A woman's first period after childbirth is one of the many changes her body will endure in the postpartum months. The timing of this first period varies from woman to woman by many months and is affected mostly by breast-feeding and bottle-feeding habits. While no one can predict when your period will return, knowing what to expect when it finally happens can make the experience a lot less confusing.
Time Frame
Mothers who are not nursing typically get their first period between one and three months after giving birth, according to BabyCenter. The range of normal is wider for nursing moms because breast-feeding habits vary from woman to woman; as a general rule, the less frequently your baby nurses, the sooner menstruation will resume. Some women won't get a period until six months after they stop breast-feeding, while others may get it just three months postpartum, particularly if their babies sleep through the night without nursing.
Features
A woman's first period after childbirth is often heavier, longer and more painful than her previous periods. This is normal and is due to the fact that so much time has passed since her last period, and her body isn't used to having menstrual cycles. Fortunately, for most women, subsequent periods will be much more manageable; in fact, for 90 percent of women, menstrual flow will return to the way it was before giving birth, according to PregnancyToday.
Significance
Getting your first period after giving birth is a good indication that your body has resumed ovulation but it doesn't necessarily mean you'll be having regular monthly cycles. Breast-feeding can disrupt normal ovulation, leading some women to experience a period once every few weeks, every six months or anything in between, according to YourBabyToday. This is normal and not cause for concern until after you've stopped breast-feeding.
Misconceptions
Many breast-feeding moms believe that as long as they haven't experienced a period, they're protected against pregnancy as long as they're nursing. However, breast-feeding only offers about 60 percent protection against pregnancy, according to PregnancyToday. Remember that your menstrual flow arrives after ovulation, so it's possible to get pregnant even before you have your first period. In fact, it's not unheard of for women to show up to their six-week postpartum checkups already pregnant.
Warning
While a long or heavy menstrual flow is normal during your first period after pregnancy, it can occasionally be a sign of a problem, such as an infection, a molar pregnancy, thyroid disease or an indication that the body hasn't completely emptied out the products of pregnancy. See your doctor if your bleeding lasts longer than eight days, you soak through a heavy maxi pad in under an hour or if you pass a blood clot larger than a golf ball, recommends PregnancyToday.
