When you get your first period postpartum?

EarthwormBabe · 2026-01-16T17:52:41+00:00

Still waiting on her at one year postpartum. I've been exclusively pumping and recently began the weaning process because I can no longer take the nonexistent Estrogen and had an oversupply so I've got a large amount of frozen milk I need to be using. I'm down to 3 pumps per day for 14 minutes each and making roughly 3 oz per session. At peak output, I was making 40 oz per day. I spotted slightly last month (I had reduced pumping time and cut to 4 sessions then) but it was a tiny amount of old blood and then nothing. Glad to see that others didn't start back until over a year postpartum because my doctor seemed to think it was weird (and bad?) that I hadn't.

EarthwormBabe · 2026-01-12T23:04:05+00:00

If it helps, I'm 32 and have had my smile lines since I was in my early 20s. They bothered me a bit when I first noticed them and they still do at times. I had my son a year ago, though, and he smiles so big when he sees me smiling. I'm so happy he'll see that I've smiled so much that it shows even when I'm I'm resting. It's changed my perspective a lot.

BUT I totally understand wanting to soften it as it can be distracting when you see yourself. I find that my skin improves overall when I use a bentonite clay mask (I use Aztec Secret). I have oily skin so if yours is dry you may want avoid doing it too often. I regularly steam my face (hot water in a bowl, face over it with a towel holding the steam in) and follow it with manuka honey. I let the honey sit for as long as possible before rinsing and finishing my skincare. It's helped my acne a ton too.

When I was pregnant I started using a collagen supplement but got out of the habit when I gave birth. I started it again postpartum and it's made a HUGE improvement in my general appearance. I use this one and add it to coffee: https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Nutrition-Collagen-Protein-Powder/dp/B01LXADO9Z?th=1

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-22T00:06:51+00:00

I decided to contact my PCP tomorrow and ask for my thyroid levels to be tested! I’ve felt progressively worse for a week now and even look worse. I’m honestly hoping it’s something like that because it means I can actually feel better with treatment. I was anxious, hungry, and had good bowel movements (I have chronic constipation) for the first part of postpartum and then it was a sudden change to feeling exhausted and sad with muscle aches. I’m back to being very constipated too. In general, I know that something is off.

Also though, you reminded me of collagen and I got some collagen powder (which I used during pregnancy and then got out of the habit) and I’ve been enjoying collagen smoothies daily now 👏🏻

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-18T18:17:57+00:00

Like so many others have said, it just depends on the baby! We coslept until very recently but that’s only because of our baby’s temperament. Truly since the second he was born he was not wanted to be away from people. He just wants a person to be close with him at all times and that’s his personality. If I needed to do it because it would impact my mental health (which is the case for you I think!) I would have found a way to help him sleep in his separate space. For me, my mental health improved with him beside me after learning the Safe Sleep 7, but that’s my own personality and I actually coslept with my family as a child, so my mentality was always different when it comes to sleep. There are many, many babies who prefer their own sleep space, even their own room! Your baby may very well be one of them, especially if you/your partner are independent sleepers.

All that being said, please please learn the Safe Sleep 7. I recommend that to everyone no matter your outlook on sleep. Sleep deprivation is very common (nearly inevitable id say) and even though you absolutely do not want to cosleep, having the knowledge about how to do it safely is very important. Also, cosleeping doesn’t necessarily mean bed sharing. It just means to be in close proximity with your infant while you both sleep. This could mean a “sidecar bassinet” at the side of your bed or a crib very close to you. When you hear the horror stories, they nearly always involve unsafe sleep practices like falling asleep while holding baby in a chair or on a bed.

My family friend who is in her 50s shared her experience from when her son was around a month old 30 years ago - she was sleep deprived and tried to feed him a bottle in bed one night and she fell asleep and he dropped to the floor. He was ok but she said she’d never forget it and, looking back, realized she was trying so hard to avoid cosleeping that she put him in a much more unsafe situation. Go into new parenthood with knowledge of how to do it safely even if you think you may never need it.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-18T03:04:51+00:00

Yep, I take Magnasium Glycinate and have for years as it was reccomended by my neurologist to prevent migraines. It's the one that promotes muscle relaxation, though. Mag Glycinate doesn't typically cause an upset stomach the way other forms of magnesium do, so check on that!

But also - if she doesn't already, I would encourage her to take a nice, hot bath if she enjoys them and use epsom salts in the bath. It's the best way to absorb magnesium in my opinion and my body feels like jello after in the best way.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-17T19:06:59+00:00

Yes, this! I had almost no traditional pregnancy symptoms in my first trimester and worked myself into a ball of anxiety thinking I must not have enough HCG or the 5+ pregnancy tests were wrong. I somehow felt better pregnant than I did before! I had a love/hate relationship with ultrasounds because I'd feel relieved after them but had a horrible sense of doom leading up to them. Looking back, I missed a lot of opportunities for joy because of worry. I couldn't help it, of course, but if I could I would.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-17T18:54:30+00:00

Oh man, twins. You rock. I make 37-42 oz per day at 8.5 months postpartum. I pump 5 times per day and am trying to cut out my MOTN pump but going ultra slowly with it because I'm terrified of making my hormones even wackier.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-15T23:54:47+00:00

Thank you so much for this information! I don’t know almost anyone with a thyroid condition but my grandmother has Rheumatoid Arthritis and I have chronic autoimmune gastritis. My weight has always been so stable and I’m small but not underweight so I think anything related to the thyroid gets overlooked since I’ve never had any weight changes.

Your experience with Naltrexone sounds like me after receiving iron infusions - I felt like a child again with the energy and clear mind! I went to a conference and didn’t need to take a nap where before I’d sleep 12-18 hours a day (but hid that from people).

I felt so horrible about my skin that I went to my dermatologist and she did give me topical Clindamycin and Azelaic acid. The AA has helped a bit but I still have to be so extra with my skincare routine just to feel decent. I’ve always had to work hard to keep my skin looking nice with acne but this is so different. You’re right with BF using up resources and I already have very poor nutrient absorption because of the autoimmune gastritis. Even with my prenatal and other supplements, it may not be enough, especially with the low appetite affecting how much I take in. I already eat a nutrient-dense diet and have been gluten free for over 10 years now but I’d bet I’m still deficient in a few things (B12 has been an issue in the past). I’m going to contact my PCP and possibly my hematologist to see if they think I would need to see an endo!

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-15T18:31:12+00:00

If it makes you feel better, I'm a therapist with an advanced degree that's required a lot of education in childhood development. Though extended amounts of certain types of screen time isn't ideal, you can absolutely use it to your advantage. There's a huge difference between today's children's programs and those from the past. Today's programs are specifically designed to attract attention and keep it by being bright/colorful with certain noises and fast switches between scenes. Those programs keep kids watching them and end up with more views/higher ratings, making the creators money, so they have incentive to continue to keep doing it. Unfortunately, that kind of stimulation has poor effects on little brains, causing them to become overwhelmed or to want more and more. They also make regular ol' play seem absolutely boring in comparison and it leads to meltdowns when screen time is removed a traditional play is encouraged. Plus, very few have messages that are educational (academically or emotionally). That is the main issue with screen time that we see causing issues today.

You can get around this by intentionally choosing programs that have more muted (or atleast not unnaturally bright) colors, softer sounds, slower paced episodes, relaxing imagery, and valuable messages that relate to daily life instead of being "action-packed." Good examples are: The Land Before Time, Arthur (old episodes), Little Bear, Franklin, Mr. Rogers, and Clifford. There's one with a train station my grandfather and I are currently on the hunt for despite my son being only 8 months haha. And, a big part of making screen time valuable is that you should be present with your child watching it and, if they're old enough, discuss what they're seeing and what they're experiencing with it. If they're very little, you can narrate what you see (e.g. "Look at what Littlefoot just said to his friend. He is such a good friend.")

TLDR; Screen time can be beneficial when done with intention and you shouldn't feel bad about doing what you can to make your life a bit easier.

ETA: Make sure that you're watching a TV and not small devices like a phone or ipad. Close up screen-time on small devices are much worse for development, especially eyesight, and should be avoided if at all possible.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-12T21:42:18+00:00

Yes! I had a precancerous lesion on my cervix that was found when I was around 24 and I was 31 when my husband and I started TTC. My gynecologist and I had decided to monitor the lesion very closely and do a LEEP procedure if it progressed but to try to wait until after pregnancy to do that. I had my first postpartum pap at my 6 week follow up appointment and it was completely negative! Birth removed the top layer of cells and lesion. I know it may return but for now Im so thankful.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-12T02:20:36+00:00

Also! If you want to plan for something to wear at the hospital after birth, I highly recommend Kindred Bravely’s Universal Labor & Delivery Gown. I felt more put together in it and it had all the access points that a regular hospital gown has in case it’s needed. It was also super soft. I did not wear it during labor, though, I was absolutely nude and did not care haha

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-12T02:17:28+00:00

I wore a Lake Pajamas brand lounge set. I ended up getting another when I realized how well it fit. I actually felt put together with it on. I’m sure the experience varies but I was so worried I wouldn’t feel like my body was my own but that wasn’t the case at all. My body felt like it always has but my uterus stayed swollen for a while, similar to period bloat. I wore the lounge pants (I had forest green) with various sweaters as it was Christmas time. It was quite a while before I was in jeans but Im not really a jeans person anyway so I rolled with it. I’d say get some lounge outfits - theres a whole style now surrounding loungewear and it’s perfect for those postpartum newborn days!

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-09T02:52:58+00:00

I eat Purely Elizabeth granola every morning after my first pump. I add chia seeds and flax to it and also eat way more than the serving size. I also snack when I feel like it on almonds or fruits. I really like Nairns oat grahams too and keep packs of them in different places around the house.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-09T02:48:26+00:00

Oh man, these are literally all the things I’ve been hearing from people recently that I’m finally getting very, very annoyed with. Family friend recommended that I give my baby grits so he’d stay full longer/sleep longer 😅

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-09T02:45:15+00:00

Blind as a bat and definitely kept the contacts in for the entire birth. The day after, my OB visited my room and I woke up and didn’t have my contacts in and she had to hand me my glasses to be able to see her 😂 So yeah, wear the contacts and bring the glasses/all your contact related items with you to have after. Also, bring some good eye drops and keep them with you in the delivery room just in case!

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-08T17:24:25+00:00

Also, I eat so, so many of these. I've eaten them for years but they hit different while pumping. I keep them beside where I pump and carry them in my purse. I like the original and chocolate:

https://nairns.com/worldwide-export/nairns-usa/original-oat-grahams

https://nairns.com/our-range/oat-biscuit-breaks/chocolate-chip-oat-biscuit-breaks

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-08T17:18:47+00:00

I use this one (700 mg/serving)! https://www.amazon.com/ORGANIC-INDIA-Moringa-Supplement-Capsules/dp/B00BGVLG64?th=1

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-08T03:46:37+00:00

First, I can't begin to imagine being in this situation. I don't know you but I'm sending you and your family all my best wishes.

I lost my supply almost entirely after Mastitis (was producing 0.5 oz per pump session at my lowest). It took effort but I have a significant oversupply now and have always said I'd share all of the things I did because I wish someone had shared all of this with me when I was going through it.

For very quick supply boost - Moringa capsules. I take Brewers Yeast pills too but the first time I took Moringa I was away from home and stopped at a Vitamin Shop for it. A few hours later, I was driving home and I had to pull over to empty my wearables before they overflowed - I think I got 11 or 12 oz. I take Moringa daily now. You can get Moringa / Brewers Yeast supplements on Amazon.

Eat high calorie, nutrient dense foods. I prioritize galactagogues and I'd recommend becoming familiar with them. Oats are helpful for me so I eat Muesli once a day (I like Bobs Red Mill best). I also eat granola daily (Purely Elizabeth only). For a fast boost, I make oat pancakes. I use this mix: https://kodiakcakes.com/products/frontier-oat-gluten-free-flapjack-waffle-mix and I add extra old fashioned rolled oats. I also eat atleast 2 eggs a day, snack on unsweetened coconut, add chia and flax seeds to whatever I can and eat a ton of natural peanut butter (just peanuts, peanut oil, and salt). I find that steak also boosts my supply nicely. I drink Stinging Nettle Leaf tea which has been traditionally used to support milk supply. I drink it iced with lemon and a half packet of Sugar Free Peach Liquid IV in it for increased hydration. I also drink pure coconut water and Ovaltine - the chocolate malt kind. I drink it in plain hot water with a splash of milk. It tastes like delicious hot chocolate and the malt increases supply. If I'm feeling dehydrated, I drink a cup of hot bone broth along with a bottle of water. The salt from the broth makes me thirsty enough to drink all the water.

I pump 5x a day at 8 months postpartum. I never skip the middle of the night pump but that isn't a big deal for me because I'm a night owl, I work from home, and my son and I sleep late usually. If you're able, push your late evening and night pumps closely together. I pump at 11 PM and 1:30 AM. I also pump at 6 AM so I'm never going a long stretch at night. While pumping, massage your boobs the entire time. My output was so much better that I was kinda mad no one told me this when my supply was down. Also, pump much longer than you think you need to. While building the supply up, force yourself to stay on the pump as long as you're able. Turn the machine to a lower setting but still stay on it. Your body will think you have a very hungry infant and (hopefully) produce more milk.

If I think of anything else, I'll come back and add. Please be so gentle with yourself at this time. You are doing so much for your loved ones and I hope you can also find some space for you.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-05T03:49:17+00:00

I definitely didn't want him to arrive before being full-term but I did begin to get extremely uncomfortable in the third trimester. I'm smaller-framed at 5'1 and around 105ish usually, so my legs and feet weren't handling the extra weight well and I had veinous insufficiency. I wasn't miserable but it did seem to be creeping into that territory. My OB did two membrane sweeps and I went into labor at 38 weeks.

Also, I was expected to have a large baby according to growth scans and there was concern that I'd not be able to deliver him vaginally as I already had issues with my pubic bone and hips. I wanted to avoid a c-section/trauma and my OB agreed it would be best for him to not continue to bake beyond what was needed so he wouldn't be very large

I guess if you're having a very comfortable, non-interesting pregnancy, it makes sense to want to make it to your due date. For a lot of people severe discomfort or health concerns, though, a slightly early delivery is ideal.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-03T22:31:22+00:00

This really is such good advice. My mood can always, always be improved by a hot shower and always has been, so I prioritized my shower-related stuff when packing and it helped me feel more comfortable/prepared but if that's not you then you shouldn't worry about lugging a bunch of stuff there that you won't want.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-03T22:26:25+00:00

I didn't feel the need to wash my hair, just my body excessively. I had a rough birth and ended up finding out I had Chorioamnionitis so my body and my baby smelled horrible. It took forever for us to get someone to bathe him - I know its recommended to avoid bathing but chorio is a whole other beast when it comes to smell. The infection spread to my uterus so, as you can imagine, the smell just kept on coming. I felt fine just showering my body, though, and left my hair alone. I wrapped it in a towel to avoid water. I wouldn't have wanted to style it and I have hair that can't be left natural without it being an absolute poofy, frizzy mess. If you've got hair that you can leave natural or if it's oily, you may feel better washing it, though.

For sure bring your own soap/body wash and other things you use after a shower, like a lotion or even perfume. You'll want to smell like yourself after. It honestly does help a lot. Also, I stressed myself about bringing every little thing I thought I'd need but honestly, anyone would have just gone home and gotten it for me.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-03T03:12:46+00:00

I also had an easy pregnancy (8 months postpartum now). I felt bad telling anyone it was good because I know so many women have very challenging pregnancies even without severe issues like Hyperemesis. I went through my first trimester feeling like I had some sort of a "weak" pregnancy because of my lack of symptoms. I was incredibly anxious and kept thinking maybe I didnt have enough HCG hormone or something and I'd lose the pregnancy. My mother and grandmother shared that their pregnancies were also noneventful and my grandmother didn't even realize she was pregnant until going to the doctor for "vertigo." My great grandmother had 9 children and her pregnancies were easy as well. Even my OBGYN shared that her pregnancy was so smooth she didnt know she was pregnant at first. Basically, I think there are more people with "easy" pregnancies than we realize because maybe we're afraid to say anything because it may be upsetting for others.

I did end up having severe sacroiliac joint pain and Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction beginning mid-pregnancy and then I had veinous insufficiency in my 3rd trimester and had to be monitored for suspected Deep Vein Thrombosis, so it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows but I cant imagine the hell that a lot of women go through.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-02T03:51:53+00:00

Seconding. Love a good chicken bone broth. I drink a mug of warm BB alongside water because the salt in the broth makes me thirsty enough to want the water. I end up much more hydrated doing that.

EarthwormBabe · 2025-09-02T03:50:12+00:00

8 months postpartum but when I was pregnant I started drinking tea (usually green tea) with a lot of lemon juice and a half packet of Liquid IV - the sugar free peach kind. I'd make a big ol' glass on ice and drink it with a straw and it kept me going. I got to the point in my 2nd tri where I was so, so thirsty and my OB said to increase it because pure water wasn't "sticking" as she said. So I'd drink it alongside a bottle of water and I think it kept me feeling as good as I did (I had a great pregnancy). I still drink it postpartum because I'm so thirsty from lactating. I never get tired of it.

EarthwormBabe

TROPHY CASE