The return of your period
Nine weeks postpartum is the average time for women to start their period again. But it’s not exact: if you are not breastfeeding, your period may start earlier; if you are breastfeeding on demand, it may start later. Half of nursing mothers don’t start menstruation for almost 36 weeks (that is, almost as long as pregnancy itself) [1].
If your period has begun, you can use tampons or whatever products you prefer. The cervix is almost closed, but will never return to the state as it was before the birth. Postpartum the cervix will always be less tightly closed than that of a woman who has not given birth [1].
The vaginal mucosa is restored by this time in those who are not breastfeeding. Vaginal dryness may persist in lactating mothers due to low estrogen levels [1]. Therefore, the thought of sex may not seem very comfortable. Water-based intimate lubricants can be used. Their pH should be 4.5 [2]. If you decide to stop breastfeeding, you may want to curb any breast stimulation during sex, otherwise milk production may continue.
