How common is a change in period length after first child?
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Anonymous
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We'd like to have #2 and have been trying for a while. I went off the pill, and my periods have gotten significantly shorter than they used to be. (I posted earlier when I was shocked about this -- I used to be pretty consistently 32 days, but now they are 27 days. I never had anything less than 30 days in my life before a few months ago.)
Is this pretty common? Why would this change? Should I be worried it has something to do with hormones or capacity to conceive? I'm in my early 30s. |
Anonymous
| My cycle stayed about the same - 30 days - but the period itself was different. They're shorter and much heavier now. Basically 48 hours from start to finish, but boy what a 48 hours. Doctor says these kinds of changes are normal. |
Anonymous
| Just another way kids mess with you. My hair went crazy after having kids too. |
Anonymous
| OP, if you are worried something is off, go with your gut and just get it checked out. My periods were drastically different after my first child - much shorter and lighter. For three years, my OB told me it was nothing and that this was normal even though I strongly felt something was off. Then I had trouble conceiving #2, and after consulting an RE discovered through an HSG that I had severe uterine scarring blocking both of my tubes, probably resulting from my c-section. |
Anonymous
| 27 isn't short enough to be worrisome, and some change is normal due to childbirth or just aging. But if you've been trying a while, I would encourage you to get a checkup. Why not? It's good to do well-woman visits. |
Anonymous
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OP here. Thanks! I actually had a well-woman visit back in October and was told everything looked good. I was just stopping the pill at that time and hadn't had my first post-pill period yet, so this didn't come up.
I'm not sure I think something is off, but I'm just surprised by the changes. I got used to a longer cycle and was expecting it again, and that also has changed when we are trying to conceive, since it was more like 18 days into my cycle instead of 12 or 14. Thanks -- my hair also got kind of weird after my first kid.  Much curlier!
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Anonymous
| If you've only had your period back for a few months, it doesn't necessarily indicate any problem that you haven't had success yet. But still, I think if you're concerned it's fine to go in. I am trying for #2 and it's been a long, hard road despite #1 happening very easily. Not to worry you, but looking back I wish I had been more proactive. |
Anonymous
| PP, do you know what's causing the additional challenges with #2? We didn't immediately get pregnant with #1 (took about 5 months, but we weren't freaking out if we didn't have sex every possible fertile day during that period or anything). I'm just curious what could even be the cause of a change. I know a PP mentioned scarring. I didn't have a C with the first -- is there still a risk of it? |
Anonymous
Unfortunately, I don't know. There may not be anything wrong beyond bad luck. Started trying in March 2014 when DD was 18m. Got pregnant in 2 months, chemical pregnancy. 4 months later, got pregnant again, MC at 9 weeks. No problems were identified with either MC. I just had my second failed month of post-MC trying, and I'm seeing an RE in a few weeks for a thorough checkup. I chart but don't temp-- getting pregnant obviously isn't the problem. Doing a lot of acupuncture. It's been really really hard on me personally and professionally as I was very sick with the third pregnancy, and I'm running out of time to have a baby before my current job contract ends. I really had no idea that this would happen to me, but problems with #2 are apparently pretty common. |
Anonymous
As for possible problems, it really could be anything. A fertility problem may arise at any time in a woman's life, not necessarily caused by the earlier pregnancy. Thyroid, endometriosis, anemia, I think scarring can happen without a C, and apparently you can have immune issues with #2 as well. You might want to get an exam and Day 3 labs just to be sure. Also, how is your DH? He can develop a fertility problem at any time too, of course. |
Anonymous
Oh, 10:22, I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time! That sounds really frustrating and exhausting.  I hope things start going better soon.
I think stress and exhaustion are an issue for me, so good point about acupuncture. I've also been trying to get back into yoga, which helped a lot during my first pregnancy. If I can do it before #2, that would be ideal. Are there things I could tell if I start doing the ovulation kits and stuff? This is totally new to me -- I didn't ever do this with #1 and wasn't in a big hurry. I'm not trying to be in a hurry with #2 because I know it could take a while, but I'm also ready to get pregnant SOON. The timing is going to be worse if we wait longer because of the gap between them and my own getting older. So, what I'm asking is, would this tell me if there's any possible problem rather than just bad luck thus far, or is there no way to know without an appointment with a doc? I was on anti-depressants after my first was born due to PPD and anxiety, and I took them up until about a year ago. I was ready to start trying sooner to get pregnant but wanted to fully wean off the anti-depressants first. Now I know I've only literally been trying to get pregnant for a couple of months, but it feels like forever because I started the weaning process with the anti-depressants so long ago, and that felt like part of the trying-to-get-pregnant process! So it feels like it's taking forever.
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Anonymous
Thanks hon. It totally does feel like it's been taking forever! And it's hard with so many of my mom friends having their second already, and soon my DD will be old enough to ask for a sibling... But I try to stay positive. I've met several woman who had two MCs between their children-- it isn't that uncommon. I recommend you read Taking Charge Of Your Fertility, if you haven't already. This will help you to identify when you are ovulating, and if you don't see any ovulation signs then you know you have a problem. With the ovulation kits, you just buy a big pack from Amazon, then pee on a strip and when they turn positive, you're about to ovulate. This can help you make sure you're doing it at the right part of the month, and also tell you whether you're actually ovulating. That's about all these methods can tell you, unfortunately. For other problems you will need to go to a doctor and get an exam and blood test. I would say just go to the doctor. It isn't a big deal to get a pre-conception checkup. For acupuncture, make sure you are seeing a fertility specialist. There are lots of good recs on this board. |
Anonymous
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My cycle also went from 30 days pre-pregnancy to 27 days post-pregnancy. I didn't get my period back until DS was 14 months old, and with the exception of a couple off cycles it's been consistently 27 days, sometimes with slight spotting the day before CD1. It's also shorter and heavier than before.
I had a rough time with PPD/PPA and DS had some chronic illnesses that prevented us from TTC until DS turned 2. I've also been charting CM and using ovulation strips. We're on cycle 4 with no luck just yet...but I'm 37 so age may not be on my side. I will note -if you just went off of BC in October, it may be that things are still regulating! I have read that B6 supplementation may lengthen your luteal phase and thus your cycle. 2nd PP above who recommended Taking Charge of Your Fertility - it is amazingly helpful! |
Anonymous
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OP again. Thanks for the suggestions and help! 11:04, I know I sound stupid, but just hearing your description of what it means to use an ovulation kit is seriously so reassuring and helpful. I thought it was going to be really complicated and irritating!
11:14, you sound a lot like me (although my period came back much sooner after #1 -- like 4 or 5 months, and then I went back on the pill). Good luck! |
Anonymous
My pleasure. I was just describing the little lutenizing hormone strips, if you get the Clearblue Fertility Monitor it is more complicated. I've never tried one of those. We just try to do it at least every other day, all month.  That way we can't miss the ovulation no matter when it is.
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