Dr. Aruna Ashok MBBS, MS OG, DNB OG
- Clinical Director
Aruna Ashok | 12 Jun 2023
Congratulations to the new mom! You did a great job.
With so many physiological and emotional changes that happen throughout the pregnancy, having regular menstruation after childbirth may develop the sense of returning to normal bodily function. No matter in what way you have delivered your baby, through vaginally or C-section, the next question that comes to your mind would be about periods. Many women may start to wonder about when they will get their first periods after cesarean delivery.
The first period after childbirth is generally referred to as the postpartum period. The time you start to menstruate is typically based on factors like breastfeeding, postpartum recovery and so on.
Let’s start with lochia.
Women may experience bleeding shortly after childbirth, regardless of any type of delivery. This may significantly look similar to periods, but it is not. Instead, it is referred to as lochia. Lochia is a mixture of uterine muscles, blood and mucus from the uterus. It is a natural process of shredding the uterine lining, which is developed during pregnancy to support the development of the fetus. When the tissues from the uterine lining are shredded completely, the uterus is likely to shrink and go back to its normal size. This process is otherwise known as involution.
The lochia may usually prolong for four to six weeks. The bleeding may initially start as heavy and dark red in colour. Gradually, both the flow and colour lessen, becoming pink or brown in colour.
Note that, women who have experienced lochia are recommended to use sanitary pads instead of tampons. Using tampons can increase the potential risk of developing infections in the reproductive tract of a woman as the bleeding may pass like blood clots. In addition, lochia is a natural healing process after the postpartum.
Predicting the accurate timing of the first menstrual cycle after a C-section delivery is quite difficult. This is primarily because of various factors like breastfeeding, hormonal changes, postpartum recovery and so on.
It is essential to understand that every woman is different and so their bodily functions. Some women may experience their first menstruation relatively sooner after childbirth, while others may experience a longer delay, potentially even beyond 6 months. Elements like breastfeeding may primarily be the cause of delayed periods after childbirth.
For instance, a woman who is breastfeeding may usually experience a delayed menstrual cycle for several months to a year. On the other hand, a woman who is not breastfeeding may usually experience a menstrual cycle around six to eight weeks after delivery.
The duration of the first menstrual cycle after the C-section may widely range from woman to woman. However, we could possibly determine that the bleeding may last between three and seven days, similar to your menstrual cycle before pregnancy.
Factors like postpartum recovery practices and the consumption of nutrition-dense foods play a crucial role in impacting the return and length of your menstrual cycle. These factors help women in restoring their overall health like hormone balance, and replenish nutrients and energy levels that are lost during delivery.
Furthermore, the kind of delivery (caesarean or vaginal) performed may also impact the return and length of your menstrual cycle.
Having a consultation with the healthcare professional regarding your concerns about periods after childbirth is highly appreciated. They may provide the most personalized and accurate information on the cycle depending on your medical history and condition.
Certain factors have the influencing elements when it comes to resuming the woman’s first period after delivery. They are:
Breastfeeding is the primary cause of delayed menstruation in women after childbirth. This happens as the hormone prolactin, which is secreted during breastfeeding suppresses the hormone production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen and progesterone that are responsible for menstruation and ovulation.
Note that even if you don’t menstruate when you are breastfeeding, there are increased chances of getting pregnant. This is possible as you still ovulate even though not menstruating. To prevent your immediate pregnancy, using contraceptives is highly suggested.
The increased levels of prolactin hormone are significantly responsible for breastmilk production. The hormone is also responsible for delayed menstrual cycles after childbirth. This happens as the increased levels of prolactin hormone suppress the production of a woman’s reproductive hormones. As a result, this leads to delay or even stopping the menstrual cycle after childbirth.
Postpartum recovery, which includes hormonal fluctuations, physical healing, and emotional adjustments all influence the return and length of the periods after childbirth. The postpartum recovery, no matter what type of delivery is performed on you, does take time. To transform the maternal body to its preconception state and adjust to the new motherhood, all it requires is a recovery period. All these factors can possibly delay the return and intervals between the menstrual cycle after childbirth.
Some women use hormonal contraceptives to prevent pregnancy shortly after childbirth. Hormonal contraceptives like patches, pills, IUDs, injections and so on have a significant impact on delaying the first periods after delivery.
Both stress and lack of sleep have the primary impact on delaying the menstrual cycle after childbirth. It is quite natural for women to feel stressed to adapt to the new motherhood. The increased stress levels can lead to the production of endorphins and cortisol, which can possibly disrupt the menstrual cycle.
Pre-existing medical conditions like PCOS and obesity can have an influence on delaying the menstrual cycle after childbirth. Certain complications that arise during pregnancy like gestational diabetes or complications during delivery can also influence the return and length of the menstrual cycle. In addition, a woman experiencing abnormal periods before pregnancy may also experience abnormalities in her cycle even after childbirth.
During the postpartum period, it is quite common to experience certain symptoms and discomforts. The following are some of them:
After childbirth, especially with C-section delivery, a woman may experience severe cramping for a few days. This is referred to as afterpains. Afterpains are similar to menstrual cramps. This happens as a natural process of postpartum recovery that makes the uterus shrink and return to its normal size. It is also the process of preventing excessive blood loss during lochia. Afterpains are most common in both C-sections and vaginal deliveries. The cramping can be intense and severe, particularly during breastfeeding.
Alike C-section delivery, a woman may experience severe cramping for a few days even with vaginal delivery. The afterpain occurs in the perineum region, which is the place between the vagina and anus. During vaginal delivery, the perineum tends to tear or stretch, which makes the entire region swell and sore. The afterpains are generally likely to recover within a few weeks.
The sudden fluctuation of hormones as soon as you deliver the baby may cause you to sweat more. This may get intense, especially at night. It is one of the common postpartum symptoms, which will subside within weeks.
Postpartum constipation is a common issue among many new mothers. The issue is generally associated with discomfort, hard stool, and strain, which typically leads to constipation. Women may sometimes experience haemorrhoids because of straining during bowel movements. The symptom is most often caused due to sudden shifts in the hormones after childbirth, reduced activities, and dietary changes.
Excessive hair loss is a significant symptom after childbirth. Women may tend to grow more hair because of the increased level of hormones like estrogen during pregnancy. This makes the hair grow faster than the amount of hair loss. While it is not the case after childbirth. The decreased amount of estrogen hormone production after childbirth triggers the hair to shred more excessively than usual. However, the symptoms generally subside within months.
Baby blues are the mixed feelings experienced by new mothers. The feelings may include anxiety, tearfulness, and sadness. Baby blues are sometimes referred to as postpartum blues. The symptom generally occurs in the first few weeks of childbirth and is caused by sudden hormonal shifts. Baby blues are a temporary symptom and can subside within weeks after childbirth.
Alike C-section delivery, a woman may experience severe cramping for a few days even with vaginal delivery. The afterpain occurs in the perineum region, which is the place between the vagina and anus. During vaginal delivery, the perineum tends to tear or stretch, which makes the entire region swell and sore. The afterpains are generally likely to recover within a few weeks.
Postpartum depression is a persistent mental health condition. The symptoms may include extreme mood swings and more intense sadness and tearfulness that won’t easily go away without involving medical help. Unlike baby blues, postpartum depression is a long-lasting condition that many new mothers experience after childbirth.
Noticing to lose weight as soon as you deliver a baby is quite common. You may also notice several changes in your body like mommy tummy, stretch marks, and loose skin. Try not to panic and stress yourself out. Focus on adjusting to the new you. Trust the natural healing process and aim at consuming nutrient-rich foods.
It is not selfish prioritizing yourself from recovering the postpartum symptoms. Focusing on your physical and emotional well-being contributes to the development of a smooth transition into motherhood. Listed below are some of the tips from expert specialists to recover yourself from the postpartum symptoms. They are:
1. Does my period impact the breastfeeding?
The answer to the question is yes. Your periods can typically impact the taste and supply of breastmilk, which can result in higher fussiness in the newborn.
2. : Can I get conceived again even before getting my first period after a C-section?
The answer to the question is yes. It is possible to get conceived even before getting your first period after C-section delivery. This is possible as you still ovulate even though not menstruating. To prevent your immediate pregnancy, using contraceptives is highly suggested.
3. Can I use tampons after the childbirth?
The answer to the question is no. It is not advisable to use tampons after childbirth as your bleeding may include blood clots and uterine muscles. It is recommended to use sanitary pads instead of tampons soon after childbirth. Using tampons can increase the potential risk of developing infections in the reproductive tract of a woman.
4. How long will my first period after C-section last?
A woman may generally experience the length of her first periods after a C-section similar to the cycle even before childbirth, with some minute variations. Factors like postpartum recovery practices and the consumption of nutrition-dense foods play a crucial role in impacting the return and length of your menstrual cycle after childbirth.
5. Will my first periods after C-section delivery be more painful?
The pain in first periods after C-section delivery may typically vary from woman to woman. If the women experience heavier bleeding, there are possibilities that it may cause more pain. However, if the women experience lighter bleeding, the pain may typically be less.
