What To Expect From Your Period After Giving Birth
Everyone knows a pregnancy means you stop getting your period for a while. And honestly, it might have been a welcome break. But once the baby comes, you will probably start to wonder what to expect from your period after having given birth.
The answer to this question will vary for everyone, and thatâs perfectly normal. Each body and menstrual cycle are different! But regardless of when your first period postpartum comes, itâs a good idea to know what to expect. Here are some questions you might have about having your first period after giving birth.
How Long Does It Usually Take For Periods To Return After Birth
The timing of your first period postpartum depends on whether or not you breastfeed. If youre formula feeding, Aunt Flo should arrive about six to eight weeks after the big day. However, if youre exclusively breastfeedingmeaning, your baby drinks absolutely nothing but breastmilk your period will likely be delayed. Thats because prolactin, the hormone released during breastfeeding, delays the restarting of your ovulating. No ovulation = no period.
Some women wont get a period for the entire time they are breastfeeding. Others will get their period while they are still breastfeeding, particularly after they have introduced bottles of formula, solid foods or when baby starts sleeping through the night.
Dont Be Surprised If Your Period Comes And Goes
To confuse matters even more: A breastfeeding mamas period may come and go. If your baby starts sleeping through the night at three months, mom may get her period back. But, if babys sleep pattern changes , moms milk production and hormones will change and her period can stop again. It will return once baby starts sleeping longer stretches at night.
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When Will My Period Happen
If youve used birth control methods such as the pill or an implant, youve probably noticed that your period changes. After a month or two of using birth control, you may notice that your period is less frequent or even that it doesnt happen at all. This can be concerning, since it can mean that youre no longer protected against pregnancy. Luckily, this is rarely the case, but sometimes you may need to go to the doctor if you notice that your period hasnt returned after using birth control for a while. A lot of people have this problem, but there are a few ways to get your period back.
What To Expect From Periods After Delivery
First postpartum periods appear for everyone differently. It is evident that your body has been tremendous changes through the course of pregnancy and would require time to readjust. Coming back to normalcy will be a gradual process. Until then, the natural biological processes will affect your body somewhat uniquely.
Since your body is again adjusting to the process of menstruation after a lengthy gap, you can expect some changes. Some top changes include:
- Heavy menstruation after pregnancy
- Increase in pain
- Irregular periods
The majority of differences in your periods after pregnancy is due to the extra collection of uterine lining that needs to shed. Due to this extra lining, you are likely to experience intense pain and cramping. With time, these symptoms will reduce and your body will get back to normal.
A variety of health concerns prior to pregnancy can affect your postpartum periods. For instance, if you were suffering from thyroid, you are likely to experience a heavier flow.On the other hand, if you were suffering endometriosis before pregnancy, your first period after pregnancy may be lighter.
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When And What To Expect About Your First Post
Meredith Shur, MD, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as a certified medical examiner.
After a nine-plus-month hiatus from menstrual bleeding, your first post-baby period can come as a surprise. Without having a recent last period, it is hard to guess when the next one will arrive. And if youve had unprotected sex after the baby came, you may be nervous about getting pregnant again before you are emotionally and physically ready.
Which Postpartum Period Symptoms To Watch Out For
It is evident that your periods after pregnancy are going to be heavier and painful. However, these symptoms should not aggravate to a level of unbearable discomfort.
Watch out for the following symptoms:
- Excessive blood flow leading to soaking of sanitary pad every hour
- Bleeding accompanied by sudden, sharp or severe pains
- Sudden fever with no obvious source or apparent cause
- Persistent bleeding that lasts for more than a week
- Passing clots of blood that are larger than a golf ball
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Apart from these symptoms, if your periods have been absent for more than three months after you have stopped breastfeedingor if you notice that your menstruation is relatively scarce, you should talk to your doctor immediately.
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When To Call Your Provider About Your Period After Pregnancy
Your first periods after pregnancy may be different than before you had a baby. If you’re ever concerned about them or wondering whether your situation is normal, reach out to your healthcare provider. The following symptoms also warrant a call:
- Ongoing irregular or very heavy periods. If your periods don’t become more regular after a few months, or if you’ve had very heavy periods for more than two or three cycles , let your healthcare provider know. They may want to check for uterine or hormonal issues.
- You pass large clots. Anything bigger than a golf ball is a cause for concern.
- Foul-smelling discharge. This could indicate bacterial vaginosis or a uterus infection.
- Chills and/or a fever of more than 100.4. If this happens in the first few days following delivery, it could signal a potential uterus, kidney, or bladder infection.
- A longer delay in your period returning if you’re not breastfeeding. If you’re formula-feeding and don’t get your period by three months postpartum, talk to your OB or midwife. They may want to check for secondary amenorrhea , pregnancy, or other issues.
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Will My Period Be Different
It could be! Your first period after pregnancy could be heavier than youre used to, and then get lighter over time. Here are some other changes you might notice:
- Heavier or lighter flow than usual
- Stronger or weaker cramps than usual
- Irregular period lengths
Tracking your flow both before and after your pregnancy can be a useful way to monitor the changes to your period after having a baby. This is where period tracking apps like Cycles can be very useful. Having a record of your symptoms can help you when visiting the doctor, or even for remembering what to expect after a future pregnancy.
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Should I Wait To Have A Baby
Getting pregnant too soon after giving birth is linked to negative outcomes in both birthing parents and babies, so healthcare providers recommend waiting at least 18 months to do so. Your body can help you out with a bit of that, but most folks will notice their period returning before that time. This is why most healthcare providers recommend starting an effective form of birth control during the postpartum period .
Can You Get Pregnant Before You Have A Period
Yes! Yes! Yes! Once your cycle comes back, you will ovulate two weeks before you get your first period, so you will have no advance warning that youre fertile! If youre not ready to get pregnant again, check out your birth control options. Hormonal birth control wont hurt your baby, but if they contain estrogen they may cause your milk supply to dip. Ask your practitioner about non-hormonal birth control methods including diaphragms, condoms, certain versions of the pill , and some IUDs, that are totally compatible with breastfeeding.
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When To Expect Your Menstrual Period After Giving Birth
When will my Menstrual Period come after Birth and Delivery Of The Baby?
A regular Menstrual Period or Bleeding after Birth and Delivery Of The Baby usually come when you start ovulating again. This can last between 3-9 months on average. Breastfeeding may or may not prolong that time.
Your regular menstrual bleeding usually depends on ovulation, and you will usually ovulate before you get your first period. That means that you could get pregnant even before your first period arrives.
Breastfeeding or not?
Can I Get Pregnant Just After My Period Has Finished
Yes, although its not very likely. If you have sex without using contraception, you can conceive at any time during your menstrual cycle, even during or just after your period.
You can also get pregnant if you have never had a period before, during your first period, or after the first time you have sex.
Theres no safe time of the month when you can have sex without contraception and not risk becoming pregnant.
But there are times in your menstrual cycle when youre at your most fertile, and this is when youre most likely to conceive.
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How Will My Postpartum Period Be Different
Your period may change a little, a lot, or not at all after giving birth. You may have longer or shorter periods, a heavier or lighter flow, and the length of your cycle can be different, says Dr. White. Some people will even see a change in the amount of cramping they experience.
This is because the uterus grows during pregnancy and shrinks after delivery . When that happens, the body’s endometrial liningâthe tissue normally shed during a periodâhas to rebuild itself. This process takes place every time you get pregnant, so your period may look a little different with each baby.
If you used hormonal birth control before you got pregnant, you may have grown accustomed to lighter periods. Your postpartum period may be heavier after you give birth because your endometrial lining will be thicker than when you used hormonal contraception.
Using certain period products may feel a little strange at first, too: “If you had a vaginal delivery, a tampon might sit differently,” says Siobhan Dolan, M.D., a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
So When Can I Expect My First Period After Birth
Good question. Having a C-section or vaginal delivery does not affect how quickly your period will come after pregnancy. But your first postpartum period does depend on whether you breastfeed exclusivelyâthat is, if you nurse your baby every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours at night. If you bottle-feed, your first period after baby may happen as soon as a month after delivery, but should happen within 2 to 3 months. If you breastfeed exclusively, your period might not show up until after your baby is weaned. Thatâs because prolactin, the hormone thatâs in charge of your bodyâs breast milk production, suppresses ovulation in your body.
Postpartum periods may also affect your breast milk supply. Itâs not unusual for your supply to go down during your period or for your baby to notice a different taste. It might be a bit uncomfy to breastfeed during your first period after pregnancy.
When your first post-baby period does show up, thereâs a good chance your flow could be a little wonky compared to what youâre used to â it could be heavier, or even lighter. It could be longer or shorter than your pre-baby periods. The blood might have a different color or texture. You might notice different premenstrual symptoms. Your period could show up, skip a cycle, and start again. Donât worry, these changes are temporary and usually normal your hormones are still figuring out your post-baby body.
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When Will Your Period Start After C
The resumption of periods after Cesarean section entirely depends on your hormones. After the delivery, the hormone levels of Human Chronic Gonadotropin or hCG, Progesterone, and Oestrogen tend to be on the lower side. One significant element that sees when your periods will return after C-section is breastfeeding.
- If you are breastfeedingâ
It will have an impact on your hormonal levels. It increases the level of prolactin, causing a delay in ovulation. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding, it may take at least takesix months to resume your periods. Furthermore, the periods may also be irregular.
- If you are not breastfeedingâ
If you are not breastfeeding, the level of prolactin in your body decreases thereby causing periods to occur sooner. However, in a few cases, the first period occurs justafter six weeks after cesarean section delivery.
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When Will I Have A Period Again
When you get your first period after giving birth often depends on whether you are breastfeeding and how often. People who exclusively breastfeed tend to start their periods later than those who use formula or a combination of breast milk and formula.
A hormone called prolactin drives milk production, and it essentially stifles ovulation. When you don’t ovulate, you don’t have your period. It’s normal not to menstruate for six months or longer when you’re exclusively breastfeeding or chestfeeding your baby. However, everyone is different and some people get their cycles back sooner or later than others, especially if they experience disruptions in their nursing or pumping routines.
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How Soon Can I Take A Pregnancy Test
Timing is very important in pregnancy testing as HCG levels in urine help determine that a woman is pregnant. As HCG levels double every 48 hours, we can conclude that a woman is pregnant even in her early days of pregnancy.
The best time to take a pregnancy test is when your period is late. But, if you wish to know sooner, you can wait for two weeks after you had sex and can take the pregnancy test, but still, a test after the period is late is the most effective one.
First Postpartum Period Symptoms
Luckily , the symptoms you can expect when you get your first period after pregnancy are often pretty similar to what you experienced in the pastbut it can be highly variable, Schaffir says. In some women, their first period will be lighter than theyre used to some will be much heavier than theyre used to, he explains. You also may find that your periods are a little crampier than they were in the past, he says, but it depends on the person.
Another thing that can alter your period symptoms? What type of birth control youre using. If you were on hormonal birth control in the past and arent now , your period might feel a little different. Progestin-only forms of hormonal birth control are generally considered safe when youre breastfeeding and can ease some of those annoying symptoms, Greves says, resulting in less pain and a lighter flow.
While your postpartum period is likely to get back to usual fairly quickly, there are a few red flags to keep a lookout for. Call your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Heavy bleeding. If youre bleeding so much that you have to change pads every 20 to 30 minutes over two to three hours, Schaffir says, let your doctor know.
Excessive cramping. If this is unusual for you and over-the-counter pain relievers arent helping, call your doctor, Greves says.
Fever. A spike in your temperature isnt a normal period symptom and could be a sign of an underlying infection, Greves says.
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When Your First Postpartum Period Does Arrive You Can Expect It To Return To What It Was Like Before You Had Your Baby Though Potentially A Little Heavier
Initially, your first postpartum period might be heavier, especially if you had a C-section, Dr. Phillips says. The uterus may still be shedding its lining from pregnancy, so there might be additional blood.
There is not usually an increase in pain with your postpartum periods, though, Dr. Phillips says. The period of lochia discharge usually involves cramping, as your uterus is contracting and returning to its regular size. But often, your actual period, once it arrives, will be about the same in terms of pain, cramps, and PMS symptoms as it was before you gave birth .
In terms of regularity, youll most likely experience regular periods after birth, Dr. Phillips says, with a cycle of about 21 to 35 days in length . But this, too, can fluctuate based on breastfeeding sometimes your period will stop and start a few times before getting back to normal. Your second period after birth will tend to be more like your pre-pregnancy periods in terms of flow and length, however.
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If I Bottle Feed Instead Of Breastfeeding Will That Help My Cycle Go Back To Normal Quicker
This is possible, but there are many things that will influence your menstrual cycle. This includes things like stress or having a medical condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
The World Health Organization recommends that all babies are exclusively breastfed for 6 months, and then for 2 years or as long as mother and baby want to, alongside solid food.
There are lots of benefits to breastfeeding. However, there are many reasons why women decide not to breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding after a time.
Finding the best way to feed your baby can sometimes be difficult or stressful. Dont be afraid to ask for help if you need it, because its important that youre happy about how youre feeding your baby.
Your health visitor is there to help you find the best option for you and your baby.
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