Menstrual cycle after childbirth of a nursing mother. How long after birth do menstruation begin: restoring the cycle during breastfeeding

Many women are afraid of menstruation appearing after giving birth 2 months later; they consider this phenomenon abnormal and, in a panic, try to find their cause. In most cases, there is no cause for alarm, but it is worth figuring out when the appearance of menstruation is natural, and under what circumstances it is better to immediately consult a doctor.

The female body begins to recover and return to the prenatal period after the placenta is removed. The uterus immediately begins to contract with varying intensity; this process depends on many circumstances. But after 2 months it reaches its normal size and weight and returns to its usual place. During this period, the ovaries are ready to perform their functions, the hormonal background of the woman’s body stabilizes. This process is not affected in any way by the method of delivery; it can even begin according to an individual schedule.

The occurrence of menstruation 2 months after delivery refers to the normal recovery process under certain conditions:

Poor factors for the early appearance of menstruation include the likelihood of becoming pregnant. Therefore, a woman should avoid unprotected sexual intercourse and use available contraceptives.

Started your period while breastfeeding

Young mothers worry when they have periods after childbirth during lactation; they believe that because of this the amount of milk will decrease. And there is some truth in this. The fact is that in a woman’s body, with the arrival of menstruation, the level of prolactin decreases. If a mother does not put her baby to the breast correctly, skips night feedings and drinks water from a bottle, then the likelihood of menstruation increases. Therefore, menstruation can begin 2 months after birth.

When breastfeeding, periods can mean serious health problems for a woman. Some chronic diseases, decreased immunity and hormonal disorders affect the process of prolactin production.

If your period appears during lactation without any unusual painful symptoms, you should not panic. Extra stress will not benefit a nursing mother. Doctors do not consider this situation as a pathological deviation; the woman should calm down and continue to feed the child. And on a free day, calmly go for a consultation with a gynecologist in order to dispel all doubts.

Can I get my period a month after giving birth?

Immediately after childbirth, women begin to experience heavy bleeding, the medical name is lochia. Bloody discharge is profuse during the first 5 days, then insignificant for 3–4 weeks. Mothers notice the appearance of pain in the lower back and abdomen while feeding the baby. With its sucking actions, it stimulates the uterus, which begins to more actively get rid of bloody mucus.

If postpartum bleeding has not stopped 40 days after birth, and pain prevents you from living and caring for your newborn normally, then the woman should think about going to the doctor. Copious discharge with a pungent odor and elevated body temperature may be symptoms of an inflammatory process in the uterus. This condition of a young mother requires immediate treatment.

There are cases when the uterus contracts and clears out in the first 2-3 weeks after birth. Therefore, by the first month of her baby’s life, a woman begins to have full periods after childbirth. At the same time, their cycle is also quickly established. This phenomenon, although rare, is not something abnormal. More often, menstruation appears at this time in women who have easily withstood the trials of the pregnant period.

How many months after giving birth do you get your period?

Restoration of the uterus after childbirth occurs on an individual basis; the time of the onset of menstruation depends on external and internal factors. The physiological characteristics of a woman’s body are based on the level of prolactin, and it, in turn, depends on the presence of breastfeeding.

In nursing mothers

The absence of a menstrual cycle during lactation is a normal and natural phenomenon. When the baby actively and regularly suckles at the breast, the hormone prolactin dominates in the female body; it suppresses the work of the ovaries. There is no possibility of egg maturation, and menstruation does not occur. Restoring the female body can take quite a long time: from six months to 2 years. At the same time, it is important to visit a gynecologist every 2–3 months to exclude pathological changes in the female genital organs and select individual contraception.

If you express milk

Many mothers are confident that menstruation after childbirth means the end of breastfeeding. Some of them complain that the baby refuses to take the breast due to the spoiled taste of the milk. But menstruation does not affect the quality of milk in any way; it also contains all the beneficial substances necessary for the baby. Women are looking for a way to prolong natural feeding and use the method of expressing milk. On the one hand, there are cases when menstruation does not affect the amount of breast milk in any way, but on the other hand, it disappears completely.
Of course, you can try to express milk and thereby provide the baby with food, but the mechanisms of stimulation of the nipples are completely different, and prolactin is unlikely to be produced with the same intensity. Expressing milk in combination with regular breastfeeding can delay the onset of your period by a couple of months.

If you're not breastfeeding

Artificial feeding from the very birth of a child affects a woman’s body. In it, the level of prolactin rapidly drops immediately, due to this, eggs begin to be produced and the appearance of menstruation can be expected immediately after the end of the removal of lochia from the uterus. When the mother does not breastfeed, the first menstruation most often begins 2 months after delivery. By this time, the uterine mucosa has already been restored and returns to its normal state.

The situation when there is no breastfeeding and menstruation does not come is dangerous. There is a possibility of inflammatory processes in the female organs, endometriosis and even cancer.

If heavy bleeding begins, what should you do?

After childbirth, stabilization of the menstrual cycle may take more than one month. A woman may be bothered by heavy discharge that lasts up to 7 days. This is considered normal if their color, smell and consistency have not changed, and the pads last for 4-5 hours.

When menstruation continues for more than 10 days after childbirth, its intensity increases, and unnatural clots are noticeable in the discharge, then we can talk about the beginning of heavy bleeding. In this case, you should promptly visit a doctor for timely assistance. He will conduct examinations of the pelvic organs using an ultrasound machine to identify postpartum complications, inflammation of the uterus or other problems that provoked heavy bleeding. After identifying the causes, the woman may be hospitalized and even prescribed uterine curettage if heavy bleeding is caused by the remnants of the placenta.

In case of heavy bleeding, especially if it began immediately after lochia discharge or 2 months after childbirth, it is important to replenish the lack of iron in the body. After all, iron deficiency affects the general health of a woman. Fatigue, drowsiness, rapid heartbeat appear, and the young mother also experiences psychological difficulties - irritability, sudden mood swings. To help the body during heavy bleeding, it is not enough to simply introduce iron-rich foods into the diet. Medical iron supplements are required, but it is better to use specimens intended for oral administration. They should also contain other minerals that help the hematopoietic system function normally.

A woman needs to carefully monitor her health and respond quickly if her period after childbirth causes concern. It is worth checking with a gynecologist once again rather than taking a long time to treat the consequences of delaying timely help. After all, the well-being and mood of the baby depend on the health of the young mother.

A healthy pregnancy, which ends in the birth of a healthy baby at the appointed time, is a reason for a woman to be proud of herself and her health. After childbirth, periods do not become regular immediately, especially during breastfeeding. How to understand whether this period is proceeding normally or whether there are pathological deviations, you need to figure it out and prepare, preferably even before giving birth.

A woman's body, without exception, participates in the normal menstrual cycle. Its regularity, the nature of bleeding, the absence or presence of premenstrual syndrome are all characteristics of hormonal processes that regulate the activity of the female genital organs and glands.

Menstrual bleeding is nothing more than the rejection of the hypertrophied lining of the uterus as a result of the absence of a fertilized egg. In other words, pregnancy did not occur. It is known that the monthly cycle proceeds as follows: at the first stage, the uterine mucosa is prepared for the implantation of an egg fertilized by a sperm into its thickness. The endometrium intensively proliferates, that is, it thickens, becomes loose, and the area of ​​the vascular network increases.

Next, the egg matures in the follicle, the ovarian follicle ruptures and the egg exits into the lumen of the fallopian tube. The epithelium of the tubes is villous; with the help of the movement of its villi, it propels the egg towards the exit into the uterine cavity. It is in the tube that the egg meets the sperm. Then the fertilized egg moves into the uterine cavity and attaches to the endometrium. Pregnancy begins. But this doesn't always happen.

Therefore, in the absence of pregnancy, the overgrown endometrium is expelled from the uterine cavity, and the entire surface of the uterus bleeds inside - this is menstruation. This is how a normal menstrual cycle proceeds. All these processes are regulated by hormonal mechanisms that activate or inhibit certain phases of the cycle.

Pregnancy stops regular bleeding and triggers mechanisms to regulate the preparation of all organs for childbirth and breastfeeding. This means the following changes in a woman’s body:

• increase in body weight due to the growth of the uterus, fetus, amniotic fluid, mammary glands;
• softening of the symphysis pubis to facilitate the release of the fetus;
• creating a hormonal background to stimulate the birth process.

The increase in the mass of reproductive organs and mammary glands is due to the fact that for normal gestation and subsequent breastfeeding, a supply of fat deposits is required for energy supply, muscle mass for the advancement of the fetus along the birth canal. The mammary glands enlarge due to the proliferation of lobules containing milk-producing lobules during the lactation period.

The pubic symphysis is motionless. The two hip bones are connected in the middle by hard cartilage. During the preparatory period for childbirth, this substance becomes more elastic and soft. The need for such a metamorphosis is caused by the passage of the child through the pelvic ring during childbirth. If the pelvic bones were not pliable during this period, it would be difficult for the fetus to pass through the birth canal without damage.

Hormonal prerequisites are created in the body long before the process of childbirth and subsequent breastfeeding. The entire system of hormonal regulation of processes is rebuilt to ensure the normal course of pregnancy, childbirth and feeding of the child - the lactation period. The corpus luteum, which forms at the site of a burst follicle in the ovaries, provides a signal with hormonal substances for the pituitary gland and all other glands to produce the necessary biologically active substances for this period in a woman’s life.

Pregnancy in women lasts 38-40 weeks. This period is considered optimal for normal, term childbirth. It takes a certain amount of time to normalize the menstrual cycle in the postpartum period.

Reasons for slow recovery of a regular cycle

The timing of the return of monthly hormonal fluctuations to the previous schedule varies for all women. There are a number of reasons for this that affect the body in the postpartum period:

• features of individual hormonal levels;
• hereditary factors;
• the nature of the birth process;
• features of uterine restoration.

Restoring the former periodicity of menstruation while breastfeeding a baby is very individual for all women. This is determined by the activity of the production of hormones by the sex glands, pituitary gland, and the state of the immune and reproductive systems as a whole.

With the birth of a child, mechanisms begin to work that restore the size and condition of the mucous membrane, muscular lining of the uterus and the birth canal. This is necessary in order to prevent bleeding from the uterus. If it is not in the appropriate tone, then the vessels damaged by the passage of the placenta will continue to bleed. This development of events is fraught with extensive blood loss and the most dire consequences. It is for this reason that the early postpartum period is under the close attention of doctors. The process of involution of the uterus, that is, the return of its size to the physiological age norm, is especially carefully monitored.

The birth canal: the cervix and vagina also require quite a long time for their recovery. After all, they are exposed to traumatic effects. Cervical and vaginal ruptures often occur, requiring surgical correction and follow-up. A certain period is required for systematic and complete healing. This also does not contribute to the early onset of menstrual bleeding.

Restoring the size of the uterus - involution - occurs individually in all women. In addition to returning to prenatal size, it is necessary to restore the previous muscle tone. Otherwise, the onset of menstruation can be fatal.

Associated individual characteristics of the postpartum period and breastfeeding are determined by the following factors:

• presence of complications during childbirth;
• immune system status;
• the presence of psychological complications of the postpartum period;
• poor quality diet for a postpartum mother;
• a large number of births in the anamnesis.

All of the above factors lead to a delay in the restoration of the menstrual cycle after the birth of a child. The waiting period for the onset of regular menstruation is prolonged and if a woman is concerned about this, she should consult a doctor.

Restoration of the menstrual cycle

In order to correctly assess the course of the postpartum period in the presence of normal lactation, it is necessary to become familiar with the characteristic features of discharge in the early and subsequent postpartum periods of time.

During the first or second days after the birth of the child, vaginal discharge is bloody and dark brown in color. This is normal, since a large area of ​​the endometrium has been damaged, many small vessels may continue to bleed for some time after childbirth. This is not bleeding, but normal, physiological discharge. They are called lochia.

After three to four days, lochia begins to look like a slightly bloody, spotting discharge. There should no longer be any clots or excessive presence of blood. This course of the early period after the birth of a child indicates a good rate of uterine involution. Simultaneously with this process, milk begins to arrive at the mammary glands. Thus, we can conclude that the hormonal background is adjusted correctly for normal lactation and uterine contractions. If a woman begins to breastfeed her baby, especially immediately after birth, putting it to the breast, then this is an additional stimulator for contractile movements of the uterus and the production of oxytocin.

Over the next two weeks, the discharge is completely cleared of bloody impurities, becomes transparent, and its quantity gradually decreases. This is the period of establishing active lactation. Breastfeeding after childbirth is necessary not only for the child to develop normal digestion and immunity, but also for the mother herself in order to naturally stimulate the establishment of the menstrual cycle.

Two weeks after birth and until the end of the first month of this period, normal lochia are absolutely transparent, mucous, odorless. By the end of the fourth week of the postpartum period, they should practically stop. A different nature of the postpartum interval should alert the woman and force her to see a doctor.

Breastfeeding and menstrual regularity

While breastfeeding a baby, regular menstruation is usually absent. This is normal because prolactin, necessary for milk production, suppresses the activity of hormones that ensure the menstrual cycle. The egg does not mature, and accordingly, preparatory processes do not occur in the uterus with subsequent rejection of the mucous membrane to the outside.

Many women think that breastfeeding can completely protect against another pregnancy. The absence of regular menstruation during lactation weakens attention to contraception.

The first period after childbirth, even if a woman is breastfeeding, can occur approximately two weeks to a month after reducing the number of feedings or completely stopping breastfeeding. The cycle does not immediately return to a regular state. Bleeding may take longer or, conversely, shorter compared to the usual schedule. The period without bleeding also varies from several weeks to two months.

The restoration of the regularity of menstruation occurs within three months. A longer period indicates a delay in regulatory function and requires specialist consultation. But during the recovery period there should be no concern if the bleeding is short-lived, does not exhaust the woman in terms of the amount of blood released, and ends without spotting.

You can influence the restoration of your cycle by refraining from using hormonal contraception. It is necessary to use mechanical means for this purpose: caps or condoms. The beginning of sexual activity after childbirth is recommended only if the birth canal is completely restored, there are no infections of the genital organs, and not earlier than two months after the birth of the child.

A woman who began breastfeeding after childbirth should also remember the rationality of physical activity. Excessive weight lifting, strenuous workouts or physical labor are not conducive to a regular cycle and postpartum recovery.

Pregnancy and childbirth are a serious test for the female body, and it takes time to return to its previous state. But this is a natural process.

How does recovery occur after medical termination of pregnancy and is it possible to get pregnant again - clinical recommendations from doctors.

Mom's hygiene during breastfeeding

Lactation consultants and the World Health Organization suggest it is optimal to breastfeed your baby until he or she is two years old.

The onset of the menstrual cycle is not a reason to stop feeding. The baby should not be deprived of beneficial nutrients and antibodies.

To avoid problems with feeding associated with the arrival of “critical days”, Mom should follow simple rules:

During menstruation, sweating increases and an unpleasant odor appears.

The baby doesn't like this.

You need to thoroughly wash your breasts before feeding and take warm showers more often.

Changes in the level of hormones in the mother's blood change the taste of the milk, the baby may become fussy under the breast, and his stool may become loose.

These are short-term changes, everything will get better gradually, so there is no need to worry too much. It is useful to frequently change breasts during feeding, moving the baby from one breast to the other.

The amount of milk during menstruation decreases slightly, and the mother’s nipples become sensitive and painful.

Warming the nipples before feeding and massaging them, as well as massage of the collar area, helps a lot. Lactogonic tea and other means to increase lactation are effective.

Resumption of the monthly cycle after childbirth and breastfeeding are natural processes; they rarely need correction. However, a woman must know what is happening in her body in order to be prepared for possible complications.

Now you know how long after childbirth menstruation normally begins, what problems can occur, when they begin, and whether you should worry if they appear during lactation.

Don’t forget: at the first suspicious sign, see a doctor!

Behind are 280 days of worries and expectations, the most difficult and exciting process of childbirth, the solemn day of discharge from the maternity hospital. Mommy and baby at home.

Questions that arise in the first days of being at home mainly concern the newborn: why does he sleep for a long time, why doesn’t he sleep, doesn’t take the breast, why does he cry, why doesn’t he cry, does the gas torment him and a lot of others.

Some time passes, mommy gets used to daily worries. And here the question arises: when do periods begin after childbirth while breastfeeding?

Everything was clear with menstrual function before pregnancy. In the hypothalamus, under the general guidance of the cerebral cortex, the cyclic production of releasing factors took place, at the command of which the pituitary gland released the corresponding hormones into the blood. During the first phase of the menstrual cycle, they stimulated the growth and maturation of the follicle and the production of estrogen. At this time, the processes of regeneration and proliferation of the endometrium after the previous menstruation were taking place in the uterus.

In the middle of the cycle, the mature follicle burst at the peak of estrogen levels, and ovulation occurred. Phase 2 began. In the ovary, at the site of the burst follicle, a corpus luteum is formed, which secretes the hormone progesterone. It in turn causes secretory changes in the uterine cavity. Everything is ready to receive the fertilized egg.

If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum regresses. The secretion of progesterone drops, the inner layer of the uterus is rejected, and menstruation occurs. During the first 4 months of pregnancy, progesterone protects it from miscarriage. The cyclic creation of hormones is blocked, and menstruation stops.

Childbirth took place. Nature triggers another physiological mechanism - lactation. The pituitary gland begins to produce the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the function of milk formation. The cyclic production of FSH, LTG and LH is blocked during breastfeeding. People called this situation “replacement”; doctors talk about lactation contraception.

Important! The physiological significance of the replacement is to ensure adequate feeding of the baby, not to “distract” the mother for a new pregnancy, and not to deplete her body.

When does your period come after childbirth while breastfeeding?

The process is designed by nature to take about a year. This is an established norm. By one year of age, a child can be fed a variety of foods. The end of breastfeeding leads to the removal of the prolactin block, the cyclic production of sex hormones begins and the cycle is restored.

In reality, the onset of menstruation after childbirth while breastfeeding can occur earlier, after two or three. six months after the birth of the child.

Note! Restoring menstrual function has its own individual characteristics for each woman.

The current opinion about the influence of the method of delivery on when women's periods come after childbirth while breastfeeding is erroneous, as is the dependence on the method of conception. IVF and cesarean section do not lead to the early appearance of menstruation.

Reasons why periods appear after childbirth while breastfeeding

Contrary to the laws of physiology, menstruation occurs against the background of continued secretion of prolactin and lactation. The reasons lie in a decrease in prolactin production. The formation of prolactin cannot be influenced by anything other than emptying the mammary glands.

The following factors reduce prolactin secretion:

• the mother may violate the feeding schedule;
• alternation of breasts for feeding is not observed, which leads to incomplete emptying;
• the child is given complementary feeding through a pacifier early;
• a pacifier is used.

Additional Information! Pacifiers and pacifiers weaken oral motor skills.

Menstruation can begin 3-4 months after birth with mixed feeding.

If breastfeeding is impossible or you refuse, your period comes on average 2 months after birth.

Menstruation does not come after breastfeeding ends

Lack of menstruation after breastfeeding can occur for the following reasons:

• a nursing mother, being confident in the reliability of lactational contraception, does not use other methods of contraception, as a result of which the first ovulation after childbirth leads to fertilization of the egg and pregnancy;
• a woman after childbirth has hormonal imbalances (maintained high levels of prolactin in a benign tumor of the pituitary prolactinoma, decreased thyroid function, hypothyroidism) or other pathology;
• Sheehan's neuroendocrine syndrome against the background of massive blood loss during childbirth, septic complications with high fever or severe gestosis leading to the death of pituitary cells.

Irregular periods after childbirth while breastfeeding

A decrease in prolactin secretion due to delayed breast emptying or other breastfeeding problems can lead to irregular menstruation. In addition to cycle disruption, the amount of blood lost may change from abundant to scanty, as well as the duration of menstruation.

If the issue of contraception is not resolved, you should consult a doctor to rule out pregnancy. Menstrual irregularities are a reason to be examined for the presence of gynecological pathology.

Advice from the famous doctor E.O. Komarovsky are based on a program of modern perinatal technologies.

Key points:

• breastfeeding in the first minutes after birth;
• shared wards;
• prohibition of drinking, nothing but breast milk;
• prohibition of nipples and pacifiers (they extinguish the sucking reflex, the breasts are poorly emptied, the amount of milk decreases);
• feeding not by the clock, but at the baby’s request, including at night;
• early discharge from the hospital. In Russia, it is carried out no earlier than the 3rd day after birth.

• Continue breastfeeding for at least 6 months, optimally up to a year;
• prevention of hypogalactia frequent feeding, including night feeding, pumping;
• psychological support for a nursing mother, care for her rest;
• switching to artificial feeding with formula milk only as prescribed by a doctor;
• comfortable temperature and humidity conditions for the baby;
• drinking plenty of water for mom;
• increasing the duration of sucking.

Dr. Komarovsky warns against thoughtlessly offering the baby the breast for every cry. If your child ate less than 2 hours ago and is now crying, you need to figure out the real reasons for the concern.

Postpartum lochia, causes of prolonged irregular discharge

During childbirth, after the separation of the placenta, a large wound surface remains in the uterine cavity. In the postpartum period, the uterus involutions, it contracts, and the cervical canal is formed. This process is accompanied by the release of lochia.

Normally, lochia undergoes changes:

• the first 3 days after birth they are bloody, but different from bleeding;
• the next 3-4 days are bloody;
• from 8-10 days light yellow serous, lasting until 5-6 weeks after birth.

Deviations from the norm, heavy bleeding with clots may be symptoms of lochiometra or indicate remnants of placental tissue of the uterine cavity. Bloody discharge, subinvolution of the uterus, rising temperature, pain in the lower abdomen indicate inflammation of the uterus.

In what cases should you consult a doctor?

If the course of the postpartum period is favorable, you should definitely go to the doctor 5-6 weeks after birth, when the involution of the uterus ends.

Normally, periods after childbirth may have distinctive signs from those before pregnancy:

• the cycle, the duration of menstruation, the volume of blood lost changes;
• previously painful ones occur without pain due to the elimination of the uterine bend after childbirth;
• the first menstruation may be irregular;
• Anovulatory cycles are possible.

If the cycle is not restored within 2-3 months, you need to go to an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Once my period started, it disappeared. This is a reason to start worrying about a possible pregnancy, especially if you want to give birth. Early registration will help prevent complications.

FAQ

Does menstruation affect milk supply?

Some mothers notice a slight decrease in the amount of breast milk during menstruation. According to their reviews, everything will return to normal in a short time. There is no objective data indicating a decrease in milk volume.

Does the taste and smell of milk change during menstruation?

Does not change. You can easily verify this by tasting and smelling.

Does the resumption of menstruation mean the end of lactation?

Living conditions, ecology, chronic stress, eating disorders, and taking OCs (oral contraceptives) make the resumption of menstruation during breastfeeding a variant of the norm. Your period may come earlier, but this will not affect lactation.

Can breastfeeding sensations change during menstruation?

When breastfeeding during menstruation, a woman may experience strong painful contractions of the uterus. This occurs due to a reflex; irritation of the nipple causes contraction of the muscles of the uterus. There may be pain in the nipple area when sucking.

Is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding if you have your period?

The answer is yes. If your period, having come, suddenly disappears, you need to go to the doctor to find out how many weeks of the new pregnancy. Many people decide to give birth, which is probably why there are so many children of the same age.

Pregnancy is one of the happiest periods for any woman. However, at this time, the expectant mother has many doubts regarding not only the bearing of the baby, but also the postpartum period. In addition to the question about natural feeding, one of the most popular queries to which people are looking for an answer is: “How soon will the rehabilitation of the menstrual cycle take place? Can menstruation begin while breastfeeding (BF), and will they interfere with it?

Appearance of the first discharge: conditions and period

A long rehabilitation of the body takes place in the body of a young mother who has given birth. The first stage of this process is the reduction of the uterus to its pre-pregnancy state and size through contraction. It lasts 1-2 months.

Do you get your period when it is restored? In the first days, the mother experiences bloody discharge. Many people think that these are the first critical days, but this is not so. These are lochia. The reason for their appearance is placental abruption. This discharge is especially strong in the first 5-7 days, the total duration is up to 40 days. Towards the end of the course the color changes to pale yellow. Mothers should know that ovulation may occur at this time; during sexual intercourse, you need to remember about contraception.

According to The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: 8th (pp. 364-366), almost all mothers who breastfeed their children are menstrually free for 3-6 months or longer. This is called lactational amenorrhea.

Doctors say that having sex before the end of the uterine contraction process is unsafe and can lead to serious problems. Within 2-3 months after giving birth, it is recommended to visit a gynecologist to make sure everything is in order and whether you can return to a full sexual life.

Timing for the return of menstruation

It is impossible to say exactly when your first period should come. The expected time of their arrival varies greatly and depends primarily on whether the woman is breastfeeding or not. When the baby is fed formula and there is no milk, the uterus returns to its original size faster, and, accordingly, menstruation begins earlier. Breastfeeding and menstruation are interconnected, which is due to the natural postpartum processes in the body of a new mother.

Breastfeeding ensures the production of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates and regulates the production of milk, as well as stopping the onset of ovulation. Can I get my period if the hormone is produced? Yes, menstruation can occur during lactation, but they come later - during the period when the child’s diet is expanded or the baby is completely switched to formula feeding. At the same time, the amount of prolactin produced by the female brain is sharply reduced.

In 70% of cases, the first period after childbirth during breastfeeding comes no earlier than six months later. The process of complete rehabilitation of the cycle is gradual. The first menstruation is irregular. Therefore, it is difficult to say whether they will be long or abundant. The postpartum course of menstruation changes dramatically. Unbearable pain disappears, the discharge is now more or, conversely, less severe, when compared with the critical days before pregnancy.

A completely different time frame for the arrival of the first menstruation awaits a mother whose child is on artificial or mixed feeding. In this case, you should expect your first menstruation 5-6 weeks after birth.

Regardless of the baby’s type of nutrition, menstruation will not begin for the first two months: until the process of complete restoration of the uterus is completed.

Irregular periods while breastfeeding

The process of rehabilitation of the body and its return to the pre-pregnancy state is gradual, so irregular periods (both during breastfeeding and when feeding the baby with formula) are the norm. They differ from each other in duration and interruptions for the first 2-3 months after their onset.

If there is a long delay and during breastfeeding your periods suddenly stop with active sexual activity without protection, you definitely need to do a test and check if this is not another problem.

Other reasons for delays and periods not returning for too long after breastfeeding:

• stress;
• lack of rest;
• diseases;
• heredity.

Menstruation after cesarean section with breastfeeding (IV)

After a CS, the waiting time for the arrival of the first critical days does not differ from the period after physiological birth and lactation. The only difference is the abundance of lochia - their volume after a CS can reach up to 0.5 liters. This is much more than after a natural birth. After a CS, complications often arise that affect the course of the critical days, including:

1. Too little discharge is one of the signs of blood stagnation in the uterus due to insufficient contractions.
2. Long absence of cycle stability.
3. Early cessation of lochia may indicate a bending of the uterus.
4. A pungent odor is a sign of infection of the reproductive system.
5. Itching and discharge with a cheesy consistency are the first symptoms of thrush.

In addition to lactation and method of birth, there are several other factors that influence the time of the onset of menstruation after childbirth:

• woman's age;
• nutrition and lifestyle;
• lack of rest;
• complications while carrying a child;
• chronic diseases.

Women who give birth after 30 years of age take a little longer to recover. This does not indicate any deviations in health. Excessive stress or poor lifestyle choices also affect the balance of hormones. This leads to both loss of milk and the approach of critical days, as well as interruptions in the cycle and their later onset.

Can I get my period while breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding can delay the return of critical days for up to a year, but does not exclude their natural appearance earlier, especially when the baby’s diet expands.

When menstruation comes during breastfeeding, many mothers begin to panic: “Why did they appear, is this normal, and does the discharge affect breast milk?” Having read unverified information, mothers immediately call the gynecologist: “I am breastfeeding, can I get my period? Should I continue the war? Doctors explain that it is completely normal if menstruation occurs during lactation, and do not give recommendations about stopping breastfeeding. On the contrary, its abrupt termination will lead to a situation where the nursing mother begins an inflammatory process with further complications.

If your period comes while breastfeeding, then during its course the amount of milk decreases. After the cessation of discharge, milk production is restored to its previous volume. There is no need to be nervous if your period suddenly starts during lactation. Gynecologists assure that their appearance is the norm, and this will not affect the quality and.

Both the arrival of menstruation during lactation and their absence are not considered a violation. The time of their return varies greatly for each mother.

Impact on breastfeeding and baby health

There is an opinion that the taste of milk deteriorates during menstruation: it begins to taste bitter. Mothers worry that the baby will stop taking milk when menstruation appears while breastfeeding. Doctors refute these myths. It happens that when menstruation occurs, the sensitivity of the nipples increases, and this creates difficulty in feeding the baby. What to do to reduce pain? A light massage and application of a compress to the nipples will help here.

If a woman is breastfeeding, special attention should be paid to hygiene on these days, since they are often accompanied by increased sweating, and the lactation period is no exception. The baby may refuse breast milk due to a change in the smell of the mother. The sudden appearance of nervousness and whims of the baby during critical days can be explained by a simple reflection of the parent’s condition.

Menstruation after cessation of lactation

According to statistics, in 80% of cases, periods do not begin during breastfeeding. In 10% they do not return in the first months and after the end of the GW. This does not necessarily indicate health problems. Sometimes prolactin remains at a fairly high level even after the end of breastfeeding.

In any case, you need to check with a gynecologist to rule out or confirm abnormalities: find out how long it takes for menstruation to start after stopping breastfeeding. If you are planning another pregnancy, but your periods have not started either during or after breastfeeding, the doctor will prescribe medications to suppress the production of hormones in such quantities. After the end of breastfeeding, menstruation may not come or disappear for several reasons:

• overweight or underweight;
• bad habits;
• diseases;
• hormone imbalance.

Symptoms to call your doctor urgently: reasons for concern

During the process of rehabilitation of menstruation after breastfeeding, problems may arise in which you need to urgently call your doctor:

1. Irregularity. When six months have passed since the arrival of menstruation, but they continue to come and are episodic in nature. It doesn't matter if a woman is breastfeeding, she needs to visit a doctor.
2. Duration. If critical days last only a day or two or longer than 5 days, you need to tell your doctor about this.
3. Too heavy periods. If the pad is not enough for 5-6 hours and it has to be changed much more often, the norm has been exceeded.
4. Unpleasant sensations. If the pain accompanied the critical days before pregnancy, it goes away due to the straightening of the uterus - this is how childbirth affects it. If painful sensations appear during the postpartum period, we urgently make an appointment with a gynecologist.
5. Bitter or sour odor. The appearance of a strong odor in the discharge indicates inflammation.
6. Long delay. A sudden loss of menstruation is a clear signal of an unplanned pregnancy. Many people forget about the need for protection at this time.

During lactation, regardless of the presence or absence of menstrual periods, when resuming sexual activity, you need to remember the need for contraception!

These are not all the difficulties that stand in the way of a new mother in the process of rehabilitation of her breastfeeding cycle. Regular visits to the doctor will reduce the likelihood of abnormalities occurring.

Conclusion

We have determined that menstruation can begin during breastfeeding. In terms of the timing of their recovery, it is considered normal when menstruation begins after 2-3 months (with IV) or after 3-6 months (with breastfeeding) and up to 1.5-2 years after the birth of the baby. The timing of the return of menstruation depends on the artificial or natural method of feeding the baby and other factors. If your mother is tormented by doubts or painful sensations, you should definitely visit a gynecologist and consult on exciting topics!

Bibliography:

1. “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: completely revised and updated 8th” – by Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, Teresa Pitman. 576 p.; July 13, 2010
2. When will my periods start again after pregnancy? – by NHS (publication verified 03/28/2018)