The return of the normal menstrual cycle is one of the signs that the female body is fully restored after the baby is born. However, this process does not go smoothly for everyone. When will the period after childbirth begin? This is influenced by many factors. Lactation, chronic diseases, the state of the immune system - all this matters.
The menstrual cycle as a phenomenon
The monthly cycle is a special physiological process that occurs in the body of every woman. To understand how much time after childbirth begins menstruation, it is worth understanding some of the nuances. During the entire cycle, not only the reproductive system undergoes a change, the heart, nervous and endocrine systems are affected. It is no coincidence that before a period, a woman may complain of deterioration of health or mood swings.
In simple words, the menstrual cycle is a passage of time from the first day of menstruation, to the start of the next menstrual bleeding. The duration of this period is different for every woman. The cycle length can be from 21 to 35 days, but most often it is exactly 4 weeks. In the first phase, the egg matures. In the middle of each cycle, ovulation occurs. If at this time the sperm does not fertilize the egg, bleeding begins in 10-13 days. This is the monthly known to all women.
When will the period after childbirth begin? The restoration of reproductive function in all women is individual. Bleeding immediately after the baby is born is lochia. This process is not associated with menstruation.
How is menstrual function restored?
After the baby is born, the female body begins to return to its normal state. This takes some time. During pregnancy, not only the reproductive system works for wear, but also all organs - the heart, liver, mammary glands, etc. A healthy monthly cycle is a well-functioning mechanism associated with the work of the ovaries and uterus. If abundant menstruation has begun after childbirth, this may indicate a change in the hormonal background. Against this background, a woman may feel worse overall health, may require specialist help.
When will the period after childbirth begin? The length of the recovery period depends on many factors. While a woman is fully breastfeeding, reproductive function may not work. The first menstruation usually comes when lactation stops, usually it occurs 6-8 months after birth. This process can drag on for the weaker sex older than 30 years. Often in women who become pregnant late (after 35 years), immediately after giving birth, menopause begins. In this case, the next menstruation does not occur at all.
Period of recovery of menstruation
The postpartum period in most young mothers ends 6-8 weeks after the baby is born. It is at this time that bleeding (lochia) stops. If a woman cannot feed her baby with her milk for a number of reasons, the menstrual cycle is restored faster, for the majority, the first menstruation comes already a month after giving birth.
If the baby is completely breastfed, the onset of menstruation in the mother may coincide with the introduction of complementary foods. The fact is that in the process of lactation, a young mother produces a special hormone - prolactin. It is he who blocks the reproductive function.
First period
An interesting fact is that the first bleeding after childbirth may be "empty." That is, bleeding is not associated with the maturation of the egg. If menstruation begins 2 months after the birth, this does not always mean that the reproductive function is fully restored. If a woman leads a healthy lifestyle, fully eats and does not suffer from chronic diseases, normal ovulation comes a few months after the first menstrual bleeding.
When do menstruation after childbirth with artificial feeding begin? In this case, the hormone prolactin ceases to be produced almost immediately after birth. The onset of menstruation can be expected immediately after the cessation of postpartum hemorrhage. But even in this case, one cannot talk about the full restoration of reproductive function. Full egg maturation is not always observed.
Menstrual function and cesarean section
Complications of labor often lead to impaired reproductive function in the future. Problems may be encountered by women in whom the baby was born through Caesarean section. Due to scarring on the uterus, the recovery process may be delayed. In addition, bleeding can be profuse. Many women complain of pain during discharge after childbirth.
Pregnancy immediately after cesarean section can be dangerous for a woman's life. The body in this case insures itself. Hormones that block reproductive function can be produced. Therefore, menstruation does not always begin immediately after childbirth, even if a woman does not breast-feed her baby.
Tips for a young mom
Regardless of how many months after birth, menstruation begins, a woman herself can affect the process of recovery of the body after childbirth. The kid requires increased attention. Moreover, a woman does not always have the physical ability to fully care for the baby. If relatives or friends offer their help, you should not refuse. A full recovery will contribute to the quick recovery of the body. A young mother should sleep more, eat well, spend time outdoors. In this case, all body systems will be able to quickly recover. The next menstrual cycle will begin in time.
The presence of chronic ailments can also adversely affect the restoration of the monthly cycle. After the birth of a new man, a young woman has more free time. It is quite possible to take care of your health - undergo a full examination of the body, treat existing pathologies.
Hormonal disorders can develop against the background of vitamin deficiency. A young mother is recommended to take special multivitamin complexes designed specifically for lactating women. A suitable drug will be prescribed by a gynecologist.
Irregular discharge
After childbirth, when do menstruation begin? If you are breast-feeding a baby, a full menstruation can begin after the complete cessation of lactation. If a woman is healthy, there should be no problems with the cycle. However, many women complain that after the birth of the baby, the periods become irregular, there is heavy bleeding. Often during menstruation, health is significantly worsened.
Too small amount of spotting may indicate that the reproductive function has not fully recovered. If this situation is observed for several months, you should seek the help of a doctor. Severe pain during menstruation can indicate the development of endometritis, the appearance of erosion. Failure of otteroapia can lead to infertility in the future.
After a complex birth, ovarian dysfunction may occur. Irregular periods will also testify to this.
Amenorrhea
In the most difficult cases, menstruation does not occur even a year after childbirth. If the reproductive dysfunction is not eliminated, the risk of irreversible infertility increases. Amenorrhea is a serious disease that can develop in women of childbearing age. As a rule, disorders develop against the background of other pathological processes in the body. The absence of menstrual bleeding can be associated with hormonal disorders, chronic diseases of the genitourinary system, and a decrease in the protective functions of the body.
Secondary amenorrhea can develop against the background of changes in the structure of the uterus. When will the period after childbirth begin? With serious violations, reproductive function will not be restored at all. A woman will need long-term treatment. The absence of menstruation can also be associated with excessive thinness (with anorexia), polycystic ovaries, chronic infections in the body. If, after lactation is complete, menstruation does not come for several months, a woman should visit a doctor.
Vaginal bleeding
In no case should bleeding be confused with regular menstruation. If a woman is not provided with timely assistance, the risk of death is increased. If a month after giving birth to menstruation begins, while a woman complains of dizziness and increased fatigue, you must immediately consult a doctor. It is possible that we are talking about uterine bleeding. To distinguish normal menstruation from bleeding is quite simple by the color of the discharge. A bright scarlet shade indicates serious problems.
Most often, the pathological process is associated with hormonal disorders. In this case, the woman should undergo therapy in a hospital setting. Bleeding is an occasion under medical supervision around the clock. The attending physician should exclude blood coagulation disorders, inflammatory gynecological diseases.
If a month after the birth, menstruation begins, while the young mother already has a sex life, it is possible that the pathological process is associated with the termination of a new pregnancy. The body has not yet had time to recover after the birth of the baby. Miscarriage is a normal reaction. In any case, you should consult a gynecologist for a consultation.
Early menopause
In most cases, menopause occurs by 45-55 years. However, in some cases, this process may begin much earlier. And pregnancy can provoke it. Especially often this situation is observed in women who give birth to children after 35 years. When do the periods begin after childbirth? Reviews show that reproductive function may not recover at all.
Early menopause is not always associated with pathological changes in the body. Sometimes this process is associated with genetic characteristics. If the reproductive function faded away early in the mother, the daughter is likely to face the same situation. In addition, repeated birth in women older than 35 years can adversely affect health. Therefore, the protective mechanism is triggered. Earlier fading of reproductive function is an opportunity to warn against serious problems.
Menopause at 35 can also be associated with an improper lifestyle, poor nutrition. If, after childbirth, menstruation does not come for a long time, you should not postpone the visit to the gynecologist.
Summarize
Menstruation is a normal process that indicates the physical health of a woman. Normally, reproductive function should recover within a year after giving birth. If your periods do not come, you should seek help from a specialist. Most pathologies can be eliminated with timely therapy.