Why don't menstruate after giving birth? When should menstruation start after childbirth? With mixed feeding

There are no periods during pregnancy. Every woman knows about it. In the body occur, which contribute to the development and growth of the unborn baby. Actively produced - the hormone of pregnancy. It is he who is responsible for the normal bearing of the child.

And after 9 months, childbirth occurs. In the body of a woman again hormonal changes. But only this time, nature made sure that another hormone was actively produced -. It is popularly called the "milk hormone" because it is prolactin that stimulates milk production. At the same time, this hormone suppresses the production of hormones in the ovary. Consequently, the egg cannot mature, which means that there is nothing to leave the ovary (no ovulation). As a result, menstruation does not occur again. And this state will last as long as progesterone actively “works”, that is, milk is produced. Lactation continues as long as the woman is breastfeeding the baby.

How perfect everything is in harmony. A few years ago, this is exactly what happened to every woman. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers calmly breastfed their children up to three years and completely forgot about annoying periods. Today, there are several rules. The onset of menstruation after childbirth is just the case that has several options, each of which is “normal”.

When does menstruation start after childbirth?

Based on the foregoing, it is easy to guess that the onset of menstruation after childbirth depends on breastfeeding. In order for prolactin to be actively produced, a woman must breastfeed her baby at any time of the day or night (on demand). The more often, the better. Only in this case, menstruation will not come. But as soon as lactation decreases, prolactin production falls, which means that menstruation is restored again.

And now about the rules and deadlines. Recently, as already mentioned, there are many “normal” terms. This is because the body of every woman is individual, and besides, modern “technologies” (hormonal contraceptives, drug delivery) sometimes violate what Mother Nature intended and established.

Early and late onset of menstruation

Early is called the onset of menstruation 6-7 weeks after birth. However, it is not a pathology. Most likely, menstruation will recover so early in those women who, for some reason, refused to breastfeed. Or mixed feeding. In the latter case, the first menstruation will appear 2-3 months after childbirth.

Many women believe that postpartum discharge is their period. However, this opinion is erroneous. Blood discharge from the uterus after childbirth is called lochia. They appear due to the fact that when the placenta separates from the walls of the uterus, a wound is formed on the same walls, which bleeds for several weeks after childbirth. In the early days, the lochia is bright red, quite abundant and may have clots, then they become brown and less abundant, and by the end of the 6th week they completely disappear.

Sometimes menstruation does not occur for a whole year or even more. If at the same time the child is fully breastfed, then there is no reason for concern.

The nature of menstruation after childbirth

It is believed that the menstrual cycle will fully recover after the first 2-3 periods, and become regular. If this does not happen, contact your gynecologist. The cause of irregular postpartum periods can be inflammatory processes of the internal genital organs, endometriosis, tumors of the uterus and ovaries, and many other pathologies. The reason for the "non-occurrence" of menstruation can also be a repeated pregnancy, because breastfeeding is not a method of contraception.

Usually the first menstruation after childbirth is profuse. This phenomenon is very natural and normal if the menstruation lasts no more than a week. However, if such menstruation is accompanied by dizziness, weakness, heart palpitations, then you should consult a doctor.

After childbirth, it is possible to change the duration of the menstrual cycle and the duration of the menstruation itself (blood discharge). The normal menstrual cycle is from 21 to 35 days, the discharge period is no more than 5 days and no less than 3. Any deviation is a reason to see a doctor. Menstruation should be neither long and profuse, nor short and scanty. Too long periods may indicate uterine fibroids.

Many women are interested in whether the pain of menstruation will change after childbirth. Everything is individual in this matter. After all, pain during menstruation can be caused by various factors. For example, if painful sensations arose due to the bending of the uterus, then, most likely, after childbirth, the pain will subside, because thanks to the birth process, the uterus acquires a normal position. However, there are other causes of painful periods: inflammatory processes after childbirth, strong contractions of the walls of the uterus, general immaturity of the body, inflammation of the uterus and appendages.

If the pain during menstruation after childbirth can stop, then it is almost impossible to get rid of premenstrual syndrome. To this day, the causes of PMS have not been fully understood, although there are many different versions. However, the symptoms for every woman are the same: irritability, bad mood, tearfulness, soreness and swelling of the chest, some swelling, pain in the joints and lower back, headache, insomnia, and so on. At least one of the signs of PMS is observed almost before every menstruation.

Personal hygiene

The use of tampons and usual pads (with an absorbent mesh) is possible only after the full restoration of the menstrual cycle. In no case should you use these funds immediately after childbirth with lochia. Tampons interfere with the free outflow of blood, which is extremely important in the postpartum period. But the mesh on the pads can irritate the injured mucosa, especially if the woman has postpartum stitches. Also, with lochia, a frequent toilet of the external genitalia is recommended, but without “intimate” gels. You can use baby soap. Gaskets should be chosen with a smooth surface and changed every 3-4 hours. During the lochia period, unprotected sex is also unacceptable, in order to avoid possible infections entering the open uterus. Doctors recommend not having sex at all for 6 weeks after giving birth.

Summing up the results of menstruation after childbirth, we once again draw your attention to when you should immediately see a doctor:

menstruation does not occur within 2 months after the cessation of breastfeeding;
too abundant and prolonged bleeding (more than 7 days, blood loss is more than 150 ml.);
the presence of large clots in the blood, bright red color of the discharge;
pain in the uterus;
discharge with an unpleasant pungent odor;
general deterioration of the condition, especially during menstruation.

Remember also that the restoration of the menstrual cycle after childbirth depends on many other factors: the psychological state of the woman who gave birth, inadequate rest, stress, overwork, malnutrition, the presence of a birth injury, general health after childbirth. All this, one way or another, affects the recovery of "critical days". But the future health of a young mother depends on how menstruation resumes.

Especially for- Tanya Kivezhdiy

A change in the cycle after childbirth is a normal natural phenomenon. After all, not having time to feed the first baby, the birth of the second will create disharmony in the life of mother and child. Nature has planned to suppress ovulation hormones while breastfeeding a newborn, so a woman does not have periods after childbirth.

The period without menstruation is determined by the type of feeding of the newborn: natural or artificial. Depending on this, the woman's body changes the hormonal background.

With natural feeding, the production of the hormone prolactin increases, which inhibits the growth of follicles and inhibits the maturation of the egg. At the same time, the hormone estrogen, which is the main participant in the process of maturation and fertilization of eggs, does not increase. This period lasts an average of 2-3 months.

With artificial feeding, the body, which has been preparing for lactation for a certain time, releases prolactin for some time and reduces the production of estrogen. But after 1.5 months, she understands that milk is not secreted and the hormonal background is restored for the next pregnancy.

The end of hormonal changes does not always ensure the onset of menstruation, sometimes the period without menstruation lasts much longer. This is considered normal with a number of related factors in the life of the mother.

Why there is no menstruation after childbirth:

great physical activity, lack of outside help;
inadequate sleep;
unhealthy diet;
depressive states;
early or late birth of a child;
hormonal diseases.

How long is there no period after childbirth? One and a half to three years. There are still disputes about how long it is considered normal that there is no menstruation after childbirth, and what period a woman needs to fully recover. Some say that the norm is 3-3.5 years. Others claim that no more than 1.5 years.

In the absence of health problems and full breastfeeding, in the first days after the birth of a child, a woman begins spotting, which many confuse with menstruation. This similarity is only external, the discharge is called lochia. The structure of the lochia is made up of residual tissue from the placenta and blood that is secreted from the damaged uterus. Normally, the discharge lasts profusely up to 5-7, then weakens and by the end of the first month after childbirth should stop completely.

Causes

Sometimes the fact that there is no menstruation for a long time after childbirth is associated with specific diseases that entail hormonal disorders. In 80% of cases, these are disorders of the endocrine system: the thyroid gland and the pituitary gland.

Diabetes. In diabetes, the production of hormones responsible for the fertilization of the egg remains normal, but the level of testosterone (male hormone) is greatly increased. Such a confrontation causes hormonal imbalance and the absence of menstruation after childbirth.

Sheehan syndrome. With significant blood loss during childbirth, there is a risk of a characteristic disease of the pituitary gland. The essence of Sheehan's syndrome is the gradual death of the cells of the organ responsible for the synthesis of hormones. The death of pituitary cells begins, a violation of the hormonal background, menstruation stops.

PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). This common disease is accompanied by hormonal disruptions in a woman's body. Increases testosterone production and blood glucose levels. Against the background of various symptoms, including, there may be no menstruation before the start of therapeutic therapy.

Prolactinoma. One of the varieties of pituitary adenoma. This is a benign formation that disrupts the proper production of hormones. Periods between periods reach 12-18 months.

Signs of a possible disease:

lack of lactation;
fast fatiguability;
memory impairment;
bright pigmentation;
bouts of severe headache;
low blood pressure and clouding of consciousness;
a long period without menstruation.

There are other diseases of the endocrine system that provoke a violation of the menstrual cycle. It is important to diagnose a health problem in time. After childbirth, this is difficult to do, since the general condition is weakened and the obvious symptoms of diseases remain unnoticed.

The lactation cycle

Both in natural childbirth and after caesarean section, menstruation is restored 6 months after the birth of the child. At this time, complementary foods are gradually introduced into the diet of the baby. Milk is produced less, and estrogen production becomes predominant. The timing of the resumption of the cycle differs with different types of feeding.

When breastfeeding. If milk production is plentiful, feeding takes place strictly by the hour, without long breaks. If the newborn is completely satiated during feeding, the hormone prolactin is produced intensively. In this case, it is absolutely normal if there is no menstruation after childbirth during the entire lactation period. In the classic version, menstruation begins 1-2 months after the introduction of complementary foods.

With mixed feeding. If the child is on a mixed diet from birth, then menstruation does not begin after childbirth for about 3-3.5 months. By the 4th month, the menstrual cycle should be restored.

By 2-3 months, the regularity and duration of the cycle is established, during which time the system should be fully adjusted. If this does not happen, you need to contact a gynecologist.

With artificial feeding. The most important difference is the stable sufficient production of estrogen and the absence of pressure on the eggs of prolactin. In this case, menstruation will come 1.5-2 months after the birth. The cycle is restored and returns to its former stability. If there was a cesarean section, then with artificial feeding, the process of restoring the cycle will take a little longer, since it is more difficult for the uterus to recover from the operation.

The recovery period of the menstrual cycle is individual, depending on the genetic characteristics and age indicators of the woman. Therefore, the reason that there are no periods after childbirth longer than the mother expected is not always related to health or the type of delivery.

Complications and abnormalities

The presence of complications indicates serious complications or exacerbation of diseases of the genitourinary system. Sometimes, a change in the nature of the discharge is observed after the second birth.

Deviations from the norm:

the duration of the cycle is very different from that which was before pregnancy;
too short discharge time - 1-2 days;
prolonged menstruation - more than 7 days;
lack of regularity after 3 months, after the onset of menstruation;
spotting spotting;
unusually copious discharge.

Depending on the number of deliveries a woman has, her menstrual cycle changes over time. Mothers note that with the first child, immediately after the birth, there were periods, but now they are gone. The onset of menstruation during the second birth depends on hormonal changes in the body and the type of feeding. But there are a number of features that can change the course of familiar events.

Why there is no menstruation after the second birth:

profuse bleeding, characteristic of multiparous, disrupts the endocrine system, even if this has not been observed before;
a strong contraction of the uterus leads to the development of inflammatory processes in the ovaries.

If during the first birth there were no periods for a long time, then the second time they come much faster. After all, mom no longer experiences that strong stress, as with the first child.

Cycle recovery

If a woman ruled out the absence of pathologies, but menstruation did not come during the due period, a correct regimen is needed in all areas of life.

What to do if menstruation does not go after childbirth:

establish a balanced diet - vegetables, fruits, meat and a lot of protein;
additionally drink a course of multivitamins;
exclude diets for weight loss;
plan the day clearly, in time - it will be useful not only for mom, but also for the baby;
ensure a good sleep in total, during the day, at least 8 hours;
drink tea with mint or lemon balm at night (if the child does not have allergies).

Subject to the rules, the load on the nervous system of the body will decrease. Stress mainly affects the work of other systems of life.

In some cases, during a caesarean section, there is a need to expand the surgical intervention. As a result, the ovary may be affected. The situation requires additional monitoring by a gynecologist after childbirth and compliance with the treatment regimen.

Not a single gynecologist can say exactly when menstruation will begin after delivery. Despite the ideas of nature, ovulation begins even during the feeding period and in the absence of menstruation. Such cases have occurred many times in practice. Therefore, the use of contraceptives after childbirth is better not to exclude.

During pregnancy, a woman thinks about the upcoming birth, about the fact that the child is born healthy. But now, this stage is already over, and more and more questions arise. In addition to worries about the little man, the young mother is also concerned about the restoration of her body after childbirth. After 6-8 weeks after childbirth, the body is restored. Menstruation usually does not begin yet, and this makes young mothers nervous, who ask questions: why there is no menstruation after childbirth and when does menstruation begin after childbirth? To understand these issues, let's learn more about the process of restoring the menstrual cycle after childbirth.

How is recovery after childbirth

During pregnancy, a woman rests from critical days, and a certain period after childbirth passes without menstruation. But between periods of calm, there is a rather unpleasant stage of recovery.
Within 4-6 weeks, bloody mucous discharge occurs - lochia. Apart from their appearance, they have nothing to do with menstruation, although at first they are especially strong and resemble heavy periods. This is determined by the fact that the lochia contains parts of the inner mucous membrane of the walls of the uterus, which has already fulfilled its function during pregnancy.

After 7-10 days, the inner surface of the uterus is restored, the discharge becomes lighter, the amount of blood decreases, the color turns brownish brown.

By the 15-20th day, the uterine mucosa is restored, the discharge becomes light red, gradually turning into a yellowish and transparent color. They contain cervical secretions and healing products of the placenta attachment site.

By 6-7 weeks, the cervix closes, the uterus returns to pre-pregnancy size, recovery after childbirth can be considered complete.

Lochia should not cause discomfort. If the discharge acquires an unpleasant odor, a greenish tint, or abdominal pain appears, an urgent appeal to a gynecologist is necessary, these are alarming symptoms that may indicate a complication.

lactational amenorrhea, is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding?

After 6-8 weeks, when the mother has already got used to the new role, her body has recovered, and the child has already sufficiently adapted to life in the big world, it's time to remember about intimate life. But, it is unlikely that at this stage of life, one of the young parents is already planning the next pregnancy after childbirth, so you need to take care of reliable contraception. Fortunately, nature has already thought of this issue for us.

The most valuable and useful product for a child in the first 6 months of life is breast milk. The pituitary hormone prolactin is responsible for milk production. At the time of the birth of a child, when the strongest hormonal surge occurs, it begins to be produced in very large quantities. Prolactin does not allow the egg to mature, ovulation does not occur, there are no periods after childbirth, and pregnancy is impossible again.

To successfully establish lactation, the baby must be breastfed immediately after birth in order to obtain valuable colostrum and stimulate the nipples, which causes an even greater release of prolactin. The baby should receive a breast on demand at least during the first days, then real milk will come for 3-4 days, this is the key to long feeding and successful natural contraception.

It is considered that a woman cannot become pregnant if the following conditions are met:

The age of the child is up to 6 months. This is due to the fact that at 6 months the baby begins to eat complementary foods, therefore, the number of attachments to the breast decreases, which means that the level of prolactin decreases.
Mandatory attachment of the child in the period from 4.00 to 6.00 in the morning. At this time, the maximum production of prolactin occurs.
Feeding on demand.
Breastfeeding exclusively. If the child receives formula at least once a day, the lactational amenorrhea method cannot be considered successful.

Is it possible to get pregnant after childbirth, relying only on the absence of a cycle? Of course yes, no method provides 100% protection against pregnancy. The method of natural lactational amenorrhea is considered to be 85-90% effective, so it is better not to take risks and add other acceptable methods of protection: a condom, an intrauterine device, the PPA method.

How long after giving birth can I expect my period to start?

Recovery of the cycle after childbirth depends on many factors, the most important among them:

frequency of breastfeeding;
women's hormonal health;
the age of the child;
stress and nervous shocks.

How long after childbirth menstruation begins, as it turned out, depends on many things. If a woman is not breastfeeding, the first menstruation occurs 3-4 months after childbirth. When breastfeeding, they should not be expected in the first 6 months.

The nature of menstruation after childbirth may change, perhaps the duration or amount of discharge will increase relative to the pre-pregnancy period. If the number of days and the volume are within acceptable limits, then there is no reason to worry. The length of a normal cycle is 21-34 days, and the duration of menstrual bleeding is 4-6 days.

A nice bonus can be the absence of pain and feeling unwell after menstruation, which has been causing suffering for several years. This fact is noted by 80% of women who have had to take antispasmodics for years.

There is a simple explanation for this. Pain occurs due to the incorrect location of the uterus in the pelvic area or its bend. After carrying a child and stretching the uterus to a significant size, its position becomes correct, and the constant volume slightly increases, which helps to reduce pain.

An important point that many girls forget about is the principle of the onset of menstruation, the likelihood of being pregnant at this time increases greatly. First, under the influence of the hormonal background, ovulation occurs and only after 10-14 days does the first menstruation occur. It is in this very first cycle that you can become pregnant with a high probability. The couple does not yet know about the restoration of the partner's fertile function and does not use additional methods of contraception.

When to See a Doctor

There are situations when you should consult a doctor. For the first time, a young mother should appear to a specialist after the end of lochia, 6-8 weeks after childbirth. He will conduct an examination, take tests, say that the woman is healthy and can continue to live a normal life, or prescribe the necessary treatment.

There are a number of cases in which you should definitely contact a specialist:

Periods are too heavy or last longer than 6-7 days.
Beginning of spotting shortly after lochia. It is possible that part of the placenta remained in the uterine cavity or the mucosa was poorly separated.
There are no periods yet 3 months after birth if the child is bottle-fed.
Irregular menstrual cycle.
Signs of pregnancy if the woman has not had her period yet.
If there is no menstruation after breastfeeding. This situation indicates hormonal disorders, primarily hypersecretion of prolactin, without which ovulation is impossible. To restore the cycle, the doctor will prescribe prolactin inhibitors, which will reduce the level of the hormone and the cycle will be restored. The most famous and effective among them are dostinex and bromocriptine.

Restoring a normal menstrual cycle is the key to women's health and the health of future children. You should not postpone going to the doctor if there are problems associated with the violation or absence of menstruation after childbirth.

Getting pregnant and bearing healthy offspring is one of the important natural tasks for a woman's body. During pregnancy and labor, all systems of the female body are involved, so the recovery period after that will be completely different for each mother. Its term depends both on the general condition of the woman in labor, and on the course of pregnancy, childbirth and the further lifestyle of the woman.

Immediately after the birth of a child, many mothers have completely different questions regarding not only the child, but also her body. The most popular and most exciting moments:

what diet is allowed for pregnant women and women who have just given birth;
when it is allowed to start physical exercises;
when sex is allowed and is it possible to get pregnant after childbirth;
why there are no periods after childbirth and when they should come.

After 9 months of pregnancy, women are more likely to be interested in when the first period will come. This is an important question, because hormonal changes after the birth of a baby starts the menstrual cycle at any time, and it is important to understand what it depends on and how you can influence the absence of menstruation after childbirth. You also need to know when their absence is a problem and a sure sign that you need to urgently seek help from a gynecologist.

After the sperm has fertilized the egg and the woman is able to become pregnant, she no longer has her period. Carrying a baby takes place without menstrual flow, but after childbirth, the arrival of menstruation for each woman occurs in her own way, for one after 4 months, and for the other after 8 months, the terms are completely individual and are influenced by many factors.

Previously, it was believed that a nursing mother’s cycle would be established no earlier than two to three years after childbirth, but now with the advent of artificial baby food and the active lifestyle of today’s women, this time has been significantly reduced, because already in six months or a year the child begins to get used to the usual food and stops drinking mother's milk.

The main reasons for the onset of early menstruation in the postpartum period:

the use of hormonal contraceptives;
cesarean;
diseases of the endocrine system and their treatment;
cessation of lactation for various reasons;
weaning or refusal of a newborn from breastfeeding.

These factors are the cause of premature menstruation after childbirth.

What is the length of the recovery period after the birth of a child?

Hormonal changes begin to occur in the body of a woman immediately after the birth of the baby. Lochia, postpartum discharge from the uterus, can go quite a long time.

With normal health and breastfeeding, abundant discharge occurs in the first couple of days after the birth process, and after 1.5-2 months they become pale pink and stop.

After the birth of the baby, not only the reproductive system is restored, but also all the internal organs and systems, the hormonal composition changes, so it is very difficult to confirm when menstruation comes after childbirth. In official medicine, it is generally accepted that it takes 6-8 weeks to resume the functions of all organs, and menstruation does not come only because of breastfeeding.

The hormone prolactin, produced by the pituitary gland in women, is responsible for lactation; simultaneously with the production of milk, this hormone suppresses the maturation of eggs in the ovaries.

Under such conditions, ovulation does not occur, and menstruation does not come.

How long the period without menstruation lasts directly depends on how intensively the mother breastfeeds the baby:

if mother's milk is the only food for a baby, he receives it on demand without feeding, then this is the main reason why there is no menstruation a year after birth. Usually, in 1 year, breast milk ceases to be produced, and the child is gradually transferred to complementary foods, the cycle returns to normal;
when the mother began to introduce complementary foods for up to a year, and milk became not the main, but an additional food, then menstruation can be restored before the end of the feeding period;
if the baby immediately after birth is accustomed to combined nutrition, combining breast milk and purchased mixtures, then menstruation can go in 3 months, a maximum of 4;
for individual reasons, some mothers cannot breastfeed their baby, so their periods can begin as early as 10-12 weeks after birth. In theory, after this period of time, mothers are already ready for a new conception.

What are the features of postpartum menstruation?

In the course of bearing offspring and a couple of months after childbirth, a woman does not have menstruation, during which time significant hormonal changes took place in her reproductive system, which could not but affect the renewed menstrual cycle. Consider how many changes have occurred with menstrual flow during this time:

if there are no inflammatory processes and endocrine diseases, menstruation resumes with the usual regularity characteristic of a woman even before she has become pregnant;
almost 90% of all women in labor say that resumed menstruation does not bring pain. This is due to the fact that during the bearing of a child, the existing bends of the uterus are modified, and there is no more stagnation of menstrual blood, which was the cause of pain;
theoretically, with the resumption of menstruation, a woman is ready for a new pregnancy, but in practice, her body needs to be given at least two years, or even longer, to restore vitamin and mineral balance, the reserves of which were spent on fetal development and lactation.

When do you need to urgently go to the gynecologist?

What to do if there is no menstruation for a long time after childbirth? It is important not to panic, and in the presence of the following conditions, you must definitely contact a gynecologist:

you gave birth, the baby is bottle-fed, but there are no periods. This is possible in the presence of pathologies of the genitourinary system;
you stopped breastfeeding your baby 2-5 months ago, and your period has not yet come. The culprit may be endometriosis or any other disease of the reproductive system, exacerbated after childbirth;
unusual nature of the discharge. If they are plentiful, with an unpleasant odor, not brown or brown, but bright scarlet, accompanied by pain and last more than 7 days;
if two to five months have passed since the end of breastfeeding, and the cycle has not yet been established. This is a clear indication of hormonal problems.

Can conception occur without menstruation?

Many women in labor are interested in the question, is it possible to get pregnant after childbirth if there is no menstruation? Of course yes". It doesn’t matter how long a woman will breastfeed her baby and there will be no menstruation, but a couple of months after the baby is born, ovulation occurs, which means that without the use of contraception, it is quite possible to become pregnant after childbirth. But is the body ready for such a test in such a short time period? Of course not. Ideally, at least 3 years should pass between births so that the body is fully restored, and a new pregnancy does not completely deplete it. Also, the recovery period is important for the proper nutrition of the unborn fetus.

There are several distinguishing features of the onset of pregnancy during breastfeeding. It is noteworthy that not only your body will react to the second conception, but also the baby you are breastfeeding:

the composition of milk changes due to hormonal changes in the body of a pregnant woman. The behavior of the newborn also changes, he may refuse to breastfeed, as the taste of milk and its fat content change. But such selectivity is not typical for all children;
the amount of milk produced decreases. Now part of the resources of the body goes to the production of milk, and the other half - to the development of a new fetus;
mammary glands change. They can swell, hurt, nipples can hurt to such an extent that breastfeeding becomes impossible. A breastfeeding specialist should exclude causes of breast changes such as ovulation, improper attachment, trauma to the nipples, biting by the baby, and only at the very last moment assume that it is possible to become pregnant after childbirth. Unpleasant sensations in the chest can continue for the entire period until the second birth occurs;
uterine contractions. During lactation, especially immediately after childbirth, uterine contractions help the body return to its previous state. During a new pregnancy that occurs during feeding, the dose of the hormone oxytocin increases, which causes uterine contractions. If there is a risk of miscarriage, the doctor will recommend that the mother stop breastfeeding;
delay of menstruation. If during the period of breastfeeding a woman already had menstruation, but she did not start again, then it can be assumed that a new pregnancy has come.

There are still disputes between doctors about how long it should take for a woman to fully recover after childbirth. Some say that it takes 3-4 years, while others say that a maximum of 2.

Each female body is individual, therefore, for each mother, an hour favorable for conception will come, the main thing is that this baby is wanted and loved.

In this article:

All women who have gone through childbirth sooner or later ask the following question: “Why are there no periods after childbirth, and when will they come?” But really when the monthly cycle should come and return to normal?

When should menstruation occur after childbirth?

It is impossible to give an unambiguous 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 begin discharge are mistaken for menstruation. But that's not the case at all. These blood discharges are not related to menstruation, and they are called lochia. They stand out from the uterus, or rather from her wound. The placenta during childbirth is separated from the wall of the uterus, and a wound forms in place of the placenta. This wound bleeds heavily in the first days, but as it heals, the discharge becomes less and their appearance changes. Lochia begins to stand out immediately after childbirth and ends after 6 weeks or 8.

On average, girls who breastfeed their babies start their period 14 to 16 months after giving birth. In the first six months after childbirth, 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.

For those mothers who do not breastfeed the baby, menstruation is restored after 10 or 15 weeks. In most cases, initially the cycle becomes regular. But it is permissible that at first there will be a delay, or vice versa, menstruation will come ahead of schedule. In this case, everything should be settled after 2 - 3 cycles.

Why are there no periods while breastfeeding?

The restoration of menstruation is a hormonal process in the body of a girl and it depends on how soon the hormonal background of the body is restored after childbirth. And in restoring the hormonal background, the way breastfeeding plays an important role. The restoration of menstruation does not depend on how the baby was born: with the help of a caesarean section or in a natural way.

In nursing mothers, lactational amenorrhea may occur, i.e. no menses after 6 months, a year or more. To worry and think why there is no need for menstruation, this delay occurs physiologically. If, from the very birth of a child, a mother feeds him with both a mixture and a breast, then menstruation will come within 6 months. If the baby eats only mother's milk, drinks it on demand at any time, then menstruation can begin 2 years after birth, after lactation is complete. If the child was introduced to the diet of complementary foods, and he began to eat the breast less actively, then menstruation may come even before the end of lactation.

During the onset of menstruation, many mothers notice that the amount of breast milk decreases. Do not worry, as soon as menstruation is over, the volume of milk will be the same. And while they are going, it is advisable to apply the child to the breast more often.

Many mothers believe that it is impossible to get pregnant during amenorrhea. This is not so, conception can occur even with such a delay. It is better to go to a gynecologist, and he will select the method of contraception that will not harm the baby and protect against unwanted pregnancy.

Other factors

Also, when menstruation comes after childbirth, in addition to HB, the following factors also influence:

Mom's daily routine.
Her food. It must be complete and nutritious.
Dream. In addition to sleeping at night, you need to rest during the day.
Psychological condition. There should be no stress and nervous tension.
Illness or complications that began after childbirth. It is advisable to identify and cure them in a timely manner.

Menstruation after childbirth, what are they?

When menstruation comes after childbirth, you will notice that they are slightly different from the menstruation that was before childbirth. If before the birth, the girl's periods were not regular, then after the 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. Menstruation lasts from 3 to 6 days, sometimes it can reach 8 days. It also reduces pain during menstruation. And monthly can be either less or more plentiful. The largest volume of blood during menstruation is released on days 1 and 2. Before the cycle is restored, tampons and pads, the surface of which has an absorbent mesh, should be discarded.

When to see a doctor

A doctor should be contacted immediately in the following cases:

When, after the completion of 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 tint.
When the discharge of menstruation is accompanied by a pungent odor.
When abundant and prolonged discharge goes on for more than 7 days.

If there is no menstruation even a year after giving birth, you should not panic and be nervous. It is better to come for an examination to a gynecologist, and identify the reasons why there is a delay, and begin to eliminate them. If there are no problems, you can safely wait for the onset of the menstrual cycle and enjoy motherhood.