Explore the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Blog

Pregnancy and postpartum are often painted as joyful seasons—but the truth is, they can also feel overwhelming, exhausting, and full of confusing symptoms. Maybe you’ve been told your bloating, constipation, or fatigue are “just part of postpartum.” Or that your baby’s fussiness is normal and they’ll eventually grow out of it. Perhaps you’ve even been advised to “just cut out dairy” without anyone looking deeper into what’s really going on.

One of the many surprises of the postpartum journey is how your body responds to chest/breastfeeding—and that includes your period. Some parents enjoy months (or even years!) without a menstrual cycle, while others see their period return much sooner than expected. Let’s take a closer look at why your cycle may return (sooner rather than later), how it can impact chest/breastfeeding, and what you can do to support your body during this time.

One of the most important nutrients for older babies, especially breastfed babies, is iron. Learn more about the best iron-rich foods for infants and toddlers.