One of the advantages of pregnancy is that you have no periods to deal with. You have plenty of other things on your mind at this time, so it is very convenient to have one less thing to think about.
But what happens once your baby has finally arrived? As a new mother, you may need some time to get used to the changes in your body, which has probably changed during pregnancy and childbirth. A little information about “periods after pregnancy” and some preparation can be reassuring.
Postpartum bleeding
After giving birth, you will have vaginal bleeding for around 2–6 weeks, whether you had a caesarean section or a vaginal delivery. This is lochia rather than a period. Lochia is discharge from the healing wound in the uterine wall and is entirely normal. The bleeding is usually heavier immediately after birth and then gradually becomes lighter.
After childbirth, the menstrual cycle pauses for a while. Hormone production in the ovaries must return to normal before a woman has a period and can become pregnant again. How quickly this happens depends primarily on whether, and how often, she breastfeeds.
Breastfeeding and menstruation
Women who breastfeed exclusively produce more of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for milk production. At the same time, prolactin slows the production of the hormones responsible for the maturation of follicles in the ovaries and thus for triggering ovulation and building up the endometrium. The more often the baby is breastfed, the higher the prolactin level. If a woman breastfeeds exclusively (at least six times a day with no supplementary feeding, including at night), the first ovulation after birth is more likely to occur later. In individual cases, it may be absent for up to two years.
A gradual fall in prolactin
In general, prolactin levels (along with other hormones) slowly fall over time, even in breastfeeding women. For this reason, even a single night-time break in breastfeeding can lead to ovulation.
With exclusive breastfeeding for eight weeks, fertility is expected to return at around the 15th week after birth. The more time has passed since the birth, the more likely you are to ovulate — and, with it, to be able to conceive again.
The return of ovulation
The first period after childbirth does not always mean that ovulation has taken place. It is, however, a clear sign that fertility is returning.
If a woman does not breastfeed, or only partly breastfeeds, her first period usually arrives within the first three months after birth, at the earliest after four weeks. In more than half of non-breastfeeding women, this happens within the first six to twelve weeks.
And what if your periods return fairly quickly despite breastfeeding? There is no need to worry; it is important to remember that this varies from woman to woman. The first period after pregnancy can come earlier or later. If you are concerned that something may be wrong, or if you experience severe pain, it is best to see a doctor. A gynaecologist can help you with this.
Heavy periods after pregnancy — when should you see a doctor?
However your periods may have changed as a result of pregnancy, extremely severe pain or heavy bleeding should be examined by a doctor, especially if it affects your daily life and well-being. If any problems are found, you can turn to the best clinics and receive treatment in Switzerland.
Do periods change after childbirth?
Many women are unprepared for their first period after giving birth. Either they are not yet expecting it, have grown used to having no periods, or simply have too much else on their minds. Many mothers are surprised by the intensity of the bleeding as well as by its onset. The first period after childbirth is often heavier, more painful and longer. For most women, however, this soon settles, and in subsequent cycles bleeding tends to be lighter and shorter than before the birth.
The female body needs time to return to a regular menstrual cycle, so do not be surprised if your cycle is irregular in the first few months after your periods return. If the irregularities persist, it is advisable to discuss them with your gynaecologist. In that case, it is best to keep a cycle diary so that any deviations can be documented accurately.
