In the midst of newborn chaos, after a nine-plus month reprieve, it’s easy to forget about one of the big questions: When will I get my period again? Then one day your partner gives you the look, and finding out the answer suddenly climbs to the top 10 on your to-do list. “Many women ask me when they can expect their menstrual cycle to return after having a baby,” says Melissa DuBois, RN, BSN, CCE, a nurse with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology in Watertown, Massachusetts. “The truth is there is a wide range of normal and it will be different for every woman, and sometimes, different with each pregnancy.” Here are some general guidelines, according to DuBois, on what to expect period-wise postpartum. Some breastfeeding moms have to deal with irregular periods. It’s not unusual to have spotting or months in between periods. You may experience heavier or lighter, longer or shorter periods with more or less cramping than you did pre-pregnancy. Again, no worries. It’s totally fine, according to Dubois. “It’s important to use a form of birth control if you’re not trying to get pregnant,” says Dubois. “This is true even for breastfeeding women as breastfeeding only provides some protection.” She also warns moms to allow time for your bodies to heal as back-to-back pregnancies can cause complications for both mother and baby.
