You go through so many physical changes during pregnancy that you may not pay much attention to the break you get from your monthly periods. But what can you expect after pregnancy? Will your periods just pick up where they left off or will you face new challenges? Show
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy The answer? It could go either way. “Women often complain of changes in their periods after having a baby,” says Ob/Gyn Diane Young, MD. “For women who are not breastfeeding, there are three things that are likely to happen with the menstrual period — periods return to normal, periods get worse or periods get better.” You likely won’t have a period while you’re breastfeeding, at least not for a few months. To produce breast milk, your brain produces higher levels of the hormone prolactin. This typically means you won’t ovulate (your ovaries won’t release eggs). So you likely won’t have periods. Getting back to normalBut what happens if you decide not to breastfeed or when you stop? “Most women will resume normal periods after having a baby,” Dr. Young says. If your period is “normal,” it occurs every 21 to 35 days. Bleeding lasts from two to seven days, she says. “Back to normal” likely applies to whatever was going on before your pregnancy, as well. Here are two examples: Birth control: Using birth control pills for contraception often results in skipped, shorter, lighter and/or less painful periods. If you go back to the pills after pregnancy, the lighter periods may resume. If you don’t, you likely will have normal, heavier periods. Endometriosis: If you have endometriosis or a history of painful periods, you may have easier periods at first after your baby is born. But this change is typically only temporary. A holdover of increased levels of progesterone from pregnancy may cause endometrial implants to get smaller. The result is less painful periods. Your doctor will want to follow up with you regularly after your pregnancy, however. “Painful periods are likely to resume,” Dr. Young says. How do the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth affect future periods? Here again, things can go either way, Dr. Young says. Some women experience heavier, longer or more painful periods after having a baby. These changes may relate to a larger uterine cavity causing more endometrium (mucous lining the uterus) to shed. For some women, however, their periods improve. This may occur after pregnancy and childbirth have stretched the uterus and dilated the cervix. This alone can improve future periods. Pregnancy also releases hormones that relax uterine muscles. What else can make periods worse after pregnancy? Three other conditions may cause more problematic periods after pregnancy:
Easier periods are not always good newsSome women may have light periods or no periods due to two rare complications after pregnancy:
“The bottom line is that periods can change after having a baby,” Dr. Young says. “If you are concerned about your periods, make an appointment with your OB/Gyn. There are medical therapies to help your periods.”
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Arguably one of the best parts of pregnancy: your period disappears for nine whole months! Once menstruation finally returns, though, it will be confusing and unpredictable—and
that's totally normal. Here’s everything you need to know about irregular periods after birth. In the postpartum phase, you’ll experience a vaginal discharge of blood, mucus, and uterine tissue. This discharge, known as lochia, starts
off heavy and bright red. Within the next six to eight weeks, it will lighten, become more irregular, and turn dark brown/yellow before tapering off. RELATED: Postpartum Bleeding: What You Need to Know About Lochia Although lochia resembles a period—and you'll need to wear a pad to control the blood flow—it’s not the same thing as menstruation. Your actual period won’t return for a few weeks or months after giving birth. The timeline largely depends on whether or not you’re breastfeeding. If you're not
breastfeeding... your period will probably return four to eight weeks after childbirth, according to Amina White, M.D., clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. If you are breastfeeding... you'll likely get your period much later, since prolactin (a hormone for
breast-milk production) wards off ovulation. Menstruation may take weeks or months to return. Irregular periods while breastfeeding are especially common if you’re doing a combination of
formula-feeding and breastfeeding. RELATED:
Postpartum Period: When Will Your Menstrual Cycle Return After Birth? When menstruation does return, it might not look the same as before. Your cycle could be shorter, longer, lighter,
heavier, or more crampy—and all of these changes are normal, says Dr. White. One of the most common complaints, though, is about irregular periods after birth as your hormones return to normal. So don’t worry if your cycle switches from 24 days to 35 days between months—your body is simply regulating itself. Tell your doctor if your period becomes super heavy (you need to change your pad once an hour), lasts longer than seven days, or contains clots larger than a quarter. Also let him/her know if you skip a period after menstruation begins, or if you have spotting between periods. These symptoms may indicate infection, fibroids, polyps, a
thyroid dysfunction, or other issues. RELATED: Will Irregular Periods Affect Pregnancy? It’s important to remember that a woman can ovulate without having a period, since ovulation occurs mid-way through a cycle. This puts a woman at risk for getting pregnant soon after delivery. Any unprotected intercourse could result in pregnancy—even if you’re having irregular periods. In
fact, Dr. Pryor always tells the story of a patient who was already pregnant with twins at her eight-week postpartum visit. Can the 3nd period after delivery be irregular or late?Your period can take up to a year to become regular, no matter how consistent it was before pregnancy. To develop, grow, and deliver a baby, your body experiences several hormonal changes, and it needs time to return to normal. Breastfeeding moms are even more likely to have an irregular menstrual cycle.
Why is my third period so late?Causes of absent menstruation
Natural causes most likely to cause amenorrhea include pregnancy, breast-feeding, and menopause. Lifestyle factors may include excessive exercise and stress. Also, having too little body fat or too much body fat may also delay or stop menstruation. Hormonal imbalances may cause amenorrhea.
How long does it take to get regular periods after birth?If you choose to breastfeed exclusively, your first period may not return for several months — sometimes, it might not even return for 1 to 2 years if you keep breastfeeding. If you choose to bottle feeding or partially breastfeed your baby, your periods may return as soon as 3 weeks after childbirth.
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Can the 3rd period after delivery be irregular or late
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