When Will I Get My First Period After Birth?

You’ve gone a whole 9 months without any sign of your period. It has been bliss. Okay, so there was pelvis pain, sickness and some other symptoms in its place. But no period. When will you get that first period after birth, what will it be like?

If you’re someone who really suffers from that monthly visitor, I’m guessing you won’t be too pleased to have it back. 

There are so many changes that happen to your body after having a baby, and your periods could be one of them. In this blog, we are going to tell you when you should expect your period and what it might be like. We spoke to real mothers about their experience.

When will my first period after birth be?

Once you have given birth you will bleed. However, this isn’t classed as a period, though it might look like one. It is called lochia and is a mix of blood, mucus and tissue. This can last up to 6 weeks on and off.

When you have your first period after birth will depend on a couple of different factors. These factors come down to how you feed your baby.

First period when bottle feeding or combi feeding

If you are combination feeding, both formula and breast, then you will probably expect your first period after the baby to come back within a few months. This will depend on how much you are breastfeeding and how much you formula feed.

Mums who are bottle feeding can expect the periods to return can expect a period between 5 weeks and 3 months after having their little one. 

First period when breastfeeding

If you are exclusively breastfeeding this can prevent ovulation, which means you likely won’t see your period until you have begun weaning your little one and have dropped milk feeds. 

When breastfeeding, your period coming back after the baby can cause nipple soreness, dip in supply and for the milk taste to change slightly.

My first period after breastfeeding came back when my little one was 11 months. I was still breastfeeding, however, she was eating more solid food and her milk feeds had dropped to 3 a day and 2 in the night.  

First period after c-section

After a c-section you might dread your period coming back too soon. If you are suffering from surgery pain you are hardly likely to welcome period aches!

If you have had a c-section then you will want to hold off using tampons for at least 6 weeks.

During the post birth bleed you’ll want to be using pads. This is down to the fact that you will still have an internal wound where the placenta was connected to your womb.

First period after vaginal birth

Whether you pushed or were assisted, your vagina will have had quite a time of it. Your first period after a vaginal birth will come at different times, depending on how you feed your baby.

It is recommended that you use pads for the post birth bleed. When it comes to your first period after birth you will want to assess how long it has been. If it is less than 6 weeks and before your doctors check then stick with pads over tampons. You may still have cuts and wounds in and around your vagina.

After that, ask your doctor what they advise you based on your own birth story.

What will my period be like after having a baby?

After you have had a baby there will be changes to your body. When your period returns and how it will be varies from woman to woman.

Your first period after birth might be heavy, light or no different to pre baby. If you notice a significant change that doesn’t seem right to you and your body, have a chat with your healthcare provider.

We had a chat with 4 women, asking them about their first period after birth.

“All I really remember about mine was that it was heavier. They’ve remained that way too since having Eddi. The first one wasn’t painful like I’d known pre baby. But, few cycles later they came back just as painful as before.”

Mother of 1, age 33, formula fed baby

“When my period came back it was pretty much the same as before. Although, after having a baby I get no build up or pain leading up to my period. There’s no spotting either, just straight into a full period.”

Mother of 1 age 32, formula fed baby

“I combi fed, breast with a formula top up. After 4 months I got my first period. It was pretty much the same as before in terms of flow. I did notice my son thrashing his arms around and beating my boob, which I read online is to help encourage milk flow. So I am guessing it caused a dip in supply.”

Mother of 1 age 35, combi fed baby

I exclusively breastfed my little one. I got my first period 11 months after birth and quickly fell back into a regular cycle. The first period was the same as before, maybe a little heavier. I used Our Remedy CBD to help with the monthly aches!

Mother of 1 age 30, breastfed baby