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Childbirth/month after delivery

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Question
is it normal to bleed a month after delivery is it to soon or is that right on time and normal

Answer
Are you talking about starting your period a month after delivery? Most of the time, if you are not breastfeeding, your period will start 6-8 weeks after birth.  If you are breastfeeding, it will probably take longer.

Bleeding at 4 weeks may be postpartum bleeding and not your period, especially if you are breastfeeding.  Try to take it easy for a day or two and see if it stops.  If you are doing too much too soon after the birth, it is not unusual for postpartum bleeding to resume.

However, for some women, their periods do start up again at 4 weeks, so it may just be your period, especially if you are not breastfeeding.  It's on the early side of normal, but it is not too early.

Mention it to your doctor or midwife when you go in for your 6 week checkup after the birth.  They should be able to tell you if everything seems to have healed properly and whether they think it was postpartum bleeding or your period.

Dorothy Haines, LCCE

Childbirth

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Dorothy H, LCCE

Expertise

As a certified childbirth educator and birth doula, I can answer questions dealing with preparing for birth, childbirth classes, pregnancy, what happens during labor and birth, doulas, VBAC, natural childbirth, cesarean birth, interventions in labor, labor, birth, helping someone through labor, concerns or fears about labor and birth, doulas, breastfeeding, and other topics dealing with pregnancy, labor, and birth.

Experience

Since 2004, I have taught childbirth education classes focused on helping couples gain confidence, make decisions for their birth, and give them tools for helping them get the birth they want. Since 2004, I have also attended births in local hospitals as a birth doula (as of 8/10, I have attended 120 births) so I am able to see firsthand what is working in helping couples deal with labor. I am also a mom of five children, and have various birth experiences myself, including unmedicated birth and a cesarean.

Organizations
Lamaze International DONA International

Publications
International Doula Magazine

Education/Credentials
I am a Lamaze-certified childbirth educator. I am a DONA-certified birth doula.

Past/Present Clients
I work with approximately 4-6 couples a month with my childbirth classes. I attend 2 births a month with doula clients.

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