Motherhood is the most cherished moment of a woman’s life. The sight of your adorable baby makes you forget everything else! Another perk of pregnancy is that your periods go on an extended vacation, which is a huge relief to most women. The big question here is when will you get your first periods after delivery and will it be different?
When to expect your first period after delivery?
The nine-month gestation period is accompanied by relief from period-related issues. Once the baby is born, your body starts coming back to its original form and shape. The body organs also take some time to resume their normal functioning. You cannot expect your first period instantly after delivery. The time duration of post-delivery menstruation is different for each woman as it depends on various factors. Your breastfeeding status directly affects your menstruation cycle. The main reason behind this is that the hormone prolactin which is responsible for the production of breast milk suppresses ovulation.
Women who don’t breastfeed the newborn may expect their periods to return within four to eight weeks after delivery. Breastfeeding mothers may get their post-partum period after around six months or longer while there are some women who get their periods only after they stop breastfeeding.
Is there a risk of pregnancy before the first period begins?
Yes! You can get pregnant before your post-partum periods. This is because ovulation occurs before menstruation. Once you start ovulating, you are fertile and can get pregnant even if your post-partum periods have not started yet. Many women become careless during this period and are shocked to know that they have conceived. Thus, there is no well-defined schedule for your first periods after delivery.
How is the first period after delivery different?
The first periods after delivery are different for each woman. Your period may change only slightly, a lot, or not at all. Your cycle length may become different and your flow may be heavy or light, the periods may be long or short and the cramps that you experience during that time may also increase or decrease. All this happens because your uterus grows during pregnancy and shrinks back to its original shape after delivery. The endometrial lining also remodels itself with every pregnancy, thus affecting the periods.
Moreover, your hormones may take some time to get back to normal, especially for breastfeeding mothers. Your first post-partum periods may show some changes such as:
- Heavy bleeding
- Strong or light abdominal cramps
- Irregular periods
- Interrupted flow
- Occurrence of clots
- Irregular cycle length
In the first few days, you may see clots in the blood but as time goes by, these blood clots give way to vaginal discharge known as Lochia. This is a creamy white or red body fluid that can continue for about six weeks.
Conclusion
Your first periods after delivery are just a part of the recovery process for your body. The process is different for each individual, so contact your doctor if you see or feel anything unusual other than the factors mentioned above
