How Soon After Pregnancy Can You Get Your Period
Harriet Wehrenberg
When will you get your period after pregnancy? Parents who breastfeed all the time usually don't get their period again until they stop nursing. They may also get their periods if they stop nursing partially, especially at night. Parents who bottle-feed, or do a combination of breastfeeding and bottle feeding, may get their periods as soon as five weeks after giving birth.
According to one study, over two-thirds of parents who don't breastfeed get their first period after pregnancy within 12 weeks of giving birth. Only around one-fifth of breastfeeding parents will get their period within six months of giving birth. If you are a breastfeeding parent, your menstrual cycle will return within one to two months after you stop nursing your child or start significantly reducing the amount you nurse.
Post-birth bleeding. Whether you had a C-section or delivered vaginally, you will have bleeding for six to eight weeks after giving birth. However, this is not considered menstruation. It is called lochia.
In the beginning, your lochia will be deep red, and you may pass a few blood clots. These clots may be as large as a plum. As the days pass, the discharge will become more watery and fade to pinkish or brownish. After a few weeks, the lochia is usually whitish or yellowish and may not be present every single day.
You can still get pregnant. Even if you don't get your period after giving birth because you're breastfeeding, there's a small chance you can get pregnant because you might still ovulate during this time. The risk is between one and five percent. Consider which birth control methods you will use to manage this risk.
How your period changes after pregnancy. Once your period returns, it may be different than it was before. It may be heavier. You may have more or less cramping than you had before. Your periods may be irregular, especially if you are still breastfeeding sometimes. At first, you may have some more clotting in your periods than before. Experts recommend seeking medical advice if you have blood clots in your period for at least a week.
Some people find their periods get easier after pregnancy. This may be because the uterus has stretched out and relaxed. Others find they are more difficult, which may be due to the larger, stretched out uterus having more tissue to shed each cycle.
Irregular periods. Just having one menstrual cycle after pregnancy does not mean your periods have returned. You may or may not have ovulated. You are more likely to ovulate if you have started to wean your child.
Your menstrual cycle may affect your milk supply if you get your period. In the time between ovulation and when you get your period, your milk supply may be lower. Experts recommend adding calcium and magnesium to your diet to maintain a steady supply of breast milk throughout your whole cycle.
Generally speaking, the less your baby nurses, the sooner your period will come back. If your baby sleeps through the night from an early age, or if you're supplementing with formula, your period may return sooner than it would if you were exclusively and frequently breastfeeding.
That said, breastfeeding's effects on a new mom's menstrual cycle can vary widely: There's no reliable way to predict exactly when you'll get your first period after pregnancy or what that period will be like, because every woman's body is different. Some women who breastfeed exclusively around the clock may start menstruating a month after giving birth, while others who supplement with formula may not get their period for several months.
You'll have some bleeding and discharge immediately after giving birth, which you may mistake for your first period, but this isn't your menstrual cycle. It's actually very normal postpartum bleeding called lochia, and it can linger for up to six to eight weeks.
Even though lochia can be messy, it's best that you don't use tampons for at least six weeks, until you've had your postpartum checkup and your provider has given you the okay to use them and have sex. There's a chance that tampons could introduce bacteria into your still-healing uterus or irritate any perineal tearing.
Everyone's postpartum period experience will be different; some women's menstrual cramps may return to normal, while some women may find that their period pain is less intense after pregnancy. One study found that some women who had c-sections experienced heavier, more painful periods after their deliveries.
Yes. It's unusual, but it is possible to get pregnant in as little as three weeks after giving birth, even if your periods haven't returned yet. (That said, most healthcare providers recommend that you wait at least four to six weeks before you have sex after birth to let your body heal.)
Regardless of whether or not you're breastfeeding, your body will release its first postpartum egg before you menstruate. If you don't start using birth control as soon as you start having sex again, there's a chance you can conceive, even before that first postpartum period arrives.
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:
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Many women who bleed during pregnancy go on to deliver a healthy baby. However, you should immediately contact your doctor or midwife if you notice bleeding from your vagina at any time during your pregnancy.
There is no way to know if your periods will return the same way they were before you were pregnant. If you experience a different kind of period pain or your periods have changed, speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.
Once you start ovulating, you can get pregnant. This can happen before you have your first period after giving birth. So, if you want to avoid pregnancy while breastfeeding, you should use contraception.
If you notice that your baby fusses at your breast when you have your period, it might be a sign that it tastes different temporarily. If you are concerned about anything related to breastfeeding, you can speak with a lactation consultant (health professional who specialises in breastfeeding).
There are a variety of problems that can occur with the menstrual cycle. Some of the common problems are covered briefly below but it is best to discuss any specific period problems with your local doctor or Family Planning clinic.
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If you are not using a birth control method, it is possible to get pregnant very soon after having a baby. Using a birth control method in the weeks after you have a baby (the postpartum period) helps you avoid an unintended pregnancy and lets you plan your family. Many experts recommend waiting at least 18 months between pregnancies before having another baby.
A good time to choose the birth control method you will use after pregnancy is while you are still pregnant. There are many birth control methods to choose from. Many methods can be started right after you have your baby. Some can be started even before you leave the hospital.
The IUD may come out of the uterus. This happens in about 5 in 100 of users in the first year of using the IUD. It is more common for the IUD to come out of the uterus when it is inserted right after delivery. Serious complications from using an IUD, such as infection or injury, are rare.
The hormonal IUD may cause spotting and irregular bleeding in the first 3 to 6 months of use. The hormonal IUD often causes menstrual bleeding to stop completely. Other side effects include headaches, nausea, depression, and breast tenderness.
The birth control implant is a single flexible rod about the size of a matchstick that is inserted under the skin in your upper arm. You can have the implant inserted immediately after a vaginal or cesarean birth. It releases progestin into the body and is approved for up to 3 years of use.
The implant may cause unpredictable bleeding. Your periods may be heavier, lighter, or longer. Some users experience lack of periods, infrequent periods, or bleeding in between periods. In some cases, menstrual bleeding stops completely.
Birth control pills, the vaginal ring, and the patch are birth control methods that contain estrogen and progestin. They work mainly by preventing ovulation. Depending on the method, you need to remember to do one of the following
With pills, depending on the brand, there may be a week or a few days when you take no pills or take pills that are not active (do not have hormones). During this time, you will have your period. With the patch or ring, you will have your period during the fourth week, when no patch or ring is used.
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