After several months of not having a period because of pregnancy, many women who just gave birth have many questions about their menstruation period: When will it come back? What are there any changes to expect?
Parents.com gave answers to some of your biggest questions about menstruation period after pregnancy. These answers can help you have a peace of mind and make the necessary preparations before your period returns.
1. When Will My Period Return?
One of the most common questions about menstruation period after pregnancy is about its schedule of return. "Your breastfeeding status is the biggest factor affecting when you'll get your period again because prolactin, the hormone responsible for breast-milk production, suppresses ovulation," Parents.com explains.
Moms who do not breastfeed regularly can usually expect their period to come back four to eight weeks after giving birth. On the other hand, moms who breastfeed exclusively and regularly can usually expect the return of their period six months after giving birth. However, many mothers who breastfeed exclusively only experience menstrual period once they stop breastfeeding their baby.
For those of you who say "periods aren't that bad" but have never actually experienced menstruation... pic.twitter.com/f6hq4n7KBc
— Feminist (@ltsFeminism) April 15, 2016
2. Can I Conceive Before The Period Returns?
Couples should understand that ovulation happens before menstruation. This means that a woman is fertile before the menstruation symptoms come back. "I've seen women who are already pregnant at their six-week postpartum visit," ob-gyn Angela Jones, M.D., told Parents.com
3. What Period Changes Should I Expect?
Another common question regarding menstruation period after pregnancy is about the changes in flow and length of the period. The answer to the question is that it depends on many factors.
Women who had been on hormonal birth control before getting pregnant will usually expect heavy flow when their period comes back. As for the length of the period, many women experience irregular periods at first because of hormonal imbalance, What To Expect explains.
Do you have any unique experiences about your menstruation period after pregnancy? Do not hesitate to share them in the comments section below.
