Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhen to Expect PeriodChangesWith BreastfeedingMenstrual Products to UseReasons for DelayInitiating the PeriodContraception After Delivery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
When to Expect Period
Changes
With Breastfeeding
Menstrual Products to Use
Reasons for Delay
Initiating the Period
Contraception After Delivery
Your firstperiodcan also differ from the periods you had before becoming pregnant and can take up to one year to become regular again.
This article looks at your first period after delivery, changes to be mindful of, and conditions that may affect your menstrual cycle.
Images By Tang Ming Tung / Getty Images
It can take up to one year after delivery for yourperiod to become regularagain—even longer if you are breastfeeding.
What Is Lochia?Lochiais apostpartum dischargethat occurs after vaginal or C-section delivery. Lochia is usually heavy and bright red for about one week after delivery, then turns pinkish brown before lightening further to cream or white. Lochia typically lasts two to six weeks. Although it can look similar, it is not an actual period.
What Is Lochia?
Lochiais apostpartum dischargethat occurs after vaginal or C-section delivery. Lochia is usually heavy and bright red for about one week after delivery, then turns pinkish brown before lightening further to cream or white. Lochia typically lasts two to six weeks. Although it can look similar, it is not an actual period.
Changes to Be Mindful of With First Period After Delivery
Your first period after delivery can be different than your periods before you gotpregnant, including being shorter or longer or heavier or lighter than what you are used to.
Other changes you might experience with your first period after delivery are:
If you havelarge blood clots (golf ball-size or bigger), heavy blood loss (enough to soak through a sanitary pad in an hour), or a period lasting longer than seven days, contact a healthcare provider.If you’re not breastfeeding, and you still don’t have your period three months after delivering (or within six months after stopping breastfeeding), make sure to contact a healthcare provider in that case as well.
What About the First Period During or After Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding increases levels of the hormoneprolactin, which helps the body produce milk and decreases levels of estrogen and progesterone (hormones that influence menstruation).
If you are breastfeeding and begin having your period, hormonal changes may cause your milk supply to drop. This typically happens between mid-menstrual cycle and when you start your period.
You should not use sanitary products inside your body, such astamponsormenstrual cups, until your six-week postpartum checkup and your healthcare provider advises you it is safe.
Using these products before then can potentially harm your healing body and increase the chance of infection. You can use sanitary products outside your body, such as pads andunderwear, anytime after delivery.
Your health and nutrition can affect how soon you have a period after delivery. For example, losing weight too quickly or losing too much weight can cause you tostop having your period. Obesity can also cause irregular periods.
The research found that 24 % of women with PCOS who had children had amenorrhea at the time of the study and that women with PCOS who had children reported shorter menstrual cycles than women with PCOS who didn’t have children.
Takingoral contraceptivescan also helpstart and regulate your periodafter delivery. Do not start oral contraceptives without consulting a healthcare provider about what type of birth control pills, when to start, and any concerns aboutbreastfeeding while taking contraceptives.
If you have sex, you risk becoming pregnant again, even if you have not had a period yet or arebreastfeeding. The longer it takes to have your first period, the more likely you will ovulate (release an egg) before your first period occurs, which means you can become pregnant.
If you are having sex, you can get pregnant and should usebirth controlto prevent pregnancy. You should talk to a healthcare provider about which type of birth control is best for you. Certain contraceptives, such as anIUD, can be inserted in the delivery room or before you leave the hospital.
You can also start takingprogestin-only pillsimmediately but should wait at least three weeks after delivery to start combination pills containing estrogen and progesterone.
Summary
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
UT Southwestern Medical Center.Will my period change after delivery?
Eleje GU, Ugwu EO, Dinwoke VO, et al.Predictors of puerperal menstruation.PLoS One. 2020 Jul 10;15(7):e0235888. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0235888
University of Rochester Medical Center.Common conditions.
National Health Service.When will my periods start again after pregnancy?
La Leche League International.Menstruation.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What to expect at a postpartum checkup—and why the visit matters.
National Health Service.How soon can I use tampons after giving birth?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Weight loss and women.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What causes amenorrhea?
Stassek J, Ohnolz F, Hanusch Y, et al.Do pregnancy and parenthood affect the course of PCO syndrome? Initial results from the LIPCOS study.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.2015 Nov;75(11):1153-1160. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1558186
Planned Parenthood.How soon can I start birth control pill after a pregnancy?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Using long-acting contraception right after childbirth.
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