Not having your period for nine or so months while pregnant has to be one of the biggest pregnancy perks! But, your period can’t be avoided forever and its return is inevitable. Pregnancy creates permanent changes to a menstruators anatomy, and this is true for those who’ve had a cesarean or vaginal birth. Here are some vital things to know about using a menstrual cup after pregnancy, as well as some key bodily changes to look out for.

Postnatal bleeding

Don’t use your ultra-soft menstrual cup to collect post-partum blood. Postnatal bleeding can last anywhere from four to six weeks, and is a crucial part of your body’s healing process. It includes clots, blood and tissue and NEEDS to be excreted not collected. You should never use a menstrual cup or even a tampon to manage postnatal bleeding as this could increase your risk of infection. Reusable pads or maternity pads would be the best option to manage postnatal bleeding. Once the bleeding ends you need to go for your postnatal check up. Here you can find out from your doctor when you can start using your ultra-soft menstrual cup again.

Changes to menstrual flow and cup size

If you’re breastfeeding your period won’t return until you stop, this is because the breastfeeding hormone prolactin reduces estrogen which is needed for menstruation and ovulation to occur. No matter when your period decides to make its grand entrance again the chances of there being changes to your menstrual flow and cycle are quite high. It’s common to experience a heavier flow with some cramps for your first few cycles as your body and hormones get back into the swing of things.

Your pelvic floor muscles will have weakened due to the pregnancy, so your body’s ability to hold a menstrual cup in place would have more than likely changed. This means that you may find that your menstrual cup doesn’t fit as snug as it used to, and you may need to go up a size.

There’s a chance your cervix may have either dropped or tilted slightly after the pregnancy. This means the way you insert the cup could change too. This could also influence whether or not you need to change your cup size.