Pregnancy and birth can change your body in countless ways, and your menstrual cycle is no exception. From wondering when your periods will return after birth to experiencing heavier, lighter or more painful periods than before, navigating your cycle postpartum can bring plenty of questions. And if you’re breastfeeding, the relationship between breastfeeding, ovulation and periods can make things feel even less predictable.
So, what actually happens to our hormones after having a baby, when should we expect our periods to return, and is it normal for our menstrual cycle to change after pregnancy?
We spoke to nutritional therapists Jennie Haire and Lisa Hughes, founders of female-founded, science-led supplements brand Gigi, to find out what’s happening hormonally during pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding.
Here, they explain why periods can change after having children, the role prolactin plays in the return of ovulation, the nutrients that can support postpartum recovery, and when changes to your cycle may be worth investigating.
Periods after pregnancy: Gigi’s experts answer your postpartum cycle questions
What’s actually happening hormonally during pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding that affects our periods?
One of the biggest hormonal shifts a woman will experience in her life is during pregnancy and postpartum. Oestrogen and progesterone (aka our female hormones) rise to exceptionally high levels to support and maintain the pregnancy. They then drop just as quickly after birth and it is this drop that stimulates the body to start producing milk. Prolactin, produced in the pituitary, is the hormone that produces milk, whilst simultaneously suppressing the hormones that signal for ovulation to occur.
When can we typically expect periods to return after birth, and why is there such a huge variation from woman to woman?
For women who decide not to breastfeed, menstruation usually resumes within 6 to 8 weeks after birth. For women who do, it can be as soon as a few months after birth or as long as the whole time that they’re breastfeeding. The main thing that affects menstruation returning is prolactin. Women produce different amounts of prolactin and things like genetics, stress, sleep and nutritional status can all play a part in when our reproductive hormones start to rise and the cycle starts again. There really is no normal here, and women need to know that. There’s no problem if it takes longer to return, but it’s always worth getting checked out if you’re concerned.
How does breastfeeding affect ovulation and the return of your cycle – and does feeding frequency or night feeding make a difference?
Yes, hugely. Prolactin is released every time you feed your baby so the more often you feed the higher your levels stay and the longer your body continues to stop you from ovulating, and night feeding is one of the biggest dictators for this as your levels of prolactin are higher at night. As your baby feeds less, whether it’s because you’re giving formula, solids or dropping feeds, your levels start to come down and the cycle starts again. One thing I always like to tell women to be aware of is that your body can start to ovulate before you get your first period post baby, so it is possible to get pregnant before you know your cycle is back.
A lot of women say their periods are completely different after children – heavier or lighter, more painful, longer or shorter. Why can this happen?
This is one of the questions I get asked most, and it’s so important for women to know that it is actually very common to have a different period after having a baby. The uterus physically changes during pregnancy and birth, including the cervix, which actually can decrease period pain for some women. Hormones can reset, you are depleted nutritionally from pregnancy and breastfeeding, and things like thyroid dysfunction, which is very common postpartum and something that is experienced by approximately 23% of new mothers, can actually change your menstrual cycle quite a bit.
Can your cycle permanently change after pregnancy, or should we generally expect it to eventually return to what was “normal” for us before?
For the majority of women, their cycles will return to a cadence close to what they experienced before pregnancy. It can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months from your first period for your body to get back to its ‘normal’. For many women though, pregnancy can completely change their cycle length, flow and even the symptoms they experience in the lead-up and during their period. If the changes have become noticeably different, such as heavier, more painful or impacting your quality of life, it would be recommended to investigate further.
Are there particular foods or nutrients you recommend focusing on to support hormonal health and recovery during this stage?
Postpartum depletion is real – it just isn’t talked about enough. Studies show that supplement usage drops from around 70% during pregnancy to just 23% postpartum, a time when women need it the most. Iron is especially important, as it is needed in large amounts following blood loss at delivery, and other important nutrients like Magnesium, Zinc, B Vitamins, Vitamin D and Iodine are all known to be depleted, yet are all vital for hormonal regulation, energy and milk production. A few of my favourite foods to recommend for postpartum mums are slow-cooked bone broth, rich in collagen and minerals to support recovery; a warming meat stew, which delivers a brilliant combination of Iron, Folate and plant-based protein; and a simple salmon and roasted vegetable tray bake, packed with Omega-3s, Vitamin D and Zinc in one easy, nourishing meal.
Finally, for anyone who feels they no longer recognise their cycle (or body!), what are three simple things they can do to support themselves?
I always recommend women to start tracking their cycle as a first step and to take note of the shifts they’re experiencing. These may look different from what you knew before birth and that’s completely normal, especially for your first few periods. Documenting your cycle length, flow, energy, mood, and symptoms is a great way to learn more about yourself in a short period of time. It’s also a good way to recognise patterns, or anything that you’d like to look into further.
Prioritise nourishment over restriction. This is not the time to start dieting, so be kind to yourself and to your body. It needs an abundance of nutrient dense foods to heal and rebalance postpartum. If you under-eat, you will further throw your hormonal health off balance.
Lastly, get the right support. If you’re feeling something is persistently ‘off’, speak up for yourself and request a full hormonal panel. Checking your thyroid levels and nutrients such as Iron, Vitamin D and sex hormones can give you and your health provider a huge amount of insight into what’s happening internally. So many women are told that feeling depleted and out of whack after having a baby is just part of motherhood, and frankly, that’s not true.
See more Ask The Experts advice here.
