After childbirth, the first menstruation is very plentiful and long. Menstruation after childbirth: relevant information for women

They have nothing to do. The fact is that immediately after childbirth, a woman begins to bleed exactly the place where the placenta was previously attached. The uterine cavity after separation of the placenta has a large wound, and until it heals completely, the discharge will continue 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 during this period simply needs to stop. This is due to 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 re-pregnancy increases. An organism that is tired after childbirth is unlikely to be able to provide two babies at once. Therefore, you should just be patient and wait until the woman's body is fully restored and, accordingly, menstruation occurs.

How long are periods after childbirth

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This question is especially relevant in relation to the first menstruation after childbirth. Duration after labor activity returns to normal immediately. However, they should not be too protracted, because if spotting persists for more than 7 days and is very plentiful, then this is serious reason for immediate referral to a gynecologist. Especially a woman should be alerted by too intense discharge, as a result of which the woman is forced to change the pad more than once in a few hours. This bleeding may be caused by hormonal disbalance and even in the uterine cavity or inflammation.

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

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As a rule, after childbirth, menstruation changes the nature of the discharge. But for every woman it is individual. In any case, if any changes cause concern, then the trip to the doctor should not be delayed.

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. Basically, it depends on the method of contraception. If a spiral was chosen as a prevention of re-pregnancy, then the discharge will become abundant 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 meager and even smearing periods. This is due to the hormones that are contained in these and change the hormonal background.

The use of tampons and the usual is possible only after the full restoration of the menstrual cycle. Tampons interfere with the free outflow of blood, and the mesh on the pads can irritate the injured mucosa.

If there is no contraception and the mother is completely, then the character most often changes in better side. It may stop bothering premenstrual syndrome, and menstruation can 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 right, what physical activity is acceptable, is it possible to have sex, etc.

After childbirth, the situation changes slightly. A 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 future mothers should know the answer to this question. So it will be easier to determine which changes in the female body are normal, and which indicate abnormalities and require a visit to a doctor.

The period of recovery of menstruation after childbirth

After conception, the menstrual function "turns off". Within 9 months, a woman is not disturbed by critical days. Their absence is associated with a change hormonal background. Only after childbirth, the body begins to recover: the hormonal background returns to normal, and menstruation begins again.
There is no specific period after which menstruation can begin after childbirth. The time of its onset for each woman individually. In most cases, menstruation begins after the completion of breastfeeding. This is due to the fact that during breastfeeding, the pituitary gland produces a hormone called prolactin.

It not only controls the production of milk, but also suppresses the functioning of the ovaries. This is the reason for the lack 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 in a similar situation begins six months after birth.

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

In certain situations, women may not be able to breastfeed their baby at all. In this case, menstruation may begin after childbirth in 6-10 weeks.

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

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

The beginning of menstruation after childbirth: features

In most cases, after giving birth, the menstrual cycle quickly becomes regular. Only the first couple of months, critical days can come 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 how the child was born. Actually it is not. 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, discomfort is no longer felt. This phenomenon physiologically understandable. Pain during menstruation is usually caused by bending of the uterus which interferes with normal blood flow. After giving birth in abdominal cavity the location of the organs changes slightly, the bend straightens. In this regard, further pain disappears during critical days.

Very often menstruation is confused with secretions, 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 plentiful and have a bright red color. After a week, the lochia acquire a brownish tint, and their number is noticeably reduced. Gradually they become more and more scarce. This is due to the fact that the lining of the uterus heals. Lochia can stand out within 6-8 weeks. After that they stop.

After childbirth during breastfeeding and in the absence of menstruation can occur conception. It is known that the maturation of the egg and its release from the ovaries begins about 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 the full recovery it takes a couple of years. It is advisable to plan the next child after this period. Therefore, before the onset of menstruation, you need to take care of contraceptives.

Situations when you should see a doctor

After the birth of a child and artificial feeding menstruation did not come? This fact may indicate the presence of diseases genitourinary system. After stopping breastfeeding, menstruation may also be absent.

The reason of that - postpartum pathologies, endometriosis, hormonal disorders, tumor, inflammation of the ovaries. In the absence of critical days, you should definitely consult a doctor to prevent the occurrence of undesirable consequences.

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

If 2-3 months after the onset of critical days, menstrual cycle is not restored, then this is already a deviation. In such a situation, you should ask the advice of a gynecologist. The reason may be hormonal disorders.

Sometimes women who have become mothers complain about worsening PMS. Answers to the questions: why this happens, and how to deal with the problem, you will find in the video at the end of the article.

Personal hygiene when restoring menstruation after childbirth

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

Before the restoration of the menstrual cycle, it is not recommended to use pads with an absorbent mesh and tampons. These funds 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, 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 violation. Do not put off a visit to the doctor in the hope that everything will work itself out. A neglected disease is more difficult to treat, and its consequences are serious.

Content:

Normal and abnormal menstruation in women of reproductive age

The duration of menstrual bleeding should normally be 3-7 days. The body these days is weakened due to blood loss. The woman quickly gets tired, feels weak. Arises headache. All these ailments are the norm, 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.

At healthy woman cycle duration is from 21 days to 35 days. Moreover, menstruation goes 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 secretions is less than 40 ml or more than 80-100 ml. If smearing 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 affecting the duration of menstruation

How long the period lasts depends on the following factors:

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

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

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

Video: How long do normal periods go

How long do teenage girls menstruate?

At the age of 12-15, girls have their first menstruation. During this period, the body begins hormonal changes 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 that, the girl needs to have a special calendar to mark the day of the beginning and end of menstruation.

If there are any deviations (menstruation does not come, ends too quickly, or, conversely, goes longer than last time), you should not panic. There can be many reasons: overwork, passion for diets, sports overload, teenage mental imbalance, change of scenery. Such violations will disappear after the elimination of their causes.

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

Video: Menstruation in girls and adult women

Menstruation during pregnancy

With the onset of pregnancy, for most women, periods disappear, but sometimes they come at their usual time, because of which a woman may not understand that she is pregnant. If menstruation came only during the first 30 days of pregnancy, this is due to the fact that fertilization occurred at the very end of the menstrual cycle, when the endometrium had already partially exfoliated. Bloody discharges are 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, there is a slight bleeding, which may look like a meager period that lasts 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 physiological features organism. But in any case, you should not calm down, since most often the appearance of spotting during pregnancy portends a miscarriage or speaks of endocrine disorders in the body.

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 many no periods after childbirth

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

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

How many days does menstruation last with menopause

Menopause (complete cessation of menstruation) occurs in women at about 48-50 years of age. Already after 40 years, the production of sex hormones in the ovaries begins to gradually decline, 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), after which there are scanty spotting brown periods, which disappear after 2 days. Then they stop altogether.

Addition: If spotting was absent for 1 year, and then reappeared, this is no longer menstruation. Bleeding of any duration and intensity during the postmenopausal period is a sign of hormonal failure, endocrine diseases or the occurrence of tumors of the uterus or ovaries. It is urgent to contact specialist doctors (gynecologist, endocrinologist, oncologist) to identify the pathology.

Menstruation while using oral contraceptives

Birth control pills contain female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Their action is aimed at suppressing ovulation by changing their natural ratio in the body. Within 1-3 months after the start of taking the pills, the body adapts to the new hormonal background. In this case, the nature of menstruation may change compared to the usual. How many days do menstruation go in this case and what is their intensity depends on the chosen remedy. They can become plentiful and long, or, on the contrary, be scarce and short.

If after 3 months the nature of menstruation does not return to normal, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist. You may need to choose another drug.

Video: Gynecologist on the consequences of using hormonal drugs

It is always interesting for new mothers when menstruation begins after childbirth. During the restoration of the cycle, it can change the length, menstruation often acquire a different character, intensity, duration, become more or less painful than before pregnancy. Often this is 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, which is formed at the site of the separated fetal 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 regularly change sanitary napkin and monitor the nature of the discharge. They are maximally expressed within 3 days after childbirth, and then gradually weaken.

Sometimes such discharge completely stops in just a day. This is due to the retention of blood 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 childbirth lasts 30 to 45 days. After a surgical delivery, this time may increase, which is explained by the formation of a scar and longer healing.

How to distinguish between menstruation and bleeding after childbirth?

Lochia gradually change their character. By the end of the 1st week, they become lighter, after 2 weeks they acquire a mucous 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. There must be at least 2 weeks between the cessation of lochia and the onset 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 normal hormonal status of a woman begins. It lasts for a month if breastfeeding is not started.

When should menstruation start after childbirth?

This period is determined primarily by the type of feeding of the child: natural or artificial. Working out breast milk occurs under the action of the pituitary hormone prolactin. It is he who inhibits 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 childbirth, more often when feeding “by the hour”.

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

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

When a baby is fed only breast milk, a woman may not have her period all this time. In this case, the first menstruation after childbirth will begin within 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 the period of breastfeeding, menstruation can be restored.

Mixed feeding (bottle and naturally) the recovery 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, menses 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 that has begun. Subsequent periods usually become normal.

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

Additional factors affecting the rate of recovery of a normal cycle:

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

Changes in the menstrual cycle

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 need to consult a gynecologist.
The regularity of menstrual flow is disturbed, that is, the cycle goes astray.
Painful periods may occur, even if a 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 due to the normalization of the location of the uterus in the body cavity.
Some women develop or its precursors: nausea, swelling, dizziness, emotional changes before menses.

Causes of postpartum menstrual changes

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

secretion of prolactin in the pituitary gland, which helps to secrete breast milk and suppresses ovulation;
suppression of estrogen production by prolactin, which leads to irregular periods or their total absence during breastfeeding (lactational amenorrhea).

When a child eats only mother's milk, and “on demand”, and not “by the clock”, and a woman has no menstruation 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 the chance of conception, it is still possible. For example, if menstruation began after childbirth and then disappeared, the most probable cause this is a second pregnancy. It should also be remembered that ovulation occurs before the onset of menstrual bleeding. 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, you must first do home test for pregnancy, and then consult a gynecologist. You may need to consult an endocrinologist.

It is not necessary after the appearance of the menstrual cycle to refuse breastfeeding. Menstruation does not change its quality. It happens that a child these days does not eat well, is naughty, refuses to breastfeed. This is usually associated with emotional disturbances in a woman, her feelings about the quality of feeding.

During menstrual bleeding, the sensitivity of the nipples may increase, feeding becomes painful. To reduce such sensations, it is recommended that before giving the baby a breast, massage it, warm it, apply a warm compress to the nipples. It is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of the chest and armpit. 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 the menstrual cycle has become irregular:

In the first months of postpartum recovery period don't panic. In most cases, this is the norm. For each woman, the normalization of the cycle occurs individually, usually during the first months of the resumption of menstrual bleeding. Irregularity is more common in women who are breastfeeding.
Recovery normal function all organs and systems need about 2 months. Balance in the endocrine system comes later, especially if breastfeeding is used. Therefore, a woman can feel quite healthy, but at the same time she will experience the absence of menstruation.
Emphasize on irregular cycle follows only after 3 cycles. This may be due to inflammatory process, or tumor of the genital organs. A delay in the second period is not dangerous, unless it is associated with a second pregnancy.

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

The cycle after the pathological course of pregnancy or childbirth

Menstruation after a frozen pregnancy is not restored immediately. Only in some women regular bleeding appears after a month. In most cases, the hormonal imbalance that led to the termination of pregnancy causes the irregularity of the cycle.

After the termination of a missed 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 such causes of amenorrhea as the remaining part of the fetal egg in the uterus or inflammation, 10 days after the cessation of the frozen or normal pregnancy need to undergo an ultrasound.

The first menstrual flow after begins in the period from 25 to 40 days after its completion. If they started earlier, it's probably uterine bleeding which requires medical attention. A delay of more than 40 days also requires a consultation with a gynecologist. If the disease caused severe stress in a woman, the lengthening of the recovery period up to 2 months is considered the norm.

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

In the first few months after a frozen, intrauterine pregnancy or caesarean section, the cycle may be irregular. Subsequently, its duration may change compared to the previous one. But normally it is not less than 21 days and not more than 35 days. Menstruation lasts from 3 to 7 days.

Pathology of menstruation

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

Sudden termination postpartum discharge- a sign of a bend in the uterus or, accumulation of lochia in uterine cavity- lochiometers.
Scanty periods for 3 or more cycles. Perhaps they are a symptom of hormonal disorders, Sheehan's syndrome or endometritis.
Irregularity of menstruation six months after its restoration, a break between spotting more than 3 months. Most often associated with 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, dizziness.
Abdominal pain, fever, bad smell, discoloration vaginal discharge- a sign of a tumor or infection.
Smearing spots before and after menstruation - likely symptom endometriosis or inflammatory disease.
Itching in the vagina, impurity curdled secretions- sign.
Bleeding twice a month that persists for more than 3 cycles.

In all of these cases, you need the help of a gynecologist.

Sometimes, despite the apparent health of a woman, menstruation in the right time she does not come. This may be a symptom of a complication of childbirth - Sheehan's syndrome. It occurs when heavy bleeding during childbirth, during which there is a sharp decrease arterial pressure. As a result, the cells of the pituitary gland, the main organ that regulates 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, with Sheehan's syndrome, there is a deficiency gonadotropic hormones. The maturation of the egg in the ovary is disturbed, there is no ovulation, there are no menstrual bleeding. Therefore, if a woman who has given birth does not have milk, and then the cycle is not restored, she needs to urgently consult a doctor. The consequences of Sheehan's 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 an increase in the production of prolactin in the pituitary gland after the end of lactation. This hormone inhibits the development of the egg, causes anovulation, 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 the ongoing synthesis of milk.

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

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

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

After the birth of a child, a woman needs not only care, but also an attentive attitude to the recovery processes in the body. And if the first can be given at the mercy of close and dear people, then the care of their health remains with the young mother. One of the most important symptoms Recovery of the body is the beginning of menstruation. However, the first menstruation after childbirth for a number of indicators, including timing, can differ significantly from those before pregnancy. Therefore, this serious issue requires detailed consideration.

Lochia and menstruation: what is what

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

Start recovery process after childbirth marked by lochia

Lochia after childbirth

To understand the difference between postpartum discharge and menstruation, it is necessary to understand the physiological process of recovery of the uterus after the birth of a child. Regardless of how the delivery took place - natural or operative (caesarean section), the uterus is a bleeding wound. This is due to the fact that the placenta is torn off from the reproductive organ, thereby there is a rupture of many vessels that connected it with the uterus. In addition, due to the action of the hormone oxytocin, which provokes uterine contractions, part of the fibers is separated from the body of the uterus itself, 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, the healing of the uterus, is up to 40 days after childbirth.

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

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

Period

Menstruation (regula) is a physiological phenomenon, which is a rejection of the mucous surface of the female reproductive organ, which occurs under the influence of the hormonal background of a woman. Menstrual cycle defined by work endocrine system, therefore, without an idea of \u200b\u200bits essence, it is difficult to understand the mechanism for the arrival of menstruation.

Table: phases of the menstrual cycle

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

Each phase occurs on specific 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 conclude that these are two different processes, although both are characterized by bloody discharge. Completion of lochia is by no means a signal for the beginning of full-fledged menstruation. The fact is that their arrival is due to a number of related factors.

During lactation, a woman actively produces prolactin, a hormone that, in turn, ensures the production of breast milk, but meanwhile inhibits the hormones responsible for preparing a woman for pregnancy. It turns out that while there will be 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 the individual characteristics of the hormonal background, as well as taking into account:

a hereditary factor (of course, you should not expect a complete coincidence of the timing of the onset of menstruation after childbirth in mothers, grandmothers and daughters, but there will also be no strong run-ups in terms);
the presence of pathologies (resumption of menstruation with inflammation, infectious diseases history is difficult to predict).
type and timing of breastfeeding.

The last factor is worth considering in detail.

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

Resumption of menstruation with breastfeeding

The production of prolactin decreases with the introduction of complementary foods and supplements in the child's diet. That is, according to the experience of the last few years, when pediatricians began to recommend complementary foods from 4–6 months, we can say that this particular period is the starting point for waiting for menstruation.

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

Menstruation with 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 was completed for some reason, the regulation will be restored after prolactin begins to be produced in prenatal mode.

It is interesting. A woman who does not have periods after 4-5 months from the end of postpartum discharge needs to consult a gynecologist.

With artificial feeding, menstruation begins earlier

Regulations for the combination of breastfeeding and artificial feeding

If the baby receives both mother's milk and mixtures, menstruation comes after 3-12 months. A large range is associated with the time of day at which the number of feedings has decreased: if in the morning and in the evening, when prolactin is produced especially 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 who are expecting their first menstruation after childbirth is that they will begin suddenly. In fact, in most (!) cases, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) will not do without it, so the “readiness No. 1” signals will be:

pulling pains in the lower abdomen;
mood swings;
headache.

Before the first menstruation after childbirth, a woman may feel an increase in PMS

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

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

As for the timing of the first menstruation, they can 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 terms will be adjusted.

It is interesting. The resumption of menstruation after a caesarean section occurs in the same way as after natural childbirth. After an abortion or miscarriage, the cycle returns depending on the state of health of the woman, as well as the presence of complications after curettage.

When to be alarmed

There are several reasons associated with the resumption of menstruation, requiring prompt medical attention. It is worth noting that it is impossible to draw conclusions about deviations after the first menstruation. The only exception is or unbearable pain. To draw up an objective picture, you need to observe the state of your health for 2-3 cycles.

It is interesting. Despite the absence of menstruation, after the end of lochia, a woman can become pregnant again. This is again due to the individual characteristics of her body, so you should take care of the choice of contraception. It should be noted, however, that if intrauterine device, then the first menstruation can be longer, more abundant and more painful, and if birth control pills, then, on the contrary, the discharge will become short, scarce, sometimes even spotting.

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

Prolonged and profuse discharge

Periods that last longer than 8 days are considered protracted. Often, long-term adjustments are accompanied. If the gasket in two or more cycles has to be changed more often than 2.5–3 hours, then bleeding is considered intense. Especially often such deviations occur in women who have experienced a cesarean or abortion. In addition, in this way the body signals that:

particles of membranes remained on the walls of the uterus;
inflammation develops;
the woman was (or is) in a stressful state;
during pregnancy, the young mother suffered from iron deficiency anemia.

Conservative treatment are:

hemostatic drugs;
vitamins;
drugs that replenish iron stores in the body.

If these remedies do not give a result, a curettage is prescribed for a woman, which has two goals: to exclude the development of neoplasms in the endometrium and stop bleeding.

Too fast periods

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

a sharp weight loss of a woman;
heavy bleeding after childbirth;
hyperprolactinemia - strong rise prolactin.

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

Scanty periods

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

Irregular menstruation

Hormonal disorders require precise correction, so consultation with an endocrinologist is mandatory.

Bad smell, bright color, itching

Pungent smell of discharge, bright color, as well as fever, severe pain in the lower abdomen - symptoms caused by infections or oncology. Itching and curdled discharge are signs of thrush.

Cessation of menstruation after the first 1-2 cycles

In this case, first of all, it is necessary to exclude a new pregnancy. The reason for this stoppage of the flow physiological process can be quite a rare condition - an early menopause.

It is interesting. Any anxiety states, Related women's health should be discussed with a specialist. Therefore, do not neglect trips to the gynecologist.

Personal hygiene during the restoration of menstruation

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

How to stabilize your period

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

It 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 in teaching English and Russian, love for children and an objective look at the present are the key lines of my 31-year-old life. Strengths: responsibility, desire to learn new things and self-improve.
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