Postpartum bleeding

peanutmuse · February 2014

Just curious how long others experienced significant bleeding?

I had a couple of days where it slowed down last week, but then on Sunday I started having more bright red gushes and some small pea size clots. Part of me thinks this is normal but part of me is worried that it isn't. I think I'm bleeding enough to exacerbate my anemia. I was decently anemic after my c/s, but have never been able to stomach iron pills. I was trying to just add iron-rich foods to my diet, but I'm not sure how well it's working. The symptoms of anemia are so vague and attributable to other things (like not sleeping!) that it's hard to say. But today I noticed that I was huffing and puffing while carrying the baby up and down the stairs. That's new and bothersome.

I have my postpartum appt on Tuesday, so of course it will be addressed then. But I wondered if others had a lot of late bleeding like me?

ETA: I am 4 weeks pp.

SandFHasse · February 2014

I'm almost 3 weeks pp and my bleeding has been the same way. It'll be lighter or stop then get heavy with clots again. I don't know if its doing anything to my anemia though. I've been taking an iron pill. I had my 2 week appt and didn't think to ask.

Wish I could be of more help.

sugarland726 · February 2014

PP bleeding typically ebbs and flows for awhile. Almost all of us will have a few days where we think it is over and then we are proven wrong the next morning. I also felt very short of breath one night (within my first week home) and I got very worried. A friend told me that it could be related to blood loss, so I went home, ate a steak, and it was fine the next morning.

However, with your history of anemia, I wouldn't chalk anything up to just normal stuff and I would err on the side of more caution.

The short answer is that I bled for about 3.5 weeks.

cnwilbur1030 · February 2014

My bleeding slowed a lot by the end of the first week. However it picked up heavy again the second for another full week. I think just as long as there's not continuous gushing or big clots it's ok.

CopperT0p · February 2014

My bleeding was heaviest in the first week. The second week it slowed down a bit, but I started having some big clots (the size of a playing card). My midwife was fine with that. The colour in the second week started getting darker. The third week the flow faded some more and turned lighter. I had a bunch of stringy clots and pea sized clots This past week the flow has gotten lighter as well. I maybe have 3-4 spots on pads in one day the size of a quarter each. I get more flow if I do heavy lifting or exercise. At this rate I expect to only have a few more days, at most a week of bleeding left. With DS1 I had a similar pattern, only my bleeding stopped at 4 weeks then started for a few more days at 6 weeks PP.

My midwife always said to call if I could soak a regular size pad front to back and side to side in an hour. I never had bleeding that heavily, even immediately post delivery.

If you aren't feeling 'normal' I would be tempted to call to see what they say. I would be scared of what could happen if I went too far beyond acceptable blood loss with the anemia factored in.

LabPupLuv · February 2014

I was just about to post something similar @peanutmuse! I stopped bleeding pp at around 3 1/2 weeks. Now at 4 1/2 weeks pp I started up again with a bright red steady flow. I think it's my period but I'm BFing! I know my supply has been weak and I've been forced to supplement with a bottle about 3 or 4 times a day but come on!!! Ugh.

Hmvbaby14 · February 2014

I stopped bleeding around 4 weeks. At 5 weeks I started the mini pill and at 6 weeks I got what I describe as a light period for 5 days. Now at 8 weeks I have had spotting for 2 days now. Wtf? I've just chalked it up to all of the hormonal changes going on in my body. I also had a horrible ugly cry today over something stupid DH did. I haven't done that in a while! Also EBF so if it really is my period double WTF.

peanutmuse · February 2014

I don't think mine is my period yet. I never actually stopped bleeding, just tapered off and got darker for 3.5 weeks. But since Sunday, I've had about 3-4 gushes a day and 10-15 small clots a day -- all bright red and mucous-y. Dr. Google offers varying opinions, ranging from completely normal to you're doing too much to ZOMG, you're going to die.

My guess is that I'm doing too much.

I don't know, maybe it is my period. That would be weird since I am EBF and had only 1 day of slight supply issues but have been fine other than that. I don't know how to tell the difference, since I never stopped bleeding.

RedSaffron · February 2014

I'm going on my 6th week and still lightly bleeding. It was light around a week and a half ago and then the stain became dark/black.

ashleywiz · February 2014

I bled very consistently for 4 1/2 weeks. I only had one day of seeing clots, and it was when I was far more active than I should have been on that day (I think I was a week PP with a super energy burst and used it to conquer the world). I am 6 weeks pp now and still have some stupid pinkish discharge that I'm hoping eases up soon, because it is staaannky.

I hope yours lets up soon- it's so annoying. Didn't we go through enough already?

ashybear · February 2014

peanutmuse said:
I don't think mine is my period yet. I never actually stopped bleeding, just tapered off and got darker for 3.5 weeks. But since Sunday, I've had about 3-4 gushes a day and 10-15 small clots a day -- all bright red and mucous-y.

This is me, pretty much to a T. I'm 4w5d PP and had pretty much tapered off a week who, and the last three days, gushes and clots.

TMI warning: Today I had a Greek salad, and later when I went to wipe and got a clot, I had a moment of wondering if a sundried tomato somehow got done there.

cowscrub · February 2014

I'm in the same boat.. 3 1/2 weeks out. Stopped completely bleeding by day 8 and day 15 the bleeding faucet turned on. Clots and all. It's has ebbed and flowed since. On for a few days, clots, and significant bleeding then it's gone for a few days.. Then back to heavy bleeding and clotting then gone again. Very very aggravating!

ChuggingWater · February 2014

Bled for 3.5 weeks. Then started two nights before six weeks and have yet to stop. Bleeding reoccured prior to iud insertion.

peanutmuse · February 2014

Thanks for sharing, ladies. I'm really thinking the bright red part has to do with doing too much. I just don't think I can do less, so it is what it is!

tootsscott · February 2014

I bled for 4 weeks

mrsjenni · February 2014

I have days, like today, that I barely have any bleeding and days, like yesterday, where I didn't sit down at all and I bled constantly. Both are completely normal. I wouldn't say that you have your period, since you have not stopped bleeding. You usually know for sure when you get your first PP period because it's like the worst thing ever (at least for me... TONS of awful cramping and the bleeding is horrendous... super plus tampon AND a new pad every hour. BLAH.)

Sounds like you're just doing too much. Which, I completely get as well. Hang in there mama.

gina0485 · February 2014

5 weeks today. Still bleeding a but with small (pea size) clots 2-3x a week. The flow is mostly brown but with some bright red. This is putting a damper on possible ST!!! Also it is making my anemia awful too @peanutmuse :-/

nicnique · February 2014

I bled until almost 6 weeks. I would have days where I had no bleeding and then the next day I would have bright red bleeding with small clots. So frustrating.

megngregk · February 2014

I'm a freak. I only soaked my first pad and had stopped bleeding by the time we were discharged. I continued to wear a pad or liner for about 2w because I spotted a little some days and didn't want to risk no protection.

peanutmuse · February 2014

megngregk said:

I'm a freak. I only soaked my first pad and had stopped bleeding by the time we were discharged. I continued to wear a pad or liner for about 2w because I spotted a little some days and didn't want to risk no protection.

@megngregk -- did I say I missed you? I lied. I hate you a little bit right now. Jerk. I really wanted ST this weekend. There's no way my body is ready, obviously. Boooooo.

megngregk · February 2014

peanutmuse said:

megngregk said:

I'm a freak. I only soaked my first pad and had stopped bleeding by the time we were discharged. I continued to wear a pad or liner for about 2w because I spotted a little some days and didn't want to risk no protection.

@megngregk -- did I say I missed you? I lied. I hate you a little bit right now. Jerk. I really wanted ST this weekend. There's no way my body is ready, obviously. Boooooo.

Hey @peanutmuse 's body, stop being an asshole! Mama needs some ST. Get your act together.

That should help you out lady

If it makes you feel better, I tried to start doing some light ab work last week, and for the next two days it felt like my girl parts had been kicked by a Clydesdale. That won't be happening again for a couple more weeks.

In all seriousness, does anybody know if there's any sort of correlation between pp bleeding and regular menstrual periods? Mine were always really light after being on BCP for 10 years (nightmare prior to that, but I try to repress those memories) -- only needed a liner after the first day kind of light. I doubt I'll get as lucky if there's ever a LO 2.0, but a girl can hope.

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