The menstrual cycle after childbirth
In the hubbub of your new life, the absence of time for yourself can surely make you think absolutely nothing of the return of menstruation after childbirth. But you get to a certain point that questions arise spontaneously:
- How is the cycle after childbirth?
- Can I also breastfeed during the menstrual cycle?
- Am I fertile if I don’t have periods?
- Does the period change the taste of the milk?
The first days after childbirth
After the birth of a child, the body needs at least a month to recover both at the glandular level and at the level of the tissues and organs. It all begins with the secondment , the expulsion of the placenta, which changes the hormonal structure and together with the stimulation of the breast causes milk to be produced and ovulation to be hindered.
Recovery consists of:
- uterine volume regression.
- closure of the cervical canal which from cylindrical will now take on a slit shape.
After 40 days the woman can contact the person who followed her pregnancy, therefore an obstetrician or gynecologist and through a visit and chat, understand if everything is normal and how the body has responded to the birth and how to work on restoring urination and pelvic floor for example.
Immediately after the birth and the expulsion of the placenta, the lochias begin which consist in the flaking of all the endometrial tissue that covers your uterus forming a very abundant menstruation.
In the first 3-4 days, losses require changing the postpartum pad several times a day . The color is bright red. The consistency is both liquid and clotted. As the days go by the lochias become increasingly clear until they become mucus. These losses can create local and external irritations therefore it is necessary to use a natural intimate cleanser such as the non-soap with Amamelide and Propolis.
Once the lochiations are finished, there are two possible ways:
- in breastfeeding women, menstruation may not even be there for as long as she is breastfeeding on a regular and constant basis
- the cycle can return if there is the introduction of artificial milk therefore a greater distance between one feed and another, a baby who sleeps through the night or the beginning of weaning after 6 months
The presence of prolactin if you have feedings during the day at least every 4 hours and during the night at least every 6 hours, prevents ovulation.
Menstruation after childbirth
When restoring menstruation after childbirth, new mothers may have the following problems
Irregularity : Do not be discouraged if the first cycles are irregular. The body evidently still needs time. If, on the other hand, menstruation remains irregular after 6 months of their resumption, then contact your midwife. In order to rebalance the organism. it will be useful to take for at least two months:
- Honey instead of sugar
- Royal jelly, a scoop in the morning on an empty stomach
- pollen, natural, a teaspoon in the morning
Cycle : In 90% its length varies. If it used to be 21 days, for example, it is now possible for it to last up to 30 days.
Monthly duration : Normally, a cycle should last 3 to 5 days. If this after birth is too short (1-2 days) or too long (more than 5 days), talk to your midwife.
Quantity : when there is a flow but it is scarce in quantity and duration, you can take Salvia TM 20-25 drops twice a day in the 10-12 days preceding the flow. Instead, when the bleeding is excessive you can limit blood loss with the following decoction: 50gr of Tormentilla and 50gr of shepherd’s purse. Boil 2 tablespoons of the mixture in 1 liter of water for a few minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes and then filter. You can drink 3-4 cups during the day.
Pain : In 90% of women pain improves significantly after childbirth. If you want to use a natural anti-inflammatory-painkiller you can take this herbal tea: chamomile flowers and angelica roots. Mix the plants in equal parts, one teaspoon per cup of water, leave to infuse for 10 minutes, filter and drink this herbal tea every evening, starting 10-12 days before the expected date of arrival of menstruation.
Contraception
The most frequent complication in the recovery period after the first month after childbirth is an unwanted pregnancy. Therefore it is very important to use a contraceptive method when resuming intercourse . In fact, protection from pregnancy drops after six months of exclusive breastfeeding, and even further if the feeds are sparse as we said previously. It is actually possible for a woman to ovulate even before she menstruates for the first time after giving birth.
However, if a woman is seeking a second pregnancy and is breastfeeding her large child, remember that breastfeeding inhibits fertility from follicle production to implantation. You can understand that you are fertile again from the rise in basal temperature in the periovulatory period , from the loss of cervical mucus and many other things.
Breastfeed when menstruating
Resuming the cycle while breastfeeding can change the taste of the milk but this absolutely does not mean that your baby should refuse the breast.
As a sanitary napkin, once the lochiations are over and with the resumption of the normal menstrual cycle, very simple disposable sanitary napkins, washable sanitary napkins or the menstrual cup. It is a good idea to use the latter no earlier than 6 weeks after delivery or cesarean .
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.