It's possible for your periods to return as soon as 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth. If you bottle feed or partially breastfeed your baby, you'll tend to start having periods sooner than if you exclusively breastfeed. If you choose to breastfeed exclusively, your first period may not return for several months.
If you breastfeed exclusively, your first period may not return for several months or 1 to 2 years if you keep breastfeeding. If you bottle feed or partially breastfeed your baby, your periods may return as soon as 3 weeks after having your baby.
If you are formula feeding and haven't had a period three months after birth or if you are breastfeeding and haven't had a period three months after weaning, it's time to see your doctor.
If you are breastfeeding, you may ovulate as early as 10 weeks after giving birth. Your period would then start two weeks later, around 12 weeks after giving birth. Or it may be over a year before you start ovulating again, and your periods return.
They both have a distinct smell and begin as a dark red, heavy discharge. Lochia and menstrual blood are similar in that the bleeding subsides before going away. The biggest difference between the two types of discharge is that lochia lasts much longer. A typical period lasts about one week.
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. If you're breastfeeding some of the time, you might see your period return sooner.
Postpartum Bleeding Stages: Rubra, Serosa and Alba
You'll go through three postpartum bleeding stages: lochia rubra, lochia serosa and lochia alba.
DOES YOUR PERIOD DECREASE YOUR MILK SUPPLY? It is common to have a drop in supply at certain points in your cycle, often from mid-cycle to around the time of your period. It can also be less comfortable to nurse at this time. This is due to the hormonal changes and is only temporary.
For the first few days, you can expect bright or dark red blood and some small clots. This will likely look like an extremely heavy period, where you can expect to soak a thick pad every two to three hours, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Expect period-like cramping.
Some people see no difference in their milk supply when they have their period, while others have a drop that can last a few days to a week or more.
A hormone called prolactin drives milk production, and it essentially stifles ovulation. When you don't ovulate, you don't have your period. It's normal not to menstruate for six months or longer when you're exclusively breastfeeding or chestfeeding your baby.
Signs of ovulation after giving birth include a change in body temperature, cervical mucus, ovulation pain, painful breasts, and an increased sex drive. You can get pregnant before having a period after giving birth, so be sure to have a backup method of contraception ready when you are sexually active again.
In general, there's no ovulation while breastfeeding. Actually, breastfeeding your baby exclusively for the first six months is generally considered to be natural birth control. Namely, to produce milk, your body also produces high levels of a hormone called prolactin.
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.
One cycle may last 24 days, the next can be 28 days, and the one after that 35 days. This is completely normal, and your period should find its natural rhythm a few months after completely stopping breastfeeding.
The postpartum period can be divided into three distinct stages; the initial or acute phase, 8–19 hours after childbirth; subacute postpartum period, which lasts two to six weeks, and the delayed postpartum period, which can last up to six months.
It is not uncommon for breastfeeding mothers to report cyclical cramping or PMS-type symptoms – symptoms of an oncoming period without the period – for weeks or even months before their period returns.
If your postnatal bleeding (lochia) gets heavier or changes colour (becomes pink or red) after activity, you could be overdoing it. You're also likely to feel very tired. Listen to your body. Pace yourself and make sure you get plenty of rest too.
Lochia alba
Finally, the lighter bleeding of the lochia serosa stage will fade into discharge; the lochia color will now be more yellowish but can sometimes be mixed with a bit of spotting. This is the final lochia stage, called lochia alba, and it may last for up to six weeks after delivery.
Occasionally, a week or two after your bleeding seems to have stopped, you may have a sudden gush of bright red blood. This is the normal process of the placental site scab coming off. This too will taper off over a few days.
The initial or acute period involves the first 6–12 hours postpartum. This is a time of rapid change with a potential for immediate crises such as postpartum hemorrhage, uterine inversion, amniotic fluid embolism, and eclampsia. The second phase is the subacute postpartum period, which lasts 2–6 weeks.
Many women are often surprised to learn that after having a baby, you can become pregnant again without actually menstruating first. This is because about 60% of women will ovulate before their first period postpartum.
Yes, it's possible to get pregnant any time from about three weeks after giving birth. This is true even if you're breastfeeding and haven't had a period yet. Many women are less fertile while they're breastfeeding, especially in the early weeks and months.
While you are breastfeeding/chestfeeding, your level of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin are higher. LH has a direct effect on ovulation while prolactin is a pregnancy hormone. This combination may increase the chances of conceiving twins while breastfeeding/chestfeeding.