Postpartum Recovery: Addressing Milk Supply, Period Return & Hot Flashes

Question
Hello.  I am 28 years old and I had my first child at the end of July.  I was nursing, but I had a low milk supply in spite of everything I tried to make it greater (nursing and pumping - seemingly all the time).  I started getting my period when my daughter was three months old and they've been regular since (my last period started March 18).  My milk dried up entirely when my daughter was 6 1/2 months old.  Ever since I gave birth, I've been getting hot all the time and I have really bad PMS now (much worse than before I got pregnant).  My skin is always dry and I'm always thirsty.  I thought this was all from hormonal changes from breastfeeding and needing extra fluids, but now it's been 2 months since I nursed and it's all still going on.  My hair is also still falling out (which I heard was normal at this stage, but I thought I'd better mention it).  Is my body just still not back to normal from pregnancy or should I be worried?  I get so hot sometimes I fear that I'm going through early menopause!

Answer
It may be taking you a bit longer to get back to your normal pre-pregnancy hormonal levels. You might ask your obstetrician to get a hormonal level on you (FSH, LH, Prolactin) to see if it is back to normal yet.  Sometimes, you will not get back to normal (hormone wise) for up to a year after you wean the baby. Discuss it with your doctor.  If your hormones are normal, and you have dry, hot skin and are always thirsty, you may have something else going on and should then consult a medical doctor.