The article is written by Doctor Specialist Level II Tran Thi Mai Huong - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International Hospital.
Postpartum menstrual cycles can change in terms of the number of days, the amount of menstrual bleeding, or the interval between cycles compared to before. Is that normal after giving birth? Let's find out in the article below with Specialist II Tran Thi Mai Huong, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Vinmec Hai Phong International Hospital!
1. When is the first period after giving birth?
The time of the first period after giving birth depends on many different factors such as: breastfeeding, hormone levels, health and nutrition after giving birth. In those, breastfeeding is the biggest factor affecting the return of menstruation.
Prolactin - the hormone responsible for the production of breast milk is associated with preventing ovulation. If you don't breastfeed, your period should return 6 to 8 weeks postpartum. Otherwise, if you do, the time it takes for your period to return can vary. You may not have a period for 6 months after giving birth or even longer. In some cases, postpartum menstruation occurs only when the mother stops breastfeeding.
2. Irregular periods after giving birth?
Your postpartum menstrual cycle may experience changes. You may experience longer or shorter periods, your period may be heavier or lighter, and even your cycle length may be different. In addition, postpartum women also face menstrual pain. This is because the uterus grows during pregnancy to accommodate the fetus, then shrinks after the baby is born (although it may still be slightly larger than normal). At this point, the endometrial lining that is shed after birth needs to self-repair after the change. This process happens with each pregnancy differently, so you may notice changes in your menstrual cycle after each birth.
It takes a while for the hormones in a woman's body to return to normal after giving birth, especially if you are breastfeeding. The postpartum menstrual cycle may vary from 24 days to 28 days in the next period, and then 35 days. Your menstrual cycle should stabilize within a few months, or after you stop breastfeeding.
Therefore, irregular periods after giving birth can be normal and you should not be too worried in this case.
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3. Heavy period after giving birth
Your first period after giving birth may be heavier and last longer than before. It can also be accompanied by more severe menstrual cramps, as the increased amount of uterine lining during pregnancy needs to be removed. As subsequent cycles emerge, these changes will likely decrease.
Other causes of postpartum heavy period include:
- Polyps and submucosal fibroids.
- Endometrial infection, residual placenta.
- Adenomyosis: This is the thickening of the uterine muscles after pregnancy. Your doctor can control this thickening of the uterus with minimally invasive surgery or hormone therapy.
- Thyroid disorders: an overactive or underactive thyroid gland.
In case you have heavy menstrual bleeding and need to change pads every hour, go to the nearest medical facility for help because you may have postpartum hemorrhage.
4. What to do when having menstrual disorders after giving birth?
Irregular menstrual periods after giving birth can be a sign that you have an infection, fibroids or polyps. Notice any of these symptoms:
- Your postpartum period lasts more than seven days or contains a large blood clot.
- Menstruation has started again but then disappears again after a long period of time.
- Spotting vaginal bleeding between periods
- Or if you don't have a period three months after giving birth or three months after you stop breastfeeding.
When you see above signs, contact a doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment
At the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec International Hospital, we have a team of experienced obstetricians and gynecologists. This prestigious address is to examine and remove worries about abnormal postpartum menstrual conditions in particular, as well as gynecological problems in general. shared. For comprehensive health care and advice, you can refer to the basic gynecological screening package.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system to visit and book an appointment through the website to be served.
To arrange an appointment, please call HOTLINE or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.
