As your breastfeeding continues past the first few weeks, most women will settle into a comfortable pattern of enjoyable breastfeeding. A few women will experience ongoing problems, and some will meet challenges at later stages of their breastfeeding. These are discussed in
breastfeeding variations.
Your increased breast size and discomfort will usually settle down by about 7 to 10 days after the birth. Many women find they don't leak as much milk (if they have been), and their breasts feel softer, especially after feeding from them. Some women find they notice their breasts changing even more about 6 to 12 weeks after the birth. Their feeding becomes easier and more efficient, their breasts become softer, and even smaller and the 'fuller' feelings become less. They may also notice they are not leaking milk, unless they experience a
let-down. (Although not every woman leaks milk.) These are normal physical signs and are not indications that your breast milk production is becoming less. You may wish to read
milk supply.
The hormones produced for breastfeeding often bring about unique physical changes for the many weeks or months a woman breastfeeds her baby. You may not experience all these variations, and in most cases they will disappear after you stop breastfeeding. They can include:
Delay in menstrual periods
Vaginal lubrication
Hair loss
Allergies and sensitivities
'Breastfeeding haze'
Delay in menstrual periods. The return of normal menstrual periods after the birth, for women who breastfeed, will vary widely between individual women. Many women will not have a normal menstrual period until their baby is fully weaned off the breast (perhaps 9 to12 months or more). Other women will start to experience periods again once their baby starts on solids at around 4 to 6 months, (or if they start complementing their baby's breastfeeds with formula milk).