Period FAQs

when does period start after pregnancy

by Jeanne Bergstrom Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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Your period after pregnancy depends on your body. Every body is different, and everyone has a different time of when does the period start after pregnancy. Some women get their first period in as little as eight weeks after birth, some get it after a year or so.

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

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.

Is it normal to have an irregular period after birth?

This is a huge cause of concern for women, and they rush to consult their doctors. The good news is that having irregular periods after delivery is perfectly normal, and occurs due to various hormonal changes in the body. With time, the body settles down to it’s usual routine, but the time frame for this process varies from person to person.

What are the chances of pregnancy after your period?

This means you could get pregnant very soon after your period ends if you ovulate early, particularly if your menstrual cycle is naturally short. If you have a short cycle and long periods, it is still possible for your ovaries to release an egg very quickly after your period ends. This egg can get fertilized as normal, and pregnancy occurs if and when that happens.

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.

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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.

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.

When do you start menstruating after giving birth?

If you're not breastfeeding, you may begin menstruating between three and 10 weeks after giving birth; if you are breastfeeding, you might enjoy more menses-free months — especially if you're nursing exclusively. Still, your period will return eventually — and it could make its appearance in the first few months even if you are breastfeeding.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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 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?

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.

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.

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 regular will my menstrual cycle be?

Your period can take up to a year to become regular, no matter how consistent it was before pregnancy. To develop, grow, and deliver a baby, your body experiences several hormonal changes, and it needs time to return to normal.

How long does it take for a baby to bleed after a C section?

Many new moms are surprised by how much they bleed after having a baby. For two to three weeks after a vaginal or cesarean section (C-section) delivery, they experience what looks like a heavy period. This is called lochia, a mix of blood and uterine tissue the body doesn’t need after pregnancy.

How to see an OB for postpartum bleeding?

Postpartum bleeding can be confusing. We’re here to provide clarity. To visit with an Ob/Gyn, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.

Can breast feeding cause irregular periods?

Breastfeeding moms are even more likely to have an irregular menstrual cycle. When you breastfeed, you have lower levels of estrogen in your body – a hormone that fluctuates with your period. Without normal estrogen fluctuation, you won’t have normal periods.

Can PTSD affect a mother's pregnancy?

But as maternal-fetal specialist Dr. Shivani Patel will tell you, symptoms of PTSD can weigh heavy on moms who had complex pregnancies. She knows from personal experience.

Does C section scarring cause period pain?

Some research has shown that C-section scarring can increase period pain as well as flow. In general, postpartum period symptoms will be similar to pre-pregnancy symptoms, so if you used to have cramps, they likely will resume. However, some patients say their period pain improves after pregnancy.

Can you delay your period if you breastfeed?

If you exclusively breastfeed, your period will likely be delayed until you give your baby solid food and other forms of milk. As your levels of prolactin – the hormone that helps your body produce milk – increase, your levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease. These hormones help regulate your period; lower levels reduce the likelihood of ovulation and menstruation.

When will I get my period after my baby is born?

As a general guideline, you can expect your first period after pregnancy:

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

7 or 8 months, or even longer, after you give birth if you're breastfeeding exclusively – some women don't start having periods again until they stop nursing. The main factors that affect how soon you'll start getting periods again after giving birth are whether you're breastfeeding and, if so, how much.

How does breastfeeding influence when I'll get my first period after pregnancy?

The less often your baby nurses, the sooner your period will likely come back. If your baby sleeps through the night from an early age, or if you're supplementing with formula , it's likely your period will return sooner than it would if you were exclusively and frequently breastfeeding.

Can I get pregnant after giving birth if I'm haven't got my period yet?

Yes. While it would be unusual, you can get pregnant in as little as three weeks after giving birth, even if your periods haven't started. (However, most doctors recommend that you wait at least four weeks before you have sex after giving birth to give your body time to heal.)

Will getting my period affect my breast milk?

You may not notice much difference, but a few days before and during your period, hormone changes can cause:

How long after giving birth can you use a tampon?

Don't use tampons for at least six weeks after you give birth and you've had your first postpartum checkup. That's because your body will be discharging lochia and shedding your uterine lining, and it's best not to hinder that flow. This normal bleeding after giving birth is usually complete by around six weeks, and it's safe to use tampons for your period after that.

How long does it take for a woman to get her period after breastfeeding?

However, breastfeeding's effects on menstrual cycles vary widely. 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.

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 before you know if you are pregnant?

The most important thing you can do right now is to act in the way you would if you already knew you were pregnant. Since it can be weeks before you know if conception has occurred, this will protect both you and your future baby from any substances or activities that could cause problems.

How many days are pregnant?

Counting from the LMP, most women are pregnant an average of 280 days .

What is happening with your baby?

Nothing is happening yet, but be patient while the stage is being set. Before long, an egg will be released and will be available to be fertilized.

What should you plan at this time?

There may need to be some lifestyle changes made at this time to increase your chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby down the road. Adequate exercise and a balanced diet are important factors to evaluate.

What happens to the lining of the uterus during menstruation?

The lining of the uterus has thickened to prepare for a fertilized egg. If conception does not occur, the uterine lining will be shed. The shedding of an unfertilized egg and the uterine wall occurs during menstruation.

How many days does a woman's cycle last?

On average, a woman’s cycle normally is between 28-32 days . Ovulation is calculated by starting with the first day of the cycle, which is the day the menstrual period begins.

How long does an egg live after it leaves the ovary?

An egg lives 12-24 hours after leaving the ovary.

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