Postpartum bleeding still lingering- anybody else?

PolarBear517 · September 2017

I gave birth on Friday 6/23, So I'm about 10 weeks & 4 days postpartum today. I had an easy birth except that my placenta didn't detach on its own the midwife had to page the OB to extract it manually and then it came out in pieces, so it was a long process.

At my 6 week checkup the midwife told me that most women stop bleeding by the 6 week point. I have been bleeding lightly enough that I don't need pads, only panty liners, since about 2 weeks postpartum, but it just won't quit. It's a pink or sometimes brown blood, not bright red. I am almost exclusively pumping (still try to latch & do sometimes). I do pump about 45 ounces a day & have not had to supplement with formula thus far. So, considering the color & amount of blood, paired with the fact that I'm exclusively feeding my daughter with breastmilk, I am 99.5% certain that the bleeding isn't menstrual-cycle related.

The midwife told me to call back if I hadn't stopped bleeding "between 10 and 12 weeks" but when I called today she said to wait until 12 weeks, and also suggested the bleeding may be the return of my period (see reason for my doubt above). This is all passed on second-hand through a nurse so I wasn't really able to respond to the provider directly with my concerns. But, I'm beginning to get a little nervous about retained products, especially considering my delivery. I'm also hesitant to get too pushy and advocate for an exam because this was my first pregnancy and I want to respect the medical opinion of my providers. It hasn't stopped me from being nervous, though!

Anyone else still bleeding this far out? Or, earlier June moms, anyone stop bleeding between 10 & 12 weeks?

Thanks!

sejica · September 2017

Despite exclusively breastfeeding and bed sharing, my period came back at 7 wk pp. My pp bleeding stopped around 6.5 wk pp. Yeah, not much of a break. Cesarean delivery.

MrsCaliRN · September 2017

I'm still bleeding over here at 10wks postpartum (DD born 6/27) and I actually thought I was done bleeding around 6.5wks, but it persisted but has been very, very light. I'm pretty certain mine is from overdoing it (I've been on the treadmill 45 mins/day 4-5 days/week since my 6wk postpartum check up so I could look good for a college friend's wedding. Plus I've got a DS who turned 2 in June. Since my flow is really light and not accompanied by clots, cramps or a fever, I'm just chalking it up to me doing too much.

I am surprised your doctor isn't wanting to at least send you in to get an ultrasound if your bleeding is bothering you enough to report it. If you're really concerned you should let her know you'd really like to be seen ASAP. She could do a pelvic exam and maybe even recommend a treatment like ibuprofen or the pill as a trial to see if they can control or stop the bleeding.

My plan is to watch it for the next week and give my OB a call if it's still going on.

kdanjou · September 2017

It sounds like you have a plan to wait and see until 12 weeks, so that's good. I can relate to the worry. I stopped bleeding around 5-6 weeks PP (c-section) but I've had two days of very very light pink spotting since which worried me. What really helped me stop bleeding PP was red raspberry leaf tea. I make an iced tea with it and I think it tastes good. My doctor told me to take aleive(?) I think to help with it too. I didn't take any because I am trying to avoid meds while breastfeeding. Hope yours clears up soon!

redheeler · September 2017

I'm not still bleeding, but just wanted to let you know that I have been EBFing since day 1, and my period returned at 8 weeks PP and I've only had 15 day cycles since it's return.

wife-and-mommy · September 2017

I would have been nervous too, but reading the responses made me less nervous for you.

MrsCaliRN · September 2017

MrsCaliRN said:

I'm still bleeding over here at 10wks postpartum (DD born 6/27) and I actually thought I was done bleeding around 6.5wks, but it persisted but has been very, very light. I'm pretty certain mine is from overdoing it (I've been on the treadmill 45 mins/day 4-5 days/week since my 6wk postpartum check up so I could look good for a college friend's wedding. Plus I've got a DS who turned 2 in June. Since my flow is really light and not accompanied by clots, cramps or a fever, I'm just chalking it up to me doing too much.

I am surprised your doctor isn't wanting to at least send you in to get an ultrasound if your bleeding is bothering you enough to report it. If you're really concerned you should let her know you'd really like to be seen ASAP. She could do a pelvic exam and maybe even recommend a treatment like ibuprofen or the pill as a trial to see if they can control or stop the bleeding.

My plan is to watch it for the next week and give my OB a call if it's still going on.

Want to follow up that my bleeding has officially stopped. I'll be 11 weeks postpartum tomorrow.

PolarBear517 · September 2017

Thank you everyone... the bleeding does appear to have stopped & today was my first day no panty liners! I'm cautiously optimistic. Mid-week last week my bleeding turned back to bright red but remained very light. I'm wondering if pp bleeding did lead right into my first pp period although it was maybe 1/3 the flow I'd expect before baby. I've been lucky enough that DD sleeps 6 to 7 hour stretches at night, so my pumping sessions have been spaced 6.5 to 8 hours apart overnight & I suppose that may be just enough to lose the protective effect against menstrual cycles. I'll be interested to see if AF shows up in October & if it'll just be a regular thing or if this was more of a fluke. Hmmm.

lovesclimbing · September 2017

I'm not any more but I bled for what felt like a very long time. And then it was almost gone and then came back, almost too heavy for a pantiliner. This was in the 7-8 week range.

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Postpartum bleeding still lingering- anybody else?

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