Weird Post-Partum Symptoms

You just delivered and you're getting:

• Night Sweats

• Hot Flashes

• Vaginal Dryness resulting in...

• Painful Intercourse

Is this premature menopause? No, they are actually normal post-partum hormone changes. While you're breast-feeding your milk hormone (prolactin) suppresses your ovarian hormones (estrogen and progesterone) to near menopausal levels.

Normally I don't recommend treating these symptoms unless they interfere with normal function. One example is you can treat vaginal dryness with lubricants such as "Replens" or with vaginal estrogens. Vaginal estrogen creams and suppositories do not cause significant levels of estrogen in the bloodstream and are safe to use while breastfeeding.

• Did you get hot flashes or night sweats with breast feeding?

• Did you treat sexual discomfort or just "put up with it"?