Menstruation after giving birth: What do you need to know?
Are you sitting at home with a new little one in your arms? From all of us; huge, loving congratulations.
It's a surprising experience for most people - whether it's their first, second or third time. And one thing we may not be prepared for (like postpartum contractions - yikes, or having to deliver a placenta after giving birth - ouch), is postpartum bleeding . Yep. Imagine a 6-8 week long period. Why do you bleed after giving birth? We'll dive into that now.
What is postpartum hemorrhage?
In the first days and weeks after your birth, also known as postpartum, you will experience bleeding that may resemble your period. The bleeding comes from the wound where your placenta was attached to the uterus. It may come as a bit of a surprise, but it is very common. And over the weeks, the bleeding will gradually decrease and change from fresh blood to more brownish-yellow discharge - what is called postpartum discharge. A little bonus to the bleeding: You may experience a strong odor from your lower abdomen during the process - it is the wound that is healing. And yes, it can seem a bit... strong.
Remember that you can talk to your health visitor or doctor about your bleeding if you are concerned about the amount of bleeding, the freshness of the blood or have other questions. It is better to ask too much than too little. You also have a pelvic check in week 8, where you can also reverse both the bleeding and the smell.
In your postpartum days, it's important to avoid tampons and menstrual cups, as the bleeding comes from a healing wound. Instead, you should use pads, diapers or menstrual panties - something you can change quickly and easily as needed. It's the most hygienic. And it's also nice to wear on top of what your lower abdomen has been through.
We have many customers who are so happy with their panties during postpartum - they don't pinch, you can say goodbye to the many pads you use in 6-8 weeks - during the first week when the bleeding is heaviest, it can be nice to have the large pads/"diapers" from the hospital.
When do you get your period after giving birth?
But when will your period return after you give birth? It is very individual when your first period postpartum hits. For some it is a matter of weeks - for others months, and then there are those who only get it after 1-2 years.
If you are breastfeeding, it may help to delay your period - but it is not certain. In fact, Flow was founded exactly three months after our founder's second birth - despite breastfeeding. So there are many factors that play a role in when your period returns. It is important to remember that your ovulation occurs before your period. Therefore, contraception is important if you want to avoid being surprised with another pregnancy shortly after you have given birth.
How long does the first period last after giving birth?
How long your first period after giving birth lasts also depends on various factors related to your unique body. This also applies to completely normal periods, where for some they last just a few days and for others they last up to a week. The same will apply during the first period after giving birth. Here it can be nice to protect yourself with a pair of menstrual panties that ensure that you can safely and calmly bleed freely without worrying about how long your period will last this time.
Many people generally experience changes in their menstrual cycle and ovulation after giving birth - you may experience pain during ovulation, irregular bleeding at first, etc. This is quite normal.
Are you experiencing heavier menstrual bleeding after giving birth?
Your first period after giving birth may feel both heavier and more painful than the periods you had before you became pregnant. The reason for heavier periods after giving birth is that pregnancy has led to an increased amount of blood in your body. This needs to be excreted after giving birth, and this is done through heavier bleeding during menstruation, which can also cause more pain. However, there are also some who experience less pain during menstruation after giving birth because their uterus has been stretched and can therefore be more relaxed.
For the vast majority of women, heavier menstrual cycles eventually stop and their periods return to the amount of blood they had before giving birth. Therefore, it may be a good idea to protect yourself during your heavy period with products that can collect more blood, such as diapers, thick panty liners, or menstrual panties designed for heavier flow .
Pregnant after giving birth?
When you have given birth, it is important to think about the possibility that you may become pregnant again at some point. That is why you should think about contraception. Even though it seems far-fetched that you will ever have sex again after giving birth (we are all sitting here with our hands in the air). When you go to your eight-week check-up with the doctor, they will also ask you about forms of contraception - whether you need contraception, and what might be a good solution for you, where you are right now.
For some, the return of menstruation after childbirth can be a welcome news; “hey! The body is working!” For others, it can be a bit overwhelming to have to deal with bleeding on top of everything else that is new. It can also take a while before your cycle is regular again - that is completely normal. Everything has to find itself again - including you. Maybe the menstrual product you last used, before your pregnancy, no longer works for you - and then it is time to try something new? Then you have to try your hand, and menstrual panties are at least a gentle way to start.
Good healing to you <3
