Postpartum Bleeding & Period: What's Normal After Delivery?

Question
is it normal to bleed a month after delivery is it to soon or is that right on time and normal

Answer
Are you talking about starting your period a month after delivery? Most of the time, if you are not breastfeeding, your period will start 6-8 weeks after birth.  If you are breastfeeding, it will probably take longer.

Bleeding at 4 weeks may be postpartum bleeding and not your period, especially if you are breastfeeding.  Try to take it easy for a day or two and see if it stops.  If you are doing too much too soon after the birth, it is not unusual for postpartum bleeding to resume.

However, for some women, their periods do start up again at 4 weeks, so it may just be your period, especially if you are not breastfeeding.  It's on the early side of normal, but it is not too early.

Mention it to your doctor or midwife when you go in for your 6 week checkup after the birth.  They should be able to tell you if everything seems to have healed properly and whether they think it was postpartum bleeding or your period.

Dorothy Haines, LCCE