After childbirth, the first periods are very heavy and long. Menstruation after childbirth: relevant information for women

They have no relation. The fact is that immediately after giving birth, a woman begins to bleed in the exact place where the placenta was previously attached. The uterine cavity after the separation of the placenta has a large wound, and until it completely heals, the discharge will continue for up to 8 weeks.

Then, when the baby begins to breastfeed, critical days may not appear until 6-12 months. This fact is an absolute norm, since the body simply needs to stop during this period. This is explained by the fact that during lactation there is a constant loss nutrients, as well as iron and calcium. And with the restoration of the cycle, the likelihood of another pregnancy increases. A body tired after childbirth is unlikely to be able to provide for two babies at once. Therefore, you should just be patient and wait until the woman’s body fully recovers and, accordingly, menstruation begins.

How long does your period last after childbirth?

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This question is especially relevant in relation to the first menstruation after childbirth. Duration after labor activity does not return to normal immediately. However, they should not be too protracted, because if the bleeding persists for more than 7 days and is very abundant, then this is serious reason to immediately contact a gynecologist. A woman should be especially wary of excessively intense discharge, as a result of which the woman is forced to change the pad more than once in several hours. The cause of this bleeding may be hormonal disbalance and even in the uterine cavity or inflammation.

It should be remembered that after childbirth with the help of a section, lochia may take a little longer. After all, an injured uterus will contract more slowly.

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As a rule, after childbirth, menstruation changes the nature of the discharge. But for each woman this is individual. In any case, if any changes cause concern, then you should not delay going to the doctor.

The nature of menstruation after childbirth

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In most cases, the resumption of the menstrual cycle after the birth of the baby does not occur immediately. This mainly depends on the method of contraception. If the IUD was chosen as a preventive measure for re-pregnancy, the discharge will become profuse and painful. And the color may become brighter, the consistency - with the presence of clots. If a woman decides to use birth control pills, then in the future there may be very scanty and even spotting periods. This is due to the hormones that are contained in these and change the hormonal balance.

The use of tampons and conventional ones is possible only after the complete restoration of the menstrual cycle. Tampons interfere with the free flow of blood, and the mesh on the pads can irritate the injured mucous membrane.

If there is no contraception and the mother is completely, then the character most often changes in better side. Premenstrual syndrome may no longer bother you, and your periods may become completely painless.

Pregnancy is the most important period in the life of the fair sex. At this time, expectant mothers are interested in many questions: how to eat properly, what physical activity is it acceptable, is it possible to have sex, etc.

After childbirth the situation changes a little. The woman begins to worry about issues related to the newborn, as well as her own health. For example, one of them is when menstruation begins after childbirth.

All expectant mothers should know the answer to this question. This will make it easier to determine which changes in the female body are normal and which indicate abnormalities and require consultation with a doctor.

Period of menstruation recovery after childbirth

After conception, the menstrual function “turns off.” For 9 months, the woman is not bothered by her period. Their absence is due to changes hormonal levels. Only after childbirth the body begins to recover: hormonal levels return to normal, and menstruation begins again.
There is no specific period after which menstruation can begin after childbirth. The time of its onset for every woman individually. In most cases, menstruation begins after the baby has finished breastfeeding. This is because during breastfeeding, the pituitary gland produces a hormone called prolactin.

It not only controls milk production, but also suppresses the functioning of the ovaries. This is the reason for the absence of a normal menstrual cycle. If breastfeeding continues for a long time and complementary foods are introduced late, then the onset of menstruation after childbirth occurs after the child is one year old.

Some women introduce complementary foods early. In the pituitary gland, prolactin begins to be produced in smaller quantities and ceases to suppress the work of the ovaries. Most often, menstruation begins in such a situation six months after birth.

There are cases when young mothers, immediately after giving birth, combine artificial nutrition for the baby with breastfeeding. This leads to the fact that menstrual function 3-4 months after birth the child is recovering.

In certain situations, women cannot breastfeed their baby at all. In this case, menstruation may begin after birth 6-10 weeks.

The restoration of menstrual function is influenced not only by the moment of stopping breastfeeding, but also by many other factors, both internal and external. Among them are the following:

• daily and rest routine;
• nutrition;
• Availability chronic diseases, complications;
• psychological condition.

The onset of menstruation after childbirth: features

In most cases, after childbirth, the menstrual cycle becomes regular fairly quickly. Only the first couple of months can critical days occur ahead of schedule or linger a little.

There are many rumors about the menstrual cycle and the speed of its recovery. You can often hear that the restoration of menstruation after childbirth is directly dependent on the way in which the child was born. Actually this is not true. The onset of menstruation has nothing to do with whether the birth was natural or carried out.

After the onset of menstruation, many women note that menstruation has become less painful, and discomfort is no longer felt. This phenomenon physiologically explainable. Typically, menstrual pain occurs due to bend of the uterus which interferes with the normal flow of blood. After childbirth in abdominal cavity The arrangement of the organs changes slightly, the bend straightens. In this regard, pain subsequently disappears during critical days.

Very often, menstruation is confused with discharge, called lochia. They are a mixture of blood clots and mucus. The cause of lochia lies in damage to the lining of the uterus. The first few days after birth they are abundant and have a bright red color. After a week, the lochia acquire a brownish tint, and their number noticeably decreases. Gradually they become more and more scarce. This is due to the fact that the lining of the uterus is healing. Lochia can be released for 6-8 weeks. After this they stop.

After childbirth during breastfeeding and in the absence of menstruation, it can occur conception. It is known that the maturation of the egg and its release from the ovaries begins approximately two weeks before bleeding. A few days before and after ovulation there is a chance of getting pregnant.

The onset of menstruation after childbirth is not a sign that female body ready to next pregnancy. On full recovery it takes a couple of years. It is advisable to plan for the next child after this period. Therefore, before your period starts, you need to take care of contraception.

Situations when you should consult a doctor

After the birth of the child and artificial feeding I didn't get my period? This fact may indicate the presence of diseases genitourinary system. After stopping breastfeeding, periods may also be absent.

The reason of that - postpartum pathologies, endometriosis, hormonal disorders, tumor, inflammation of the ovaries. If there are no critical days, you should definitely consult a doctor to prevent unwanted consequences.

TO medical specialist You should also contact us if periods are very heavy. If, with heavy discharge, more than 1 pad is required for 2 hours, then this should be regarded as bleeding. Symptoms such as pain, bad smell and a dark shade of blood.

If 2-3 months after the onset of menstrual periods the cycle did not recover, then this is already a deviation. In such a situation, you should ask a gynecologist for advice. The cause may be hormonal imbalances.

Sometimes women who have become mothers complain of worsening PMS. You will find answers to the questions: why does this happen and how you can deal with the problem in the video at the end of the article.

Personal hygiene when restoring menstruation after childbirth

After the birth of a child, Special attention You should pay attention to personal hygiene, because during this period the female body requires a more attentive and careful attitude.

Until the menstrual cycle resumes, it is not recommended to use pads with absorbent mesh and tampons. These remedies are not suitable for lochia. During them, it is best to use pads with a smooth surface. They need to be changed every 3-4 hours.

How many days a woman’s menstruation lasts is influenced by many factors, including the physiological characteristics of the body and lifestyle. Significant deviations from the norm, instability of the menstrual cycle are symptoms of organ diseases reproductive system. Only gynecological examination will help determine the cause of the violations. You should not put off visiting a doctor in the hope that everything will get better on its own. An advanced disease is more difficult to treat, and its consequences can be serious.

Content:

Normal and pathological menstruation in women of reproductive age

The normal duration of menstrual bleeding should be 3-7 days. The body is weakened these days due to blood loss. The woman quickly gets tired and feels weak. Arises headache. All these ailments are normal, they do not last long and disappear with the end of menstruation. Normal menstruation is characterized by the release of blood with a total volume of 50 to 80 ml.

U healthy woman The cycle length ranges from 21 days to 35 days. Moreover, menstruation occurs at approximately constant intervals with a maximum deviation of 2-4 days.

The presence of pathology in the body can be assumed in cases where menstruation lasts 2 days and less or more than 7 days, the volume of discharge is less than 40 ml or more than 80-100 ml. If spotting brown discharge appears before and after menstruation, increasing the number of critical days, this is also a violation.

A normal cycle should not be shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days. Its beginning is considered the first day of menstruation.

Factors influencing the duration of menstruation

How long your period lasts depends on the following factors:

1. Heredity. For some, menstruation lasts 10 days or even more in the absence of any pathologies. This duration is typical for women of this family.
2. The presence of inflammatory and infectious diseases of the reproductive organs, benign neoplasms(fibroids, polyps, cysts), malignant tumors uterus and ovaries. With these diseases, the structure of the mucous membranes of organs is disrupted, damage to blood vessels and tissues occurs, as a result of which menstruation becomes more abundant and lasts longer.
3. Ovarian dysfunction. The cause of this condition can be both diseases of the genital organs and frequent abortions, use of intrauterine device, uncontrolled use hormonal drugs. With ovarian dysfunction due to insufficient production of sex hormones, menstruation lasts 2 days or less.
4. Deviations in the functioning of the thyroid, pancreas, pituitary gland, adrenal glands - organs responsible for the state of hormonal levels in the body.

In addition, the number of critical days is sharply reduced with intensive physical activity (sports activities, lifting weights). Nervous stress, psychological trauma, and depression cause heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts for 10-14 days.

Fasting and vitamin deficiency lead to hormonal shifts, a reduction in the duration of menstruation or their complete cessation. Smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use, and exposure to an unfavorable environment lead to the same result.

Video: How long does a normal period last?

How long do teenage girls menstruate?

At the age of 12-15, girls experience their first menstruation. During this period, hormonal changes begin in the body associated with the maturation of the ovaries. The first menstruation comes irregularly, with delays of several months. This happens within 1-2 years. The volume of menstruation can fluctuate significantly.

It is difficult to say how many days teenage girls should menstruate until their character is finally established. Their duration can vary significantly, but gradually it returns to normal and is usually 3-5 days. After this, the girl needs to start a special calendar to mark the start and end day of her period.

If any deviations appear (menstruation does not come, ends too quickly, or, conversely, lasts longer than last time), there is no need to panic. There can be many reasons: overwork, dieting, sports overload, teenage mental imbalance, change of environment. Such violations will disappear after their cause is eliminated.

But if the disturbances are persistent, or menstruation is too painful, then you should definitely consult a doctor. Such symptoms indicate the presence of diseases of the reproductive organs and other body systems.

Video: Menstruation in girls and adult women

Menstruation during pregnancy

Once pregnant, most women's periods disappear, but sometimes they come at their usual time, which may cause the woman to not realize that she is pregnant. If menstruation came only during the first 30 days of pregnancy, this is explained by the fact that fertilization occurred at the very end of the menstrual cycle, when the endometrium had already partially exfoliated. Bloody discharge is scanty.

In rare cases, simultaneous maturation of eggs in both ovaries occurs. One of them is fertilized, and the second is brought out. In this case, slight bleeding occurs, which may look like scanty periods that last for 1-2 days.

If during pregnancy during the first 3-4 months menstruation is scanty and short in duration, this may be the result of an incomplete cessation of hormone production in the ovaries, which is explained by physiological characteristics body. But in any case, you should not calm down, since most often the appearance of bloody discharge during pregnancy portends a miscarriage or indicates endocrine disorders in organism.

Warning: If any bleeding occurs, a pregnant woman should immediately consult a doctor. You may need to be hospitalized for several days to maintain the pregnancy.

How long do you miss your period after childbirth?

The timing of the first menstruation after childbirth depends on the nature of its course, general condition health. If a woman is breastfeeding, she does not have periods during the entire period of lactation. If for some reason the child is transferred to artificial feeding immediately after birth, then the woman’s period begins after about 12 weeks.

In the absence of complications, most often the menstrual cycle becomes more stable. If earlier your periods were too heavy and long, then after childbirth the indicators are close to normal. Menstruation becomes painless and less intense. This is due to a change in the position of the uterus, improving the outflow of blood from it. How long your period lasts depends on the nature of the hormonal changes that have occurred. They usually last from 3 to 5 days.

How many days does menstruation last during menopause?

Menopause (complete cessation of menstruation) occurs in women at approximately 48-50 years of age. After 40 years, the production of sex hormones in the ovaries begins to gradually decline, and the supply of eggs is depleted. Ovulation does not occur in every cycle. All this is reflected in the nature of menstruation. They come irregularly, the duration changes with each cycle. After heavy bleeding that does not stop for 8 days, there may be a long pause (2 months or more), followed by scanty spotting brown periods that disappear after 2 days. Then they stop altogether.

Addition: If spotting was absent for 1 year and then reappeared, it is no longer menstruation. Bleeding of any duration and intensity during the postmenopausal period is a sign of hormonal imbalance, endocrine diseases or the development of tumors of the uterus or ovaries. It is necessary to urgently contact medical specialists (gynecologist, endocrinologist, oncologist) to identify the pathology.

Menstruation while using oral contraceptives

Birth control pills contain female sex hormones, estrogens and progesterone. Their action is aimed at suppressing ovulation by changing their natural ratio in the body. Within 1-3 months after starting to take the pills, the body adapts to the new hormonal levels. In this case, the nature of menstruation may change compared to usual. How many days menstruation lasts in this case and what its intensity depends on the chosen remedy. They can become abundant and long-lasting, or, on the contrary, they can be scanty and short-lived.

If after 3 months the nature of menstruation does not return to normal, you should consult a gynecologist. You may need to choose a different drug.

Video: Gynecologist about the consequences of using hormonal drugs

Young mothers are always interested in when their periods begin after childbirth. During the restoration of the cycle, it may change in length; periods often take on a different character, intensity, duration, and become more or less painful than before pregnancy. This is often the norm, but in some cases a consultation with a gynecologist is required.

Bleeding in the postpartum period

Postpartum bleeding, or lochia, is the cleansing of the wound surface that forms at the site of the separated membranes and placenta. They last throughout the recovery period inner surface uterus.

At this time, the uterus is especially vulnerable to infection, so you should change it regularly. sanitary napkin and monitor the nature of the discharge. They are maximally expressed within 3 days after birth, and then gradually weaken.

Sometimes such discharge completely stops within a day. This occurs due to blood retention in the uterine cavity (), which leads to an increased risk of infection. In this case, the help of a doctor is necessary.

Normal cleansing of the uterus after the process natural birth lasts from 30 to 45 days. After surgical delivery, this time may increase due to scar formation and longer healing.

How to distinguish menstruation from bleeding after childbirth?

Lochia gradually changes its character. By the end of the 1st week they become lighter, after 2 weeks they acquire a slimy character. Within a month, an admixture of blood may appear in them, but its amount is insignificant. Usually a woman easily distinguishes this process from menstruation. At least 2 weeks should pass between the cessation of lochia and the beginning of the first menstruation. If in doubt, it is better to consult a gynecologist or at least start using barrier contraception, protecting the uterus from infections.

Start of menstruation

There are no periods during pregnancy. It's natural defense mechanism preservation of the fetus, which is regulated by hormones. After childbirth, the restoration of the woman’s normal hormonal status begins. It lasts for a month if breastfeeding is not started.

When should your period start after childbirth?

This period is determined primarily by the type of feeding the child: natural or artificial. Output breast milk occurs under the influence of the pituitary hormone prolactin. It is he who suppresses the growth of the egg in the ovary during lactation. The level of estrogen does not increase, therefore, when breastfeeding, menstruation begins, on average, 2 months after birth, more often when feeding “by the hour.”

For many young mothers, this period extends to six months or more, especially when feeding “on demand.” In very rare cases, while breastfeeding continues, even periodically, women note that they have not had periods for a year, and sometimes longer. In such cases, you need to regularly use contraception, and if necessary, take a pregnancy test. You should also consult your doctor to rule out hyperprolactinemia.

At artificial feeding From birth, the duration of the cycle is restored in a month to a month and a half. At this time, and occurs, so a new pregnancy is possible.

When a baby is fed only breast milk, the woman may not have menstruation all this time. In this case, the first menstruation after childbirth will begin during the first six months after the end of lactation “on demand” or the introduction of complementary foods. However, this is not necessary, and even during breastfeeding, menstruation may resume.

With mixed feeding (from a bottle and naturally) restoration of menstruation develops faster, within 4 months after childbirth.

How long do periods last in the postpartum period?

Often the first menstruation is very heavy. Can be heavy discharge, menstruation with blood clots. If you have to change the pad every hour, you should seek help from a doctor: this may be a symptom of bleeding. Subsequent periods usually become normal.

In other cases, women experience irregular spotting in the first months. This is typical for breastfeeding, when prolactin synthesis gradually decreases.

Additional factors affecting the speed of restoration of the normal cycle:

• difficulties in caring for a child, lack of sleep, lack of help from relatives;
• unhealthy diet;
• the mother is too young or has a late birth;
• concomitant diseases (diabetes, asthma and others), especially those requiring hormonal therapy;
• complications after childbirth, for example Sheehan syndrome.

Menstrual cycle changes

Irregular periods often persist for several cycles after childbirth. These changes do not have to be permanent. Within 1-2 months, the cycle normally returns to prenatal characteristics or changes slightly in duration.

• Scanty periods can normally occur during the initial 2-3 cycles, especially if mixed feeding is used.
• During the first cycles after childbirth, on the contrary, some women experience heavy periods. This may be normal, but if menstruation does not become normal in the next cycle, you should consult a gynecologist.
• The regularity of menstrual flow is disrupted, that is, the cycle is disrupted.
• Painful periods may occur, even if the woman never complained of pain before pregnancy. The reason for this is infection, too much contraction of the uterine wall. In most cases, on the contrary, painful periods before pregnancy become normal. This is caused by the normalization of the location of the uterus in the body cavity.
• Some women develop or its precursors: nausea, swelling, dizziness, emotional changes before menstruation.

Causes of postpartum menstrual changes

A delay in menstruation after childbirth appears under the influence of changing hormone levels:

• secretion of prolactin in the pituitary gland, which helps secrete breast milk and suppresses ovulation;
• suppression of estrogen production under the influence of prolactin, which leads to irregular menstruation or their complete absence during breastfeeding (lactation amenorrhea).

When a child feeds only on mother’s milk, and “on demand”, and not “by the clock”, and a woman does not have periods for six months after giving birth, this is the norm.

After the onset of menstruation, it is advisable to start using contraception. Although breastfeeding reduces your chances of conceiving, it is still possible. For example, if your period started after childbirth and then disappeared, the most probable cause This is a repeat pregnancy. It should also be remembered that ovulation occurs before menstrual bleeding begins. Therefore, pregnancy is quite possible even before the first menstruation. If a woman is concerned about why there is no menstrual bleeding for a long time, she must first do home test for pregnancy, and then consult a gynecologist. You may need to consult an endocrinologist.

You should not stop breastfeeding after your menstrual cycle appears. Menstruation does not change its quality. It happens that these days the child does not eat well, is capricious, and refuses to breastfeed. This is usually due to emotional disturbances in a woman, her worries about the quality of feeding.

During menstrual bleeding, the sensitivity of the nipples may increase, and feeding becomes painful. To reduce such sensations, it is recommended that before giving the baby the breast, massage it, warm it, and apply a warm compress to the nipples. It is necessary to keep your breasts clean and axillary area. During menstruation, the composition of sweat changes, and the baby smells it differently. This may be another reason for feeding difficulties.

Irregular periods

What to do if your menstrual cycle becomes irregular:

1. In the first months of postpartum recovery period no need to panic. In most cases, this is the norm. For each woman, normalization of the cycle occurs individually, usually during the first months of the resumption of menstrual bleeding. Irregularity occurs more often in women who breastfeed.
2. Recovery normal function all organs and systems need about 2 months. Balance in the endocrine system occurs later, especially if breastfeeding is used. Therefore, a woman may feel quite healthy, but at the same time she will experience a lack of menstruation.
3. Emphasize on irregular cycle follows only after 3 cycles. This may be due to inflammatory process, or a tumor of the genital organs. A delay in your second period is not dangerous unless it is associated with another pregnancy.

If you have any doubts, it is better to consult a gynecologist, get diagnosed in a timely manner and begin treatment.

Cycle after pathological pregnancy or childbirth

Menstruation does not return immediately after a missed pregnancy. Only some women experience regular bleeding within a month. In most cases, hormonal imbalance that led to termination of pregnancy causes cycle irregularity.

After termination of a frozen pregnancy or abortion, the first menstruation occurs within 45 days. If this does not happen, the woman should seek help from a gynecologist.

To exclude causes of amenorrhea, such as the remaining part of the fertilized egg in the uterus or inflammation, 10 days after the cessation of frozen or normal pregnancy you need to undergo an ultrasound.

The first menstrual flow after begins from 25 to 40 days after its completion. If they started earlier, it's probably uterine bleeding which requires seeing a doctor. A delay of more than 40 days also requires consultation with a gynecologist. If the disease caused severe stress In women, the norm is to lengthen the recovery time to 2 months.

Menstruation after surgery is restored in the same way as after normal birth. During lactation, periods do not come for six months. With artificial feeding, there is no period for 3 months or even less. Both during physiological and during childbirth by caesarean section In a small proportion of women, the cycle does not recover within a year. If no other pathology is detected, this is considered normal.

In the first few months after a frozen pregnancy, intrauterine pregnancy, or cesarean section, your cycle may be irregular. Subsequently, its duration may change compared to the previous one. But normally it is no less than 21 days and no more than 35 days. Menstruation lasts from 3 to 7 days.

Pathology of menstruation

Sometimes bleeding that begins in a woman after childbirth is pathological character. In this case, you should not wait several cycles for them to normalize, but immediately consult a doctor.

• Sudden termination postpartum discharge- a sign of bending of the uterus or accumulation of lochia in uterine cavity- lochiometers.
• Scanty periods for 3 cycles or more. Perhaps they are a symptom of hormonal disorders, Sheehan syndrome or endometritis.
• Irregularity of menstruation six months after its restoration, a break between bloody discharge more than 3 months. Most often accompanied by ovarian pathology.
• Too much heavy bleeding for 2 or more cycles, especially after surgical method delivery or termination of pregnancy. They are often caused by the tissues of the membranes remaining on the walls of the uterus.
• The duration of menstruation is more than a week, which is accompanied by weakness and dizziness.
• Abdominal pain, fever, unpleasant odor, color change vaginal discharge– a sign of a tumor or infection.
• Spotting before and after menstruation – probable symptom endometriosis or inflammatory disease.
• Vaginal itching, impurity cheesy discharge– sign.
• Bleeding twice a month, persisting for more than 3 cycles.

In all of the above cases, the help of a gynecologist is needed.

Sometimes, despite a woman’s apparent health, menstruation required deadline she doesn't get any. This may be a symptom of a childbirth complication - Sheehan syndrome. It occurs when heavy bleeding during childbirth, during which it sharply decreases arterial pressure. As a result, the cells of the pituitary gland, the main organ regulating the function of the reproductive system, die.

The first sign of this disease is the absence of postpartum lactation. Normally, in the absence of milk, menstruation appears after 1.5-2 months. However, in Sheehan syndrome there is a deficiency gonadotropic hormones. The maturation of the egg in the ovary is disrupted, there is no ovulation, there are no menstrual bleeding. Therefore, if a woman who has given birth does not have milk, and then her cycle does not recover, she urgently needs to consult a doctor. The consequences of Sheehan syndrome are adrenal insufficiency, which is accompanied by frequent infectious diseases and a general decrease in the body's resistance to various stresses.

There is also the opposite problem - . This condition is caused by increased production of prolactin in the pituitary gland after the end of lactation. This hormone inhibits the development of the egg, causes anovulation, and disrupts the normal thickening of the endometrium in the first phase of the cycle. Its excess leads to the absence of menstruation against the background of ongoing milk synthesis.

The main causes of hyperprolactinemia are pituitary adenoma, gynecological diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome.

When a woman is healthy, her cycle returns normally. To avoid possible failures, you need to follow some simple recommendations:

1. To give the body the opportunity to quickly restore the synthesis of hormones, you need to eat well. Lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and water, combined with regular physical exercise – effective method recovery hormonal balance. The menu should include dairy products, cottage cheese, and meat. After consulting with your doctor, you can take multivitamins for nursing mothers.
2. Not to accept . They can change hormonal levels and cause unpredictable changes in the cycle. If a woman is sexually active, it is better for her to use condoms or other non-hormonal methods contraception.
3. Organize your routine as efficiently as possible. If your baby doesn't sleep well at night, you should try to get enough sleep during the day. You should not refuse any help from your loved ones. good physical state women will help her recover faster.
4. In the presence of chronic diseases (diabetes, pathology thyroid gland, anemia and others) it is necessary to visit an appropriate specialist and adjust the treatment.

After the birth of a child, a woman needs not only care, but also careful attention to the restoration processes in the body. And if the first can be left to loved ones and relatives, then taking care of your health remains with the young mother. One of the most important symptoms restoration of the body is the beginning of menstruation. However, the first menstruation after childbirth in a number of indicators, including timing, may differ significantly from those before pregnancy. Therefore, this serious issue requires detailed consideration.

Lochia and menstruation: what is what

Many women call bloody discharge with clots after childbirth menstruation. However, they have a different nature, name and are not menstruation.

Start recovery process after childbirth is marked by lochia

Lochia after childbirth

To understand the difference between postpartum discharge and menstruation, it is necessary to understand the physiological process of restoration of the uterus after the birth of a child. Regardless of the method of delivery - natural or surgical (caesarean section), the uterus is a bleeding wound. This is due to the fact that the placenta is torn away from the reproductive organ, thereby rupturing many vessels that connected it to the uterus. In addition, from the body of the uterus itself, due to the action of the hormone oxytocin, which provokes uterine contractions, part of the fibers is separated, which leads to the restoration of its pre-pregnancy state. All this leads to the fact that the young mother observes bloody discharge with clots, gradually decreasing in volume - lochia. The average time for their completion, that is, healing of the uterus, is up to 40 days after birth.

This is interesting. The first week of lochia helps the uterus “lose weight” from a kilogram to 300 grams. In 1.5–2 months, the reproductive organ returns to an average weight of 70 grams.

The intensity of lochia must be monitored very carefully, as this important indicator normal recovery body

Period

Menstruation (regula) is a physiological phenomenon that represents the rejection of the mucous surface of the female reproductive organ, which occurs under the influence of a woman’s hormonal background. Menstrual cycle determined by work endocrine system, therefore, without understanding its essence, it is difficult to understand the mechanism of the arrival of menstruation.

Table: phases of the menstrual cycle

This is interesting. All three phases monthly cycle occur under the influence of specific hormones: ovulatory under the influence of estradiol, luteal under the influence of progesterone.

Each phase occurs on certain days of the cycle

Video: ovulation after childbirth

First period after childbirth

Based on the mechanism of the onset of menstruation and the nature of lochia, we come to the conclusion that these are two different processes, although both are characterized by bloody discharge. The end of lochia is by no means a signal for the beginning of full menstruation. The fact is that their arrival is due to a number of accompanying factors.

During lactation, a woman actively produces prolactin, a hormone that, in turn, ensures the production of breast milk, but at the same time inhibits the hormones responsible for preparing a woman for pregnancy. It turns out that as long as there is a lot of prolactin, a young mother may not wait for her period. However, this conclusion can be challenged by citing several arguments related to individual hormonal characteristics, as well as taking into account:

• hereditary factor (of course, you shouldn’t expect a complete coincidence in the timing of the onset of menstruation after childbirth for mother, grandmother and daughter, but there won’t be strong differences in timing either);
• presence of pathologies (resumption of menstruation due to inflammation, infectious diseases history is difficult to predict);
• type and duration of breastfeeding.

The last factor is worth considering in detail.

Prolactin, produced during lactation, is responsible for inhibition of ovulation and absence of menstruation.

Resumption of menstruation during breastfeeding

The production of prolactin decreases with the introduction of complementary feeding and supplementation into the child’s diet. That is, based on the experience of the last few years, when pediatricians began to recommend complementary feeding from 4–6 months, we can say that this period is the starting point for waiting for menstruation.

This is interesting. For some women, even taking into account complementary feeding, but maintaining partial breastfeeding (especially at night, when prolactin production is faster), menstruation may not come until complete weaning.

Menstruation during artificial feeding

In this situation, prolactin is not produced in large quantities, so the completion of lochia and the healing of the uterus is the time for the onset of menstruation. This usually happens 1.5 months after birth. But the absence of menstruation for 4–5 months is not considered a deviation. In situations where lactation has been completed for some reason, the regulation will be restored after prolactin begins to be produced prenatally.

This is interesting. A woman who does not have her period after 4–5 months from the end of postpartum discharge needs to consult a gynecologist.

With artificial feeding, menstruation begins earlier

Regulations for combining breastfeeding and artificial feeding

If the baby receives both mother's milk and formula, menstruation comes after 3-12 months. The large range is associated with the time of day at which the number of feedings is reduced: if in the morning and evening, when prolactin is produced most actively, then menstruation will begin earlier.

Video: restoration of menstruation after childbirth

Features of the first menstruation: symptoms, nature of discharge and timing

The main fear of women expecting their first period after childbirth is that it will start suddenly. In fact, in most (!) cases, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) cannot be avoided, so the “readiness signals No. 1” will be:

• nagging pain in the lower abdomen;
• mood swings;
• headache.

Before the first period after childbirth, a woman may experience increased PMS.

Another important point, for which you need to prepare in advance: this is a possible change in the nature of the discharge. After childbirth they may become:

• more painful;
• more abundant or more scanty compared to those before pregnancy;
• with clots (usually such lumps are characteristic of menstruation, which began shortly after the end of lochia, and these inclusions are the remains of damaged tissues and fibers, indicating that the endometrium is still recovering).

As for the timing of the first menstruation, they may be a little longer or, conversely, a little shorter. In general, monthly bleeding in the absence of abnormalities should not last longer than 7–8 days. In this case, the first few cycles will be within 21–30 days, then the timing will be adjusted.

This is interesting. The resumption of menstruation after a cesarean section occurs in the same way as after a natural birth. After an abortion or miscarriage, the cycle returns depending on the woman’s health condition, as well as the presence of complications after curettage.

When to be alarmed

There are several reasons associated with the resumption of menstruation that require prompt consultation with a doctor. It is worth noting that it is impossible to draw conclusions about deviations after the first menstruation. The only exception is unbearable pain. To get an objective picture, you need to monitor your health for 2-3 cycles.

This is interesting. Despite the absence of menstruation, after the end of lochia, a woman can become pregnant again. This, again, is due to the individual characteristics of her body, so it is worth paying attention to the choice of contraception. It should be taken into account that if you select intrauterine device, then the first menstruation may be longer, more abundant and more painful, and if you take birth control pills, then, on the contrary, the discharge will become short-lived, scanty, and sometimes even spotting.

The duration and intensity of menstruation is also affected by the method of contraception.

Prolonged and heavy discharge

Protracted periods are those that last longer than 8 days. Often, long-term adjustments are accompanied by If the pad has to be changed in two or more cycles more often than 2.5–3 hours, then the bleeding is considered intense. Such deviations occur especially often in women who have had a caesarean section or abortion. In addition, in this way the body signals that:

• particles of membranes remain on the walls of the uterus;
• inflammation develops;
• the woman was (or is) under stress;
• During pregnancy, the young mother suffered from iron deficiency anemia.

Conservative treatment is considered:

• hemostatic drugs;
• vitamins;
• medications that replenish iron reserves in the body.

If these means do not produce results, the woman is prescribed curettage, which has two goals: to exclude the development of tumors in the endometrium and to stop bleeding.

Periods are too fast

Common reasons accelerated menstruation(less than 2 days) are:

• sudden weight loss of a woman;
• heavy bleeding after childbirth;
• hyperprolactinemia - strong increase prolactin.

Menstruation less than two days is considered a deviation from the norm

Scanty periods

Discharge resembling daub (in the absence of hormonal contraception), repeating more than three cycles in a row should also raise alarm. Such a cycle disruption may indicate hormonal imbalance, endometritis (inflammation of the lining of the uterus) or Sheehan syndrome (a neuroendocrine disorder caused by the death of pituitary cells due to complications during childbirth or abortion).

Irregular menstruation

Hormonal imbalances require precise correction, so consultation with an endocrinologist is required.

Unpleasant odor, bright color, itching

Strong smell of discharge, bright color, as well as fever, severe pain lower abdomen - symptoms caused by infections or cancer. Itching and cheesy discharge are signs of thrush.

Stopping menstruation after the first 1–2 cycles

In this case, first of all, you need to exclude a new pregnancy. The reason for such a stop in flow physiological process There may also be a rather rare condition - early menopause.

This is interesting. Any anxiety states, Related women's health, must be discussed with a specialist. Therefore, you should not neglect visits to the gynecologist.

Personal hygiene when restoring menstruation

Hygienic procedures during the resumption of menstruation after childbirth are no different from those carried out before pregnancy:

How to stabilize your periods

You should think about restoring menstruation in advance by discussing this issue with your gynecologist. Especially if there were complications during childbirth. In addition, it is worth listening to the recommendations of experts and:

This is interesting. Women with postpartum syndrome (depression) are advised to drink herbal teas, lungs sedatives on natural ingredients. If necessary, visit a psychologist.

Higher philological education, 11 years of experience teaching English and Russian, love for children and an objective view of modernity are the key lines of my 31-year-old life. Strengths: responsibility, desire to learn new things and self-improvement.

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