Foreman: what it is, when it arrives and symptoms
Foreman is the term used to indicate the first menstruation after childbirth. In this article, we’ll explain when it appears, the symptoms that accompany it, and the common differences between foreman and menstruation (before and after pregnancy).
What is the foreman?
Foreman is the term used to indicate the first menstruation after childbirth . This first flow has different characteristics than menstruation before pregnancy and is usually followed by very irregular periods, which normalize over a few months.
Since it has been a long time since your last period before pregnancy, your endometrium will be very thickened and your periods will likely be heavier . Also, the symptoms may be more intense .
All this because the body needs some time to “restart” the mechanisms that regulate the menstrual cycle. For this reason, the first postpartum cycles may be anovulatory.
On the other hand, fertility could return before the foreman : normally, in fact, ovulation occurs about 2 weeks before the onset of flow. For this reason, it is important to use effective methods of contraception to avoid unwanted pregnancies, even before the delivery and throughout breastfeeding .
When does your period come back after giving birth?
If you are not breastfeeding, your periods usually return between 5-6 weeks and 6 months after delivery.
If, on the other hand, you are breastfeeding exclusively, your period may return even several months after giving birth , depending on the duration and frequency of the feedings (lactational amenorrhea).
For example, if you continue to breastfeed day and night, without using a pacifier, the head of the department could show up even a year and a half after giving birth . In most cases, however, the period tends to return when the baby stops eating at night , starts taking supplements of formula or has started weaning .
Warning though: this is NOT a one-size-fits-all rule. There are also those who, breastfeeding on demand and frequently, see their periods return a few months after giving birth, sometimes even after only 40 days. Other mothers, on the other hand, have to wait a few months after they finish breastfeeding before seeing the foreman arrive.
In the latter case, if the couple has had unprotected sex , it is always a good idea to take a pregnancy test . Fertility , in fact, usually resumes about two weeks before the foreman and it is therefore possible that a woman becomes pregnant even before her period returns .
In conclusion, it is impossible to accurately predict when the cycle will start again. Every mother, due to the different situation she experiences, can also experience variations from pregnancy to pregnancy.
Given the impossibility of determining in advance when menstruation will reappear, it is very risky to rely on breastfeeding as a contraceptive method .
Foreman and locations
Lochias are blood losses that occur immediately after childbirth and are therefore not to be confused with the resumption of the menstrual cycle .
In this case, in fact, the bleeding is due to:
- to the uterine vessels, which must “close” after the detachment of the placenta;
- the expulsion of any remnants of the placenta or membranes left inside the uterus.
Unlike normal menstruation and the foreman, the lochias last several weeks (from 20-40 days) becoming progressively serous and creamy, and then disappearing completely.
Foreman: the symptoms
The symptoms of the foreman are the same as for a normal period, although the abdominal cramps may be more intense .
In addition to bleeding , here is a list of common first period symptoms and signs after childbirth:
- presence of small clots
- abdominal cramps
- pain in the back and/or lower abdomen
- tiredness
- nausea
The bleeding could be sudden or preceded by classic premenstrual symptoms , such as breast tenderness or headache.
Foreman: Abundant or Scarce?
Generally, the foreman is very abundant , especially if the mother is breastfeeding or breastfeeding. This also applies to women who have always had scanty and short periods before pregnancy and regardless of the type of delivery (cesarean or natural).
If, on the other hand, the mother does not breastfeed or does mixed feeding, the head of the baby may be initially scarcer , and then resemble a normal flow in the following days. As we have already pointed out, however, there are no universal rules.
How long does the foreman last?
In addition to being heavier, the first period after childbirth tends to last longer. Usually, in fact, the foreman lasts about 8-10 days .
The amount and duration of the first flow often frightens new mothers, who fear that they are bleeding, but they are completely normal . After the foreman, the cycle will take about 6 months to normalize .
For any doubts , however, the advice is to contact your trusted gynecologist .
Irregular periods after childbirth: is this normal?
Your first cycles after giving birth may be very irregular . Indeed, it is not uncommon for the second cycle after childbirth to skip a month and then reappear the following month. Other times it may come back sooner than expected or there may be slight blood loss between cycles ( spotting ). However, the situation should return to normal within about 6 months. If not, better talk to your gynecologist.
Foreman and subsequent menses
Once your cycle has stabilized, your periods may be even more regular than before pregnancy and less painful . Again, however, this is not a rule and some mothers may instead experience more painful postpartum cycles.
Women with endometriosis may notice a decrease in pain in the first few cycles after childbirth. Unfortunately, however, this is a temporary phenomenon.
Questions and answers
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.