Return of menstruation after childbirth. When the cycle is restored after childbirth

25.03.2020 -

Restoring the cycle after childbirth is a physiological process that indicates a return to normal. women's health. Not everyone’s reproductive system works well, so menstruation occurs with complications and disruptions.

Norms and terms of recovery

During gestation, the body changes completely, affecting internal systems. The birth of a child and the normalization of the cycle represent the process of returning the female organs to their pre-pregnancy state.

Resumption menstrual cycle is divided into two stages:

the ovaries begin to produce estrogen, the inner layer of the uterus swells, and the ovulation process begins;
the egg moves along fallopian tubes, entering the uterus for further fertilization.

Menstruation, or bleeding, occurs because the egg is not fertilized and the endometrium is rejected by the body. Normally, bleeding continues for up to 7 days, the volume of lost fluid does not exceed 150 ml.

The timing of the onset of the first menstruation in the postpartum period depends on physiological feature body, lactation, number of previous births, age. For women who are not breastfeeding, periods begin 6-8 weeks after the baby is born.

Symptoms of restoration of the monthly cycle after childbirth:

light pulling sensations in the uterine area;
menstruation from 3 to 5 days;
the discharge has a scarlet tint;
the volume of blood loss is no more than 80 ml for the entire period of menstruation.

The average cycle length ranges from 21 to 35 days. The body recovers in different ways, but the main thing is that the time frame does not exceed the norm.

Possible deviations and complications

The speed at which menstruation returns depends on age, lifestyle and breastfeeding. Women in labor experience complications during menstruation, as well as their complete absence.

Why the menstrual cycle will not be restored:

age over 30 years;
large number previous pregnancies and births;
pathologies of the genital organs;
incorrect postpartum regimen;
inflammatory processes.

In women, the cycle during lactation normalizes after the introduction of the first complementary foods. This is due to the fact that the number of breastfeedings decreases and the body begins to return to its previous mode of operation.

Complications when a cycle is established:

irregularity;
duration more than 6 days;
large blood loss;
severe pain;
hyperprolactinemia;
menorrhagia;
postpartum hypopituitarism;
dysfunction of the ovaries.

Disruptions in the menstrual cycle often lead to bleeding lasting more than 6 days. Long periods indicate uterine fibroids, inflammatory processes, and endometriosis. Large blood loss, over 150 ml, is not normal. The deviation can be determined if the gasket is not enough for 5 hours.

Pain in the uterus and abdomen is called algodismenorrhea. When restoring the cycle in women, pain is associated with labor stress, inflammation of the genital organs, and contraction of the uterus.
Menorrhagia is a condition in which menstruation lasts 10 days. In this case, the woman loses a large amount of blood.

Postpartum hypopituitarism occurs due to vasospasm. The disease is manifested by severe blood loss in a volume of more than one liter. Hyperprolactinemia is expressed in an irregular menstrual cycle under the influence of higher level prolactin.

Signs of deviations and recovery rules

Deviations from the norm during the recovery period of the female body are associated with inflammatory processes and exacerbation of chronic diseases. Unstable menstruation or its absence are serious disruptions in the reproductive system.

How long does it take for periods to return after childbirth? Normally, in breastfeeding women, menstruation begins when lactation has ended or complementary foods are introduced into the baby’s diet. At artificial feeding The mother's body returns to normal in the first six months.

Signs when the menstrual cycle is not restored:

absence of menstruation upon cessation of lactation;
short or long menstruation;
severe pain in the uterine area;
swelling of the mammary glands;
promotion blood pressure;
mood swings.

These signs indicate malfunctions in the female reproductive system. Reason complete absence menstruation becomes unplanned early pregnancy. Even when breastfeeding, it is necessary to use contraceptive methods.

Can my menstrual cycle be disrupted after childbirth? During the postpartum period, the regularity of menstruation changes. The number of days often exceeds what it was in the pre-pregnancy period. On average, the cycle takes from 21 to 30 days.

How to restore your cycle after childbirth:

observe a rest and sleep schedule;
avoid stress;
monitor vaginal discharge during lactation;
spend more time outdoors;
follow your doctor's recommendations.

Menstruation during breastfeeding occurs after six months. During this period, it is worth taking care of your health, and if failures and deviations are identified, begin treatment in a timely manner.

Breastfeeding cycle

When the menstrual cycle is restored after childbirth, we can talk about the return of the female body to normal mode. The timing of menstruation depends on whether the mother is breastfeeding or not.

There are three types of feeding a baby:

chest;
artificial;
mixed.

During breastfeeding, the nursing mother's body produces the hormone prolactin. It affects the ovaries and prevents eggs from being fertilized. In exceptional cases, menstruation during lactation occurs after 1-2 months.

With artificial feeding, when the baby eats formula milk, the cycle is restored immediately after the disappearance of discharge - lochia. On average, this happens by the end of the second month. Prolactin is not produced by the body and the uterus, returning to its previous size, begins reproductive function.

With mixed feeding, menstruation should return after childbirth within 2 to 4 months. The natural process is associated with hormonal changes, the presence of pathologies and chronic diseases.

Some women take a long time to recover their periods after childbirth due to Sheehan syndrome. This deviation appears if there was a large blood loss during childbirth. The decrease in blood pressure that occurs for this reason leads to the death of pituitary cells. Reproductive system does not function and menstruation comes much later. Regardless of the method of feeding, a woman should monitor her body. It is recommended to avoid stress and take vitamins for nursing mothers.

Cycle after caesarean section

Caesarean section is performed in case of complicated pregnancy. At quick recovery and healing of sutures, menstruation comes on time. But with complications after childbirth, menstruation may be interrupted.

Healing of the uterus, accompanied by the separation of lochia, lasts about 1.5 months. Recovery menstrual cycle in the absence of pathologies, depends on feeding the baby. During lactation after 6 months or more, with artificial feeding - after 2 months.

Irregular menstruation after childbirth common occurrence in gynecology and requires timely treatment. Most frequent complications, which lead to deviations in menstruation are inflammatory processes and bleeding. The infection affects the functioning of the genital organs and disrupts the fertilization of eggs.

The absence of menstruation after cesarean section is caused by diseases such as endometritis, hematoma, placental polyp. The pathologies are accompanied by pain in the uterine area and spotting vaginal discharge.

To avoid adverse consequences and quickly restore the menstrual cycle after childbirth, you need to carefully care for the stitches and maintain personal hygiene. The operation requires a lot of strength from the woman in labor, so you need to get enough sleep and eat right.

The failure of menstruation after childbirth is often associated with how the birth of the baby took place. During a caesarean section, it is impossible to say how long it will take for the cycle to be restored, since the operation affects the entire body.

If menstruation is lost after surgery, the woman should pay attention to the quality and quantity of discharge, the presence nagging pain, general health. Surgical intervention requires more strength from the body to recover and return to normal mode.

Traditional methods and physical education

Traditional methods of restoring menstruation are used with caution. This is especially true for those women who breastfeed their children. Medicinal herbs capable of causing allergic reactions and infant poisoning.

Popular folk methods:

wormwood decoction. To prepare, take 30 grams of dried herb, pour 250 ml of boiling water and let it brew for 4 hours. The cold decoction is filtered and drunk 50 ml three times a day;
Tea made from lemon balm leaves is effective. A handful of dried herbs is poured with boiling water in a glass, allowed to brew and drunk. No more than 500 ml of tea is allowed per day;
for prolonged bleeding, if the woman is not breastfeeding, use water pepper tincture. For a glass of alcohol or good vodka, take 200 grams of pepper. The tincture is kept in a dark room for one month and then taken half a teaspoon three times a day before meals.

Function restoration reproductive organs After the birth of a child, an active lifestyle helps. Physical activity can begin one month after natural birth, and two months after caesarean section.

Suitable for nursing mothers:

breathing exercises;
yoga;
pool;
light dancing;
walking.

You can’t overload your body physical activity should be light, without jumping or dumbbells. It is optimal to exercise three times a week for 40 minutes.

In combination with an active lifestyle, thermal procedures will help restore the cycle. These are foot baths with chamomile or essential oils. Postpartum massage is effective for menstrual irregularities, as it puts pressure on the uterus.

Drug and surgical treatment

Menstrual irregularities are associated with hormonal imbalance in the postpartum period. In the absence of menstruation, gynecologists prescribe medicines. Contraceptives, for example, Yarina or Janine, are aimed at correcting and normalizing the cycle.

Duphaston tablets are used to produce progesterone. The dosage is determined by the attending physician according to an individual dosage regimen. According to the instructions, the drug should be taken on the 11th day of the cycle, 20 mg twice a day.

Utrozhestan suppositories help in the treatment of hormonal imbalances. Used to eliminate endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Active substances reduce estrogen production. Vaginal suppositories apply once a day before bedtime.

Vitamin and mineral complexes support the functioning of the body of a nursing mother. Courses up to six months are accepted. Vitamins are necessary for a woman, since microelements are passed on to the baby through mother's milk.

Homeopathic remedies are often used, including Pulsatilla. The drug affects the functioning of the genital organs. The complex remedy is considered quite effective in treating cycle disorders. It has a short course of treatment - no more than 7 days.

IN special cases applies surgery. If there is a change in the layers of the endometrium, curettage is performed. If tumors are found, laparotomy is necessary. Recovery after surgical treatment will be longer.

The postpartum period is considered quite difficult for the female body. Restoration of the menstrual cycle is accompanied by disruptions, complications and side symptoms. With heavy bleeding, absence of menstruation and severe pain, urgent examination and treatment is required. Healthy image life, proper nutrition and compliance with rules postpartum hygiene will allow the female body to quickly return to its previous rhythm of work.

Physiological amenorrhea is one of the first signs of pregnancy. The process of restoring the menstrual cycle begins immediately after the birth of the baby, but it is impossible to predict exactly when menstruation will resume. This is influenced by many factors, which will be discussed below.

Menstruation, or as it is also called, menstruation or regula, is the rejection of the endometrium of the uterus, accompanied by bloody discharge from the vagina. Normally, it is repeated at regular intervals ranging from 3 to 5 weeks and has the same duration.

Is postpartum discharge considered menstruation?

Popularly, postpartum discharge is often called menstruation after childbirth. In fact, the correct name for these discharges is lochia. They have a different nature of origin from menstruation. Lochia occurs due to the fact that after separation of the placenta and membranes from the uterine wall, the latter becomes a wound surface. In addition to blood, lochia may contain fragments of the placenta, placenta, and endometrium.

How long does menstruation last after childbirth (lochia)

The duration of postpartum discharge is one and a half to two months with a tendency to decrease in abundance. After surgical birth The process of uterine restoration is slower, so lochia can last up to 10 weeks.

In the first days, the lochia is abundant and bright red, since the bulk of it is blood. They have a characteristic smell of rotten leaves. Further, the color of the discharge changes to pinkish-brown, and even later to pinkish-yellow. By the 10th day after birth, there is normally no blood in the lochia, the discharge becomes clear and liquid. By about the third week, the discharge becomes mucous in nature, and its quantity decreases significantly.

If the lochia does not become more scarce or, on the contrary, stops abruptly, lasts less than 5 and longer than 10 weeks, changes color to greenish or yellow-green, or acquires putrid smell, then you should immediately contact a gynecologist.

How long after childbirth does the menstrual cycle resume?

The process of restoring the menstrual cycle depends on many factors, including:

The course of pregnancy and childbirth, postpartum complications. Endometriosis, bleeding, and inflammatory processes negatively affect the involution of the uterus.
Chronic diseases.
Age of the woman in labor. It is believed that primigravidas over 30 years of age take longer to recover.
Number of births. In women who have given birth multiple times, the uterus recovers more slowly.
Natural or artificial feeding of the baby.
Maintaining hygiene in the postpartum period.
Nutrition. Skimpy on useful substances the diet also negatively affects the restoration of the menstrual cycle.
Neuropsychic state of a woman. Lack of sleep and mental exhaustion can also slow down the recovery of your menstrual cycle.

It is impossible to predict exactly when the cycle will return after childbirth. On average, for non-breastfeeding women, menstruation begins 2-3 months after birth, for mothers whose babies are mixed-fed - after 4-5 months, for breastfeeding women, menstruation may not occur throughout the entire feeding period, but most often the cycle is restored between 6 and 12 months postpartum.

Menstruation a month after giving birth, even among mothers of artificial babies, is an unlikely occurrence. Doctors tend to believe that menstruation resumes no earlier than 6 weeks after birth. Menstrual-like bleeding for more than early- a reason to do an ultrasound to determine the cause of the discharge.

Why does the menstrual cycle recover later after childbirth while breastfeeding?

When breastfeeding, the hormone prolactin is produced in large quantities. This hormone has a direct effect on the luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones responsible for ovulation and an indirect effect on endometrial growth. Therefore, in lactating women, the menstrual cycle after childbirth is restored later.

It is on this phenomenon that the lactational amenorrhea method is based - a natural method of contraception. Its essence lies in the fact that until the child is six months old, and the mother breastfeeds him exclusively at intervals of no more than 3 hours a day. daytime days and no more than 6 hours at night, then the likelihood of getting pregnant is extremely low. However, practitioners this method When using contraception, women need to listen especially sensitively to their bodies. Ovulation precedes menstruation, therefore, there is a risk of becoming pregnant again without knowing that the cycle has been restored.

Menstruation after childbirth

Duration. The duration of menstruation and the intervals between them may become the same as before pregnancy, or they may shorten or increase. The main thing is that the duration of menstruation fits within the framework of 3-7 days, and the length of the cycle in the end is not shorter than 3 and longer than 7 weeks.
Regularity. The menstrual cycle after childbirth may immediately become stable. Or maybe “tuning in” for a certain time. Normally, menstruation should become regular within six months after the cycle resumes.
Soreness. How you feel during your period may also change. If pain during menstruation was caused by a bending of the uterus, then after childbirth there is a high chance of getting rid of discomfort. This is due to the uterus taking the correct position. But it also happens that the first menstruation after childbirth becomes more painful. This is due to strong contractions of the muscles of the uterus or the inflammatory process that began after childbirth.
Volume of discharge. Heavy menstruation after childbirth - normal phenomenon, especially in the first cycles. If the discharge has a characteristic dark red color, and the sanitary pad fills no faster than 4-5 hours, then there is nothing to worry about.

Conclusion

The restoration of the cycle after childbirth is influenced by many factors: from the method of feeding the baby to the balance of nutrition and the psycho-emotional state of the young mother.

The exact date of the resumption of menstruation cannot be known; the doctor can only guess when menstruation will begin after childbirth in a particular patient.

The first few cycles may be irregular, and the length of your periods and the interval between them may also change. If the new cycle fits within the normal limits, and the color and smell of the discharge does not cause alarm, then there is no reason to worry.

When childbirth is already over, the mother has a lot of new worries. Most of all, at this time, she is concerned with the questions of how to properly care for the child and how to feed him. However, it is equally important to restore own strength and health. This will take more than one month. Women need to know which periods after childbirth are normal and which indicate complications and when to see a doctor. Breastfeeding is not always a guarantee that a woman will not become pregnant again. It is necessary to take into account factors that influence the time of the onset of the first menstruation and their nature.

Content:

How is the recovery period after childbirth?

After childbirth, a woman begins to restore her general and reproductive health. The uterus, stretched during pregnancy, returns to its normal size, the wound on its inner surface, where the placenta was located, is gradually healing. The damaged vessels continue to bleed for several days. In addition, the muscles of the uterus contract, pushing out the remains of the fertilized egg and placenta. This leads to the appearance postpartum hemorrhage, which normally weakens quickly, becomes sanguineous, and then turns into a slightly yellowish discharge(lochia).

Duration recovery period depends on how the pregnancy and childbirth proceeded, how strong the woman’s health is in general. The speed of recovery after childbirth is also affected by the physical and nervous stress that you have to endure. When menstruation begins after childbirth depends on whether the woman is breastfeeding, what her feeding regimen is, total duration lactation period, as well as how quickly the child is transferred to a mixed diet.

During pregnancy, significant changes occur in hormonal levels. The content of prolactin, which is necessary both for fetal development and for normal health, increases expectant mother. Prolactin plays important role in preparing the body for lactation. Thanks to the action of this hormone, a pregnant woman's mammary glands enlarge due to the formation of new ducts and lobules, colostrum and then milk begin to be released.

At the same time, an increase in the level of prolactin in the ratio of hormones leads to a decrease in the level of estrogen and progesterone, which are necessary for menstruation to appear after childbirth and the menstrual cycle to be restored. A woman can become pregnant as soon as she ovulates.

It should be noted: Many women believe that as long as they breastfeed their baby at least a little, pregnancy cannot occur. But it is almost impossible to notice the first ovulation after childbirth. Moreover, if fertilization occurs, the woman may not understand this, taking the absence of menstruation as the norm. Therefore, it is necessary to use contraceptives, especially if problems arise with breastfeeding.

Video: How recovery occurs after childbirth

How does breastfeeding affect the appearance of menstruation?

The amount of milk after childbirth directly depends on how often the woman puts the baby to the breast and how well he empties it. The higher the need for milk production, the higher the prolactin level. As soon as a woman reduces the frequency of feedings and begins to supplement her baby with formula milk, the level of this hormone decreases. When menstruation may begin after childbirth, it is easy to predict if you know the general patterns showing how the rate of restoration of menstruation depends on processes associated with lactation.

There is the following pattern:

If a woman exclusively breastfeeds her baby for 7 months or more, and not according to a schedule, but at his first request (including at night), then her periods begin only after the baby is completely weaned from the breast.
If she adheres to a certain regimen (feeds every 3-4 hours during the day, and 5-6 hours later at night), then her period may begin earlier, 4-6 months after birth.
In the case when breastfeeding continues for up to a year, but the child begins to be fed with formula almost from birth, and from six months with normal food, then after childbirth, menstruation comes within 3-4 months.

If forced artificial feeding or conscious refusal to feed, menstruation can begin within 1.5-2 months, after the ovaries have resumed function.

What are menstruation like after childbirth?

The birth process generally has a positive effect on the condition of the uterus. Stretching it when carrying a fetus that increases in size leads to a change in shape, the disappearance of folds and adhesions, which contribute to the stagnation of menstrual blood. The uterus shifts, facilitating the removal of blood. In addition, pregnancy helps to reduce or resolve ovarian cysts and disappearance of small myomatous nodes. Thanks to this, many women after childbirth find their periods much less painful than before.

The first 2-3 cycles may be irregular, periods come faster than before or are delayed. Gradually, the duration of menstruation and the duration of the intermenstrual pause return to normal. The onset of menstruation in the postpartum period does not depend on whether the woman gave birth naturally or she had a caesarean section.

Causes of menstrual irregularities

Deviations from the norm include the appearance of painful menstruation, scanty or too abundant, as well as other symptoms indicating a malfunction of the organs of the reproductive system.

The causes of disruption of the menstrual cycle can be injuries, inflammatory processes resulting from infection in the birth canal, chronic diseases genitals.

Some postpartum women may not get their period for several months after breastfeeding. Or they come but are too scarce. The reason may be hormonal imbalance resulting from diseases thyroid gland and pituitary gland. At the same time, the level of prolactin is higher than normal, and there is not enough estrogen in the body. In this case, milk production continues in the mammary glands, and the woman, as a rule, becomes very fat.

On the condition of the pituitary gland and others endocrine glands reflects the presence of late toxicosis during pregnancy, intoxication of the body when blood poisoning or peritonitis occurs due to complicated childbirth, large blood loss causing oxygen starvation brain

When to see a doctor

The occurrence of complications and the pathological course of the recovery process are evidenced by the following facts:

Menstruation does not come 2 months after the end breastfeeding. One of the reasons may be the onset of the next pregnancy. The absence of menstruation also indicates the presence serious illnesses uterus and ovaries.
Menstruation after childbirth is scanty and lasts no more than 2 days. This indicates hormonal disorders and ovarian dysfunction.
Appear periodically heavy bleeding irregular in nature, indicating the presence of ruptures in the uterus, abnormal development of the endometrium.
Discharge appears with an unpleasant odor, yellow-green color and unusual consistency. Such leucorrhoea is a symptom of the occurrence of inflammatory and infectious processes.
The cycle is irregular for 4 months after the onset of postpartum menstruation.
Menstruation becomes painful.
Menstrual fluid has a musty smell. The cause may be the formation of adhesions in the uterine cavity, blood stagnation.

If there are such disorders, a woman must visit a doctor to determine the cause and carry out the necessary treatment.

As soon as the first menstruation appears after childbirth, it is necessary to take contraception even if breastfeeding continues. The doctor will advise which drug is suitable and will not have a harmful effect on the baby.

The cause of cycle disorders and deviations in the nature of menstruation may be endocrine diseases, diabetes mellitus, as well as chronic lack of sleep and overwork. If there are doubts about the nature of menstruation that occurs some time after childbirth, you should contact a gynecologist. You cannot rely on the advice of friends and self-medicate.

Video: Reasons for absence or delay of menstruation

During pregnancy, hormonal changes occur in the body. During this period, menstruation stops, which indicates the onset of pregnancy, but when it is restored monthly cycle after childbirth? Pregnancy makes its own adjustments to a woman’s life, but this is a physiological process that should not be feared, because this is the most anticipated and wonderful period in the life of every woman.

After childbirth, the monthly cycle does not occur immediately. The timing of his arrival is individual for each mother. It may differ slightly from the cycle before pregnancy. This is due to physiological changes that happened to a woman during the birth of a child, since childbirth is the greatest stress for the body. Menstruation is one of the main indicators of women's health. Therefore, it is so important to monitor their recovery and the nature of their course.

There is no exact time frame for the restoration of the menstrual cycle (menstruation) after childbirth; it is individual for each woman. There are factors that influence the resumption of menstruation. These include:

If after childbirth the menstrual cycle does not immediately return, there is no need to worry, because the body needs to rest and additional blood loss leads to a weakening of the body. Therefore, the physiological absence of menstruation allows a woman to get stronger and gain strength. Normally, the cycle is restored 2-3 months after birth. This is the case if there is no breastfeeding. Due to pathological births and complications, the recovery period may be delayed for up to three months. The woman’s body, as it were, regulates this process itself. But if the cycle is not restored long time(up to six months) and the woman is not breastfeeding at this time, then you need to contact a gynecologist and consult about this delay.

Reasons for missed periods after childbirth

Reasons that delay the onset of menstruation include:

breast-feeding;
pathological birth;
the presence of an inflammatory process in the uterus;
chronic lack of sleep;
poor nutrition;
weakening of the body after multiple births;
in firstborns over 30 years of age.

Normally, after childbirth, the uterus contracts and acquires a physiological size by the end of the second month. By this time, the inner surface of the organ is healing, suckers are released, which stop by 5-6 weeks. The nature of lochia during this period changes from bloody to light and mucous in consistency. If after this period the discharge does not stop and does not change its color, then you need to contact a gynecologist to rule out the presence of an inflammatory process in the internal genital organs (endometriosis).

The presence of tumors of the uterus and ovaries can cause a delay in the normalization of the menstrual cycle. During normal course postpartum period physiological functions ovaries resume 2-3 months after birth. Again, if there is no breastfeeding.

If after stopping breastfeeding it persists high rate prolactin, this condition is called pathological hyperprolactinemia (PH). Prolactin, which is produced by the pituitary gland, inhibits ovulation. After stopping breastfeeding, a woman's prolactin levels should return to normal. If this does not happen (the reason is thyroid dysfunction), then a delay in menstruation occurs.

The main symptom of PG is disruption of the menstrual cycle, shortening its duration until it stops completely. The amount of discharge is also reduced until it is completely absent. Such hormonal disorders lead to mastopathy, pathological changes and inflammation of the mammary glands. A sign of this pathology is the release of drops of milk from the nipple after the cessation of lactation, as well as pain and nodular seals in the mammary glands.

A woman can detect such lumps herself, so it is important to monitor the condition of the mammary glands during the formation of the menstrual cycle after childbirth. Once a month, you should independently examine your breasts and nearby lymph nodes. Carefully feel the mammary glands and armpits and, if there are any deviations from the norm (seals, changes in the nipple, cracks, hyperemia), do not hesitate to contact a mammologist.

If these symptoms appear, you should definitely consult a doctor to prevent the development of the disease and exclude the occurrence of an abscess.

There is another reason why the normal restoration of the menstrual cycle is delayed - Sheehan syndrome. This pathological process, indicating the death of pituitary cells and is characterized by the absence of menstruation and a decrease in the amount of discharge to spotting. The syndrome is caused by complicated childbirth, massive blood loss, and sepsis. Also causes this pathology severe course second half of pregnancy:

swelling;
hypertension;
renal dysfunction.

Sheehan syndrome can be diagnosed not only by irregular menstruation, but also by the presence of hypotension, weakness, and headaches.

Menstruation and breastfeeding

IN postpartum period restoration of menstruation depends on the presence of breastfeeding. During lactation, a woman secretes the hormone prolactin, which prevents ovulation. Therefore, the menstrual cycle is absent during the entire period while the woman is breastfeeding.

This physiological amenorrhea can last up to a year. A relationship has been established: the more often the mother puts the baby to the breast, the more milk and prolactin are released, the longer there are no periods. When a child switches to a mixed diet, a woman’s menstrual cycle may begin earlier (5-6 months after birth).

Breastfeeding is not a reason to be 100% sure that pregnancy will not occur during this period. After all, it happens that lactation fades, less prolactin is produced, and ovarian functions are restored. Ovulation occurs, which the woman does not expect. It is this period that is dangerous for the possibility of becoming pregnant. Therefore, you need to use contraceptives, since repeated pregnancy for even fragile organism undesirable .

A gynecologist should tell you about contraceptive methods, and you should contact her during the postpartum period.

How do menstruation go after childbirth?

The normal monthly cycle in the absence of breastfeeding is restored after 2-3 months after childbirth. At first it may not be regular, but over the course of 3-4 months it will normalize. If after this period menstruation does not improve, then this is pathological deviation, indicating a hormonal imbalance.

Immediately after childbirth, a woman develops spotting, but they have nothing to do with menstruation. These are the so-called suckers, which begin immediately after childbirth and last up to two months, gradually subsiding. After their cessation, normal menstruation begins within 2-3 weeks. The nature and amount of discharge may differ from the periods before pregnancy. Many women noted that menstruation began to be heavier. This is due to the fact that the body has not yet fully recovered and the discharge brings additional stress to it.

For the same reason, women who have recently given birth experience so-called premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which is characterized by:

The amount of blood released may change. Discharge may increase, which is due to the not yet complete restoration of the endometrium of the uterus after childbirth. But if the discharge is very strong, the blood is scarlet or mixed with clots, then this should alert you and be a reason to visit a gynecologist. Perhaps there was bleeding. The length of the menstrual cycle also changes after childbirth. If the monthly cycle before childbirth was 28-30 days, then after it it can be reduced to 25 and this is the norm. The duration of menstruation will be the usual 4-7 days.

There have been recorded cases where before the birth of a child, menstruation was accompanied by pain, and after childbirth the pain disappeared. This is due to a change in the position of the uterus and the outflow of blood from it has improved. If the cycle has been restored, but the woman experiences severe cramps during menstruation and constantly relieves the syndrome with painkillers, then you need to consult a gynecologist to rule out the presence of pathologies in the genital area.

It is important to pay attention to the duration of menstruation; if it is prolonged and lasts more than 7-10 days, then this indicates a serious problem. Perhaps the woman has developed inflammatory processes in the uterus and appendages. The doctor will tell her about this and she should contact her immediately.

If the duration of menstruation is reduced to 1-2 days, then this is a serious reason to consult a gynecologist, since such a course of menstruation is pathological.

An increase in the duration of menstruation in women who have undergone a cesarean section is the norm, since surgical trauma to the body of the uterus has occurred and for its full recovery a longer period is needed.

The cycle and nature of discharge after childbirth depend on the methods of contraception that a woman uses to prevent unwanted pregnancy. If the IUD is used as contraception, there will be more discharge and the duration of menstruation will increase. When using birth control pills, the opposite happens: the discharge becomes scanty, and the period of menstruation is reduced to 3 days. This is due to the content of components in the tablets that reduce the growth of the endometrium during the cycle.

How to get your period back faster after childbirth

After childbirth, a woman’s body requires a certain period of recovery, and when menstruation will come cannot be answered unequivocally. It depends individual characteristics body. But in the postpartum period, doctors recommend following proper nutrition, aimed at replenishing vitamins and microelements lost by the body during pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, a woman needs to eat well during this period, including dairy products, meat products, vegetables, and fruits in her diet. On the advice of a gynecologist, you need to take multivitamins and a complex of microelements. Also very important good sleep and rest, because during pregnancy and childbirth nervous system exposed increased load. Therefore, a woman needs to plan her day in such a way as to have enough time to relax and walk with her baby in the fresh air.

If the mother had endocrine disorders before giving birth, then in the postpartum period it is necessary to visit an endocrinologist and monitor the state of the hormonal system, since its dysfunction leads to a delay in the restoration of the monthly cycle.

If a woman experienced a pathological birth that was accompanied by heavy bleeding, then to restore normal operation body, she needs to take iron-containing medications. After all, bleeding was caused by iron deficiency anemia and in order to resume the menstrual cycle, you first need to restore normal condition body.

Taking into account the above, we can summarize that for the successful restoration of the menstrual cycle (menstruation) after childbirth, the mother needs:

have good sleep;
do not overwork;
walk in the air;
stay calm and don't get nervous;
eat well;
be regularly examined by your gynecologist.

Very important. There is no need to resort to self-medication, even if the problem that arises seems minor. You should report any discomfort to your gynecologist.

Following these simple rules will help a woman quickly restore her monthly cycle after childbirth and maintain her feminine health for a long time in the future.

After a woman has become a happy mother, one of the important aspects for her body is the restoration of the menstrual cycle. You need to understand what awaits a woman during this period, and what dangers are fraught with this seemingly wonderful time, when the most difficult thing is already over and problems of a domestic and psychological nature loom on the horizon for a woman, when her strongest desire is to get a good night’s sleep.

The menstrual cycle is a complex biological process in the body of every woman, which, in addition to reproductive function, affects the heart, nerves and hormonal system. To put it simply, menstruation is the period between the end of one menstruation and the beginning of another. Despite the fact that the frequency of the cycle is individual for everyone, on average it ranges from twenty-one to thirty-five days. An important criterion The menstrual cycle is not the duration between the end of one and the beginning of the next, but an equal interval, then the cycle can be called regular. Menstruation is the preparation of all systems of the female body for conception and gestation, and is divided into stages.

In the first stage, the ovaries begin to produce estrogens, which increase the size of the uterus. In the ovaries, follicles (capsules in which eggs are stored) begin to mature. After a certain time, ovulation occurs, at a time when the follicle reaches maturity and bursts, releasing the mature egg into the abdominal cavity.

In the second stage, the egg begins to travel through the fallopian tubes, preparing for fertilization. The second phase lasts three days, and if the egg does not have time to be fertilized, it soon dies. In the second stage of the cycle, ovarian hormones begin to be produced - progesterone, which helps the endometrium prepare for the appearance of a fertilized egg in the uterus.

In this case, if the egg is not fertilized, this will lead to the death of the inner layer of the uterus due to insufficient progesterone. Bloody discharge appears, which is menstruation. The first day of the appearance of discharge is considered the beginning of a new menstrual cycle. Normal menstruation lasts from three to seven days. During this period, the female body loses up to one hundred and fifty milliliters of bloody discharge.

When a woman is pregnant, there are a number of surprising hormonal changes that help preserve the fetus. Menstruation stops and even immune system the mother does not attack the fetus, which is, in fact, a foreign body!

From the moment a child is born, everyone’s work normalizes. internal organs and glands, which leads to the return of the previous state. Such processes begin after the baby is born and continues until the eighth week. During this time, the female body is in the recovery stage. All necessary changes take place and all systems return to their previous state. Lactation is improved by allowing milk for the baby to enter the mammary glands. For the ovaries, the formation and establishment of the menstrual process is the main, rather difficult task. The restoration of these organs occurs simultaneously. The uterus will recover in a relatively short time. Due to cuts muscle structure, the uterus may shrink to its normal state, and by the eighth week, the condition of the uterus will return to normal, which was before pregnancy. About two weeks after the fetus is delivered, the uterus will descend by ten millimeters per day. Interestingly, during the breastfeeding period, the size of the uterus may become smaller than usual, the same size as before planning conception. A week after birth, it decreases in volume by half, and at the end of the postpartum period its weight is approximately sixty grams. In the same way, the internal pharynx and cervix quickly return to their original forms. After two weeks, the cervical canal will completely return to its normal shape. And by the second week the pharynx will not have time to form and will remain open for a fingernail. During the third week, the pharynx closes and becomes slit-like.

The restoration of the menstrual cycle will depend on the following factors, such as: the general well-being of the woman’s body, age-related changes, the course of pregnancy and childbirth and breastfeeding can also affect rehabilitation. Also, a woman’s rehabilitation after childbirth may slow down:

in multiparous or large mothers
in first-time mothers over thirty
in case of pathology with disturbed course of labor
in case of violations of the course of the postpartum period

After the period of delivery of the fetus and placenta, including the placenta, the uterus remains temporarily injured. Restoration of the inner surface of the uterus occurs by the tenth day, restoration of the uterine mucosa - by the sixth - seventh week, and in the area where the placenta was attached - by the eighth week after birth. During the healing process of the organ, discharge appears in the form of clots and blood, they are called lochia. Their type and quantity changes during the regeneration of uterine tissue throughout the postpartum period:

at the very beginning, in the first days, the lochia contain a large amount of blood;
on the fourth day, blood mucus is similar in appearance to ichor and is pink or yellow in color;
on the tenth day, the discharge becomes lighter, more watery, there is no trace of blood, and it gradually decreases;
by the end of the third week they practically disappear, and most of the discharge contains mucus from the cervical canal;
by the end of the sixth week, all discharge from the uterus completely stops.

They have bad smell rotted leaves and during the hatching period, their quantity can reach one and a half kilograms.

Factors influencing complications in the postpartum period

Menstruation may start painfully. Perhaps these pains are caused by exhaustion of the body, psychological postpartum problems and inflammation that began immediately after childbirth. If the pain is severe and upsetting normal rhythm of a woman who has given birth, disturb her sleep, and force her to take antispasmodics, then this is a condition called algodismenorrhea. In this situation, you need to consult a doctor.

In the postpartum period, the so-called reverse effect may begin, when before the birth of the baby “these days” passed with unbearable pain after childbirth, it disappears. It is possible that before childbirth the uterus was in a position in which the nerve endings were pressed, and after the birth of the child female organs changed the position and the pressure on the area of the nerve endings stopped.

During menstruation, the likelihood of developing inflammation of the uterus and appendages increases. With inflammation, pain in the pelvis is not uncommon, and the discharge becomes much larger, and is usually accompanied by an unpleasant odor. It is imperative to monitor for signs of inflammation.

Some women in labor complain of premenstrual syndrome, which is caused by a number of symptoms such as breast engorgement, severe migraines, swelling, rheumatoid pain and even allergies.

The causes of this syndrome are unclear and there is no cure for it. The only way relieve symptoms and wait for it to pass.

After a difficult birth, or even worse with pathology, the ovaries may not function properly.

But we should never forget that a girl can become pregnant even in the absence of discharge and with excellent lactation. This happens because ovulation begins two weeks earlier than your period!

Restoring the cycle after cesarean section

Another current issue is the restoration of the menstrual cycle after a caesarean section. Menstruation in such mothers occurs in the same amount of time as in women who gave birth naturally. There remains a high risk of delayed menstruation due to a scar on the uterus. In this case, you need to undergo treatment from a gynecologist and be monitored regularly.

After childbirth, a woman’s load on all body systems increases. To restore menstruation during breastfeeding, a person needs more vitamins. Mom loses calcium, and they are necessary for the proper functioning of the body and pelvic organs, to restore hormonal levels. If there is a lack of vitamin minerals and microelements, there is no need to talk about normal menstrual cycles. Therefore, women are most often prescribed vitamin and mineral complexes and proper nutrition.

The rehabilitation of the body can be affected by endocrine problems, which are possible for any person, and about which he may not be aware for years. These diseases may worsen immediately after childbirth. In the first months of the baby’s life, as soon as the mother and child are discharged from the maternity hospital, you need to pay attention to possible problems thyroid gland and lymphatic system.

How long does it take for the cycle to recover after childbirth?

Having studied the physiology of the body, the processes of egg maturation and much more, it is necessary to remember that everyone’s body is completely different, what suits one person does not suit another. The process of cycle restoration occurs differently for everyone. It is not necessary that menstruation will begin when breastfeeding is stopped. For some mothers, breastfeeding can continue for more than a year, and menstruation will begin immediately after the end of the postpartum period. This period lasts forty-two days, during which time the uterus will fully recover, by which time ovulation may occur. Therefore, to find out about this, you can buy an ovulation test. Even if you are breastfeeding and have not yet had your period, in order to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, it is important to take precautions, since ovulation could already have occurred. But while you are feeding your baby milk, it is too early to use hormonal contraceptives. Be careful!

What to do to restore the menstrual cycle?

To restore your cycle after childbirth, you need to adhere to simple rules. Remember that when a woman feels great and nothing bothers her, “these days” begin on time and pass without problems, and the body’s recovery occurs faster, and in order for a woman’s cycle to recover as quickly as possible, she needs:

Ensure proper nutrition and sufficient water. Multivitamin complexes for mothers will be a great help.
You definitely need to do at least the simplest sets of exercises. With the help of exercises, hormonal balance is normalized.
We must try to effectively form a regime.
WITH chronic diseases(especially endocrine system) must be dealt with immediately. You need to contact a specialist who will prescribe correct and effective treatment.

When performing physical activity, it is important not to overdo it. Fatigue can aggravate and delay the body's recovery. On the contrary, exercise should help the body get into shape faster and improve health. With the help of an experienced trainer, it is necessary to select exercises that increase the tone of the pelvic organs. For example, the cycling exercise can be performed a week after childbirth, as it will help the uterus contract faster.

Foods to restore menstruation

Many women are concerned about the question of how to restore menstruation after childbirth. To restore the cycle, you need products containing Omega-3 acids, which are found in fish, more precisely, fish oil. The richest source of these polyunsaturated fatty acids is linseed oil. Just a tablespoon a day on an empty stomach or added to breakfast will help restore hormonal imbalance for several weeks. Products with high content Protein includes dairy products, lean meat, cheese, eggs, legumes, and nuts. The most pleasant addition to this list will be dark chocolate, which also increases estrogen levels, but you should be careful when breastfeeding, chocolate can cause allergies in the baby. Foods containing vitamin D will help raise estrogen levels and improve hormonal balance. For example, tuna, cod liver, egg yolks. Even exposure to the sun stimulates the production of this vitamin and can have a positive effect on the recovery process of the cycle. No less useful will be products containing vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E. But it is worth remembering the diet prescribed by doctors during breastfeeding, since some products containing these vitamins can be allergens that cause diathesis and allergies in the baby .

To improve ovarian function and speedy restoration of the cycle, it will help traditional medicine. An improvement was noticed after taking phytoestrogens, which are contained in plants such as wormwood, sage, oregano. Herbs are brewed as tea, but it is very important to begin herbal medicine only when prescribed by a doctor. Because herbs are also medicines and have contraindications. Plant estrogens will help the body more gently adjust its functions, unlike medication hormone therapy. The main thing is to take it as prescribed, in the doses recommended by the doctor.

Also, the process of restoring the cycle can be influenced by insulin; here, on the contrary, you need to exclude foods that raise insulin (sweets, flour products, potatoes, white rice).

In no case should we forget that caring for a newborn takes all the rest time and all the strength of a new mother. Be sure to take into account all the difficulties that the mother will encounter later. It can even lead to mood changes and mental state, which will certainly have a detrimental effect on the development of female function. Psychological state plays an important role in restoring the menstrual cycle. Postpartum depression, fatigue, and drowsiness disrupt hormonal balance. Make friends with a gynecologist, be sure to visit the doctor once every six months, even if nothing worries you, cysts and erosions may not make themselves felt. A new mother should try to find time for at least a short rest during the day. Try to return to the right lifestyle, namely, take up proper nutrition, do physical activity that stimulates the pelvic organs, don’t be nervous, enjoy motherhood and be healthy!