All women who went through childbirth sooner or later ask the following question: “Why are there no periods after childbirth, and when will they come?” And really, when should the monthly cycle begin and return to normal?
When should a period begin after childbirth?
It is not possible to give a definite answer, for each girl the process of restoring menstruation occurs individually, for someone it will take two months, and for someone it will take two years.
Many girls who immediately began discharging are mistaken for menstruation. But this is not at all true. These blood discharge does not belong to menstruation, and they are called lochia. They stand out from the uterus, or rather from its wound. The placenta during childbirth is separated from the uterine wall, and a wound forms at the site of the placenta. This wound bleeds heavily in the early days, but as it heals, the discharge becomes smaller and their appearance changes. Lochia begin to stand out immediately after childbirth and end after 6 weeks or 8.
On average, for girls who breastfeed their children, menstruation begins 14-16 months after giving birth. In the first six months after birth, menstruation occurs in 7% of girls. After 7 – 12 months, menstruation occurs in 37% of girls. After a year and up to 24 months, menstruation begins in 48% of girls. And 2 years after birth, menstruation begins in 8% of girls.
In those mothers who do not breastfeed, their periods are restored after 10 or 15 weeks. In most cases, the cycle initially becomes regular. But it is permissible that at first there will be a delay, or vice versa, the periods will come ahead of schedule. In this case, everything should be settled in 2 – 3 cycles.
Why are there no periods for breastfeeding?
The restoration of menstruation is a hormonal process in the girl’s body and it depends on how soon the hormonal background of the body recovers after childbirth. And in the restoration of the hormonal background, a small role is played by how breastfeeding occurs. The restoration of menstruation does not depend on how the baby was born: using cesarean section or the natural way.
Lactating amenorrhea may occur in nursing mothers, i.e. no menstruation after 6 months, a year or a longer period. To worry and think why there is no menstruation is not necessary, this delay occurs physiologically. If from the very moment a baby is born, mother feeds him both with the mixture and breast, then the menstruation will come within 6 months. If the baby eats only breast milk, drinks it on demand at any time, then menstruation can begin 2 years after the birth, after the lactation is complete. If the baby was introduced to the diet, and he began to eat less actively, then menstruation may come before the completion of lactation.
During menstruation, many mothers notice that the amount of breast milk is decreasing. Do not worry, as soon as the menstrual period is over, the volume of milk will be the same. And while they are walking, it is advisable to attach the child more often to the chest.
Many mothers believe that it is impossible to get pregnant during amenorrhea. This is not so, conception can occur with such a delay. It is better to go to the gynecologist’s doctor, and he will choose the method of contraception that does not harm the baby and protects against unwanted pregnancy.
Other factors
Also, when the menstruation comes after childbirth, in addition to HB, the following factors also affect:
- Mom’s day routine.
- Her food. It must be full and nutritious.
- Sleep. In addition to night sleep, you need to relax during the day.
- Psychological condition. There should be no stress and nervous tension.
- Disease or complications beginning after childbirth. It is advisable to timely identify and cure them. More about complications after childbirth →
Months after childbirth, what are they?
When the periods after delivery come, you will notice that they are slightly different from the periods before delivery. If the girl’s periods were not regular before giving birth, then after giving birth they will become more regular, without delay.
On average, the menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but it can vary from 21 to 35 days. Monthly periods last from 3 to 6 days, sometimes it can reach 8 days. Also, during menstruation, pain decreases. And menstruation can be either less or more plentiful. The largest volume of blood during menstruation is secreted on days 1 and 2. Before the restoration of the cycle, tampons and pads should be discarded, the surface of which has an absorbent mesh.
When to see a doctor
You should immediately consult a doctor in the following cases:
- When after lactation after 2 months there is a delay in menstruation.
- When severe pain is felt in the uterus.
- When there are large clots in the blood or the color of the discharge has a bright red hue.
- When the allocation of menstruation is accompanied by a pungent odor.
- When abundant and prolonged discharge lasts more than 7 days.
If there is no menstruation, even a year after the birth, do not panic and get nervous. It is better to go to the gynecologist for examination, and identify the reasons why there is a delay, and proceed to eliminate them. If there are no problems, you can calmly wait for the onset of the menstrual cycle and enjoy motherhood.
