Following on from the "going back to work after 2 weeks" thread... can I ask a TMI question

[emkana]

Now after all my three children I bled SO MUCH for WEEKS that it was just disgusting (sorry, you have been warned).

I had to have those disgusting maternity pads and change them constantly.

I am therefore astonished when I read about people going back to the office after 2 weeks. Just like I was astonished when I saw Penny Lancaster swanning out to dinner 8 days after giving birth.

Am I really that exceptional in bleeding so much ( as well as leaking milk everywhere, which also wasn't very pleasant)?

[Lact8AllThePies]

I was a big soggy mess too! I felt brave going to the shop let alone out for dinner or work!

[themoon66]

No... the Penny Lancasters are the exception rather than the rule. I wasn't really able to go further than 10 yards from an available lavatory and sanitary towel supply for about 6 or 8 weeks tbh.

[jampots]

i was exactly the same emkana. could barely venture out of hte house for 6 weeks

[Saturn74]

Penny Lancaster probably pays someone to bleed and leak for her.

[Ellbell]

Don't know who Penny Lancaster is but I didn't bleed as much after my c-section as I did after my natural delivery (I guess they suck a lot of the gunk out while they are in there for a c-section) so that may be one explanation (though equally I wasn't running around 8 days after my c-section either - far less going to work!).

[emkana]

rofl HC

[hana]

i had pretty much stopped bleeding 2 weeks after dd3 was born in Sept - and just needed a liner after that
was v pleased indeed!

[Judy1234]

I think people just differ. I think it's easier to sit in a pad in a lovely office with people brining you drinks than deal with a screaming new baby, changing nappies etc whilst bleeding. I was the one who went back after 2 weeks. It helped me feel more normal, normal clothes, back to the routine, an adult worker again, just as I wanted to be.

I had slight bleeding right up to about 6 weeks and with baby no. 2 and others some afterpains for a bit. I remember the day after the twins were born being down here in this office taking calls and having to get back upstairs to feed them (for some reason I was on my own that first day) and that particular day was hard as physically getting up and down stairs was not that easy. On the other hand we used to stick women in bed for 2 weeks after birth when ideally they're better off getting up and about so I suspect getting on with things which you have no choice over if you have a toddler anyway, is better for you anyway.

I remember the first walk to the shops with baby no. 1 in a sling when she was a few days old. I certainly remember physical after effects of birth and their impact. I sit in an office so work isn't at all hard. But if you police the streets or on your feet all day it could be harder to get back so soon.

[expatinscotland]

I had stopped bleeding, but I was bfin'g constantly.

[emkana]

That's another thing - normal clothes???

Did you fit into all your pre-pregnancy office stuff two weeks after birth?

[expatinscotland]

and not be spewing milk everywhere!

the only places i went were to the NCT counsellor's house and bf clinics at hospital and the doctor's surgery.

[pelvicfloorSNOWmore]

pmsl at Humprey

[emkana]

Yes I would sit there and just think about my baby and a minute later my top would be dripping wet with milk in spite of breast pads (useless things that they are)

[expatinscotland]

i still hadn't lost hte swelling in my legs and my stomach muscles had separated and moving around was agony.

not to mention, i wasn't sleeping more than an hour at a stretch.

[Monkeytrousers]

obviously, Penny Lancaster 'eased' her baby out by some unknown non-human orifice

[brimfull]

no bleeding here after a few weeks but my tits were out constantly and spurting all over the place.

[expatinscotland]

she probably had labiaplasty afterwards, too.

to keep that 'honeymoon freshness' cod likes to discuss .

[expatinscotland]

Good to 'see' you, MT

[MrsSpoon]

After DS1 I was still bleeding fairly heavily at 2 weeks, I was also exhausted after a very long labour and nearly collapsed when he was 2 weeks old.

With DS2 however I felt fantastic (much easier birth) when he was 2 weeks and bleeding had almost stopped, b/feeding was going well, I wanted to go to my aerobics class but DS2 had an appointment which clashed with my class (I doubt the instructor would have let me in anyway ), then I got mastitis which set me back.

TBH I would rather be establishing breastfeeding and getting to know my new baby than being back at work. Although that being said DH now has his own business and I take care of part of the business so I would no doubt be back at work very quickly after having another child but I would be in my own home, still b/feeding etc just having to give up a little of my mumsnetting time to do the minimum work I could get away with .

[themoon66]

The comment about 'normal clothes' made me laugh. I remember DH bringing my going-home clothes into hospital when DD was 4 days old. He had dug out my size 10 jeans and a skimpy top . I had to send him home to bring maternity dress.... he couldn't understand why I would want to wear that again! Bless.

[suedonim]

I was in hospital having a D&C three wks after ds2 was born.

[Judy1234]

CLothes.. trying to remember. I put 3 stone on with the twins. I'd lost most of it by 6 months after (brother's wedding, incentive which is why I remember). After I'd given birth it looked and felt as if there were a triplet still in there. I don't remember milk leaking on to my shirt too often at work. I must have had very effective breastpads.

Clothes.... I suppose I just had some shirts and skirts that were reasonably expandable. High heels always help whatever you're wearing I found. Smart work jackets hide a multitude of sins.

Different countries differ. The French on their NHS I think provide new mothers with exercises etc so they can get back to looking well... French like the gorgeous Ms Royal

[Gemmitygem]

I felt wobbly emotionally but physically ok, more or less straight after the birth, which I put down to loads of walking and exercise right up to the birth. however it's the luck of the draw and I happened not to have stitches etc, and that would have made things a lot more difficult..

The big shock for me is that I would spend 6-8 hours a day breastfeeding: sounds stupid but I hadn't realised it was quite that much time! A full time job in itself!

[lulumama]

i was a penny lancaster i',m afraid !! and i gave birth myself!! never bled a lot after c.s or vaginal delivery!




until i had an infection 3 weeks later!! thanks to a smidge of placenta lurking !!!

but all told..heavy bleeding done in a week, then just very light for 10 days or so...

but 6 weeks heavy bleeding is not uncommon!