The occurrence of first period after pregnancy is not the same for every woman. There are a number of factors that affect it. One of them would be the long gap of nine months of pregnancy,which takes a while to ovulate normally .
Given below are certain facts regarding the first period after pregnancy.
WHEN CAN ONE EXPECT THE PERIOD TO START
It is hard to pinpoint in particular the return of menstrual cycle after pregnancy. On an average, women who are not breastfeeding can expect their period to start 6to 8 weeks postpartum and in some cases 10 weeks postpartum. The cycle would be different in case of breastfeeding mothers.One thing should be kept in mind that the menstrual cycle differs with each pregnancy.
RELATION BETWEEN BREASTFEEDING AND PERIODS
As said before, the return of menstrual cycle in nursing mothers will be different than the non-nursing ones. During breastfeeding, the pituitary gland produces prolactin which acts as a suppressant of ovulation. If the mother is regularly breastfeeding the baby, she is likely to have no periods. But this again differs with each women.
Generally, in breastfeeding mothers it is advised to wait for 6 months for the normal menstruation cycle to return. However, even after 6 months the cycle hasn’t resumes, one should consult the doctor.
THE FIRST PERIOD AFTER PREGNANCY
The first period after pregnancy is likely to be heavier and more painful than regular periods. Owing to the long gap of nine months, it takes time for the body to re-adjust to the cycle of ovulation. The cycle returns to its normal rhythm within a few months. Also, the first period after pregnancy is likely to continue for 2or 3 weeks. However, if it continues longer than that, a doctor should be consulted.
SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER:-
Just because breastfeeding suppresses ovulation, it not a method of contraception. The mother is fertile during this time. Hence it’s important to consult a doctor before resuming sex post delivery.
One should not confuse the vaginal bleeding post delivery with the first period.
Delivery weakens the vaginal muscles and causes the cervix to dip down further than normal hence making it difficult to use tampons. It is advisable to use sanitary pads during this time. In order to strengthen the vaginal muscles, one can opt for KEGEL exercises [contracting the vaginal muscles as if holding back urine]. 10 kegels thrice a day is good enough.
During this time, it is advisable to avoid oral contraception pills which contains estrogen or progesterone.
