Even during pregnancy, expectant mothers begin to take special care of their own body, as well as carefully monitor what happens to it. After the birth of a child, in addition to the issues that are associated with caring for the baby, women are worried about when the body can fully recover. The first signal of the normalization of processes in the fair sex will not be her body shape, psychological state, but the moment when menstruation starts.
Menstruation, which begins with breastfeeding, is a clear manifestation of the restoration of the menstrual cycle. This suggests that the female reproductive system, as well as the whole body as a whole, is functioning well. Learn more about whether menstruation can begin while breastfeeding. Also in this article, you canfind information about when your period should start after natural childbirth, as well as after a caesarean section.
Can I get my period while breastfeeding?
Some women who are breastfeeding and not using formula get very frightened when they get their period while they are still breastfeeding. However, you should not be worried in this case. Speaking about whether menstruation can begin while breastfeeding, it should be noted that the answer will be yes.
During breastfeeding, the mother releases a hormone called prolactin. It promotes the accumulation of milk in the mammary gland, and also suppresses ovarian function, thereby preventing the formation of new eggs. And, as you know, if there are no eggs, then menstruation does not occur.
So, we continue to find out if menstruation can begin while breastfeeding. If your period started before you finished breastfeeding, this does not mean that you should stop breastfeeding your baby. Menstruation will not affect the quality of a woman's milk in any way. If the baby has become very restless, then you just need to take a shower more often. Such dissatisfaction is often associated with a change in smell, because there are a large number of sweat glands near the chest.
When should my period start after giving birth?
During lactation, the recovery of the cycle will occur differently in women, much will depend onon the type of food. For example:
- If you are feeding your baby on demand, your period should return in about one year.
- If, in addition to breastfeeding, you give your baby plain water, complementary foods or milk formula, then the cycle should return to normal in about 3-4 months.
- If you are feeding your baby according to the regime, then you will have to wait for several months to restore the menstrual cycle.
If the baby is bottle-fed, then, as a rule, the cycle is restored within 1-2 months after the birth of the baby.
Type of woman
Normal menstruation while breastfeeding will also depend on the type of woman. Doctors say that blondes with blue eyes, even if they add water to their child's diet or introduce complementary foods, menstruation begins only after one year. As for brunettes with brown eyes, their cycle is restored during the first six months after the birth of a child. However, most mothers return to normal after lactation has ended.
Period after cesarean
And when should menstruation normally begin after a cesarean while breastfeeding? Many of the fair sex mistakenly think that after the birth of a child by cesarean, menstruation begins earlier. However, this is absolutely not the case. The restoration of the cycle will in no way be associated with childbirth. It will dependonly on the state of the body and the reproductive system of the mother, as well as the hormonal background. Only the hormone prolactin can speed up or hold back the recovery of the cycle.
As a rule, after childbirth, menstruation with breastfeeding can be less or, conversely, more abundant. However, in almost all mothers, painful sensations disappear if they were present before childbirth. This can be explained by the curvature of the uterus, which straightens during childbirth, thus leading to a decrease in painful sensations during menstruation.
Irregular periods in breastfeeding women
And what is the reason for irregular periods when breastfeeding? Menstruation during breastfeeding will be no different from normal. The female body is still under the influence of prolactin, which inhibits the appearance of eggs, which is why the menstrual cycle can be a little unstable for several months. You shouldn't worry about this. As a rule, at the end of lactation, the cycle returns to normal, getting better.
If you are breastfeeding your baby, and your periods are too short, or there is a minimal amount of discharge, then this is an occasion to seek the advice of a doctor who should check the level of hormones.
Heavy periods while breastfeeding
During the first 6-8 weeks after the birth of a child, the uterus is restored. Usually at this time sheshrinks, with the result that the size eventually takes on the prenatal value. During this process, the fair sex has a discharge of blood, which experts call lochia. As a rule, such discharge has nothing to do with menstruation. Menstruation will go much later. In this case, you should pay attention to the fact that lochia can be quite abundant, but do not be afraid of this symptom. Over time, they brighten, while taking on a yellowish tint, and after a while they disappear completely.
If after 2 months the copious discharge has not stopped, and also has the same reddish tinge, then you need to consult a female doctor. Bloody abundant discharge, which has nothing to do with menstruation, and also does not stop for 8 weeks, will indicate a hormonal failure or other disorders that occur in the female body. Do not self-medicate in this case. Only a qualified specialist is able to identify the underlying cause, and then prescribe a course of therapy.
Delayed period while breastfeeding
Some mothers experience delayed periods while breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding your baby, then the reproductive cycle may still be different from what you are used to. As a rule, delays occur periodically, or menstruation, on the contrary, begins earlier. This will be normal. However, here you need to be very careful: with unprotected intercourse in a womananother unwanted pregnancy may occur.
Breastfeeding a contraceptive method?
Before the introduction of complementary foods, the fair sex breastfed their babies up to 3 years. In those years, it was considered as the most effective method of contraception. However, when complementary foods appeared, which are usually introduced at the age of six months, breastfeeding does not protect mothers from unwanted pregnancies.
If the cycle has not yet fully recovered, then there is a risk of becoming pregnant. That is why it is impossible to replace contraceptives with breastfeeding. It is able to protect the fair sex from pregnancy only during the first 4-6 months after the birth of a child. If the baby is breastfed, then pregnancy can occur earlier.
Small conclusion
The birth of a baby is considered one of the most significant periods in the life of any woman. But, concentrating their attention on the child, the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity should not forget about their own he alth. It is very important to restore the monthly cycle. If you are embarrassed by the irregularity of monthly discharge, abundance or insufficiency, severe pain, delay, then it is better to seek help from a qualified specialist.
Don't be afraid that your period can negatively affect your baby's he alth. When they appear during breastfeeding, as a rule, milk does not change eitherin taste or smell. However, the baby can feel your emotional state. That is why for the period of critical days you need to rest more, carry the baby in your arms more often.
