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Childbirth/menstrual cycle after childbirth

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Expert: - 4/11/2009


Question
i'm wondering how long after birth will you start your period? my daughter is 6 wks old and i bled a little about 2 weeks ago, but it only lasted for about a day and was very lite.my postpartum check up is coming up soon and i cant use birth control until after my first period.so i dont know if that was one or what it was.thank you

Answer
Alisha,

This varies widely from woman to woman and whether or not you breastfeed and for how long.  It's completely normal for a  woman who's nursing not to resume her cycle for 18 months whereas a non-nursing mother's cycle may resume after a month or as late as 6 months.


It really depends upon how quickly your hormone levels return to their pre-pregnancy state and whether or not your body is ready to sustain another pregnancy.  For some women, this is weeks after birth, for others, it's years.

It's entirely possible that the bleeding you had was not a true period, especially if it was light and only for a day.


So, if you are not breastfeeding and your cycle hasn't resumed in 3 months, then your doctor may give you a medication to force your cycle to resume.  In the meantime, you can use a barrier method of birth control such as condoms.  


Best,
Catherine

Childbirth

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Catherine Beier MS CBE

Expertise

I can provide evidence-based information and current research findings concerning childbirth and pregnancy. My specializations include natural childbirth, pregnancy and birth interventions, fetal positioning, labor induction, choosing a care provider, midwives, homebirth, unassisted birth, natural pain relief, medications in pregnancy and birth, informed consent, understanding the risks and benefits of childbirth choices, doulas, waterbirth, childbirth methods, childbirth education classes, cesarean section, and VBAC.

Experience

I have been a childbirth educator, mother, author, public speaker, researcher, and birth advocate for the past 9 years. I am also the author of Giving Birth Naturally, a site dedicated to natural childbirth and pregnancy information. I publish evidence-based articles on pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and post-partum care. I'm also a mother of three children, two daughters and one son all born naturally. To learn more about what normal birth looks like, view the natural childbirth video of my son being born at home unassisted.

Publications
My book, Birth Outside the Box, was published in 2007.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in communication disorders with an emphasis in child development. I am also an independent childbirth educator.

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