

Prolactin is the main hormone responsible for milk production during breastfeeding. Prolactin is high during this journey to prevent ovulation.

The more stimulation the breasts receive, the more prolactin is made and the reduced likelihood you’re to menstruate. The less stimulation the breasts receive, it’s more likely you will menstruate.

The return and regulation of your first period during breastfeeding depends on a few things such as:

• How often the baby is breastfed?

• Expressing/pumping breastmilk?

• Is the baby having solid foods?

• Mix feeding of bottle and breast?

• How long is the baby sleeping at night?

• Are you going an entire night without feeding or pumping?

If you aren’t breastfeeding, your period (and potential ovulation) will return much quicker than someone who is breastfeeding.

Either way, once you’ve had a period, you should assume that you are fertile, and should use protection if you prefer not to become pregnant again.

There is no set time when the period will return, and I’ve seen in clinic and personally experienced a variation in the amount of time it takes for the period to return and regulate.