Period FAQs

when will i get my period after birth

by Vicente Quigley Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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If you choose to breastfeed exclusively, your first period may not return for several months — sometimes, it might not even return for 1 to 2 years if you keep breastfeeding. If you choose to bottle feeding or partially breastfeed your baby, your periods may return as soon as 3 weeks after childbirth.

Full Answer

When is the earliest day for conception after your period?

Some women have medical conditions, like PCOS, which make ovulation super hard to predict. Many women typically ovulate around 12 to 14 days after the first day of their last period, but some have a naturally short cycle. They may ovulate as soon as six days or so after the first day of their last period.

When do you ovulate before or after period?

The process of ovulation easily creates an environment to get pregnant. Usually, between 12 and 14 days before your next period, you are very likely to ovulate. This means that, if you can possibly tell when menstruation will come next, you can predict next ovulation date.

Can you start birth control before your period?

Most people can start taking birth control pills at any point during their menstrual cycle. However, it can take several days for the pill to establish a consistent hormone cycle that prevents pregnancy.

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.

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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.

Will your first postpartum period be heavy?

In short, there’s no typical pattern for the first period after having a baby. Some women may have heavy, painful periods. Others may enjoy light, easy periods. Many women are surprised to find that their first period after baby has more blood clots in it. You can use tampons once it's been four to six weeks since you gave birth and with your doctor's okay.

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.

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

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

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.

Will my periods change after having a baby? Is it normal for them to be irregular or very heavy?

Yes, it's normal if your menstrual flow is different than it was before you became a mom. Some women's cycles return without much change, but most take three to six months to go back to how they were before pregnancy.

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 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.

What to Expect in the First Period After Birth?

The first period is often heavier than your normal menstrual flow. It is normal if you see the presence of blood clots in your period. But if the blood clots persist for a few subsequent cycles, see your doctor.

What happens after childbirth?

After childbirth, the body has to revert to the non-pregnant state and many changes will occur. For example, the menstruation cycle has to return. When does the first period after delivery occur? This is just one of the many questions that arise after childbirth.

When do you start your period after birth?

Most women who choose not to breastfeed often start their first period within the first ten weeks. However, hormone levels will normalize after childbirth and different women normalize at different rates.

How many inches of mucus do you need to stretch to ovulate?

If your cervical mucus has an “egg-white” consistency and can be stretched about an inch or two , you’re most probably ovulating.

When do you ovulate after birth?

It is usually improbable that you will ovulate within the first six weeks after childbirth. When you have your doctor’s check-up at six weeks after childbirth, it is wise to discuss a method of birth control even if you don't have your first period after birth.

Is breastfeeding a form of contraception?

Many women depend on breastfeeding as a form of contraception. This has a failure rate of roughly 2%. Using breastfeeding exclusively as a means of birth control is also termed as Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM). In some women, ovulation doesn’t commence until after breastfeeding has completely stopped. It is a reliable form of contraception provided:

Can you have a period after delivery?

The first few periods after delivery could be irregular. However, if your menstrual cycle does not become regular after a few months, see your doctor to check for hormonal imbalances or uterine problems.

When will my period return?

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. Those who practice exclusive breastfeeding might not have a period the entire time they breastfeed. “Exclusive breastfeeding” means that your baby is receiving only your breast milk. But for others, it might return after a couple of months, whether they’re breastfeeding or not.

Will my period affect my breast milk?

When your period does return, you may notice some changes in your milk supply or your baby’s reaction to breast milk. The hormonal changes that cause your body to have your period may also influence your breast milk .

What about birth control?

Some use breastfeeding as a natural birth control method. According to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, fewer than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant annually if they’re engaging in exclusive breastfeeding. Even though breastfeeding reduces your fertility, it’s not an absolute guarantee you won’t get pregnant again.

How might my period be different postpartum?

When you do start your period again, chances are the first period after delivery won’t be like your periods before you got pregnant. Your body is once again adjusting to menstruation. You may experience some of the following differences:

What causes mildly painful postpartum periods?

Mildly painful postpartum periods can be caused by a combination of several factors. They include:

What postpartum symptoms should I watch out for?

It’s important that you call a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Why do women have lighter periods?

Adenomyosis is a thickening of the uterine wall. Women who had endometriosis before pregnancy might actually have lighter periods after giving birth. Light periods can also be caused by two rare conditions, Asherman syndrome and Sheehan syndrome. Asherman syndrome leads to scar tissue in the uterus.

How long after giving birth until you get your period?

Some women notice their menstrual cycles returning as early as 5 or 6 weeks postpartum, while others may not have theirs return for up to 18 months. This length of time is dependent in part on how you feed your little one.

Can I get pregnant before my period returns?

Yes, which is why it’s so important to use contraception (birth control) in the 18 months after giving birth, even if you’re exclusively breastfeeding. When your cycle does return, you may ovulate before your first period. This means that there may be an egg available for fertilization before you even know that your cycle has started again.

The bottom line

While your cycle may return as early as 5 or 6 weeks postpartum, or may not return until 18 months postpartum, it all depends on how you feed your baby. If you’re breastfeeding exclusively, and never taking long breaks, it’s possible that your cycle will hold off for 6 to 9 months or longer.

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.

How often do you change your tampon?

Any period that requires you to change your tampon, pad, or cupevery hour

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.

What hormone is responsible for milk production?

Prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, has the ability to suppress the hormone that manages periods.  This is called lactational amenorrhea.

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?

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