The return of menstruation after childbirth can vary from 2 months to 1 year, depending on whether the woman is breastfeeding the baby or not.
For women who exclusively breastfeed, menstruation can only occur when the baby stops breastfeeding, which usually occurs around the first year. For those who choose not to breastfeed, periods can occur approximately 2 months after delivery, but it’s still normal for them to be deregulated in the first place.
- Bleeding that occurs during the first 45 to 56 days after delivery is not considered menstruation because it does not contain eggs and is due to the release of the structures that bordered the uterus.
- As well as the remains of the placenta.
- Scientifically called locus.
See when to worry about postpartum bleeding
For women taking continuous contraceptives, there should be no menstruation, although minor sporadic vaginal bleeding may occur during the month.
For women who do not use hormonal contraceptives, menstruation will depend only on how breastfeeding is performed:
The longer the breast-feeding baby, the longer the first period will be removed after delivery, but as soon as the baby begins to decrease breastfeeding, the woman’s body reacts and can ovulate, and the period will come soon. A popular belief is that menstruation decreases the amount of breast milk, but it is exactly the opposite, because the less milk a woman produces, the greater the chances of ovular and the less menstruation.
Menstrual flow may be slightly different from the one the woman was used to before she became pregnant, and there may be changes in blood flow and color.
It is also normal for menstruation to be irregular, in greater or lesser amount for 2 or 3 months, but after this period it should become more regular. If in doubt, consult your gynecologist.
The first ovulation after childbirth is unpredictable, so a woman must adopt a contraceptive method between 10 and 15 days after delivery, so as not to run the risk of becoming pregnant again.
If the woman chooses to use the contraceptive, she should start taking it 10 to 15 days after delivery, even if she does not have sex, due to the waiting period. Learn more about using birth control while breastfeeding.