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Periods after giving birth

Revisado: 4 de octubre de 2026

Solo en inglés por ahora

After birth you bleed for a few weeks, but this is not a period. Periods can return within weeks or after many months, depending on how you feed your baby.

Bleeding after birth is not a period

After you give birth, you bleed from your vagina for a few weeks. This bleeding (lochia) is heavy and bright red at first, so you will need super-absorbent pads. Over the following weeks it gets lighter, turns brownish and then stops. This is a normal part of recovery and is different from your first period. Use pads, not tampons, until after your check-up about 6 weeks after the birth, because tampons can raise the chance of infection.

When periods come back

If you bottle feed, or combine bottle feeding with breastfeeding, your first period could come as soon as 5 to 6 weeks after the birth. If you breastfeed only, your periods may not return for several months, and for some people who keep breastfeeding, not for 1 to 2 years. Your periods may not be the same as before pregnancy, and period pain may feel different. If they have changed and you are worried, talk to a doctor or nurse. Logging your bleeding in Ciclo can help you see when your periods return.

You can get pregnant before your first period

You can get pregnant again as early as 3 weeks after the birth, even if you are breastfeeding and your periods have not come back. This is because your body can release an egg before your first period comes back. If you do not want to get pregnant, start contraception within 21 days of the birth. A doctor, nurse or midwife can help you choose a method that suits you, including while breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding as contraception

Breastfeeding can help prevent pregnancy, but only under strict conditions. This is called the lactational amenorrhoea method. It only works if all of these are true: your baby is under 6 months old, your periods have not come back, and your baby has only breast milk, with no formula or solid food. You also need to breastfeed at least every 4 hours in the day and every 6 hours at night. With typical use it is 98% effective, meaning about 2 in 100 women get pregnant within 6 months. If any condition changes, you need another method.

Heavy bleeding after birth

Get emergency help if your bleeding suddenly gets much heavier or is very heavy, especially if you feel faint or your heart is racing. Contact your midwife or doctor the same day if you soak a pad every 1 to 2 hours, pass large clots, or your bleeding turns bright red again. A check-up is often offered about 6 weeks after the birth.

Other warning signs in the first year

In the year after birth, get medical help straight away if you have a fever of 38°C or higher, severe tummy pain that does not go away, chest pain, trouble breathing, or a painful, red or swollen leg. Do the same for a headache that will not go away or gets worse, changes in your vision, or extreme swelling of your hands or face. Say that you gave birth recently. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, get emergency help or contact a crisis line now.

This is general information. If your bleeding after birth suddenly gets heavier or you feel unwell, contact your midwife or doctor, or get emergency help.