Period FAQs

how long after pregnancy do you get your period

by Mrs. Myrtle Rosenbaum PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Some women get their period as little as eight weeks after birth, others may not get their period for a year or longer —that’s a pretty big range! Our bodies are all different and countless factors can influence when you get your period after pregnancy, but the biggest one is whether you’re breastfeeding or not.

When should I expect my first period after pregnancy? Your first period can come anytime between two and 12 weeks after delivery. For most women, it happens between six and 12 weeks. If you exclusively breastfeed, your period will likely be delayed until you give your baby solid food and other forms of milk.Oct 12, 2021

Full Answer

When will my periods start again after pregnancy?

Your period will typically return about six to eight weeks after you give birth, if you aren’t breastfeeding. If you do breastfeed, the timing for a period to return can vary.

Is it normal to have a heavy period after pregnancy?

You can expect to have a heavy period after pregnancy right after you give birth. Actually this isn’t a normal period because it is made of blood and vaginal discharge and it is known as lochia. Some of the women say that lochia is so heavy that it seems to gush from time to time.

Why is my period lasting so long?

What causes long periods?

  • Hormone and ovulation changes. Changes to your hormones or ovulation may cause a long period. ...
  • Medications. You may experience long periods because of medications you take.
  • Pregnancy. ...
  • Uterine fibroids or polyps. ...
  • Adenomyosis. ...
  • Thyroid condition. ...
  • Bleeding condition. ...
  • Obesity. ...
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease. ...
  • Cancer. ...

How soon can you tell if you're pregnant?

Early Signs That You’re Pregnant

  • Spotting. When the embryo attaches itself to the lining of your uterus it can cause some irritation and damage to blood vessels.
  • Missed Period. ...
  • Swollen, Tender Breasts. ...
  • Fatigue Or Tiredness. ...
  • Morning Sickness. ...

See more

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When do you start your period again?

If you bottle feed your baby, or combine bottle feeding with breastfeeding, your first period could start as soon as 5 to 6 weeks after you give birth.

Why does breast milk stop your period?

This is because the hormone that causes your body to make breast milk can stop your body making the hormones that control your periods.

What to do if you have a blood clot during your period?

If you have blood clots in your period, or have much heavier blood loss than you have had before, you should speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP.

How long does it take to get your period after birth?

Some women get their period as little as eight weeks after birth, others may not get their period for a year or longer—that’s a pretty big range! Our bodies are all different and countless factors can influence when you get your period after pregnancy, but the biggest one is whether you’re breastfeeding or not.

When do you get your period?

If you are formula feedingor supplementing, you’re more likely to get your first period sooner—sometimes as early as 8 weeks after birth. If you are exclusively breastfeeding, nursing through the night, and not supplementing with any formula, you might not see your first period until baby’s first birthday.

How does solid food affect periods?

2. Introducing solids. Introducing solid food can also affect periods if baby eats a lot of solid food and nurses less. When baby eats more and nurses less, this signals mama’s body to produce less milk, and that little shift can be enough to trigger menstruation. Many babies start solid foodsaround six months.

Why does my baby have a period at night?

The more baby wakes up at night to eat, the more milk mama continues to produce , and that milk-producing hormone , prolactin, works to suppress menstruation . When baby starts to sleep through the night, mama’s body slowly produce s less prolactin and milk, which in turn can trigger mama’s period to return. 2.

When does a baby's period come and go?

To confuse matters even more: A breastfeeding mama’s period may come and go. If your baby starts sleeping through the night at three months, mom may get her period back.

When do you get your period while breastfeeding?

Both researchand anecdotal evidence show that most breastfeeding moms do not get their periods until at least 3-6 monthsafter birth. Why?

Is it normal to have irregularities with birth control?

Although irregularities are normal, you may want to get yourself back into balance. This will help you with natural birth controlor with trying for another baby.

When should you expect your first period after giving birth?

While it’s impossible to pin down the timing with any certainty, your first postpartum period may hinge on your breastfeeding regimen. The reason? It’s a hormonal thing.

How soon after giving birth can you get your period back?

If you’re not breastfeeding, your period could return as soon as four weeks after giving birth, although that’s not typical. Six to 12 weeks is about average. Most new moms are back on track by week 24 postpartum.

Is it normal to have irregular periods after giving birth?

There are no guarantees when it comes to your period after pregnancy. You could start having periods like clockwork — two to seven days of bleeding every 28 days, on average.

How long does it take for a woman to have a postpartum period?

That said, there’s a lot of variability. It’s completely normal for women who breastfeed exclusively to have their first postpartum period six weeks after delivery or a year or more later — even 18 months after giving birth.

How long after giving birth can you take estrogen?

Because estrogen can reduce a woman’s milk supply, birth control methods containing the hormone aren’t recommended until breastfeeding is well-established, around six weeks after giving birth. Instead, your practitioner may prescribe what's known as the "mini pill," which is considered safe during breastfeeding.

How many months of no period during pregnancy?

Here's what you need to know. One of the peculiar perks of pregnancy is nine-plus months of no period.

When do you get your period back after breastfeeding?

Women who combine bottle-feeding and breastfeeding often see their periods return six to 12 weeks after giving birth.

How long does it take for a woman to get her period back after she has her baby?

Women who don't breastfeed typically find that their period returns four to eight weeks after childbirth, explains Amina White, M.D., clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Why does my period change?

White says. It's also possible to have increased or decreased cramping. This is because your uterus grows during pregnancy; then it shrinks after delivery (although it may remain slightly larger). The endometrial lining—what is shed during a period—has to remodel itself as it goes through these changes, says Dr. White. This process occurs with each pregnancy, so you may notice changes in your period after each baby.

Will My First Periods After Birth Be Irregular?

One menstrual cycle might be 24 days, the next one might be 28 days, and then another one could be 35 days. Your cycle should stabilize within a few months or after you've stopped breastfeeding.

Is Something Wrong With My Postpartum Period?

You can expect some heavier bleeding and increased cramping with your initial postpartum period. But if you need to change your tampon or pad every hour or more frequently, alert your doctor, says Dr. Jones. It could signal an infection, fibroids, or polyps.

What are the rewards of pregnancy?

Of course, the biggest reward of pregnancy will be your adorable new baby. But if you're like many expectant moms, another huge perk is having your period go on an extended vacation. When do you get your period after birth, and how will it be different? We asked experts to answer some pressing questions about your postpartum period.

Can a tampon be used during postpartum?

Your postpartum period may also be heavier if you'd been on hormonal birth control before pregnancy—such as the pill or some IUDs—since hormonal contraceptives thin the endometrial lining. " If you have a vaginal delivery, a tampon might sit differently or feel different," adds Siobhan Dolan, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Montefiore Medical Center, in the Bronx, New York. Generally, most women don't need to go up a size in tampons. With time, using a tampon should feel as normal as it did before.

Can you notice a change in your period after each baby?

This process occurs with each pregnancy, so you may notice changes in your period after each baby. RELATED: How Your Period Affects Your Chances of Getting Pregnant. Your postpartum period may also be heavier if you'd been on hormonal birth control before pregnancy—such as the pill or some IUDs—since hormonal contraceptives thin ...

How often does a woman have her period?

Your period occurs every month or so in lieu of an egg becoming fertilized. Eggs are released once a month from the ovary. When they aren’t fertilized, the egg travels out of the uterus and sheds through the vagina.

When does a pregnant woman bleed?

This type of bleeding occurs when the fertilized egg implants into the uterus, usually around the time your period would be expected.

What causes a woman's stomach to hurt during pregnancy?

This occurs most commonly during the last few months of pregnancy. The placenta detaches from the uterus, usually causing heavy bleeding and possibly severe stomach pain and cramping. Certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure, can increase the risk of placental abruption.

What are the symptoms of pregnancy?

irritability. lower back pain. The difference is that these symptoms are related to your body’s natural preparation methods for pregnancy. If any of the above symptoms are severe or don’t go away, you’re in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, or both apply, seek immediate care.

What to do if you bleed during the second trimester?

Regardless of whether bleeding during the second and third trimester is light or heavy, with or without any other symptoms, you need to call your doctor for an emergency visit.

What is a ruptured uterus?

A uterine rupture means that the muscle of the uterus separates or tears. This can cause uncontrolled bleeding. It occurs most commonly in those who have delivered via cesarean delivery in the past. Though rare, this type of tear happens on old scar lines along the uterus.

What color is spotting during pregnancy?

Rather, you might experience “spotting” during early pregnancy, which is usually light pink or dark brown in color.

How long after your period can you get pregnant?

The length of your period helps determine how soon after your period you can get pregnant. If you have a regular 28-day cycle and seven-day periods, you can get pregnant five or six days after your period ends. If your cycle or period is shorter, this changes.

How long does it take for a period to end?

Your hormone levels are dipping, and you aren’t ovulating. This means you’re not likely to get pregnant during your period. Your period probably ends between five and seven days later, although some women have different cycle lengths.

How long does it take for an egg to be viable?

Once released, your egg isn't viable for very long. You have from 12 to 24 hours after ovulation to get pregnant, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

How long does sperm live?

The length of time sperm can live varies. Some only live for a short while, and other may live up to seven days inside of you. On average, sperm remain viable for two or three days in your reproductive tract.

What does it mean when your period is longer?

A longer period means that the opposite is true, and you have a shorter time between its end and ovulation.

When do eggs burst out?

The egg bursts out when the follicle is mature. This typically happens somewhere around day 14. The egg travels for a few days after leaving the ovary. The ideal time to get pregnant is soon after the egg is released, while it travels down your fallopian tube toward your uterus.

When does a period end?

Your period probably ends between five and seven days later, although some women have different cycle lengths. Following your period – between days seven and 14 of your cycle – a follicle begins to develop in your ovary. The egg bursts out when the follicle is mature. This typically happens somewhere around day 14.

How many days do you have to be pregnant to get pregnant?

Timing in life is pretty much everything, especially when it comes to getting (or not getting!) pregnant. You have a fertile window of around six days each month when you’re most likely to conceive. This includes: the five days leading up to ovulation. the day of ovulation itself.

When does the period end?

Your menstrual cycle starts on the first day of your period, and ends on the last day before your next period starts. If you have a clockwork menstrual cycle of 28 days, you are at your “safest” — but not totally in the clear —around one week or so after you ovulate.

What hormones are released right after ovulation?

Progesterone test kits. Some women who have irregular periods, such as those with PCOS, find that using a kit that detects progesterone — the hormone released right after ovulation — is helpful to use in addition to a standard ovulation kit. Determining whether or not your body produced progesterone will help you to know if you ovulated or not.

How do ovulation predictor kits work?

At-home ovulation predictor kits. These tests work by detecting LH (luteinizing hormone), which surges 1–2 days before ovulation takes place. So these kits can tell you when you’re going to ovulate, but they can’t tell you when ovulation has taken place.

How long does sperm stay in your body after ejaculation?

It turns out those little swimmers can be pretty tricky, too. After ejaculation, sperm may survive inside your body for up to five whole days, and can fertilize an egg at any time during that window. So even if you weren’t that close to ovulating when you had sexy time, pregnancy can still happen.

How long does it take for a woman to ovulate?

They may ovulate as soon as six days or so after the first day of their last period. And then, of course, there’s sperm. It turns out those little swimmers can be pretty tricky, too.

When do you have a fertile window?

If you ovulate regularly ( not every woman does ), you have a monthly “fertile window” when you’re most able to get pregnant. This fertile window varies from woman to woman and sometimes also — sigh — from month to month. This can make it hard to know when you’re at your most fertile, which usually — but not always — occurs mid-cycle.

How Many Days After Your Period Do You Ovulate?

Ovulation varies in each woman depending on the length of their menstrual cycle. It generally occurs from day 11 to day 21, depending on the menstrual cycle. These days are counted considering the onset of vaginal bleeding as day 1.

How Many Days After Period is Safe to Avoid Pregnancy?

A woman's menstrual cycle can last from 21 days to 35 days, in general. However, an ideal menstrual cycle is 28 days .

What is the term for when ovaries release mature eggs?

Ovulation is a phenomenon when ovaries release the mature egg towards the fallopian tube (a part of the female reproductive system).

Why is it so hard for a female to get pregnant?

Irregular or abnormal uterine shapes make it challenging for a fertilised egg to attach itself to the uterine wall, and this causes female infertility.

How long does a woman's period last?

Is your menstrual cycle regular? One can have either a regular or an irregular period cycle. A woman's menstrual cycle can last from 21 days to 35 days, in general. However, an ideal menstrual cycle is 28 days.

When do women ovulate?

Women with shorter cycles tend to ovulate around day 11 after the period, while women with longer menstrual cycles tend to ovulate around day 21.

When does ovulation start?

Ovulation varies in each woman depending on the length of their menstrual cycle. It generally occurs from day 11 to day 21, depending on the menstrual cycle. These days are counted considering the onset of vaginal bleeding as day 1.

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