No period after pregnancy – when to worry
Our bodies change a lot during pregnancy and after too. That means it can be challenging to know when things are meant to happen again. If you’re frantically searching for ‘no period after pregnancy when to worry,’ we’ve got you covered.
This article includes:
- Pregnancy hormones
- How long can you go without a period while breastfeeding?
- How soon after having a baby can you get pregnant?
- How long after breastfeeding should I get my period?
- First period after stopping breastfeeding
- 3 months postpartum no period
- No period after pregnancy – when to worry
- No period after stopping breastfeeding, what shall I do?
Pregnancy hormones
Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! We hope you’re loving getting to know your new baby and learning about being a new parent.
It’s completely normal to wonder when to expect your first postpartum period. Many things can affect your period after giving birth. Some women find that their period returns after just a few months, while others can wait longer. Your hormones play an important role in getting your body back to its pre-pregnancy state. Some hormones, such as hCG, typically only rise during pregnancy, while others may exist all of the time.
How long can you go without a period while breastfeeding?
Prolactin is a hormone that your body releases more of during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The hormone is able to suppress ovulation, therefore stopping your periods too. So, it’s quite common not to experience your period while breastfeeding.
This is also referred to as LAM or the lactational amenorrhea method. It means that strict breastfeeding can also act as a form of birth control. However, it is worth noting that it is not 100% effective. Therefore, you should consider birth control if you don’t wish to become pregnant. Can you get pregnant while breastfeeding? Yes, it is possible due to potential menstrual cycle changes.
For LAM to be effective at all, you must follow its criteria; these include:
- Breastfeed exclusively
- Baby must be less than six months old
- Feeding gaps should be no longer than 4 – 6 hours
Some women continue with LAM until six months when it’s time to try the baby on solid foods. At this point, you may notice changes to your breast milk production.
Most women are advised to wait a while for the body to recover before they get pregnant again. This means you should be wary of having unprotected sex. A health visitor may be able to advise you on where you can get contraception, such as birth control pills.
How soon after having a baby can you get pregnant?
It may come as a surprise, but with no contraception, you could become pregnant just three weeks postpartum. Many women are asked about their plans for non-hormonal or hormonal contraceptives before leaving the hospital with the new baby. Even though it may be the last thing on your mind, it’s important to think about it.
There are some early signs of pregnancy after giving birth that you can look out for. Many women experience lochia after a vaginal birth. This form of vaginal discharge is made up of blood, mucus and uterine tissue. Lochia is postpartum bleeding that usually starts as heavy bleeding and turns into a lighter flow as time goes on. You should seek advice if you notice large blood clots.
If you believe you may be pregnant, you will need to use a pregnancy test. This is the only way to know for sure. Read the instructions carefully to understand when to take the test.
When experiencing an irregular period, it can be tricky to know when you have missed periods. Some women may also mistake this for implantation bleeding when they first become pregnant.
How long after breastfeeding should I get my period?
There’s no way of knowing when it will happen until your first postpartum period arrives. It depends on many factors, such as whether you have exclusively breastfed or just done little bits here and there.
After you have stopped breastfeeding, your period may arrive in the next few weeks, or it may take a couple of months. It can be worrying having to wait for it, but there is no way of speeding up the process. Sometimes worrying about it can also cause changes to other hormones, which can delay the process further.
First period after stopping breastfeeding
If you get your first period after stopping breastfeeding exclusively, you may notice a few changes. Some women experience longer periods or longer gaps between periods. This means that the length of your menstrual cycle may have changed, and you may experience irregular periods.
You may also notice more intense cramping than you had before becoming pregnant. This, along with heavier periods, can be reasonably common. If you are struggling with your periods or notice much heavier bleeding and clots, seek medical advice. A healthcare provider can assess you and offer testing if necessary.
It may take some time before your periods return to how they were before. There is no way of knowing when this will happen. It’s important to look after yourself as best you can to promote normal cycles.
Irregular periods can cause longer or shorter periods, and they may return when you’re not expecting them. Speak to a healthcare provider if you are worried about your postpartum period. After the first few periods, you may find that they settle again.
You should also seek advice if you are bleeding through more than one pad every hour. Just weeks after birth, this may need to be assessed. Also, don’t let yourself suffer with painful periods, seek advice as there may be help available.
3 months postpartum no period
There are many reasons why you may be 3 months postpartum with no period. Sometimes, there’s no need to worry. Your body goes through a lot during pregnancy, labour and postpartum.
Fluctuating pregnancy hormones can cause delays for things such as your postpartum period. For example, if you are mainly breastfeeding but also formula feeding occasionally, your body may still have higher levels of prolactin. This means your body may be confused due to hormonal levels. Various hormone changes occur to get your body back to how it was before pregnancy.
Hormones play a vital role in the body. They provide signals to tell the body what to do and when. Some women may experience a hormone imbalance after pregnancy. This can bring various symptoms. Speak to a doctor if you believe you may have a hormonal imbalance.
Your period can also be affected by the use of birth control. Be aware that these may alter your menstrual cycle even if they didn’t previously.
No period after pregnancy – when to worry
Being a new mum brings lots of changes. You’re trying to look after yourself and your new baby. This means it can be even more difficult to deal with body changes.
There may be a good reason your menstrual flow has not returned to normal. One reason could be what’s called secondary amenorrhea. This is when a person who previously had periods doesn’t have one for three months. It can be common for pregnancy to cause this.
You should seek advice if you don’t have a period for longer than 3 months after you stop breastfeeding. A doctor may wish to conduct testing for secondary amenorrhea. The symptoms can include:
- Headaches
- Hair loss
- Milky discharge from nipple
- Pelvic pains
In this case, it is the hormones that are the driving force behind amenorrhea. A doctor will be able to provide you with the best advice if you are found to have this. Usually, there’s no need to worry. If you are concerned, speak to your doctor. It could just be your hormones catching up again.
No period after stopping breastfeeding, what shall I do?
If you are feeling concerned about your period, you may wish to seek medical advice. The doctor may ask how long it has been since you gave birth and whether you breastfed. They will also need to know about any birth control you are taking and any period symptoms you have experienced.
A doctor may recommend that you take folic acid. Folic acid is often recommended as a pre-pregnancy vitamin, as it can help to regulate the body. Many women continue taking folic acid until the 12th week of pregnancy.
The doctor may suggest other things that could help. Usually, the advice is to try not to worry. If the doctor believes there is room to be concerned, they will conduct testing. Otherwise, maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough rest, gently exercising and taking time to relax may be the best advice.
It’s often easier said than done, but worrying can cause more delays with your period returning. You may notice a heavier or lighter flow when your first period arrives. It may take getting past the first few cycles before you have regular periods.
We hope this article has been helpful for you. It’s important to remember how much your body has been through; it’s quite expected that things may not return to normal straight away. We hope you enjoy getting to know your little one! Don’t forget to seek advice if you become concerned about having no period after pregnancy.