If youre exclusivelybreastfeeding, it can take longer to get your first period.
Images By Tang Ming Tung / Getty Images
First Period After Baby: When Is It Coming?
It can take up to one year after delivery for yourperiod to become regularagaineven longer if you are breastfeeding.
Images By Tang Ming Tung / Getty Images
What Is Lochia?
Lochiais apostpartum dischargethat occurs after vaginal or C-section delivery.
Lochia typically lasts two to six weeks.
Although it can look similar, it is not an actual period.
What About the First Period During or After Breastfeeding?
Most exclusively breastfeeding people will not have a period for three to six months or longer after delivery.
This is known aslactational amenorrhea.
You don’t need to wean your baby from breast milk for your period to return.
If you are breastfeeding and begin having your period, hormonal changes may cause your milk supply to drop.
This typically happens between mid-menstrual cycle and when you start your period.
First Period After Baby: Whats Better, Tampon, Pads, Cups, or Underwear?
Using these products before then can potentially harm your healing body and increase the chance of infection.
For example, losing weight too quickly or losing too much weight can cause you tostop having your period.
Obesity can also cause irregular periods.
Takingoral contraceptivescan also helpstart and regulate your periodafter delivery.
You should talk to a healthcare provider about which jot down of birth control is best for you.
Its recommended to wait at least 18 months after having a baby before getting pregnant again.
Not giving your body enough time to recover between pregnancies increases the risk of premature birth.
UT Southwestern Medical Center.Will my period change after delivery?
Eleje GU, Ugwu EO, Dinwoke VO, et al.Predictors of puerperal menstruation.PLoS One.
2020 Jul 10;15(7):e0235888.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0235888
University of Rochester Medical Center.Common conditions.
March of Dimes.Your body after baby: the first six weeks.
National Health Service.When will my periods start again after pregnancy?
La Leche League International.Menstruation.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What to expect at a postpartum checkupand why the visit matters.
National Health Service.How soon can I use tampons after giving birth?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Womens Health.Weight loss and women.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What causes amenorrhea?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Using long-acting contraception right after childbirth.
