Once you welcome a new baby to the world, your life will have changed in so many ways. Typically, some women question if it will take longer to get their period after C section delivery. Thus, the answer is ‘No’. A C-section delivery does not delay your period. However, it does affect the nature of the period, such as the first period may occur after some time depending on your health conditions, hormones, and breastfeeding.
What factors influence your menstrual cycle after a c-section?
- State of your health
- Lack of rest
- Stress
- Weight issues
- Complications, if any
When will your period start after a c-section?
The resumption of periods after Cesarean section entirely depends on your hormones. After the delivery, the hormone levels of Human Chronic Gonadotropin or hCG, Progesterone, and Oestrogen tend to be on the lower side. One significant element that sees when your periods will return after C-section is breastfeeding.
It will have an impact on your hormonal levels. It increases the level of prolactin, causing a delay in ovulation. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding, it may take at least take six months to resume your periods. Furthermore, the periods may also be irregular.
If you are not breastfeeding, the level of prolactin in your body decreases thereby causing periods to occur sooner. However, in a few cases, the first period occurs just after six weeks after cesarean section delivery.
About 4 to 6 weeks after delivery, your vagina will pass some bloody discharge which is also referred to as lochia. This type of discharge is considered normal as it flows out itself, whether you have a c- section delivery or vaginal delivery. Remember that this discharge is not your period. Moreover, it should not be long-lasting and should be light in color.
Whether you have a standard delivery or c- section delivery, your period will probably be different in odor, color, flow, and regularity. Once your body heals completely, and your hormones balance out, it will return to the way it was before your pregnancy.
Irregular cycles after pregnancy are quite common. Some women have a cycle that is a bit more erratic, while others go straight back to their typical 28-day cycle. There are a lot of things that can affect your period regularity such as weight loss, stress, weight gain, and thyroid issues.
In some cases, irregular cycles may also be a sign of perimenopause. However, most women enter into this phase in their 40’s.
The first period after a cesarean section delivery can be substantial due to the surgical incision during the c- section procedure and the repair of the uterine wall. If you experience a more substantial flow, it is recommended to keep an eye on how heavy it gets.
Some women are lucky as they experience a lighter, less painful, and a shorter period after the delivery. And women with endometriosis experience a positive change in their menstrual cycle after having a child. The progesterone levels are high during pregnancy which is responsible for easing the menstrual symptoms. This keeps your levels of estrogen in balance, which causes to grow extra uterine cells.
Depending on the health condition and hormonal changes in your body, the periods can last longer than usual. Generally, most women get a seven-day period. But, in some cases, women experience a twelve-day period.
If this is the case, visit your gynecologist to find the reason behind it.
During the first period after c- section delivery, dark color or bright red clots may appear. This usually happens when you are going through heavy bleeding. This is because an anticoagulant that is released from the body during periods to avoid menstrual blood clots will not be able to work efficiently as more blood flow is released in a short time. This allows the formation of a blood clot that comes out with the menstrual blood.
A woman can undergo the procedure of the tubal ligation right after the c- section delivery. The tubal ligation does not create any complications, nor they influence the time of the recovery from the cesarean section. However, the chances of having heavy bleeding during the first period may increase after you undergo a c- section and tubal ligation.
If you experience any of the following issues, seek medical help.
If you get a fever along with the first or the next period (during or after the period), then you should see a doctor to determine the reason behind it. According to experts, there should not be any symptoms related to fever after the cesarean section delivery.
Whether you have a standard delivery or c- section delivery, a heavy period is normal in some women. However, there should be a limit to the flow. If you are soaking through one or more pads/ tampons every hour or two, then it is time to see your gynecologist.
Stomach cramps are normal after a c- section delivery. But if you suffer from unbearable pain and if it is causing much inconvenience, then you should visit your doctor to find the exact reason.
If you are breastfeeding
It will have an impact on your hormonal levels. It increases the level of prolactin, causing a delay in ovulation. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding, it may take at least take six months to resume your periods. Furthermore, the periods may also be irregular.
If you are not breastfeeding
If you are not breastfeeding, the level of prolactin in your body decreases thereby causing periods to occur sooner. However, in a few cases, the first period occurs just after six weeks after cesarean section delivery.
What will your first period be like after c-section delivery?
Bloody discharge is common after c section
About 4 to 6 weeks after delivery, your vagina will pass some bloody discharge which is also referred to as lochia. This type of discharge is considered normal as it flows out itself, whether you have a c- section delivery or vaginal delivery. Remember that this discharge is not your period. Moreover, it should not be long-lasting and should be light in color.
Your period may be different
Whether you have a standard delivery or c- section delivery, your period will probably be different in odor, color, flow, and regularity. Once your body heals completely, and your hormones balance out, it will return to the way it was before your pregnancy.
Your cycle may be irregular
Irregular cycles after pregnancy are quite common. Some women have a cycle that is a bit more erratic, while others go straight back to their typical 28-day cycle. There are a lot of things that can affect your period regularity such as weight loss, stress, weight gain, and thyroid issues.
In some cases, irregular cycles may also be a sign of perimenopause. However, most women enter into this phase in their 40’s.
The first period after a cesarean section can be very heavy
The first period after a cesarean section delivery can be substantial due to the surgical incision during the c- section procedure and the repair of the uterine wall. If you experience a more substantial flow, it is recommended to keep an eye on how heavy it gets.
Your period may be less painful and lighter
Some women are lucky as they experience a lighter, less painful, and a shorter period after the delivery. And women with endometriosis experience a positive change in their menstrual cycle after having a child. The progesterone levels are high during pregnancy which is responsible for easing the menstrual symptoms. This keeps your levels of estrogen in balance, which causes to grow extra uterine cells.
Bleeding after c- section can last longer
Depending on the health condition and hormonal changes in your body, the periods can last longer than usual. Generally, most women get a seven-day period. But, in some cases, women experience a twelve-day period.
If this is the case, visit your gynecologist to find the reason behind it.
The first period after cesarean section can be heavy with blood clots
During the first period after c- section delivery, dark color or bright red clots may appear. This usually happens when you are going through heavy bleeding. This is because an anticoagulant that is released from the body during periods to avoid menstrual blood clots will not be able to work efficiently as more blood flow is released in a short time. This allows the formation of a blood clot that comes out with the menstrual blood.
The first period after cesarean section and tubal ligation
A woman can undergo the procedure of the tubal ligation right after the c- section delivery. The tubal ligation does not create any complications, nor they influence the time of the recovery from the cesarean section. However, the chances of having heavy bleeding during the first period may increase after you undergo a c- section and tubal ligation.
When to seek medical help?
If you experience any of the following issues, seek medical help.
- Fever:
If you get a fever along with the first or the next period (during or after the period), then you should see a doctor to determine the reason behind it. According to experts, there should not be any symptoms related to fever after the cesarean section delivery.
- Extremely heavy periods:
Whether you have a standard delivery or c- section delivery, a heavy period is normal in some women. However, there should be a limit to the flow. If you are soaking through one or more pads/ tampons every hour or two, then it is time to see your gynecologist.
- Severe pain:
Stomach cramps are normal after a c- section delivery. But if you suffer from unbearable pain and if it is causing much inconvenience, then you should visit your doctor to find the exact reason.