Heavy period after pregnancy is observed in almost all women, as their body begin its menstruation cycle after a long absence of more than 9 months. Keep reading to know more about this topic.
Menstrual periods are a sign of fertility, and are an important phase in a woman’s life. But sometimes a life without period is really celebrated by all women, as it keeps them free of pain, cramps and discomfort. Well, this takes place when a woman is pregnant.
Going without periods for more than nine months can be quite relaxing but once she delivers the baby, the period starts again. This is a natural phenomenon as the body starts preparing itself for the next baby. But women experience erratic periods after pregnancy. Heavy periods after pregnancy is a part of this weird experience which is experienced by almost all women. So, let’s find out some reasons behind this.
Reasons Behind Heavy Period after Pregnancy
During the entire nine months of pregnancy, and even some time after childbirth, a woman does not have her periods. Some women may start ovulating four weeks after pregnancy, and for some women periods may return even after 12 months. This depends upon the condition of the body and even on breast feeding. When the baby sucks milk from the breast, the body sends signals to the pituitary gland that keeps the menstrual hormones suppressed.
Hence, periods usually do not return when a woman is breast feeding. This can be considered as a natural way of contraception. By this we can say that the timeline of getting periods also depends upon whether the women is breast feeding, or bottle feeding her baby.
Periods after giving birth to a child may be heavy and painful. The reason behind this is the long duration which goes without menstrual period. During the first period after pregnancy, the body discharges the mucus, blood, tissues and the lining of the uterus which is formed during the pregnancy. This results in heavy bleeding and clots which may be very big in size, and can be easily noticed on the sanitary pads. This may also result in extreme pain and cramps which may even hinder your daily routine.
Another reason for heavy periods may be the change in hormonal levels. During pregnancy, the levels of progesterone and estrogen are very high which decrease sharply after the birth of the baby. This lower level of hormones result in the heavy periods. But heavy bleeding will subside with time, and you will come back to your normal ovulation as soon as your body gets used to it.
Tips for Relief from Heavy Bleeding after Pregnancy
Heavy bleeding and pain is normal after pregnancy, hence you need not worry. But if you are facing problems due to this and are not able to bear the pain, then following are some of the ways by which you can control heavy bleeding, pain and discomfort.
- Kegel exercises are helpful in strengthening the vaginal muscles. This in turn helps in relieving the discomfort caused due to the usage of tampons. It is advisable to use sanitary pads instead of tampons.
- You can also take ibuprofen which will decrease the flow by 20% to 30%. But consult your doctor before taking this medication so as to avoid complications.
- Drink lots of water, it will help in the flow, relieve the pain, and will maintain the amount of water in your body.
- Taking rest can relieve discomfort and pain caused due to heavy bleeding.
By the above given description we can say that heavy menstrual cycle after pregnancy is common and gets normal with time. But if you observe bleeding for more than 8 days, and the intensity does not decrease, then it may require medical attention.
Also if you observe big blood clots, which may be more than the size of a golf ball, then it may be a matter of concern. If you are facing any of the above given situations, then consult a doctor immediately. Follow a healthy diet, drink lots of water and take rest. These few things will help to easily overcome the pain and discomfort of heavy bleeding post pregnancy. Take care!
