3 Things you need to know about postpartum periods

If you’ve had a baby, or several babies, you know your body goes through some major changes. I mean come on, you built a HUMAN inside your uterus! The way you take care of yourself during and after pregnancy is  important (obviously), but are you prepared for your postpartum periods? It’s a subject everyone expecting or planning to have a baby should know, because all bodies will have different experiences.

The ladies at Lunette Australia give us the inside scoop on everything you need to know about postpartum periods and using menstrual cups.

Will you bleed straight after giving birth?

Chances are, yes! Remember, it’s totally normal to bleed postpartum. In fact, those giving birth lose a good amount of blood during and after delivery.

The amount of time it lasts varies between bodies. Lunette team member Susan Johns from New Zealand says her bleeding lasted 17 days with her first baby, and 15 days with her second. It’s important to be open to having a different experience after each delivery, and know that it will go away after a few days or weeks.

Keep in mind that postpartum bleeding is not exactly your menstrual cycle, it’s just a sign that your body is getting rid of that extra blood and tissue in your uterus that helped your baby develop!

You won’t get a period while you’re breastfeeding

Although it would be nice to say, “You’ll be period-free while you breastfeed!” there are still some people, like Lunette President Cathy Chapman, who experience a period while breastfeeding.

At the time, Cathy asked herself, “What the heck, I thought since I was breastfeeding I wouldn’t get my period until I stopped nursing?!”

This was especially surprising because breastfeeding is the biggest factor in determining when you’ll get your period due to prolactin, the hormone responsible for breast-milk production, which stops ovulation. However, her second period came six months after she stopped breastfeeding. Needless to say, hormones are crazy.

We can’t speak for everyone, but for most people who get their periods while they’re still breastfeeding it could be because they aren’t nursing as often. This happens during the sleep training phase. It can also occur when you introduce solid foods to your baby, meaning you could be breastfeeding less!

Can you use a menstrual cup during your postpartum bleeding or periods?

Lunette doesn’t recommend using your cup for the postnatal bleeding phase because of inflammation risks!

Wait until your postpartum doctor appointment and ask for their opinion to see if your cervix is fully closed. If they give you the okay, then you’ll be ready to use your Lunette cup again!

Lunette is an international business with the goal of making your period a little easier using menstrual cups. Lunette menstrual cups are designed, developed and packaged with the environment at heart. It’s also the best alternative to disposable period products, which pollute the planet. For more information, go to lunette.com.au

 

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By Angela Sutherland
After spending many years hustling stories on busy editorial desks around the world, Angela is now mum of two little ones and owner/editor at Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City. She is an atrocious cook and loves cutting shapes to 90s dance music. Angela is the editor of Kids on the Coast - a free family magazine whats on guide for Kids: things to do, school holiday fun and free activities for kids... Fun attractions, family food & travel, kids health & wellbeing, kids parties venues, parenting, pregnancy & babies, guide for parents. Servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond, Kids on the Coast is an online guide for parents with kids things to do with kids, schools and education and lifestyle news located on Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & Brisbane, QLD.

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