Getting your period back after having a baby

A few months ago I got my period back after having Aria (baby #2). I can’t say I had missed it! I was lucky that Aria was 14 months before this happened. It was my second period in around 5 years (winning run!) because I fell pregnant with Finn, but only had one period after he was born before I fell pregnant with Aria.  Just like pregnancy, everyone’s period return is different but I thought I would give a run down of the general timeframes, accompanying hormonal changes and what you can do to manage these changes.

When is the normal time to get your period back after baby?

Breastfeeding largely determines the length of time before your period will return. This is because the hormone that triggers the making of milk, prolactin, also stops you from ovulating and having a period. The usual time frame is months to a year if you breastfeed day and night, however this is also impacted by the way your body responds to hormone changes.

Aria – 6 months old

My experience

After Finn (my first child) was born, I had about 2 years without a period. I breastfed him until he was 2.5 years old, but I think stress also contributed to this lengthy return as my husband was deployed during this time. As mentioned earlier, Aria was 14 months before I got my period back too. My best friend however got hers back 6 weeks after the bleeding post birth had stopped. Everyone’s body is different!

Common hormonal side effects after getting your period back

Irregular periods

Depending on how much milk you are still producing, it is normal to have irregular periods once your period returns.

Does it impact milk supply?

You can continue to breastfeed once your period returns as it shouldn’t affect your breast milk. Some women find a few times before their period starts or for a few days into it there is a temporary drop in the amount of milk they produce, but it will return to normal when your hormones return to their normal levels.

How to be prepared

Let’s talk the practical stuff now, like being prepared to make what can be a challenging time easier for you and consequently, the ones you love.  Here are a few tips:

2. Keep your sanitary items stocked up with a subscription. It is so easy to forget to have them on hand when you have a baby needing your every waking (and often sleeping) moment!
   Audrey Sun offers this service and they are my choice pad because they are more eco friendly, using certified organic cotton on more than just the top sheet, natural pulp absorbers, TFC bleaching process – (no nasty chemicals) and aren’t tested on animals. Products range between $8.65-$9.90 and if you choose the subscription option you will save 15%.
   You can read more about them in my blog post here.
3. Mark on the calendar when you get your period for the first time so you can track its regularity and be prepared when to expect a surge of hormonal changes.
   
4. Drink plenty of water and have some nutritious sweet snacks like these peanut butter oat bars or this healthy banana bread on hand.
   
5. Be kind to yourself – your body is going through a lot of hormonal changes so if you’re not top of your game this week, remember there is good reason why!
6. Be flexible with your exercise, some days you will only make a walk, perhaps others you prefer to rest all together – that is ok! Listen to your body – it knows best.

If you’re a Mum, I would love to hear in the comments below how you found the return of your period after birth. This might just encourage another Mum wondering if she’s ‘normal’!

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The thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are based on my own research, but proudly sponsored by Audrey Sun. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Eat Pray Workout possible.

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