Navigating motherhood often brings surprising things that maybe you weren’t expecting, especially regarding the body’s response during breastfeeding. Hormonal shifts affect breastfeeding mothers in similar ways that menopausal symptoms affect older women. Once you understand how and why these changes happen, you will be better equipped to deal with the symptoms.
Hormonal Changes: The Common Thread
The core similarity between menopause and breastfeeding lies in the hormonal shifts—particularly estrogen and progesterone. These hormones prepare your body for breastfeeding during pregnancy by developing milk-producing tissues. After the birth of your baby, your level of pregnancy hormones will drop quickly over the first three days postpartum. Understanding that these hormonal fluctuations are typical can help alleviate concerns about the changes your body is going through.
Symptoms of Low Estrogen
During the early period of breastfeeding, your estrogen levels are low. This lack of estrogen can cause symptoms often associated with menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and joint pain. While it might be distressing, recognizing these as normal postpartum responses due to hormonal adjustments can offer some peace of mind.
Manage Discomfort Effectively
Here are several approaches to manage these symptoms without affecting breastfeeding:
- Choose Birth Control Without Estrogen: Opt for birth control methods that do not contain estrogen to avoid affecting your breast milk supply.
- Use Local Estrogen Treatments: For vaginal dryness and related symptoms, topical estrogen creams can provide relief and won’t be absorbed into the body.
- Know it’s Temporary: Unlike menopause, the low estrogen phase during breastfeeding is temporary. Most of the time, your hormones will normalize between two to six months postpartum.
How 127 Pediatrics Can Help You in Your Breastfeeding Journey
Life as a breastfeeding mother is similar to life as a menopausal woman due to hormonal shifts. While your estrogen levels are low, you may experience bothersome symptoms. Thankfully, these changes are temporary and are very treatable. In addition to speaking with your own personal doctor, you can follow our online educational content about breastfeeding. In addition to online content, Dr. Wadley as offers personalized breastfeeding medicine and lactation consults.
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© 127 Pediatrics, May 2024
This article is for information purposes only. Please consult your personal physician for medical advice.
