First menstruation after childbirth while breastfeeding. Regular or not

During pregnancy, a woman gets used to the fact that there are no periods in her life. With the birth of a baby, a newly-made mother, having heard and read about the recovery processes in the body after childbirth, begins to wait for the resumption of the monthly cycle. And often the absence of menstruation, due to increased emotionality, is attributed to pathology, it starts to get nervous, which, of course, negatively affects both the woman herself and her child. Therefore, this physiological aspect of the return to the pre-pregnancy state requires detailed consideration.

The female body after childbirth

For a woman's health, childbirth is stressful and takes time to recover.

The resumption of menstruation is an important indicator of recovery after childbirth.

What is lochia

The female genital organ after the birth of a baby naturally or by caesarean is a wound surface formed after the rupture of many vessels that connected the child's place with the body of the uterus. Like ordinary mechanical tissue damage, such an injury bleeds for some time during the healing process. In addition, during the bearing of a child, the uterus stretches, and after childbirth, due to the action of the hormone oxytocin, which is responsible for uterine contraction, it begins to restore its previous size, rejecting some of the fibers, which is also accompanied by bloody discharge from the vagina. All this leads to the fact that up to 40 days after the birth of a baby, a woman observes discharge of varying degrees of intensity with lumps - lochia, gradually fading away.

It is interesting. Lochia allows the uterus to quickly and quite significantly “lose weight”: about 700 grams per 1 kg in the first week, and in a couple of months the organ will return to its weight norm - 70 grams.

What is menstruation

Regula (menstruation, menstruation) is a physiological process that is characterized by the rejection of part of the mucous surface of the uterus, caused by cyclic changes in the hormonal background of a woman. Thus, despite the fact that both menstruation and lochia are characterized by bloody discharge, about 1.5 months after the birth of a baby, a young mother observes exactly lochia, which has a more mucous texture and an unusual smell.

And since the resumption of menstruation after childbirth is associated with the work of the endocrine system, it is worth dwelling on the hormones that determine the process of the onset of menstruation.

Menstruation is a cyclic phenomenon, and lochia is exceptional, occurring only after childbirth

Hormonal background after childbirth

It is determined by the presence or absence of breastfeeding. If in the latter case everything is quite simple: the background, and hence the cycle, begin to return to normal after the completion of lochia, that is, 1.5 months after childbirth, then during lactation, the balance of hormones is completely different. During the period of breastfeeding, prolactin is released in large quantities in the body of a woman - a hormone responsible for the production of milk and at the same time suppressing the hormones necessary for the preparation and onset of ovulation, the completion of which, in turn, is marked by the onset of menstruation.

Video: a month after childbirth - features of the recovery process

Menstruation during lactation

It would be logical to assume that while a woman is lactating, that is, a lot of prolactin is secreted, menstruation does not occur. However, the restoration of the cycle is greatly influenced by factors such as:

• heredity (between the periods of restoration of the menstrual cycle of different generations of women of the same family, of course, there will be a run-up, but not too large);
• the presence of pathologies (if a young mother has inflammation, infection, then it is very difficult to predict the timing of the restoration of the menstrual cycle);
• type and duration of breastfeeding period.

The resumption of the monthly cycle is determined, among other things, by the characteristics of lactation in a woman

The timing of the arrival of menstruation during lactation

It is the last factor associated with the peculiarities of the feeding regimen that in most cases has a strong influence on the resumption of regulation. To begin with, you should pay attention to this dependence: prolactin is produced in large quantities when the baby does not receive additional food and drink. Accordingly, when complementary foods and supplementation appear in the diet of the crumbs, less prolactin is produced, which means that a gradual restoration of the balance of hormones responsible for ovulation begins.

Average rates

In the past few years, pediatricians have recommended the introduction of complementary foods and supplements after 4-6 months, so these dates have become benchmarks for the starting point for the resumption of menstruation. It should be noted that even after complementary foods have been introduced, with partial breastfeeding, menstruation may not come. Breastfeeding specialists, in addition to the hereditary factor and the presence of pathologies, include the practice of feeding at night and in the early morning as the reasons for this delay. The fact is that more prolactin is produced at night, and this allows you to maintain its content in the body at a high level.

It is interesting. If a woman practices a combination of breastfeeding and artificial feeding, periods on average come 3-12 months after birth. Such a large run-up in terms is associated with the peculiarities of reducing the number of feedings: if the baby has stopped receiving breasts at night and in the morning, then menstruation will come sooner.

Recovery of the monthly cycle after childbirth can take a long time

Table: options for the norm and deviation of the timing of the resumption of menstruation after childbirth

My critical days began exactly one year after I gave birth)))) Normally, they do not go abundantly. I don’t even feel pain (beauty!))))

Valentine

I started exactly 6 months later, and immediately regularly every month, as before pregnancy. And nursed up to 1 year 4 months.

First menstruation: symptoms, discharge and duration

During the period of pregnancy and lactation, a woman weaned from the "menstrual" state. And since it is impossible to predict the exact dates for the start of menstruation, most new mothers fear that critical days will begin unexpectedly. Meanwhile, in most cases, it will not be possible to guess the symptoms of the onset of labor regulation, since they will appear:

• pain in the lower abdomen of a pulling nature;
• abrupt mood swings;
• recurrent headaches.

It is worth preparing yourself in advance for the fact that, perhaps, the nature of the discharge will be different:

• more abundant or, conversely, poorer than in the pre-pregnancy period;
• accompanied by more intense pain sensations;
• with lumps (as a rule, this feature is inherent in the event that menstruation began shortly after the completion of lochia, which means that the endometrium is still in the recovery stage).

The duration of the first menstruation after childbirth may differ from the usual ones in the direction of increasing or decreasing the terms. On average, in the absence of deviations, menstruation lasts 7–8 days, and the terms vary within 21–30 days. Gradually, these indicators will return to normal.

The first period is usually preceded by a range of symptoms.

How does menstruation affect breast milk?

No, if we are talking about quality indicators. Therefore, the conviction of some women that after the resumption of the regulation, the child should be weaned from the breast, has no basis. Moreover, it is harmful to the health of the baby, for whom breast milk is the key to strong immunity and proper development. The only possible consequence of the onset of menstruation that affects the characteristics of milk is a decrease in its quantity. The remaining changes concern, to a greater extent, the "relationship" between the breast and the baby:

• the sensitivity of the nipples increases, the baby’s touch can be painful (breastfeeding experts recommend that before giving the baby a breast, attach a warm napkin to the nipples, and with unbearable pain, express milk during menstruation and feed the baby from a bottle);
• increased work of sweat glands during menstruation can cause the baby to not like such a change in smell (therefore, the importance of hygiene procedures is even more important).

2 days before my period, my milk really sharply decreased, then, when it ended, it came back with greater force, so for 5 days in total, my daughter was capricious at that time, she sucked and threw her breasts, cried, she didn’t have enough, apparently, then everything is fine. Experienced such moments.

Karsulya

http://38mama.ru/forum/index.php?topic=216035.0

If the baby hurts when sucking, then during the period of menstruation it can be fed from a bottle with expressed milk

Violations of the monthly cycle

Some differences in the course of 2–3 monthly cycles after childbirth from those to which the woman is accustomed (slightly more painful, prolonged, etc.) are not pathologies. Although with any concerns, it is still better to consult a gynecologist.

It is interesting. With heavy bleeding and unbearable pain, there can be no other options: a woman definitely needs urgent help.

And also there are a number of violations that indicate pathological conditions and require specialist advice.

Abundant and prolonged menstruation

Periods are periods that last longer than 8 days. As a rule, they are characterized by abundant secretions. You can determine the intensity of the discharge at home: if one pad is enough for 2.5–3 hours, bleeding is considered intense. Usually, women who have survived a caesarean are faced with such a problem. In any case, long-term and may be evidence that:

• particles of fetal membranes in the process of lochia did not completely come out;
• inflammation develops in the genitals;
• the woman is or was in a stressful situation;
• a young mother had anemia while carrying a child.

After carrying out diagnostic procedures and studying the anamnesis, the woman is prescribed either conservative treatment (drugs that stop blood loss, vitamins, and iron-containing drugs), or, if there is no dynamics, curettage to stop blood loss and exclude the possibility of tumor development in the endometrium.

My first periods were the same and went longer than usual. The doctor said that the norm, the body is rebuilt to a new rhythm.

Erase the PAST

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

Long periods are usually accompanied by copious discharge.

Accelerated menstruation

This disorder is usually caused by:

• strong and sharp weight loss of a young mother;
• large blood loss during childbirth;
• a strong increase in prolactin - hyperprolactinemia.

Meager regulations

Spotting more than three cycles in the absence of hormonal contraception can be caused by:

• imbalance of hormones;
• endometritis, that is, inflammation of the mucous surface of the uterus;
• Sheehan's syndrome (neuroendocrine disorder, provoked by the death of part of the pituitary cells due to complications in childbirth).

It is interesting. Since even in the absence of menstruation, after the completion of postpartum discharge, a woman can become pregnant, the choice of a method of contraception should not be postponed. However, one should not forget that when an intrauterine device is established, menstruation can become more intense and painful, and when taking birth control pills, on the contrary, more scarce.

Scanty periods are common if a woman takes birth control pills

Unstable cycle

Such a violation (including a break of more than three months) can be diagnosed no earlier than six months from the moment the cycle is resumed. Deviation can be caused by:

• pathological processes occurring in the ovaries;
• depletion of the body;
• complications in childbirth (the consequences of epidural anesthesia also apply here);
• the development of neoplasms in the pelvic organs;
• deviations in the work of the endocrine system.

If monthly more than three cycles come twice a month, then there may be a malfunction of the pituitary gland.

The cessation of menstruation after 1-2 cycles requires, firstly, the exclusion of a new pregnancy, and secondly, specialist advice for the possible onset of early menopause. Despite the fact that this is a rather rare occurrence, it is impossible to completely reject the possibility.

I started at 8 months. That is, no. That 2 days that 2 weeks!!! I didn't notice how I got pregnant!!

Anonymous

https://sovet.kidstaff.com.ua/question-18605

Many new mothers are faced with the problem of an unstable cycle.

Itching, uncharacteristic odor and color

Sverbezh and curdled discharge are characteristic signs of thrush, and a pungent odor, scarlet color and accompanying chills with unbearable pain in the lower abdomen require urgent diagnosis, as they can be symptoms of serious infections or oncological diseases.

Video: cycle disorder during breastfeeding - expert explanation

Ways to normalize the cycle

All questions regarding the restoration of the monthly cycle must be discussed with the gynecologist in advance. This is especially true in cases where there were complications in childbirth. And the general list of recommendations regarding the stabilization of the monthly cycle is reduced to the following points:

It is interesting. If a woman has postpartum depression, then she needs to drink a course of sedatives on a natural basis, introduce herbal teas into the diet, and in the absence of dynamics, seek professional help from a psychologist.

During lactation, the restoration of the monthly cycle has its own characteristics, which you need to know about in advance. This will help to avoid health problems for both mother and baby. But in any case, if a woman has any fears or suspicions, then the surest way to resolve them is to contact a gynecologist. Only a specialist can conduct a competent diagnosis, prescribe the right treatment, or simply dispel doubts and reassure.

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Nature has provided in the body of a woman all the stages for a favorable conception, bearing and birth of a baby. If the expectant mother is healthy, then the delivery will be successful, and over time, all processes in the female body will be restored. Including, monthly, from which you have weaned during the bearing of a child. The first thing you can observe immediately after the birth of a baby is not menstrual, but postpartum discharge. And when does menstruation actually begin after childbirth while breastfeeding? Many inexperienced mothers observe the processes in their body in order to understand whether everything is going as it should or should they take a closer look at themselves? Maybe something is wrong if there are no periods for a long time? Or maybe conception occurred while there was no menstruation, but there was ovulation? Let's take a closer look.

What happens in a woman's body after childbirth

Nine months during the gestation of the baby, there was no menstruation. Then, after the birth of the baby, for a certain period of time, you observed bleeding that occurs immediately from the moment of birth - clots of postpartum blood that drains during the healing and restoration of the uterus. And then any discharge stops.

Lochia (these are the residual secretions of mucus and blood after childbirth) can last from several days to 7-8 weeks, and this is also a variant of the norm. Sometimes they are mistaken for the beginning of critical days. It is believed that a new cycle should be counted from the birth of a child, that is, on the same dates, wait for the first menstruation after childbirth. But this is not true, the dates of the beginning of menstruation are very individual. In general, the timing of the start of the menstrual cycle depends on whether the mother is breastfeeding the baby, and what kind of lactation she has.

First menstruation or postpartum discharge

During postpartum discharge, doctors recommend the first 6 weeks (1.5 months) after childbirth to abstain from sexual intercourse. Firstly, the organs of the woman in labor must fully recover, and secondly, the female organs during this period are very vulnerable to infection. But if the recovery goes well, the bleeding from scarlet or bright red will turn brown and gradually stop. Lochia lasts most often the first 40 days, but they can last less than 20-21 days.

How is the recovery of menstruation after childbirth

The hormonal background during pregnancy, until the very moment of childbirth, underwent strong metamorphoses, this continues after delivery. Only if earlier the functions of the body protected and ensured the safety and full development of the fetus, now a nursing mother should take care of the full nutrition of her crumbs.

On a note! If a woman could not or did not want to start breastfeeding, there is no lactation, female hormones are restored in a few months, then menstruation comes. The cycle returns to normal pretty soon. As a rule, it does not change in comparison with what it was before conception, pregnancy and childbirth. But many note that menstruation becomes less painful if pulling pain in the lower abdomen used to accompany the onset of menstruation.

If the young mother chose breastfeeding, the hormonal background in the body changes again. The production of prolactin (lactogenic hormone that stimulates lactation) begins. Another function of this hormone is to suppress the functioning of the ovaries. And only when the level of prolactin decreases, and progesterone begins to be produced, the periods are restored.

When does menstruation begin after childbirth, if the feeding is mixed? If, with artificial feeding, menstruation comes after 2 months from the day of birth, then with mixed feeding, a period of 2-3 months is also a variant of the norm. At the same time, in both cases, fertilization of the egg is possible.

Note! The absence of menstruation, if a woman does not breastfeed or does not feed her baby on demand, but only a few times a day, may be associated with the occurrence of a new pregnancy.

If feeding is mixed, and pregnancy is excluded, menstruation can come even 6 months after birth. It depends on the individual characteristics of the woman's body. In women who breastfeed their baby only without additional foods, the cycle is restored by about the first year of the baby's life.

When does the first period start after a caesarean?

The normalization of the cycle does not depend on the method of delivery. With natural childbirth, the approximate recovery time is 2 months in the absence of lactation, 3-6 months with mixed feeding and 9-12 months with full breastfeeding. When performing a caesarean section, the timing of the resumption of menstruation will be the same, and will also depend on the release of prolactin into the blood.

It often happens that due to the operation there is very little milk, so the likelihood that menstruation will come earlier when breastfeeding increases. This is due to hormonal fluctuations.

But each organism is special, and it is possible to predict when menstruation comes after a cesarean only by the fact of what type of feeding the baby is on.

Can menstruation start while breastfeeding?

If for some reason breastfeeding was not established immediately, but only later it was possible to increase lactation, can menstruation go on while breastfeeding in this case? Yes, periods can come early. And no matter how often a nursing mother puts a baby on, it is already impossible to stop the cycle.

The delay in the onset of menstruation with regular breastfeeding can be observed up to six months, and this is very individual. Normal recovery is influenced by a well-executed diet, a diet rich in plant foods, a healthy regimen and sleep, and a stable psycho-emotional state.

Why can menstruation go if the baby is breastfed before a year? Normally, menstruation comes at 8-9 months. This is due to the fact that the child grows and develops, goes to bed for a longer time, replaces breast milk with new products (complementary foods). That is, this is absolutely normal, simply because the production of prolactin is no longer so intense.

Features and timing of the restoration of the menstrual cycle during breastfeeding

The delay in the onset of menstruation (from 2 to 12 months after childbirth) is due to such factors:

1. Whether the baby is attached to the breast, or you express milk, and he drinks from a bottle.
2. Whether there are nightly breastfeedings, or the baby sleeps all night without waking up.
3. Whether you have hormonal diseases or infections that affect hormone levels.

As a rule, menstruation does not begin during lactation. Modern mothers introduce complementary foods at 5.5-6 months, and until this age they feed the child on demand, and not according to the regimen. It depends on how early and to what extent, after how much the cycle can be restored.

If the mother chooses breastfeeding according to the regimen, in this case they give the breast to the baby less often, which means that prolactin is produced in a smaller volume and ovarian function is enhanced. As soon as there is enough progesterone, the follicle will mature, then menstruation will come. And vice versa, if the mother feeds on demand, as well as at night (once or twice), menstruation during lactation is delayed until the end of breastfeeding.

Important! If the feeding is mixed due to a lack of milk, menstruation may go irregularly. But normally this can happen within 3-4 months. If the cycle has not recovered over a longer period, hormonal problems or some kind of infection are possible, which is an unprecedented reason to ask your doctor about this.

Menstruation as early as 30 days after childbirth

If the mother was breastfeeding the baby, and menstruation came a month after the birth, pay attention to this moment. The fact is that this is a rather rare situation, but very unsafe for the health of the woman in labor.

For example:

It is possible that postpartum discharge lasted 3 weeks. Then there was a aching pain in the lower abdomen, which can be mistaken for the harbingers of menstruation. But the growth of the endometrium during this period is still physically impossible, which means that there is simply nothing to be rejected during menstruation. Can menses start? Obviously not. In fact, a blood clot can form in the uterus, causing inflammation and bleeding. Therefore, if after the cessation of the release of lochia, new bleeding begins, this is a reason for an early visit to the doctor!

Period after 3-6 months

When a baby is three months old, it is quite possible that the first period will appear, even during breastfeeding. This is a variant of the norm for non-nursing mothers: by three months, all hormones have come into balance, and the menstrual cycle has fully recovered. This is normal for those who practice mixed feeding. Prolactin deficiency is a sign for the pituitary gland that it is possible to function in its intended purpose, that is, to conceive, carry a new pregnancy. The production of progesterone begins, the formation of the follicle and the usual menstruation, which will now become regular.

Note!

If the mother is breastfeeding the baby only, the reason that menstruation went so early may be the following. Mothers who practice supplementing their babies with ordinary water are doing it in vain. It is possible and recommended to supplement when the child is on artificial or mixed feeding. Otherwise, by supplementing with water, creating an imaginary volume and a temporary feeling of satiety in a child, mothers simply rest without giving breasts. Of course, young mothers, inexperienced and often for reasons of losing their breast shape, want to combine both motherhood and the beauty of forms, but not everyone has a strong enough constitution to do this. Therefore, it often turns out in practice that, without sucking out all the milk, the child does not stimulate a large production of prolactin. This means that less milk comes in, the pituitary gland ceases to secrete it unnecessarily, and the situation turns out to be approximately the same as with mixed feeding.

If the first menstruation came after 5 months, this is also normal for breastfeeding, since from this age complementary foods replace part of the volume of breast milk. In addition, the baby is already able to sleep all night without “snacking”, and the lack of nightly feedings actively reduces the production of prolactin.

Menses in one year

It happens that mothers forget about menstruation for a year. If there is no menstruation for a year, normally this can only be accompanied by regular full-fledged breastfeeding. If you have good lactation, and the child is in no hurry to try something new, this is a personal matter for mother and baby, however, if you deliberately delay the introduction of complementary foods to delay the restoration of the menstrual cycle, this is a delusion. The child is already old enough to not require nightly feeding, and prolactin production is most active at night.

When do periods start after breastfeeding?

If the baby has already been switched to complementary foods, and the mother continues to breastfeed, menstruation should come within 2-3 months from the moment the auxiliary food is introduced. If you finally transferred the child to a full-fledged food, after the cessation of breastfeeding, menstruation will be restored in a couple of months. If this does not happen, it is better to visit a doctor, take tests. There may be a hormonal imbalance or failure that prevents the restoration of menstruation after childbirth, but the doctor will tell you whether to worry at all. After all, the recovery time may depend on heredity, on possible diseases, on other features of the female body.

Hormonal background during lactation and the need for contraception

From the moment a child is born, a serious hormonal restructuring in the body begins.

Modern couples sometimes plan to use birth control pills for contraception because they want to avoid another pregnancy. That is, they return to the contraceptives that they used before planning the previous one. But such drugs can change the hormonal background, lead to failure, and this is not useful either for the production of breast milk or for the recovery of the female body after childbirth. But they can provoke irregular periods during breastfeeding. A fairly reliable method of protection is valid in the first half of the year, but all conditions must be met. If a:

• breastfeed your baby immediately after giving birth
• lactation began without problems and in sufficient volume,
• you feed at night, in the morning and throughout the day on demand,
• you do not give supplementary food and drink, and the baby manages only with milk,

there will be no new pregnancy. Because the body after childbirth has taken on the important maternal function of feeding offspring and cannot simultaneously feed and prepare for a new pregnancy. Therefore, the reliability of the method depends on the frequency of feeding, that is, on the full production of prolactin.

Delayed menstruation while breastfeeding

Doctors strongly recommend using other means to prevent unwanted pregnancy, such as a condom or birth control candles. Hormonal remedies are too serious to interfere with the work of nature at this stage. It should be understood that the delay in menstruation naturally depends primarily on lactation, but lactation cannot be used as a method of contraception.

In what cases you need to see a doctor

Of course, conscious young mothers, especially those who have experienced motherhood for the first time, are concerned about how and when menstruation should come during lactation, how normal discharge looks, so as not to miss an important symptom if you need to see a doctor. Medical assistance is needed if:

• heavy periods do not stop more than usual;
• the discharge is too scarce, has an uncharacteristic smell, color, is accompanied by pain;
• more than 2 months have passed since the end of the GW;
• the regularity of the menstrual cycle with HS is disturbed, although supplementary feeding has not been started;
• stopped menstruation, although the cycle has already recovered.

Hygiene of a nursing mother after the restoration of menstruation

Many young mothers who are breastfeeding find that the baby is reluctant to take the breast during menstruation. But it is wrong to think that milk spoils or changes quality during this period. On the one hand, the baby feels that the mother has become more painful due to the increased sensitivity of the nipples, especially if the menstruation has recovered early. But on the other hand, breastfeeding during menstruation requires attention: it is worth strengthening hygiene behind the armpit area and the breast itself. It's not about milk, but about mother's sweat, which changes its chemical composition on critical days. This is what the child may respond to. Another important point, because of which the child may be naughty, is the amount of milk, which may decrease slightly.

Frequently asked Questions

Is it possible to continue breastfeeding during the onset of menstruation?

It is necessary to stay on the GW, there is nothing unnatural in this. Just consider the moments due to which the baby may refuse to breastfeed, exclude them and everything will be fine. How does menstruation affect lactation? It may decrease slightly, but the composition of the milk will not change.

Will milk disappear if menstruation has begun

If menstruation has begun, the milk will not be lost. Remember, some women, even while carrying a second child, breastfeed their first for almost the entire pregnancy. The only thing that can affect lactation is that at the time of menstruation you decide to refuse breastfeeding due to sore nipples or the whims of the child.

Scanty periods with breastfeeding - is this normal?

For each organism individually, scanty or heavy periods, quickly pass or last for a long time. It is worth paying attention to this only if the cycle returned to normal, and then the discharge became scarce from month to month, and this continues for more than 3 months. Then it could be a sign of endometritis.

When should menstruation begin with artificial feeding

1.5 months after birth, lochia stops, and then at 2-3 months menstruation normally occurs. The delay can be affected by poor regimen and poor nutrition, chronic diseases and postpartum complications, and stress.

I've been breastfeeding for a year now, but I still don't have my period - is this normal?

The absence of menstruation while breastfeeding is absolutely normal until the moment of cessation of feeding. If, after the completion of HB, the cycle does not recover within 2 months, this is a reason to consult a doctor.

Menstruation went during lactation and disappeared again

If your period starts and then disappears again for a few months, it could be an ovarian failure. Perhaps you are taking hormonal drugs or have had a serious viral illness, you need to find out the reason from your doctor.

The restoration of the menstrual cycle after childbirth takes some time. Nature intended to give the body a break, to protect against the onset of a new pregnancy. And this protection is the lactation period. But it often happens that menstruation is in no hurry to return even after the complete curtailment of HB. When do periods start after breastfeeding, how long can I wait?

It depends on different factors. For example, some women during lactation begin to be protected with hormonal pills. And they sometimes provoke a weakening of ovarian function. Ovulation disappears and is in no hurry to return. There is a so-called hyperinhibition of the ovaries. Have you ever seen menstruation after childbirth and at the same time protected yourself from unwanted pregnancy in this way? Then wait for the self-recovery of the cycle within the next three months. Unfortunately, there is no way to speed up the “launch” of the ovaries. You can try folk remedies to stimulate ovulation, like a hog uterus or sage, but not too hoping for an effect. It is not worth getting too hung up on the topic of restoring the cycle of menstruation after breastfeeding. Unless you are planning a new pregnancy. Then you need to ovulate.

Sometimes a woman does not immediately restore the hormonal background after lactation. And menstruation after the completion of breastfeeding is in no hurry to appear. In this case, you can wait a bit and then consult a doctor. He, most likely, will refer to the ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries, so that the cause of the pathology becomes clearer. You may also need to take blood tests for certain hormones.

Often, irregular periods after breastfeeding are the cause of elevated levels of the hormone prolactin. This is typical for the period of breastfeeding, and after the end of lactation it is considered a pathology and may be a sign of the presence in the brain of a woman of a benign tumor - prolactinoma. This diagnosis is based on MRI data.
Menstruation after childbirth with breastfeeding is also absent due to the high level of prolactin. But this is the absolute norm. If it were not for high prolactin, a woman would not produce breast milk.
If the tumor really is, the woman is prescribed to take a drug that reduces the level of prolactin. For example, Bromocriptine or Dostinex. And the same treatment will help reduce the size of the tumor in the brain. The menstrual cycle will become regular and ovulation will occur.

After the end of breastfeeding, menstruation does not always come the same as it was before childbirth. The duration of the cycle for many women varies, both in the direction of increase and decrease. But the pain during menstruation becomes less. As for the volume of blood lost, there are no regularities here. Typically, large blood loss occurs in women with uterine fibroids and endometriosis. Both of these diseases regress during lactation, and after it again make themselves felt. Abundant periods after breastfeeding is always a reason to see a doctor. Heavy discharge should include menstruation, in which more than 70 grams of blood is lost. You can try weighing your sanitary napkins after use to calculate how much you're bleeding.

Even rare and irregular periods while breastfeeding should be regarded as a high probability of pregnancy. Even if only 4-5 months have passed after the birth and the child receives only breast milk as food. A delay in menstruation after stopping breastfeeding, and even before it ends, is a reason to do a test to diagnose a possible pregnancy. To prevent unpleasant situations, use contraception from the very first months after childbirth, regardless of the method of feeding the child.

Once upon a time, a woman who gave birth did not even think about the beginning of menstruation during breastfeeding, usually the menstrual cycle was restored after 2 years of natural breastfeeding.

In a woman of the modern world, the situation is different, menstruation often comes 3-4 months after childbirth.

It turns out that today lactation does not inhibit menstruation without fail, all this is individual.
But still, the % of women with early menstruation is much higher than the % of women in whom menstruation begins a year after childbirth.

Why did my periods come later than now?
Firstly, the child was fed only breast milk for much longer than now. Today complementary foods are introduced much earlier and thus the child is transferred to “adult food”. And secondly, the psychological mood of the woman has changed. So you can not compare the circumstances of the past and the situation today.

The restoration of menstruation is a hormonal process, its speed depends on how quickly the body recovers and the hormonal background is adjusted.

The rate of recovery of this hormonal background again depends on how breastfeeding proceeds:
- If it is completely natural and the baby receives mother's milk on demand at any time, then menstruation usually comes at the end of the first year of feeding. - When complementary foods are introduced or the baby is supplemented with formula, he consumes mother's milk less actively and menstruation can come in a period of up to seven months. - If the child, practically, from birth receives supplementary food in the form of a mixture, then, most likely, the mother's menstruation will come by the third month.

Despite the fact that menstruation has come, the child must continue to be breastfed. It does not affect the health of the child in any way.

The baby may be affected by mom's concern about this, so you need to remain calm and continue to feed the baby with healthy mother's milk.

Yes, during this period, the amount of milk produced may decrease, but you should not panic, otherwise the amount of milk will decrease even more from stress.

You just need to apply the baby to the breast as often as possible, which will provoke additional lactation.

If, nevertheless, a woman feels that there is less and less milk, it is not restored, then you need to consult a doctor for advice. Perhaps they will prescribe some drugs that will contribute to the production of milk.
When this does not help, the pediatrician prescribes "pre-food" for the child in the form of a mixture.

Menstruation has no adverse effect on the composition of breast milk.

There are many myths that milk becomes almost harmful to the child. Most likely, this was invented by mothers who wanted to abandon breastfeeding.
In fact, there is nothing wrong with milk.

In some cases, the taste or smell of milk may change, but this is all individual, and may be associated not only with the onset of menstruation, but also with mother's nutrition, her use of cosmetics ...

Since women today are intimidated by the implausible "fact" that if menstruation has come, then lactation is over. Therefore, at the beginning of menstruation, they begin to get nervous, upset.
This behavior will have a greater impact on both lactation and milk and, of course, on the child.

If the mother calmly continues to feed the baby with breast milk, then little will change with the advent of menstruation. You just need to be patient and not get annoyed over trifles.

Menstruation does not last so long, they will pass, and the condition of the mother and baby will return to normal. Therefore, the arrival of menstruation is not a reason to stop breastfeeding.
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For example, I have months with my daughter (first natural birth) for breastfeeding:
Before Ber-ti, the months went in a month (the menstrual cycle was 65 days), for 5 days and without clots, moderately, they always passed without pain.

The first months came after 6 months. after childbirth, went 2 weeks. and with clots, very copious and painful for the first 2-3 days. Then they disappeared for 3 months, they came again and went for 10 days, there were few clots, plentiful and again without pain.

The next months came after 2 months. and walked for 7 days, without clots, moderately and without pain.

After that, the months began to go every month (the menstrual cycle was set at 35 days), for 4-5 days, without clots, moderately and without pain - the cycle fully recovered and became better than before the ber-ti ...

At the same time, there were never any problems with breastfeeding, she fed as usual - on demand, until complete natural self-weaning at 4.6 years, and there was always a lot of milk.

Months with a son (second birth - EX) for breastfeeding:
The first months came when my son was 1 year and 6 months old. Ovulation was very good. But the months themselves were very meager, they went for 5 days in drops. Even the usual daily routine was enough for me. They passed painlessly, a few days before the months, the stomach pulled a little.

The next months came after 28 days (son 1 year and 7 months). Ovulation was as good as in the previous cycle, but the periods have already passed perfectly, as before pregnancy: without pain, moderately and without clots. Approximately 2 days before the month, the stomach pulled a little.

Just like the daughter, the son continues to eat the breast with pleasure and did not spit on the breast for the period of menstruation.

GW so far. I plan to feed my son, like my daughter, until natural self-weaning.

The first period during breastfeeding can begin after childbirth for each lactating woman individually, and it is impossible to calculate exactly how many days or months the period will go. Irregular periods with GV are normal and come during a strong sexual constitution with a delay of 2-3 months after childbirth, and so the time varies from 6 to 12 months. After childbirth, spotting is not menstruation, but lochia, which is not related to menstruation.

Monthly and gv

When do periods start while breastfeeding after childbirth?

According to statistics, menstruation most often occurs during breastfeeding at 8 to 9 months. Menstruation after childbirth with hv will differ from those before pregnancy (they will be stronger or, on the contrary, scanty, pain (pulling) in the lower abdomen may also begin).

Can there be a delay in menstruation while breastfeeding

With frequent regular breastfeeding, women are more likely to delay the onset of menstruation for a long time. It is quite normal that the first periods were and disappeared for a longer period than usual. But the female body will recover after childbirth and menstruation will go regularly. A nursing mother will not be able to stop the menstrual cycle by starting to use more frequent guards.

Is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding if there is a period

During the Can you get pregnant before your period starts? even if breastfeeding. Significantly reduces the chances of pregnancy frequent and regular breastfeeding during menstruation. Ovulation (the release of the egg) will be before the onset of menstruation - this means that if a young couple has sex, then the woman can become pregnant while breastfeeding the baby.

How does menstruation affect breastfeeding?

Mom can breastfeed her baby right before the onset of painful periods. Gv during menstruation is not harmful to the baby. The quality of breast milk during critical days is still good. Sometimes menstrual changes in a woman's body cause fussiness in babies. A woman needs to increase the amount of mother's milk in natural ways: use or try other lactation stimulants.

Is it possible to breastfeed during the first menstruation after childbirth

Mom should know that the baby is steadily and quickly gaining weight. If the supply of breast milk is reduced, then the doctor will recommend various supplements (we recommend reading the article on important ones). In the days leading up to your period, it may be a little uncomfortable to feed your baby. Continue feeding so that there are no problems with the gland such as:

• swelling;
• bubbles;
• connection of the milk duct;
• mastitis.

Irregular periods after childbirth while breastfeeding

The delay in GV between the first and last menstruation after childbirth will vary (approximately 2-3 menstrual cycles). With a longer delay in menstruation, you need to contact a gynecologist. Some new mothers will have to be tested, as a long delay in the menstrual cycle poses a danger to the female body.

Menstruation starts faster during breastfeeding as soon as newborns take additional foods or go to bed for a longer period. It is not uncommon that suffer during the menstrual cycle is less or vice versa longer than before breastfeeding.

How long can menstruation go when breastfeeding after childbirth

Menstruation while breastfeeding can go with a delay of 2 to 12 months. Below are the factors that affect the onset of postpartum discharge:

• how often the baby is applied to the breast;
• How much does he drink from a bottle?
• sleeps long at night;
• responds to hormonal influences.

Menstruation after caesarean section while breastfeeding

Caesarean section does not affect women's menstruation with hv after childbirth. Women who give birth by cesarean section notice a temporary drop in the amount of breast milk - this is due to hormonal fluctuations after childbirth. Most babies make up for the temporary drop in mother's milk with more frequent feedings. Babies may find slight changes in the taste of breast milk during their period.