Do you have to have a period after birth ?

[Scrivs88]

Hi ladies , I'm curious to know if you have to have a period after birth or can go straight on conception ? What do you thinks?

[honeysucklejasmine]

You can ovulate before having an obvious bleed to indicate a period, yes. That's why lots of people have very small age gaps.

[HopeAndJoy16]

You will bleed after birth even if you go on contraceptives straight away, regardless of how you give birth also

[StrawberryLemonade]

Do you mean conception as in getting pregnant again, or contraception? Just asking as the post reads as if you're saying do you need to have a period before going on the pill (for example) - answer being no.
Answer is also no if you mean conception, as said above you ovulate before having a period so can definitely get pregnant without having a period.

[RhinoGirl]

I went on the mini pill 3 weeks after giving birth and didn’t have a period first.

[HopeAndJoy16]

Sorry, thought you meant post birth bleeding. No you can start contraception atraigh away. Yiuvcan sometimes get the implant fitted on the postnatal ward!

[Finola1step]

Conception or contraception? A fairly big difference

[Needadvicetoleave]

You have to have lochia after birth (the immediate post birth bleeding but you can go back on the pill as early as 10 days post birth, which is what I did. You don't have to wait for a period before you go back on it.

[Pennywhistle]

I didn’t have a period for two years after my twins were born.

I can assure you that I started contraception considerably earlier than that!

[Justbookedasummmerholiday]

I know sisters less than 10 months apart so take no chances op!

[Pennywhistle]

The midwives generally discuss this stuff before you leave the hospital.

[beckythomas]

I am curious to know about this as I am expecting a baby soon. My sister had period after say 8 to 9 months time. She was breast feeding so, it took that time. Else, period can come sooner I think.

[Hmmalittlefishy]

You bleed after the birth and then when your periods return will depend on whether you are breastfeeding or not and if so how often.
You can be, however, incredibly fertile straight after birth whether you have had a period or not and do need contraception in place (unless you want 2 close in age children of course)
Midwices/health visitors do talk about it but it's always a good idea to think before you have a baby/sleep deprived/ post birth fog

[GummyGoddess]

My periods returned within 6 weeks despite breastfeeding, I am also pregnant despite still breastfeeding, it is not a contraceptive!

I also feel cheated that the lack of period was touted as a benefit to breastfeeding by the midwives, I wanted to lay on the floor wailing "It's not faaaaaair!" when it arrived (I didn't).

[Scrivs88]

Thanking you ladies!! Really good to know !!