Menstrual cups · 7 min read
Using a menstrual cup after giving birth – yes or no?
While a caesarean section does not change the height of your cervix, it may have dropped after a vaginal birth. If you were already using a menstrual cup before, you may now need a different one. But even if you have never used a menstrual cup before and want to start now, after giving birth, this guide will help you find out which cup is best for you.
Your first period after giving birth
The first menstrual period starts five to six weeks after a vaginal delivery at the earliest, which comes as a relief to many mothers – after the strain of childbirth, it is one thing less to worry about. During these period-free weeks, the uterus shrinks back and your hormone levels settle down.
If you don't breastfeed or pump, your period returns earlier
If you don't breastfeed or pump milk after giving birth, your first ovulation often happens a little earlier, around three weeks after the birth. Accordingly, your first period also arrives earlier, around five weeks after giving birth. The exact timing also depends on how long the postpartum recovery period lasts. For mothers with several children, it takes considerably longer.
Many gynaecologists recommend avoiding tampons or a menstrual cup in the first six weeks after giving birth – that is, during the postpartum period. The lochia (postpartum bleeding) must be able to drain freely, otherwise the risk of a bacterial infection increases significantly.
If you give birth by caesarean section, the lochia lasts for a shorter time compared with a vaginal birth, which is why the first period also arrives earlier.
Breastfeeding delays the first period after giving birth
Because breastfeeding has a major influence on your hormone balance, it inhibits the maturing of the eggs in the ovaries and with it the onset of the first ovulation. The result: your first period after giving birth is delayed. For most breastfeeding mothers who nurse at least every four hours, menstruation only returns after weaning.
Lochia or period?
The colour of the lochia changes in the weeks after the birth. During the first week after giving birth, while the wound left by the detachment of the placenta is healing, the bleeding is particularly heavy. The discharge is reddish and contains tissue residue.
From the second week the lochia becomes weaker and more brownish.
Towards the end of the postpartum period, the lochia is whitish and becomes weaker and weaker. The end of the lochia is then followed by the first period after the birth. The menstrual bleeding starts, as usual, heavier and has a light to dark red colour.
Does your period change after giving birth?
Often the first period after giving birth is heavier, more painful and longer than what you were used to before. However, this usually settles down quickly over the following cycles – the bleeding may even become lighter and shorter than it was before pregnancy.
Don't worry if your menstrual cycle is not regular after pregnancy. Give your body the time it needs. It is best to keep a cycle calendar; if your period still hasn't settled down after the first few months, talk to your doctor about it.
Can I use a menstrual cup for my first period after giving birth?
Many gynaecologists recommend avoiding tampons or a menstrual cup in the first six weeks after giving birth – that is, during the postpartum period. The lochia must be able to drain freely, otherwise the risk of a bacterial infection increases significantly.
Our solutions for the postpartum period
Use the special maternity pads designed for heavy bleeding. On the maternity ward, these are often provided in the bathrooms. Alternatively, we can also recommend our bladder weakness underwear: it can absorb up to 40 ml of liquid, is washable and reusable, and is as comfortable as normal underwear – without any nappy feeling.
Towards the end of the lochia, normal pads or panty liners are sufficient. Here we can recommend our washable, reusable cloth pads and panty liners. You can also use them during your normal period or for discharge. Alternatively, you can use our comfortable period underwear. You can wear the washable briefs during your period, on their own or in combination with a menstrual cup.
You can read more about the benefits of our period underwear in “8 benefits of period underwear”.
As soon as your first period after the delivery starts, you can use a menstrual cup.
If you didn't use a menstrual cup before giving birth, the questionnaire in our guide article “Menstrual cup sizes: find the right cup quickly & easily” will certainly help you find the right cup for you.
After a vaginal birth, the pelvic floor muscles are often weakened by the stretching. A menstrual cup helps you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles (again). That is why it is also recommended by many gynaecologists.
I already used a menstrual cup before giving birth – what do I need to bear in mind now?
During pregnancy and through childbirth, the body changes, and that can affect the right size and firmness of your menstrual cup.
Size
After a vaginal delivery, many people who menstruate find that their period cup no longer fits. If it slips, it is best to switch to a larger cup. If, however, your uterus has dropped as a result of the birth, you will be better off with a shorter cup.
The dimensions of our menstrual cups
| Size | Length | Diameter | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 58 mm | 32 mm | 21 ml |
| M | 62 mm | 35 mm | 33 ml |
| L | 67 mm | 38 mm | 33 ml |
Of course, you can first try the menstrual cup you already used before the delivery. If you don't experience any pain – which could happen if the cup presses against your cervix – you can keep using it.
If you experience pain or a feeling of pressure, it is best to measure the height of your cervix again.
If you find that the cup still fits but leaks a little more often, it may be that the period cup is too firm and slips out of place. If your period is heavier than before the birth, you will probably need to empty your cup more often now. But before you switch to a larger cup, first check whether that suits the height of your cervix.
Pelvic floor muscles
The pelvic floor muscles are often weakened after a vaginal birth and need to be built up again – otherwise there is a risk of later incontinence or even vaginal prolapse.
There are special training programmes for this, involving a number of gymnastic exercises. Using a period cup also helps to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles again.
In any case, it is important not to use a cup that is too firm at first. If you used our Active menstrual cup before giving birth, we now recommend our softer Premium cup.
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