When Oh When

After your delivery, you will experience bleeding for about four to six weeks. After that, your periods could resume anytime between two to nine months after pregnancy.

However, this depends on whether you are lactating or not.

Usually, if you are still lactating, your periods might take longer to resume. Anytime between seven to nine months is expected.

However, in spite of lactation, you could get your menses after two or three months. In fact, some women get their periods only after they stop breast feeding.

According to Dr. Satish N Tibrewala, from the Lady Ratan Tata Medical & Research Centre, don't worry if your periods don't begin. In fact, research from Africa has shown that women who breastfeed their babies at regular intervals even though there is no milk, tend to "delay" the onset of menstruation. Some women don't even get their menses for a year or two after their delivery. However, there is no medical problem associated with this.

If you have sex within six weeks of your delivery, you could get an infection because your uterus has not regained its original shape. Hence, protection is a must.

You might find some change in the pattern of your menses after pregnancy. Usually, the flow becomes a little heavy as compared to what you might have had earlier.

Also, in usual cases, menstrual cramps could be comparatively lesser. However, the opposite could also be true.

Sex Again?

Remember, if your menses have not started at any point after delivery, there is a chance that you might be pregnant. So, get regular check-ups done, to make sure.

If you have sex during this time period, make sure you use adequate protection like condoms while having sex.

Most doctors advise you to wait for a minimum of six weeks before you start taking contraceptive pills.

(With inputs from: Kolkata based gynaecologist Dr. Janak Hartnett and Mumbai based gynaecologist Dr. Ravindra Narsapur)