Things You Need to Know About Periods After C-section Delivery

Here’s the truth about getting your period after delivery: there is no exact time that will tell when you will have it. In fact, every woman is different and there are various factors affecting the return of your period.

One of the biggest considerations is your hormones. You know that hormones play a crucial role in your menstrual period. This follows for the return of your period after cesarean delivery.

Keep in mind that after you give birth, various hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and Human Chronic Gonadotropin or hCG decrease. Once these hormones are in their right levels, your monthly period may normalize.

Nonetheless, there are many conditions affecting hormonal changes in your body after giving birth, such as irregular menstruation before pregnancy or health issues prior to pregnancy.

Aside from hormones, breastfeeding is another factor to consider when it comes to periods after cesarean delivery. Breastfeeding keeps your prolactin level high and could delay ovulation up to six to twelve months. Still, it is important to practice safe sex since you don’t want to find yourself delivering another baby in less than a year, do you?

In case you decide not to breastfeed – and it’s okay – prolactin decreases and you can get your period back six weeks after giving birth.

Other factors affecting your first period after giving birth are:

• Exhaustion

• Stress

• Irregular physical activity

• Weight loss or gain

• Thyroid disorder

Despite these factors, bear in mind that the return of your period does not depend on the type of delivery. Nonetheless, C-section changes how you bleed after giving birth.

Can Be Heavy

Compared to normal delivery, women who went through C-section experienced heavier than normal periods after childbirth. The reason for this is the surgical incision made to deliver the baby and the repair of your uterine wall.

Still, don’t take it lightly. Heavy flow may be normal, but you need to pay attention to the flow since it could signify something different. Pay attention to these signs which need you to see your doctor in relation to your flow:

• Changing pads or tampons every hour or after two hours.

• Bleeding is accompanied by fever.

• Bleeding comes with sudden and severe pain.

• More than seven days of bleeding.

• The color of the blood after seven days is still bright red.

These signs signify postpartum hemorrhaging and medical intervention is necessary to avoid further complications.

Can Be Lighter and Less Painful

Bleeding after childbirth can go in two directions: heavy or light. If you are one of the lucky few, the first and subsequent periods after giving birth are lighter, shorter, and less painful. In fact, women with endometriosis, a condition where endometrial tissues appear outside the uterus, experience positive changes in their periods after childbirth.

What could be the reason for lighter periods after c-section delivery? High progesterone levels during pregnancy could be the reason for improved menstrual symptoms. This is because progesterone balances estrogen levels, thereby causing additional uterine cells to grow.

Irregular Cycles

Irregular cycles are common after pregnancy. At the same time, period may be longer and heavier, especially after cesarean delivery. Although some women are able to get back to their 28-day cycle groove after giving birth, there are many others whose periods are more erratic. This can be due to weight gain or loss, stress, or thyroid issues. Once your body heals, you will be able to say hello to your normal flow again.

Is irregular cycle something you should be concerned about? Not necessarily, especially with the presence of variety of factors affecting your cycle. Delivering your baby via C-section will affect your periods, thereby making flow heavier. Nonetheless, it is imperative to pay attention to the flow and texture of your periods once Aunt Flo comes back. What's more, Irregular cycles may be a sign of perimenopause, which could happen early in your mid-30s.

Get to Know Lochia a Little Better

Bleeding is normal after giving birth, regardless of mode of delivery. Take note that this is lochia and not periods after cesarean delivery.

Lochia is your body’s way of getting rid of the uterus lining after childbirth. Blood flow might be similar to your periods, although this one lasts for two to three weeks. It is bright red in color with occasional clots and will turn into pink, brown, and then yellow white. This indicates that your uterus is starting to heal and slowly going back to its pre-pregnancy size.

Tip: Don’t do anything too soon after giving birth. This could trigger blood flow and if it happens to be red, it is your body’s way of saying that you have to slow things down.