Frequent periods after childbirth while breastfeeding. In what cases is it better to consult a doctor? Misconceptions and deviations

After the birth of a child, new changes continue to occur in the body of a young mother. One of the main changes is the filling of the breasts with milk to feed the newborn. But, despite this process, the restoration of the female body after childbirth is carried out.

Regular menstruation is a natural process for every woman. The birth of a child leads to the restoration of normal body functions. Therefore, many young mothers are interested in the period during which the first menstruation begins.

After childbirth, the uterus restores its former size within one to two months.

During this period, by contractions, it reaches the parameters in which it was before childbirth. During this time, the woman has bleeding. They have nothing to do with the menstrual cycle, but relate to changes in the uterus. Such secretions are called lochia. After birth, they have a bloody tint, but over time brighten to yellow-white. During the recovery period of the uterus, the onset of menstruation is not possible.

Resumption of menstruation after childbirth

The beginning of menstruation after the birth of a child for each woman is possible in a completely different period.

The restoration of the menstrual cycle occurs first of all in young mothers who, from the moment of birth, fed the child with artificial nutrition. Menstruation in this case begins after the return of the uterus to its previous size.

Menstruation with breastfeeding begins much later than with artificial feeding. This is due to biological processes in the body.

The hormone prolactin, which promotes milk production, prevents the resumption of hormone action in the ovaries. The process of maturation of the egg, which is usual for the menstrual cycle, does not occur; in accordance with this, other stages are not possible, including natural secretions.

In most cases, menstruation begins after a year of feeding. This is due to the fact that the lactation period is coming to an end, the amount of prolactin decreases, and the maturation of the egg resumes.

If menstruation began much earlier or later, then do not be afraid - this is a normal and natural process. The reasons for the onset of menstruation during breastfeeding earlier than a year can be different processes. Most often they are associated with changes in the child's diet.

Previously, pregnancy, childbirth and the process of feeding were a little different than now. Women gave birth naturally, feeding continued for a long time without feeding.

The modern development of medicine and technology has led to the possibility of childbirth by caesarean section, artificial feeding, the organization of complementary foods, the use of hormonal drugs, and much more. These and other factors significantly affect the processes inside the body.

Most often, women begin to introduce complementary foods from six months. The amount of milk the baby consumes decreases. This affects hormones and the occurrence of critical days is quite natural.

Any change in the diet of the baby affects the production of milk. Even giving the child water.

Features of menstruation during breastfeeding

The harbingers of menstruation during breastfeeding are a change in the lactation process, the presence of complementary foods, and the restoration of hormonal levels.

For most women, the nature of the course of menstruation changes. It is different from those periods that occurred before pregnancy. The abundance of secretions increases or decreases, there are no pains.

Abundant periods during breastfeeding should not alert a young mother. Pain does not occur due to the straightening of the uterus after childbirth. Previously, the blood flow on critical days was not stable, hampered by the peculiarities of the shape of the organ.

The irregularity of menstruation during breastfeeding should not frighten young mothers. The normal process is restored within two to three months from the beginning of the first critical days.

The interval between the first months can be greatly reduced or increased, the number of days of menstruation themselves may also not be stable. Such a course of menstruation is quite natural, after a few cycles everything is restored in the usual way. If stabilization does not occur for a long time, then you should consult a doctor to identify the causes.

Feeding a child during menstruation

When menstruation begins with breastfeeding, it is not recommended to stop the process of natural nutrition of the baby.

There is a myth about the change in the taste of mother's milk during menstruation.

This opinion is wrong. Milk does not change its properties and remains the same. The child is not only possible, but also necessary to continue to feed during menstruation.

For some women, during menstruation, the amount of milk produced may decrease. This is a fairly common process associated with the peculiarities of hormonal processes. At the end of the critical days, the amount of milk returns to its previous indicators.

Absence of menstruation

A number of young mothers are faced with a situation where there are no periods when breastfeeding is stopped.

Regardless of the overall lactation period, this situation is not something special. As in all cases, this is an individual indicator of the body's readiness for certain processes. After stopping feeding, menstruation should appear within three months. If this does not happen, then you should consult a doctor to fix the problem.

A timely appeal to a gynecologist allows you to identify and promptly cure most diseases in the early stages.

Delayed periods while breastfeeding can be caused by:

• irregularity of the first menstruation;
• gynecological problems;
• pregnancy.

During the period of breastfeeding, there is the possibility of a second pregnancy, even in the absence of menstruation.

Therefore, it is recommended to use any convenient means of contraception. This is due to the inability to clearly predict the beginning of the process of formation of a new egg. Therefore, even in the case when a woman is not ready for a new child on a psychological level, there may be a physical basis. Do not neglect protective equipment.

Summing up, it should be noted that the presence of menstruation during the continuation of the lactation period is a normal natural process. It depends on a number of features that are expressed individually for each woman. After the first renewed cycles, the regularity of menstruation with breastfeeding is restored.

Regardless of the method of feeding, the appearance of the first menstruation does not occur before the restoration of the uterus. With natural feeding of the child, menstruation resumes in the period from six months to a year after childbirth. Feeding the child should not be stopped in the presence of discharge.

The onset of menstruation most often indicates a decrease in lactation, the transition of the child to a mixed diet. The appearance of critical days indicates the restoration of the main processes after childbirth. In case of any long-term deviations, you should immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

In the female body, menstruation acts as a kind of beacon signaling the state of the reproductive system. From the moment they first “come” to the onset of menopause, it is the critical days that help to accurately determine when pregnancy occurs, whether the woman has any gynecological diseases and how much the body has managed to recover after childbirth.

The process of resuming the normal monthly cycle in a young mother depends on many factors.

As a rule, if a woman begins to breastfeed, then the first menstruation after childbirth can begin a year or even a little later.

In essence, breastfeeding allows you to maintain a certain level of the hormone prolactin in the blood at a level that is sufficient to suppress menstruation. In medical practice, this phenomenon is called "lactational amenorrhea." In other words, for a woman who chooses breastfeeding for herself (at least in the first six months) and does it not on time, but “on demand”, menstruation begins much later. This happens because no reactions occur in the female body that would provoke the maturation of the egg. And this means that the reproductive system begins a period of rest.

This is how nature works and this, of course, is very pleasant, because often, after a difficult birth or, as it most often happens, after a caesarean section, newly-made mothers need time to recover. There are enough problems, and it’s good that you don’t have to worry about your period too! Although you should not forget that it is during this period that a woman can become pregnant very easily and not even know about it until her stomach grows or begins. Do not believe that with GV pregnancy will not occur!

Today, every second young mother is preparing to give birth again within the first 1.5-2 years from the moment of the birth of the first child. And these are not simple statistics, but data confirmed by life itself.

How does the body feel after having a baby?

Let's take a closer look at how breastfeeding and menstruation are related. Approximately on the third day after childbirth, a woman begins to receive milk, thereby lactation is formed. This is in theory, but in practice everything is possible.

For example, after a cesarean, milk comes only for 5-7 days, although there are exceptions, because the human body is sometimes very unpredictable.

So, during the onset of lactation in the female body, two hormones peacefully coexist: prolactin and oxytocin. Moreover, the development of the first directly depends on how often the mother puts the baby to the breast. It also affects the amount of milk produced. The second is responsible for the process of restoring the female body. Simply put, from its level, the uterus comes to life: it begins to contract intensively and return to its place.

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In addition to the fact that prolactin affects the amount of milk, the process of its formation slows down, as mentioned above, the maturation of the egg. But many may object that they, they say, are breastfeeding the child, but the periods still begin (meaning that they come earlier than expected).

Well, firstly, rejoice, it means that your body managed to recover very quickly and is in the state that it was before pregnancy.

Secondly, so that menstruation during breastfeeding does not come earlier than the desired period, several conditions are required:

1. Feed the baby during the daytime every three hours (less is possible, more is not!),

2. night feedings should not exceed an interval of six hours.

These are the basic rules. It is also important that the mother does not supplement the baby with formula and does not give him water to drink. This will allow the monthly "linger" for six months. And then it all depends on the characteristics of the body. Do not forget that during the period of breastfeeding, so-called lactation crises are possible - when the milk becomes "as if" less. These processes are natural, laid down by nature itself, which means that you should not be afraid of them, but also let them take their course. Unfortunately, most young mothers do not know what to do at such moments and, worrying that their child will remain hungry, begins. And this is fundamentally wrong:

The child's digestive system is finally formed only by 6 months and the introduction of complementary foods can provoke a number of undesirable consequences,

If mommy reduces the number of feedings, milk can really disappear, and then menstruation will come.

It is important to know that lactation crises most often begin at the beginning of the fourth and eighth months. And the only way to keep lactation is to put the baby to the breast as often as possible, thereby stimulating milk production and pushing back the time of menstruation.

All of the above applies to if a woman is breastfeeding. It happens that young mothers, for certain reasons, combine breastfeeding with artificial. This leads to the fact that menstruation during breastfeeding begins already 3-4 months after the birth of the child.

And finally, if a woman is not breastfeeding, then the menstrual cycle can begin in 2-4 months.

There is the opposite option - there is no and no menstruation, although you do not breastfeed for more than three months. This kind of situation requires urgent medical attention. You should not worry much, maybe the hormonal background has not yet fully recovered. But it is not advisable to postpone a visit to the gynecologist, suddenly miss something “important”: postpartum pathology, endometriosis, hormonal disorders, tumor or inflammation of the ovaries.

By the way, do not assume that it is breastfeeding that affects the restoration of menstrual function. There are also a number of other significant factors, both internal and external. These include:

The daily routine and rest (both mother and child),

Compliance with diet

Existing chronic diseases or complications during pregnancy and after childbirth,

The psychological state of the mother.

It matters how a woman's period went before pregnancy. If the cycle was regular, and the hormonal background was normal, then the critical days will come as expected. But if periodic delays and hormonal imbalances were observed, the resumption of the normal cycle after the birth of a child may begin later.

But the method of delivery on the resumption of the menstrual cycle has no effect.

Starting your period or having a health problem?

As you already understood, it is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to the question of when menstruation comes after childbirth while breastfeeding. Of course, in most cases, the cycle is restored quite quickly and menstruation becomes regular. And only the first few months, when a kind of “balancing” process takes place, critical days can either start ahead of schedule, or be a little delayed.

Many women note that when menstruation begins after childbirth while breastfeeding, they are less painful than before pregnancy. This is due to the fact that before childbirth, most women experience a bending of the uterus, which causes some discomfort during critical days. Because of it, the blood cannot circulate normally, and therefore pain occurs.

After childbirth, the woman's organs, although they return to their original places, still their location changes slightly and most often the bend straightens. Unfortunately, after a caesarean section, such a process is not always possible. This, of course, does not mean that menstruation will be as painful, but most often a certain kind of discomfort remains.

It is necessary to be able to distinguish between menstruation and postpartum discharge or bleeding

In the first few days after childbirth, regardless of whether they passed naturally or through surgery, women have lochia - bloody discharge. A sort of rich mixture of bright red color, consisting of blood clots and mucus.

Over time (6-8 weeks), the amount of this kind of discharge decreases, and they themselves change in color. By the end of the term, the lochia becomes increasingly scarce, which means complete healing of the uterine mucosa. Sometimes they can come for several days in a row, then disappear, and after a while start again. You should not be afraid of this, in time everything will be restored. And the more often you put the baby to the chest, the faster the discharge will end, because regular lactation helps to contract the uterus.

By the way, the same applies to the cycle - even if menstruation has begun, they can be interrupted for a month or more. One time they can shorten, another time they can lengthen. This kind of fluctuation is considered normal for 2-3 postpartum cycles, especially if you are breastfeeding.

If the discharge becomes larger and symptoms such as nausea, loss of strength, dizziness, etc. appear. - you should immediately consult a doctor to prevent the risk of bleeding. It can occur for various reasons: the seams have parted, something heavy has been lifted, etc.

It is not for nothing that experts warn that after giving birth, a woman should take care of her body at least in the first few weeks. And, of course, no sexual intercourse in the first 2 months. Although in practice, not many keep the deadline.

How can you tell if you're on your period or if you're bleeding?

The answer is simple - you need to watch the amount of blood released. If you change the pad after 2 hours or even less - this is blood loss. In addition, in addition to the above symptoms, you should be alerted by painful sensations, an unpleasant odor that indicates the presence of an infection in the reproductive system, and the color of the blood. With simple discharge and menstruation, it is close to red and pink shades. When bleeding, the blood turns dark red. If the pain in the lower abdomen increases, this may indicate an incomplete separation of the placenta. And, therefore, a woman needs to contact a gynecologist who will prescribe an ultrasound and, if necessary, additional cleaning of the uterine cavity in a hospital.

Summing up the above, I would also like to assure you, dear women, that the moment when menstruation begins after childbirth is different for everyone. Someone breastfeeds, and the cycle is restored 7-8 months after the birth of a child, for someone it begins after a year or more. Be that as it may, the duration of recovery is a purely individual process. Remember to listen to your body and take care of your health by avoiding unwanted infections and inflammation.

After the appearance of the baby, a woman thinks not only about her new role and responsibilities, but also about when to wait for the restoration of the menstrual cycle, how soon you can resume intimate relationships, and whether it is worth protecting yourself from a new pregnancy. The body of each is individual - for someone even on breastfeeding, menstruation will begin in two to three months, while for others - in two years. Yes, and the nature of menstrual flow may differ from the previous ones. Therefore, it is useful to know when menstruation begins after childbirth and their possible characteristics in normal and pathological conditions.

In order for the menstrual cycle to resume, it is necessary to restore the hormonal background and increase the endometrium to certain values. After childbirth, prolactin, which is necessary to maintain lactation, suppresses the production of luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones, as a result, endometrial growth does not occur, and there are no periods. As soon as the level of prolactin decreases to the values ​​of a non-lactating woman, the menstrual cycle is restored. The nature of the "critical days" depends on many factors - on whether the birth was natural or artificial, whether there were complications.

When does menstruation start after childbirth?

A minimum of 42 days is given for postpartum recovery. By the end of this period, a woman may have brown or yellow vaginal discharge. Within 14-21 days after this, a woman may experience the first cyclic spotting. With the onset of menstruation, the female body "signals" that it is ready for a new pregnancy. But how soon this condition occurs depends largely on the continuation or absence of breastfeeding.

If lactation is not supported

If for some reason breastfeeding does not continue, “critical days” are restored sooner. Immediately after childbirth, the body reduces the production of prolactin, so the cyclic secretion of FSH and LH resumes. This contributes to the normal transformation of the endometrium. And menstruation can come in 50-60 days from the moment of birth.

The same picture with menstruation is observed after artificial birth (late miscarriage). In such situations, it is necessary to understand that with the onset of the ovulatory cycle, a woman becomes fertile (able to produce offspring).

If lactation is maintained

If a woman maintains lactation, the onset of "critical days" can be delayed up to a year or even two. Much depends on the following factors.

• Are there night feeds. During a night's sleep, a "reconfiguration" of the whole organism occurs. If a woman tries to avoid breastfeeding during this time, the cycle will recover faster.
• Is the baby supplemented with formula?. If a woman at least once a day additionally gives the crumbs artificial mixtures, since he does not have enough breastfeeding, the cycle also resumes sooner. The first menstrual bleeding can go as early as 50-90 days after childbirth.
• Is complementary foods used for the baby. With the introduction of complementary foods, the number of breastfeedings is reduced. The woman's body immediately responds to these changes by restoring the cycle.

As soon as a woman completely completes lactation, if her cycle has not recovered up to this point, the first menstrual flow should come within two to three months. If this does not happen, it is better to consult a doctor for additional examination and consultation.

With artificial and mixed feeding, menstrual flow occurs faster. The first menstruation after childbirth can be in 40-60 days. If only natural breastfeeding is maintained, menstruation usually resumes four to eight months after delivery. But the boundaries can vary significantly.

Abundant or not

Often at the moment when menstruation comes after childbirth, a woman is extremely surprised by the amount of discharge. Normally, a slight increase in the volume of blood lost is allowed, but if more than two “maxi” pads are consumed per hour, you should seek the advice of a specialist. On average, the volume of blood loss should not exceed 80-100 ml for the entire period of "critical days", which is about 10-20 ml of blood per day. If the amount is exceeded, we can talk about uterine bleeding.

In the first few months, discharge may include small blood clots, especially after a caesarean section or other intrauterine surgery (eg, after removal of fibroids). The reasons for such heavy periods after childbirth are explained by a violation of the integrity of the endometrium and myometrium, which entails abnormal contractile activity.

Painful or not

If your periods were painful before childbirth, they will most likely remain the same after. Rarely, according to the reviews of women, one can be convinced of the opposite.

In the first few months after the recovery of the cycle after childbirth, menstrual flow may be accompanied by more pain than usual. Especially if they begin during lactation. The baby, irritating the nipple, stimulates the release of oxytocin, which causes stronger uterine contractions. Also in the following cases, menstruation can become painful.

• After operative delivery. If a caesarean section was performed, the removal of myomatous nodes, the septum of the uterine cavity, the manipulation is accompanied by trauma to the inner layer of the uterus and the formation of a scar. The healing process takes several months. In this case, the first and several subsequent periods may be more painful, since the inner layer of the uterus, directly adjacent to the sutures, is rejected. Also, pain may be due to adhesions in the pelvis after surgery.
• If there were gaps in childbirth. All injuries can also be felt by a woman for more than six months. If there were extensive ruptures of the cervix during childbirth, after comparing and suturing the tissues, stenosis (narrowing) of the cervical canal may form. This will impede the outflow of menstrual blood, causing pain. In such situations, medical assistance is needed - an instrumental expansion of the cervical canal is performed.
• Endometriosis. During lactation, the hormonal background favors a decrease in the manifestations of endometriosis. However, with the recovery of the cycle, pain and daubing may return.
• Myoma of the uterus. The presence of large nodes or many small ones can also give pain associated with uterine contractions.
• Retroflection. When the uterus is located at an angle posteriorly, women more often note that their stomach hurts during “critical days”. This is due to the anatomical location and force of contractions of the myometrium to expel secretions from the cavity. Symptoms are especially pronounced when combined with uterine fibroids or endometriosis.
• Inflammation . Painful periods may indicate inflammation in the uterine cavity and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe appendages. A change in the color and smell of secretions is characteristic - they become dark brown, yellowish with an unpleasant and even putrid odor. The temperature may rise.
• IUD in the cavity. Rarely, but still practiced, the establishment of an intrauterine device on the seventh to tenth day after birth. Often, menstruation with an IUD is more painful and plentiful.

Regular or not

Women are not only concerned about when their periods begin after childbirth while breastfeeding, but also the fact that they should be regular. Hormonal fluctuations that occur during lactation often predispose to irregular periods. Within 90 days after the formation of the menstrual function, they should take on a more or less rhythmic character and begin after 21-35 days. If in one month the break is 22, and in the other - 32, this can also be considered a variant of the norm.
If your periods were irregular before pregnancy, it is more likely that there will be delays after pregnancy.

The following factors can affect the restoration of the regularity of the cycle after childbirth.

• Excess Prolactin. Even before pregnancy, many women experience fertility problems due to the rise in prolactin levels. Symptoms of this subside somewhat during breastfeeding. However, after the cessation of lactation, menstrual irregularities are restored.
• Excess estrogen. The increased amount of estrogen changes the balance of hormones after childbirth, which leads to irregular periods. "Hidden estrogens" are found in a woman's adipose tissue. Therefore, all those who have “recovered” after childbirth are at risk of menstrual cycle failures.
• Pathology of the pituitary gland. Preeclampsia of the second half of pregnancy, increased pressure, severe blood loss during childbirth can lead to necrosis (death) of the pituitary gland. Sheehan's syndrome develops. One of its manifestations is the absence of menstruation after childbirth, signs of disruption of the work of other endocrine organs.
• Thyroid diseases. Hypothyroidism also leads to disruption of the menstrual cycle, as thyroid hormones greatly affect the functioning of the entire reproductive system. Simultaneously with an increase in the duration of the cycle, a woman will notice increased fragility of nails, dry skin and hair, weakness, and drowsiness.
• Stress. New living conditions, night sleep deprivation and other causes of psycho-emotional overstrain do not pass without a trace for the female body. All this entails failures of the menstrual cycle.
• Operations on appendages. Sometimes during a caesarean section, it becomes necessary to remove the ovaries or part of them. In this case, it is impossible to say exactly when the cycle will be restored and what it will be like. Sometimes it is necessary to take oral contraceptives for a long time.

Alarms

How much time they go and what should be after the birth of menstruation, women who have given birth should definitely know. This will help them to identify deviations in their body in time and consult a doctor. The following points should alert and become the reason for a consultation with a gynecologist:

• menstruation did not come three months after the end of lactation;
• menstruation excessively profuse for two or three cycles in a row;
• during menstruation, dizziness, weakness constantly occur;
• "critical days" unbearably painful;
• monthly irregular, with periodic daubing;
• the girl notes an unpleasant smell of discharge;
• a new pregnancy is suspected against the background of lactation;
• if a woman has any gynecological diseases (fibroids, endometriosis).

Only a specialist can reliably find out the cause of violations, prescribe effective treatment and give recommendations for maintaining women's health.

Diagnosis in case of deviations

In order to find out the cause of the violations and even how long after the birth menstruation begins, it is necessary to perform a series of diagnostic studies.
A routine gynecological examination will not provide much information. During it, you can identify the pathology of the cervix (may give intermenstrual daub), a new pregnancy, uterine fibroids.

More useful in this case is to perform a pelvic ultrasound. With its help, it is possible to identify volumetric formations (tumors), determine the thickness of the endometrium and predict the time of the next menstruation, as well as evaluate ovarian function.

It may be necessary to study the hormonal profile of a woman, hormones of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, estrogens and androgens. Sometimes there is a need for laparoscopy or hysteroscopy. Rarely, a CT or MRI is recommended. All studies are carried out only as directed by a doctor.

Often violations are functional in nature, and the situation can be corrected by following simple tips. The following recommendations will help minimize the various disruptions of the menstrual cycle.

• Monitor body weight. As soon as the “additional source” of estrogen in the form of excess subcutaneous fat is eliminated, the menstrual cycle will begin to normalize.
• Have a good rest. Many problems in women arise as a result of psycho-emotional overstrain. The ability to effectively relax, correctly perceive negative information will help maintain women's health.
• Maintain physical activity. Physical activity increases the body's endurance and resistance to stress, and it is also a great way to control body weight.
• Take vitamin complexes. There are specially selected complexes for the normalization of menstrual function. For example, "Time Factor", "Cyclovit".

Thus, it is impossible to say unequivocally how long after the birth menstruation begins. The body of each woman is individual. But it’s not worth waiting for the cycle to become “ideal” if there were obvious violations before. On average, in terms of duration, amount of discharge and soreness, critical days will be the same as they were before childbirth. If you suspect a deviation, you should consult a doctor.

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A healthy pregnancy that ends with 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 normal or there are pathological abnormalities, you need to understand and prepare, preferably even before childbirth.

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

Menstrual bleeding is nothing more than a rejection of the hypertrophied uterine mucosa 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 mucous membrane of the uterus is prepared for the introduction into its thickness of the egg fertilized by the spermatozoon. 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 rupture of the ovarian follicle and the release of the egg into the lumen of the fallopian tube. The epithelium of the tubes is villous; with the help of the movement of its villi, it advances the egg to 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. There comes a pregnancy. But this is not always the case.

Therefore, in the absence of pregnancy, the overgrown endometrium is expelled from the uterine cavity, while 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 starts the mechanisms of regulation of the preparation of all organs for childbirth and breastfeeding. This means the following changes in a woman's body:

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

The increase in the mass of the organs of childbearing and mammary glands is due to the fact that for normal gestation and subsequent breastfeeding, a supply of body fat is needed for energy supply, muscle mass to move the fetus through the birth canal. The mammary glands increase due to the growth of lobules containing milk-producing ones during the lactation period.

The pubic joint is motionless. The two pelvic bones are connected in the middle by hard cartilage. During the preparatory period for childbirth, this substance becomes more elastic, softer. 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 supple during this period, then it would be difficult for the fetus to pass 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 being rebuilt to ensure the normal course of pregnancy, childbirth and feeding the child - the lactation period. The corpus luteum, which is formed 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. It is this period that is recognized as optimal for normal, term delivery. It takes a certain amount of time to normalize the menstrual cycle in the postpartum period.

Reasons for the slow recovery of the 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 an individual hormonal background;
• hereditary factors;
• the nature of the generic process;
• features of the recovery of the uterus.

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

With the birth of a child into the world, mechanisms begin to work that restore the size and condition of the mucous, muscular membranes 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 discharge of the placenta will continue to bleed. Such a development of events is fraught with extensive blood loss and the most gloomy consequences. It is for this reason that the early postpartum period is under the close attention of doctors. Especially carefully monitor the process of involution of the uterus, that is, the return of its size to the physiological age norm.

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

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

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

• the presence of complications in childbirth;
• the status of the immune system;
• the presence of psychological complications of the postpartum period;
• poor-quality diet for the puerperal;
• a large number of births in history.

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 delayed and if a woman is concerned about this, then 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 familiarize yourself with the characteristic features of discharge in the early and subsequent postpartum periods.

During the first or second day after the birth of a child, vaginal discharge has a bloody, dark brown 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, the lochia becomes like a slightly bloody, spotting discharge. Clots and abundant presence of blood should no longer be. Such a course of the early period after the birth of a child indicates a good rate of uterine involution. Simultaneously with this process, the arrival of milk to the mammary glands begins. Thus, we can conclude that the hormonal background is set up correctly for normal lactation and uterine contraction. If a woman begins to breastfeed her baby, especially immediately after giving birth, apply to the breast, then this is an additional stimulant for the 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, their number gradually decreases. This is the period of establishing active lactation. Breastfeeding after childbirth is necessary not only for the child to form normal digestion and immunity, but also for the puerperal woman herself in order to naturally stimulate the menstrual cycle.

Two weeks after childbirth and until the end of the first month of this period, normal lochia is absolutely transparent, mucous, odorless. By the end of the fourth week of the postpartum period, they should practically stop. A different nature of the course 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, which is necessary for milk production, suppresses the activity of hormones that ensure the menstrual cycle. The egg does not mature, therefore, there are no preparatory processes in the uterus with subsequent rejection of the mucosa to the outside.

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

The first period after childbirth, even if a woman is breastfeeding, can occur about two weeks - 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 than the usual schedule. The period without bleeding also varies from a few weeks to two months.

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

You can influence the recovery of the 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 fully restored, there are no infections of the genital organs and not earlier than two months after the birth of the child.

A woman who, after giving birth, began breastfeeding, should also remember the rationality of physical activity. Excessive weight lifting, exhausting workouts or physical labor do not contribute to a regular cycle and recovery after childbirth.

With the advent of a child, a woman's life changes, and her body experiences numerous stresses and changes. Gradually, the reproductive system is restored and again becomes capable of bearing and giving birth, as signaled by the appearance of menstruation. During breastfeeding, it frightens many mothers, so it is important to understand what exactly is the concept of the norm, and whether the restoration of the cycle can harm the established breastfeeding.

The first menstruation after childbirth while breastfeeding - norms and terms

After the birth of a normal baby, after 4–6 weeks, most young mothers stop excreting and the reproductive system begins to rest. At this time, the egg in the ovaries does not mature, therefore, menstruation does not occur. Breastfeeding plays an important role in this process, during which there is a significant production of the hormone prolactin. It stimulates the production of milk, inhibits ovulation. There is no clear concept of the norm in terms of the timing of the resumption of menstruation, but there are boundaries, and they are very stretched - from 4 weeks (1 month) to 18–20 months (1.5 years).

Some mothers confuse postpartum discharge (lochia) and menstruation, but these are completely different things. Menstruation is a rejected endometrium in the absence of a fertilized egg in the current cycle, and lochia is the exit of all excess from the uterus that remains after bearing a child and childbirth.

The restoration of the cycle depends on the organization of the breastfeeding process itself:

• frequent attachment to the breast on demand causes the maintenance of a high level of prolactin in the blood, and ovulation does not occur longer;
• with long breaks between feedings, the use of pacifiers and mixtures as supplementary feeding for infants and supplementation, menstruation occurs earlier, because due to infrequent sucking, hormone production decreases. However, even with mixed feeding, the boundaries of the norm do not shift - it will be quite natural to resume menstruation in a couple of months, and a year after childbirth;
• if the child is actively breastfed for two years, then the absence of critical days for all 24 months is considered a variant of the norm.

Often, with regular lactation on demand, the first ovulations occur after six months, because just at this time the introduction of complementary foods begins, and the frequency of breastfeeding is reduced. If menstruation began early, then a young mother should, just in case, consult a doctor to rule out the following problems:

• decrease in prolactin levels due to reduced immunity;
• taking medications;
• transferred diseases.

Reviews of women about the appearance of the first menstruation after childbirth

I feed on demand, only guards, without even water, supplements and bottles, day and night. And menstruation has come, small only 5 months.

Julia

https://www.baby.ru/blogs/post/87211760–32216313/

After the first birth (and even before the birth, she hung herself, everything hurt so much), and after 2 births I don’t even notice that the menses are coming, only I change the pads. After the first birth, they came exactly at 4 months, in the sense of the daughter was. After the second came in 7 months. There were no complementary foods either, but they are hello!

Plotnikova Veronica

https://deti.mail.ru/forum/v_ozhidanii_chuda/rody/mesjachnye_posle_rodov_kogda/

It was 11 months later. after childbirth. More painful and more profuse than before. The next 4 months also poured out of me incredibly - it had never happened before. Now it seems to be easier, a year has already passed.

MamArina

http://eka-mama.ru/forum/part16/topic157601/

Features of menstruation during breastfeeding: nature, symptoms, regularity

During the recovery cycle during breastfeeding, the nature of menstruation may differ from the usual for a woman, and may not bring any surprises at all. Consider the main parameters of menstruation after childbirth:

• amount. Usually the first menstruation is scanty (volume up to 80 ml) and not long, but over several cycles the picture approaches the one before pregnancy. An exception may be a particularly abundant discharge - after childbirth, the volumes are often reduced, and this becomes the new norm for a woman;
• the consistency and color of the discharge. They usually do not have any features when breastfeeding. The first day - smearing bloody mass, the following days - blood with possible inclusions of clots;
• the smell of menstrual blood. It should not be unpleasant, putrid and pronounced.

The symptoms of the first and subsequent periods after childbirth remain typical - pulling discomfort in the lower abdomen, some general weakness are allowed. Itching, fever, severe pain, large amounts of discharge should be the reason for going to the doctor. The cycle is restored gradually, and normally its duration should reach the accepted values ​​- from 21 to 34 days.
Painful sensations during menstruation can greatly overshadow the condition of a nursing mother, therefore, medications can be used to stop them.

If the soreness causes significant discomfort, it must be stopped, since the stress associated with pain is a direct threat to breastfeeding. With the permission of the doctor, painkillers are allowed, for example, Ibuprofen (Nurofen), No-Shpa (Drotaverine), Paracetamol (Panadola, Efferalgan).

Cycle recovery nuances

The cycle in a woman after childbirth is restored gradually. Usually, discharges acquire normal volumes and frequency within six months. The situation is considered normal when, after the resumption of menstruation, they disappear again for a while - this is possible in the following cases:

Irregularity of menstruation: norm or problem

The regularity of the first few cycles after childbirth, regardless of the timing of their onset, should not be expected, since it takes time to fully restore the woman's reproductive system. Usually 2-3 periods are irregular. If the interval between discharges has exceeded 3 months, then you should consult a doctor, as this may indicate an inflammatory process, hormonal failure, or a new pregnancy.

The state of lactational amenorrhea (absence of menstruation while breastfeeding) is quite insidious. The first ovulation can occur unexpectedly and without obvious symptoms, so relying on lactation as a method of contraception is not worth it. There are a lot of stories when a woman finds out that she is pregnant again 3 months after giving birth, and this is a big test for the body.

The effect of menstruation on breast milk and child feeding

Lactation and menstruation are compatible concepts, but many mothers worry that the appearance of secretions will negatively affect the feeding of the child. It is important to understand that when the cycle is resumed, the amount of milk will decrease slightly, and the baby may behave restlessly and linger at the breast longer. Such changes are associated with fluctuations in the hormonal background. They do not pose any danger to breastfeeding - after 2-3 days the situation returns to normal.

Most often, nursing mothers are concerned about the question of whether menstruation affects the taste and quality of milk. You should not worry about this, since there is no scientifically confirmed data on such a connection.

Experts say that it is not only possible, but necessary, to continue breastfeeding with the resumption of menstruation - this combination does not create any contraindications.

Reviews of women on the effect of menstruation on the composition of breast milk and its production

Both my daughters and I got my period 2 months after giving birth. From the first milk from this did not become less. From the second - I notice that a day or two before the start and during menstruation, yes, less. But then it comes back to normal. About the taste - and you try it yourself, as for me, the taste does not change a single gram. It becomes bitter when you stop feeding - then, as they say, it “burns out”.

Anna

http://www.komarovskiy.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13269&start=15

I got my period too. It didn’t affect me in any way and my daughter sucks like she sucked))) So I calmed down and I think that there is nothing terrible here)))

Lidusik

https://deti.mail.ru/forum/nashi_deti/kormim_grudju/mesjachnye_pri_kormlenii_grudju_chto_delat/

I, too, somewhere in 3-4 months began to disappear. In half a year it was gone, and the first menstruation came only after three months - so everything is individual. And to maintain lactation, there is Lactagon, I haven’t tried it myself, but they say it helps, and in the first months I had tea with milk (very warm, almost hot). In general, menstruation and milk are not related in any way. My friend fed the child up to a year and a half (!!!) and there was a lot of milk, she even expressed it, because a child at this age does not need so much anymore - there is other food, but her periods came much earlier! Also about half a year.

Lion cub R-r-r-meow!

https://forum.mytischi.ru/index.php?/topic/50694

Video: what to do if there is no menstruation after childbirth

The restoration of menstruation during breastfeeding can last from one month to two years, and none of the extreme options is considered a pathology. It all depends on the specific conditions of the organization of the breastfeeding process. In most cases, the discharge returns with the introduction of complementary foods and in nature they are the same as before pregnancy. No changes in the taste of breast milk during menstruation were noted - its production may decrease slightly, but will soon recover again.

Hello! My name is Alena, 25 years old. For many years I have been involved in family, health and parenting issues. I have higher psychological and economic education.