Monthly cycle after childbirth while breastfeeding. Menstruation while breastfeeding: when to expect secretions and whether they are harmful to milk. What happens in the body after the birth of a child

Pregnancy and childbirth is a serious test for female body, and it takes time to return to the previous state. But this is a natural process.

How recovery occurs after medical termination of pregnancy and is it possible to get pregnant again - clinical recommendations from doctors.

Mom's hygiene during breastfeeding

Breastfeeding consultants and the World Health Organization suggest that it is best to breastfeed your baby until they are two years old.

The beginning of the menstrual cycle is not the reason for the termination of feeding. The baby should not be deprived of beneficial nutrients and antibodies.

To avoid problems with feeding associated with the arrival of "critical days", Mom should follow simple rules:

During menstruation, sweating increases, an unpleasant odor appears.

The kid doesn't like that.

It is necessary to thoroughly wash the chest before feeding, often take a warm shower.

Changing the level of hormones in the mother's blood changes the taste of milk, the baby may become restless under the breast, and his stools become liquid.

These are short-term changes, gradually everything will get better, so you should not worry too much. It is useful during feeding to change breasts frequently, shifting the baby from one breast to another.

The amount of milk on the days of menstruation decreases slightly, and the mother's nipples become sensitive and painful.

It helps to warm the nipples before feeding and massage them, as well as massage the collar zone. Lactic tea and other means to increase lactation are effective.

Resumption monthly cycle after childbirth and breastfeeding are natural processes, they rarely need correction. However, a woman must know what is happening in her body in order to be prepared for possible complications.

Now you know how long after childbirth menstruation normally begins, what problems can be, when they go, whether it is worth worrying when they appear during lactation.

Do not forget: at the first suspicious signs - to the doctor!

From the moment of conception, a woman's body undergoes hormonal changes that stop menstrual cycle. This is necessary for the normal intrauterine development of the child. After childbirth, the lactation period begins, during which there are usually no critical days. However, it is not uncommon for situations with the resumption of menstruation against the background of breastfeeding. Leading gynecologists of the world argue that cyclical female bleeding is not the reason for not breastfeeding. In the article you will find the answer to the question, when does menstruation begin after childbirth with breastfeeding.

Physiology of the menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle is the physiological state in a woman's reproductive system that is necessary to conceive a child. Cyclic bleeding occurs throughout the fertile period of a woman's life (15-50 years). The normal menstrual cycle lasts 20-36 days, the period of uterine bleeding lasts 3-7 days. The total blood loss does not exceed 50-150 ml. The absence of critical days is associated either with gynecological diseases or with the onset of menopause.

In the first half of the cycle, an egg matures in one of the ovaries; in rare cases, eggs mature in both ovaries. With a standard menstrual cycle of 28 days, on day 14, the egg leaves the follicle, enters the abdominal cavity, from where it goes to the fallopian tubes. This process is called ovulation. The egg is ready for fertilization.

During this period, under the influence of estrogen hormones, the inner lining of the uterus swells and loosens - the preparation of the mucous membrane for the attachment of a fertilized egg ( gestational sac). Favorable days for fertilization: the day before ovulation, ovulation, the day after ovulation.

If conception does not occur during this period, the egg dies. The mucous membrane of the uterus is updated, which leads to the onset of menstrual bleeding. Then the menstrual cycle is repeated anew.

The onset of menstruation after childbirth while breastfeeding

After childbirth, a woman's body undergoes hormonal changes aimed at lactation - the secretion of milk by the mammary glands for the full nutrition of the child. The hormone prolactin, which is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, is responsible for the process of lactation. Prolactin influences quantity and quality breast milk, inhibits the production of estrogen and the maturation of follicles in the ovaries. During lactation, there is theoretically no menstrual cycle. In practice, gynecologists observe a different picture. Increasingly, nursing mothers experience periods during the first year of a baby's life, even when breastfeeding.

The modern rhythm of life, stress, environmental conditions, dietary habits, the use of contraceptives are the reasons that affect the occurrence of menstruation during lactation. Menstrual bleeding can start 3-9 months after giving birth. Sometimes the menstrual cycle is absent for 1-2 years after childbirth.

Many factors influence the time of occurrence of physiological uterine bleeding. They need to be known in order to suspect the absence of menstruation due to diseases of the genitourinary system in time.

Factors affecting the time of the appearance of the menstrual cycle after childbirth:

• breast-feeding;
• mixed feeding;
• artificial feeding;
• the time of introduction of complementary foods or supplementary foods;
• night breastfeeding;
• duration of breastfeeding.

When breastfeeding with frequent attachment to the breast (at the request of the baby), which is accompanied by night feeding, menstruation usually does not occur throughout the entire lactation period.

Rare attachment to the breast, the introduction of complementary foods and supplementary feeding, the refusal of night feeding with breast milk leads to a decrease in the production of the hormone prolactin and the onset of menstruation. In such cases, the menstrual cycle is restored 4-6 months after the moment of delivery.

The same applies to mixed feeding, when breastfeeding is combined with infant formula feeding. At artificial feeding the baby's menstruation occurs a few weeks after the complete transfer of the child to infant formula. When a woman after the birth of a baby refuses to breastfeed or breastfeeding is not possible for medical reasons, menstruation resumes within a few months after childbirth.

Features of the first menstruation after childbirth

The restoration of the menstrual cycle is associated with another hormonal change in the body of a woman, which is aimed at resuming the fertile period and the possibility of having children. The appearance of menstruation prepares reproductive system mothers to conceive, but experts do not recommend getting pregnant within 2 years after childbirth.

Restoration of the menstrual cycle occurs within 2-3 months. During this period, menstruation may be irregular, differ in the amount of spotting and the duration of uterine bleeding. After 3 months, menstruation should become cyclical, the allowable difference is no more than 2-3 days. If periods are irregular, painful, heavy, or too scanty, you should consult a gynecologist for a diagnostic examination.

After childbirth, the menstrual cycle practically does not differ from the cycle before pregnancy. Many women note positive changes in their condition during the period of uterine bleeding. Severe symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) pass, menstruation becomes painless or slightly painful, rarely heavy. The decrease in pain during menstruation is associated with the restoration of the normal location of the uterus in the pelvic cavity. Discomfort and pain during menstruation before childbirth is more often associated with the bending of the uterus and the difficulty of bleeding into the vagina.

postpartum discharge

After the birth of a child, the placenta (baby place) is released from the uterus. As a result, a wound surface is formed on the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium). Within 4-6 weeks after childbirth, blood mixed with mucus, which is called lochia, is released from the uterine cavity. Some women confuse the appearance of lochia with the onset of the menstrual cycle.

Lochia are secreted during the entire period of healing and restoration of the inner lining of the uterus. In the first weeks, the discharge is bloody, then it becomes Brown, and at the end of 4-5 weeks they acquire a light yellow tint. During the formation of lochia, it is necessary to observe the rules of intimate hygiene.

1. Wash the external genitalia with warm water and baby soap several times a day (it is better to refuse the intim gel).
2. Change sanitary napkin every 3-4 hours. The gasket surface must be natural materials, without rubber mesh.
3. Do not use sanitary tampons.
4. Exclude sexual contacts. Sexual intercourse without condoms is not allowed. This can lead to infection from the vaginal cavity into the uterus, which often contributes.

The appearance of postpartum discharge rarely coincides with the resumption of the menstrual cycle. This situation is possible if a woman from the first birthday of a child does not breastfeed.

Situations requiring a visit to a gynecologist

After childbirth, pathological conditions may occur that require immediate contact with a gynecologist. Timely consultation with a specialist prevents the progression of the disease and reduces the risk of complications.

Disorders requiring specialized medical attention.

1. Profuse uterine bleeding. They develop against the background of complications of labor and exacerbation of chronic gynecological diseases. If the sanitary napkin needs to be changed earlier than after 2-3 hours, this is an alarming sign. It is important to immediately consult a doctor before the appearance of anemia and acute blood loss.
2. Scanty uterine bleeding that lasts less than 3 days. A decrease in the volume of uterine bleeding does not cause a threat to life, but indicates hormonal disorders.
3. Irregularity of the menstrual cycle 2-3 months after the restoration of menstruation. A difference of more than 3 days, a cycle duration of less than 20 days or more than 36 days is an alarming sign.
4. Absence of the menstrual cycle after the end of breastfeeding.

Violations in the process of restoring menstruation after childbirth can be associated with infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, oncology, and hormonal imbalance in the body.

Factors affecting the rapid recovery of the menstrual cycle

Menstruation after childbirth should be restored in a timely manner according to hormonal changes in the woman's body. In addition to the characteristics of feeding a child, other factors influence the appearance of the menstrual cycle.

1. Psychological condition. Stress and postpartum depression lead to a delay in the recovery of menstruation.
2. Chronic diseases of the genitourinary, endocrine, nervous system delay or disrupt the normal process of the appearance of menstruation after childbirth.
3. Social status. Financial hardships, incomplete family, bad habits, unsatisfactory living conditions lead to a delay in the restoration of the menstrual cycle.
4. The correct alternation of the regime of work and rest contributes to the onset of menstruation in physiological terms.
5. Good nutrition strengthens the body, normalizes metabolism and hormonal levels, which leads to the timely appearance of menstruation.

In case of violations in the restoration of the menstrual cycle, it is necessary to contact a gynecologist. The specialist will identify the cause of the pathology and prescribe effective treatment and preventive measures.

Menstruation and breastfeeding

According to the WHO, breast milk is the best nutrition for babies during their first year of life. The occurrence of menstruation after childbirth during lactation is not a reason for not breastfeeding. When restoring the menstrual cycle, mother's milk does not lose its beneficial and nutritional properties. In the first days of menstruation, the child may refuse to suck on the breast, which is associated with a change in the taste of milk due to the admixture of hormones. In most cases, within a few months, the baby gets used to the change in taste and then willingly sucks mother's milk.

On days of cyclical uterine bleeding, some women increase the process of sweating. The nipples also have sweat glands. Salty sweat mixes with breast milk, making it unpleasant for the baby. These days it is necessary to carry out hygiene procedures mammary glands - wash with warm water without detergents before each application of the baby to the breast. Such measures contribute to the preservation of the usual taste of mother's milk and prevent the child from refusing to feed.

A few days before the onset of menstruation and during menstruation, a woman's nipples may become overly sensitive. To eliminate discomfort, the child is often applied to the breast, reducing the feeding time, or applied to two mammary glands for one meal.

The restoration of the menstrual cycle in women during lactation occurs at different times and depends on many factors. The time of the onset of menstruation is not affected by the method of delivery. Physiological delivery or delivery by caesarean section does not affect the time of the onset of menstruation. Complications in childbirth or the postpartum period can accelerate and delay the onset of cyclic uterine bleeding. During lactation, a woman should be regularly observed by a gynecologist for the timely detection of violations of the restoration of the menstrual cycle.

After childbirth, the woman's body begins to actively rebuild again. Involved in this case hormonal background, the focus of which is focused on feeding a newborn child and restoring the reproductive function of a woman. How do these two such important processes take place in a woman's body? When should I expect the resumption of menstruation after childbirth? We will try to answer these and many other questions in our today's article.

What happens to the body?

After the birth of a long-awaited child in the body of a woman, placental rejection begins to occur and this is one of the stages of labor activity, which is accompanied by damage to blood vessels, which leads to the onset of bleeding. This process is the norm, however, it has absolutely nothing to do with menstruation.

What is menstruation? These are periodic bleeding that occur every month in the absence of pregnancy due to rejection of the endometrium, which serves to secure and further develop the fetus. In short, if the egg is not fertilized, then bleeding begins, the duration of which varies from three to five days.

Bloody discharge after active labor activity acquired the name lochia - this process is essential, because as a result of it, the body is cleansed of particles of membranes, mucus and other biomaterials. The duration of this phenomenon can reach 40 days. Placental rejection during labor signals the body that it is time to start hormonal changes - the active production of two important hormones in a woman's body - oxytocin and prolactin.

Prolactin is secreted in the process of the pituitary gland and contributes first to the production of colostrum, and then milk, which is necessary for the full feeding of a newborn child. It is worth noting that this process blocks menstruation, protecting the woman's body from the maturation of a new egg, which can be safely fertilized.

This "forced pause" in the absence of menstruation is called amenorrhea and its duration depends on the following two factors:

• from the process of feeding a newborn child;
• from the individual physiological characteristics of the woman's body.

The process of breastfeeding a baby also contributes to the production of the hormone prolactin. As soon as the baby begins to be applied to the breast much less frequently, with an interval of at least three hours, the concentration of the hormone will gradually decrease and, after a while, the menstrual cycle will improve.

How are periods restored?

Beginning of menstruation after childbirth depends on the frequency of feeding the child and on the characteristics of the body of a young mother, as we said earlier. Even in one woman, with different schemes for feeding a newborn, menstruation can be resumed in different ways:

Restoration of the cycle and the nature of the first postpartum menstruation

It is impossible to predict how the first postpartum period will proceed.. In some women, the discharge may be abundant, in others, on the contrary, weak. These two options are within the normal range, but this does not mean that all subsequent menstruation will have similar flow patterns. In this case, everything depends on the amount of the hormone prolactin produced, as a result of this discharge can be weak or heavy, long or short, regular or irregular.

When breastfeeding, periods may be irregular and this is considered within the normal range. However, please note that if they are characterized by the nature of heavy bleeding or their delay is more than three weeks, then you should visit a gynecologist for a consultation.

Please note that cycle recovery is a purely individual process, which during the entire duration of breastfeeding may have a "floating" character. After the complete completion of lactation, the woman's body begins to carry out the final restructuring to restore her childbearing function, the cycle is getting better over the next three months. However, if even before the onset of pregnancy, a woman was characterized by an irregular cycle, then after labor, the hormonal background can be restored for a longer time.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that the mode of delivery does not play any role at all here. If the recovery process is very delayed, then it is necessary to visit a doctor for a consultation, who, if necessary, will select drugs for hormonal correction to stabilize menstrual cycles.

Enough a large number of women noted for themselves that before giving birth, their menstruation was accompanied by painful sensations, and after, this problem has ceased to disturb them. This is due to the fact that during the course of pregnancy and childbirth, the pelvic organs are displaced, as a result of which the bending of the uterus, a source of pain, is “eliminated”. And also, some women note that the duration of their cycle is slightly shortened.

What are the reasons for visiting a doctor?

As we said earlier, the process of restoring menstruation is an individual process that has its own characteristics. However, there are factors under which you should definitely visit a gynecologist:

How to normalize the menstrual cycle

To prevent the development of adverse events after childbirth, we strongly recommend that a young mother adhere to the following recommendations:

Personal hygiene when restoring menstruation after childbirth

Personal hygiene- it's extremely important point when restoring the body of a young woman after pregnancy and childbirth. During the period of active discharge of lochia - postpartum discharge, a woman is recommended to use pads with a smooth surface. With an interval of 3 - 4 hours, it is recommended to change them. It is not recommended to use pads with a surface or tampons during this period.

When the menstrual cycle returns to normal, you can resort to the use of hygienic tampons. For the hygiene of intimate places, it is recommended to use ordinary baby soap or special gels with a neutral pH balance.

We hope that our article was useful for you and you learned new knowledge. Do not be ill!

Pregnancy is one of the happiest periods for any woman. However, at this time, the expectant mother has many doubts regarding not only the bearing of the baby, but also the postpartum period. Apart from the question about natural feeding, one of the most popular queries that are being answered is: “How soon will the rehabilitation of the menstrual cycle take place? Can menstruation begin while breastfeeding (HB), and will they interfere with it?

The appearance of the first secretions: conditions and period

In the body of a young mother who has given birth, a long rehabilitation of the body takes place. The first step in this process is to reduce the uterus to its pre-pregnancy state and size by contraction. It lasts 1-2 months.

Do menses come when she recovers? In the first days, the mother has bloody discharge. Many people think that these are the first critical days, but this is not so. These are lochia. The reason for their appearance is placental abruption. These secretions are especially strong in the first 5-7 days, the total duration is up to 40 days. By the end of the flow, they change color to pale yellow. Moms should know that ovulation is possible at this time, and during sexual contact, you need to remember about contraception.

According to The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: 8th (pp. 364-366), almost all mothers who breastfeed their babies are free from menstruation for 3-6 months or longer. This is called lactational amenorrhea.

Doctors say what to lead sexual life before the end of the uterine contraction process is unsafe and can lead to serious problems. Within 2-3 months after childbirth, it is recommended to visit a gynecologist to make sure everything is in order and whether it is possible to return to a full sexual life.

The timing of the return of menstruation

It is impossible to say exactly when the first menstruation should occur. The expected time of their arrival varies greatly and depends primarily on whether the woman is breastfeeding or not. When the baby is fed with a mixture and there is no milk, the uterus returns to its original size faster, and, accordingly, menstruation begins earlier. Breastfeeding and menstruation are interrelated, which is due to the natural postpartum processes in the body of a new mother.

Breastfeeding ensures the production of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates and regulates the production of milk, and also stops the onset of ovulation. Can menstruation go if a hormone is produced? Yes, menstruation during lactation can go, but they come later - during the period when the child's diet is expanded or the crumbs are completely transferred to formula nutrition. At the same time, the amount of prolactin produced by the female brain is sharply reduced.

In 70% of cases, the first menstruation after childbirth with breastfeeding does not come earlier than six months later. The process of complete rehabilitation of the cycle is gradual. The first menstruation is irregular. Therefore, it is difficult to say whether they will be long or plentiful. Postpartum menstruation changes dramatically. Unbearable pains disappear, the discharge is now more or, conversely, less strong when compared with the critical days before pregnancy.

Completely different dates for the arrival of the first menstruation are waiting for a mother whose child is on artificial or mixed feeding. In this case, the first menstruation should be expected within 5-6 weeks after childbirth.

Regardless of the type of baby's nutrition, menstruation will not begin for the first two months: until the end of the process of complete restoration of the uterus.

Irregular periods while breastfeeding

The process of rehabilitation of the body and its return to the pre-pregnancy state proceeds gradually, therefore, irregular periods (both with breastfeeding and when feeding the baby with a mixture) are the norm. They differ from each other in duration and interruptions in the first 2-3 months after their onset.

If there is a long delay and during breastfeeding, menstruation abruptly stopped with an active sexual life without contraception, it is imperative to do a test and check if this is another one.

Other reasons for the delay and too long non-return of menstruation after breastfeeding:

• stress;
• lack of rest;
• diseases;
• heredity.

Menstruation after caesarean section with GV (IV)

After CS, the waiting time for the arrival of the first critical days does not differ from the time after physiological birth and lactation. The only difference is the abundance of lochia - their volume after CS can reach up to 0.5 liters. This is much more than after a natural birth. After CS, there are more complications that affect the course of critical days, including:

1. Too little discharge is one of the signs of stagnation of blood in the uterus due to insufficient contractions.
2. Long non-onset of cycle stability.
3. Earlier cessation of lochia may indicate the bending of the uterus.
4. A pungent odor is a sign of infection of the reproductive system.
5. Itching and discharge of a curdled consistency is the first symptom of thrush.

In addition to lactation and the way of birth, there are several other factors that affect the time of onset of menstruation after childbirth:

• woman's age;
• nutrition and lifestyle;
• lack of rest;
• complications while carrying a child;
• chronic diseases.

In women who gave birth after 30 years, the recovery of the body takes a little longer. This does not indicate any deviations in health. Excessive stress or maintaining the wrong lifestyle also affects the balance of hormones. This leads both to the loss of milk and the approach of critical days, as well as to interruptions in the cycle and their later onset.

Can menstruation start while breastfeeding

Breastfeeding can delay the return of critical days for up to a year, but does not exclude their natural appearance earlier, especially when expanding the baby's diet.

When menstruation comes with breastfeeding, many mothers begin to panic: “Why did they appear, is this normal, and does the discharge affect breast milk?” After reading unverified information, mothers immediately call the gynecologist: “I breastfeed, can menstruation go? Should I continue GW? Doctors explain that it is perfectly normal if menstruation came during lactation, and do not give advice on stopping breastfeeding. On the contrary, its abrupt termination will entail a situation when an inflammatory process begins in a nursing mother with further complications.

If menstruation came during breastfeeding, then during their course the amount of milk decreases. After the cessation of secretions, milk production is restored to its previous volume. There is no need to be nervous if menstruation unexpectedly began during lactation. Gynecologists assure that their appearance is the norm, and this will not affect the quality and.

Both the arrival of menstruation during lactation and their absence are not considered a violation. The time of their return for each mother is very different.

Impact on breastfeeding and child health

There is an opinion that the taste of milk deteriorates during menstruation: it begins to taste bitter. Mothers worry that the child will stop taking milk when menstruation appears even during breastfeeding. Doctors refute these myths. It happens that when menstruation comes, the sensitivity of the nipples increases, and this creates difficulty in feeding the baby. What can be done to reduce pain? A light massage and applying a compress to the nipples will help here.

Particular attention, if a woman is breastfeeding, should be given to hygiene these days, as they are often accompanied by increased sweating, and lactation is no exception. The baby may refuse breast milk due to a change in the smell from the mother. The unexpected nervousness and whims of the crumbs during critical days can be explained by a simple reflection of the parent's condition.

Menstruation after cessation of lactation

According to statistics, in 80% of cases, critical days do not begin with breastfeeding. In 10% they do not return in the first months and after the completion of the GW. This does not necessarily indicate health problems. Sometimes prolactin remains at a fairly high level even after the end of breastfeeding.

In any case, you need to check with a gynecologist to exclude or confirm deviations: specify how long menstruation begins after stopping breastfeeding. If another pregnancy is planned, and menstruation did not go either during breastfeeding or after it, the doctor will prescribe drugs to suppress the production of hormones in such an amount. After the end of breastfeeding, periods may not come or disappear for several reasons:

• being overweight or underweight;
• bad habits;
• diseases;
• hormone imbalance.

Call Your Doctor Symptoms: Causes for Concern

In the process of rehabilitation of menstruation after breastfeeding, problems may arise in which you need to urgently call your doctor:

1. Irregularity. When six months have passed since the arrival of menstruation, and they continue to go and are episodic. It doesn't matter if a woman is breastfeeding, you need to visit a doctor.
2. duration. If the critical days go only a day or two or longer than 5 days, you need to tell your doctor about this.
3. Too heavy periods. If the pads are not enough for 5-6 hours and it has to be changed much more often, the norm is exceeded.
4. Unpleasant sensations. If the pain accompanied the critical days before pregnancy, it goes away due to the straightening of the uterus - this is how childbirth affects it. If there are painful sensations in the postpartum period, we urgently make an appointment with a gynecologist.
5. Bitter or sour smell. The appearance of a pungent odor in the discharge indicates inflammation.
6. Long delay. A sharp loss of menstruation is a bright signal of the onset of an unplanned pregnancy. Many people forget about the need for protection at this time.

During lactation, regardless of the presence or absence of critical days, when resuming sexual activity, you need to remember the need for contraception!

These are not all the difficulties that stand in the way of a newly-made mother in the process of rehabilitating the breastfeeding cycle. Regular visits to the doctor will reduce the likelihood of abnormalities.

Conclusion

We have determined that menstruation can begin with breastfeeding. According to the timing of their recovery, it is considered normal when menstruation begins after 2-3 months (with IV) or after 3-6 months (with HB) and up to 1.5-2 years after the birth of the baby. The timing of the return of menstruation depends on the artificial or natural method of feeding the crumbs and other factors. If the mother is tormented by doubts or painful sensations, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist and consult on exciting topics!

Bibliography:

1. "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: completely revised and updated 8th" - by Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, Teresa Pitman. 576 p.; July 13, 2010
2. When will my periods start again after pregnancy? – by NHS (post verified 03/28/2018)

With the birth of a baby, a huge change occurs in the life and regime of a woman. In addition to the fact that now she has a child with whom she must spend all her time, a serious hormonal restructuring in the body begins. This article will tell you about how menstruation begins after childbirth (when breastfeeding). You will also find out the period of normal amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). Many new mothers are concerned about the delay in menstruation after childbirth. This will also be discussed later.

What happens in the body after the birth of a child

Many ladies already the next day after the appearance of the baby ask the doctor: “When does menstruation begin after childbirth?” No experienced specialist can give an exact answer to this question. Let's first try to figure out what is happening in a woman's body at this moment.

So, immediately after the expulsion of the fetus from the uterus, placental rejection begins. This stage is considered the final in the process of childbirth. Rejection of a child's place causes damage to blood vessels. As a result, bleeding begins, which is absolutely normal. Many women mistake such discharge for the very first menstruation after childbirth. However, this opinion is erroneous. In this case, the process of rejection and the release of blood is somewhat different.

The menstrual cycle and breastfeeding

Women's breast milk is produced by the action of a hormone called prolactin. It is secreted by the pituitary gland. It is thanks to prolactin that a woman can breastfeed her baby.

After childbirth, the pituitary gland directs all its work exclusively to the production of prolactin. That is why the menstrual cycle stops and the so-called postpartum amenorrhea occurs. As soon as the production of prolactin begins to decline, menstruation will come again.

Menstruation after childbirth while breastfeeding

If postpartum discharge is not menstruation, then at what time should it begin? The moment when menstruation begins after childbirth directly depends only on the characteristics of the female body and the frequency of feeding the baby. It is worth noting that in the same woman in labor, the cycle can be restored in different time. Consider several options for how menstruation begins and goes after childbirth with breastfeeding.

First period or postpartum discharge?

What is the difference between these two physiological processes? Menstruation is bleeding that occurs due to the absence of pregnancy. That is, during menstruation, the endometrium is rejected, which was grown for the attachment and development of the fetal egg. If fertilization does not occur, then menstruation begins.

And the discharge, which women often mistakenly take for the early first menstruation after childbirth, has a slightly different origin. In this case, parts of the membranes, mucus and other residues come out. That is why such discharge, observed by a woman, has a more mucous structure and some unusual smell. These secretions are called lochia. They normally last up to forty days, but some new mothers may end earlier.

Menstruation 30 days after birth

This outcome is theoretically possible, but such a phenomenon occurs very rarely. The reason for this is the following. After the baby is born, postpartum discharge begins. They can last from 20 to 40 days. During this period, the growth of the endometrium cannot begin. Therefore, 30 days after birth, it cannot be rejected.

However, in medical practice, the following can happen. Postpartum discharge does not stop after one month, but, on the contrary, intensifies. Women take this phenomenon for heavy periods after childbirth. But here the matter is quite different. There is a blood clot in the uterus that cannot come out. As a result, an inflammatory process and profuse bleeding begin. Only the right correction can stop it. Often in this case, curettage is prescribed.

Period after 3-4 months (90-120 days)

Menstruation after childbirth (with breastfeeding), which made itself felt after 3 or 4 months, can also be a variant of the norm. In this case, the early recovery of the cycle can be considered individual feature female body. Many doctors believe that the pituitary gland works very well in such newly-made mothers.

Also, menstruation can begin during this period if the woman stops breastfeeding the baby. With mixed feeding, the cycle returns to normal at about the same time. Especially if the milk mixture is used at night and in the morning.

Monthly after 6-8 months (180-240 days)

How long does it usually take for periods after childbirth? Most women belong to the group in which the cycle is restored approximately 6 months after the birth of the baby or a little more. This happens due to the fact that the child begins to try "adult" food and absorbs less breast milk. Lactation is somewhat reduced, and, as a result, the production of normal sex hormones begins.

Also, in this time period, the baby is already quite large and may refuse to eat at night. If you stop feeding your baby in the morning and late at night, then lactation begins to decrease. After all, it is during this period that high production of prolactin occurs.

Menses in one year

If you have not finished feeding the baby, then the cycle may also begin to recover at this time. When the baby reaches one year, he already eats adult food normally and does not need night feedings. Rare attachment to the breast leads to a decrease in lactation.

It is worth noting that by this period, many mothers talk about the complete restoration of the menstrual cycle.

When the first menstruation begins after childbirth with breastfeeding: women's opinions

Reviews of experienced mothers say that menstruation is most often restored quickly. However, she can remind herself of herself both a few weeks after the appearance of the crumbs, and within two years. It all depends on the frequency of feeding and the hormonal balance of the woman.

Most women say that their periods began in the first six calendar months. However, a minority of mothers do not agree with this. Women insist that menstruation came only after one year or more. Only a few faced the phenomenon in which monthly discharges began after the complete feeding of the baby.

What is the menstruation after childbirth will be in compliance with the breastfeeding regimen

Many women do not know what to expect from their first period. Some representatives of the fair sex claim that the first discharge is very scarce and ends quickly. Other mothers say that they had heavy periods after childbirth. What should be the normal discharge?

The first menstruation while breastfeeding may be completely different from all subsequent ones. Due to the production of prolactin, discharge can be scanty, copious, long or short. But it is worth recalling that if severe bleeding occurs, you need to consult a doctor. You may need medical attention.

Also, after childbirth while breastfeeding, the cycle may be irregular. Thus, the absence of menstruation at the set time is not a pathology. However, a delay can also occur with a new pregnancy.

How to restore the menstrual cycle while breastfeeding

If the first menstruation came a month after the birth, then when will the cycle be fully restored? Physicians do not give an unequivocal answer to such a question. You can breastfeed your baby for another two years, and during this time the cycle will, as they say, jump.

However, after the baby has completely abandoned the breast, the restoration of hormonal balance should occur within three months. If this does not happen, then you should see a specialist. Perhaps you will need some hormonal correction, which will help you get your menstrual cycle going soon.

Summarizing

So, now you know when and how the first menstruation and discharge come with the preference for natural feeding of the baby. Remember that this process is very individual. You should not be equal to your experienced girlfriends, mothers and grandmothers. You may be the exception to the rule. Don't be alarmed if your period starts very early. In ancient times, this was considered a pathology, but now medicine has stepped forward a lot. Many studies prove that menstruation after the appearance of crumbs can remind of itself both after a couple of months, and only when you finally stop lactating.

If you have any questions or doubts about your first period or discharge after childbirth, then you should contact your gynecologist or obstetrician. Only a doctor can dispel your doubts and reassure. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe an ultrasound examination. Be healthy and breastfeed for a long time!