At about 3 – 4 months postpartum, some mothers get their first period. The taste of their milk changes temporarily and their supply can take a dip.
Afterward, her periods might recur in their monthly rhythm, or they may remain several months apart and only slowly become monthly.
To prevent the dip in milk supply, mothers take calcium and magnesium at a ration of 2:1 when they begin feeling hormonal or at ovulation (two weeks before the next expected period.)
Mothers whose diets are calcium-depleting (drinking caffeine, soft drinks, consuming a lot of sugar and refined carbs, or meat) should take 1000 mg of calcium a day, together with 500 mg of magnesium.
Larger body sizes may need more, and mothers on very healthy diets may need only half this amount.
You can use supplements that you may already have–or try the one linked just below. It uses four capsules for a full dose, making it easy to spread the dose throughout the day with one capsule taken before meals.
The way the dose is divided into small portions, you can increase or decrease the dose according to your individual needs :
By the way–if you tend toward menstrual cramps, the delicate herbal tea, Vervain officinalis, is milk-boosting and especially cramp-soothing. 2 – 3 cups a day. (You want Vervain officinalis, or Verbena Officinalis, not Blue Vervain or other variety.)
