First Period in over 2 Years!

Personal, health, menstruation

Menstruation finally came!!! If you’ve been following my work or know me, you’d know that the past year has been largely dedicated to female health. And finally, after all the podcasts, books, photo projects and discussions based on periods… I finally got mine back!

Before removing my IUD out in January, I attempted to track the irregular cycle my body had while dealing with hormonal contraception. I seed cycled, synced my business up with my cycle, and studied extensively the FAM method so that Alex & I would be ready and responsible. The first month off the IUD I noticed some soft spotting, and by the next month had rolled around it was a full-on bleed baby!!

And believe it or not, I felt absolutely zero pain!

Some experience the worst cramps of their life during their first few bleeds post IUD, but I accredit this cramp-free period to many things that helped me regulate my hormones and get my cycle back on track.

01. Seed Cycling

I started seed cycling for eight months before removing my IUD. Seed cycling involves 4 different seeds: pumpkin, flax, sesame and sunflower. While on your period and during ovulation you add 1 Tbsp pumpkin and 1 Tbsp flax seeds to your daily meals, and after ovulation before your next period you add 1 Tbsp sesame and 1 Tbsp sunflower!

I feel like this helped my body establish a rhythm, and the nutrients the seeds contain are particularly helpful during the different menstrual phases as hormones fluctuate.

02. Menstrual Herbal Tea Blend

As a fair warning, this tastes horrible. I only drank it twice about 2 weeks before my period and I really think it’s the main reason I had no cramping. So, if you’re really desperate, this can’t be skipped! All of these herbs are superstars in both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for female health.

3 tsp chasteberry

3 tsp Dong Quai

3 tsp dandelion leaves

3 tsp burplerium

3 tsp rose hips

3 Tbsp raspberry leaves

2 tsp tangerine peel

Make sure to crush or grind any whole spices, and mix them all together. In a full mug of steaming hot water add about 1-2 tsp of the blend. Let it steep for 10 minutes, and then drink it as fast as you can haha.

03. Perelel Prenatals & Filtered Water

I also began taking Perelel Prenatals about 2 months before my successful period. These prenatals have SO many good nutrients like magnesium and zinc (among so many others), but those two specifically that help with cramping and hormonal regulation.

I think that because my body was stocked with all the vitamins and minerals needed, it was prepared and ready for the period. My bleed lasted a clean 3 days and was truly pain free.

This Upcoming Month

Writing this, I’ve just passed Ovulation and am about 2 weeks out from my next bleed. I’ve had the herbal tea twice already, take prenatals daily, and seed cycle right now about every other day. I got a little light-headed last period, so this go around I’m going to be sure to plan meals that have lots of iron in them to account for the loss.

As always, the most important thing is that you learn your body and what it needs. Taking time to study the repeating patterns will help you make adjustments

Happy bleeding mes amis!

Bisous! Alexa Ditto