Welcome back to the period club! I had my son 6 months ago TODAY and I have to admit, it was both the best AND scariest thing I have ever done.  I wanted to share with you my experiences postpartum and re-joining the world of PERIODS!

We were planning on having a natural birth, no epidural, no intervention.  I was induced for 36 hours with NO DILATION.  So we opted for a non-emergency C-section.  I am telling you this, as nothing was physically based through my birth canal, but it doesn’t lessen my trauma (mental and emotional).

I had no idea that I would bleed as much as I did postpartum, I thought that only happened if you had a baby vaginally.  As it turns out, those beautiful, postpartum adult diapers and mesh underwear are for ALL women having babies! I just had a baby, my life changed in ways I couldn’t imagine yet, I couldn’t move fully after having a major surgery and on top of all that my uterus was shedding its lining like the worst period I have ever had.  I denied heavy medication because I truly didn’t feel too badly, I just wanted to get out of bed! About 6 weeks later the bleeding completely subsided and in the frenzy of being a new mom, I forgot about it until now!

When it comes to postpartum periods, it’s common for them to return anywhere between 4 days (if you aren’t breastfeeding) or up to several months (if you are breastfeeding). The hormone prolactin, that causes you to make milk, also prevents you from ovulating and getting your period.  This is where the myth comes from that you cannot get pregnant while breastfeeding, but I digress!

One morning I woke up with a small cramp (sharp and quick) and figured it was something I ate.  At 5.5 months and exclusively breastfeeding, I have to admit not getting my period was a huge PERK!  But lo and behold, I went to the bathroom to find a small bit of blood on my underwear. I kept monitoring throughout the day thinking “there’s no way this is my period, I am breastfeeding!”. And then, THERE SHE WAS!!! Full bloody blood in my underwear (should have thought to use a pad before!) and then all of the thoughts and emotions hit me.

My first reaction was “fuck” so I sat with that and tried to figure out why because I’ve never disliked my period. Then here came my train of thought…

Reactive Me: “It’s been nice not having my period because it’s an inconvenience.”  

Mindful Me: “Why?”

Reactive Me: “It’s something else I have to be responsible for. I have to make sure I don’t bleed on everything so I have to wear a pad or tampon. Then I have to be responsible for changing them. What if I get crazy hormones and emotional fluctuations like before?”

Mindful Me: “Well, I am in a MUCH more mature place to recognize and act on them.”

Reactive Me: “But it’s still unfair to have to breastfeed my son AND take care of my period. Omg so women get their period at such a young age to teach responsibility? Men have nothing to be responsible for in their own body.”

Mindful Me: “Wait, that’s not true. But men don’t TAKE responsibility. Also not true, but it is definitely DIFFERENT for women and girls.” If I have my period that means I can have another baby and I’m normal! 

That day my husband went out to buy me pads (remember those first 6 weeks in adult diapers??) And two days after that he went out to buy me more tampons, since I bled through one, my underwear AND my leggings.  It was at this point that I realized a few things.

1. Having my period is completely NORMAL.

2. It really isn’t affecting me (except for having to remember to change my female products!)

3. I am fully capable of taking care of myself AND my son.

4. My husband is fully capable of helping to take care of ME during this transition.

To conclude, do I feel overly grateful to have my period again? Yes and no.  For me, getting my period less than 6 months postpartum felt overwhelming at first.  But that was just my reactive mind falling back into old habits and thought patterns.  But my life has changed IMMENSELY since I last had my period 14 months ago.  So in addition to changing my life, I am changing my mindset around my period. 

For me, this means I am washing away the negative thoughts.  I am letting go of the shame I have. I am opening up the conversation and sharing my story.  I am joining the movement to NORMALIZE MY POSTPARTUM PERIOD!

Want to know how you can join us in normalizing the period just like Jenna? 

• Make a statement with your clothing & buy a Normalize the Period product. Don’t forget that $1 from every product purchased goes towards a re-education program for young girls.

• Join the Free the Womb Facebook group and get actively involved in how we change the conversation to be one of more acceptance & inclusion.

• Tag us in any posts that raise awareness for important women’s issues, we’re here to spread the word.

Author - Jenna Bill, Normalize the Period team