Getting a menstrual cycle after pregnancy happens to all women and is a normal thing.

Pregnant women spend a lot of time trying to find out exactly what will happen to them throughout the pregnancy experience. Some women are however ignorant about what to expect in their menstrual cycle after pregnancy.

Menstrual cycle after pregnancy normally starts with lochia. This is a vaginal discharge that occurs the first two week after childbirth. The discharge normally contains a mixture of placenta tissue, mucous and blood.

The menstrual cycle after pregnancy may delay for about 6 or 5 months. It normally gets a little irregular and even erratic for a few months. Because the blood takes time to get back to its normal functioning, most women experience a very heavy flow during this time.

After delivery, the menstrual period is normally preceded by menstrual cramps and PMS. However, in a matter of months, these symptoms usually disappear. The first menstrual cycle after pregnancy is usually hard and uncomfortable. This is because your body has been through a series of changes and still continues to undergo changes.

Breastfeeding is a major factor that affects the menstrual cycle after pregnancy. The body will be trying to get used to breastfeeding and so it might stop or delay the menstrual cycle. However, this all depends on how regularly you are breastfeeding.

Prolactin is a hormone that is produced at the pituitary glands during breast feeding. The hormone suppresses ovulation and other ovaries functions. The irregular menstruation is also caused by this hormone since the ovulation process has been stopped. This however may stop after 4 months and the normal menstrual cycle will resume. At first it may appear thicker and heavier than normal but with time these too will change.

However, if the woman is also practicing bottle feeding, she may get back her normal period earlier. This is between a period of 1 or 2 months.

A few women will however no get their normal menstrual period back after child birth. There are some few things they are advised to do to help with this. Exercises and diet are the easiest measures to take. Mild exercises and a well nutritious balanced diet having all nutrients and essential minerals are essential.

Consuming a lot of junk food and alcohol will not help but worsen the situation. Water, vegetables and fruits should also constitute a great percentage of your diet. Setting aside time for rest land relaxation will also work magic. Too much stress will make your body not to function properly.