I know this sounds crazy...but I'm actually not worried about the actual birth. Have sort of resigned myself to it being a hideous pain endurance test. I am however, really worried about the weeks of bleeding that follow.
I have always suffered from very heavy periods - super duper tampax, thick pads and still occasional leakage - and I just can't imagine dealing with this as well as looking after a baby 24/7.
So...is it really true that this heavy bleeding goes on for several months? How did you cope?

3 weeks here, it wasn't a big issue tbh.

I've always had v short light periods though.

I've always had heavy periods. My post partum bleed was heavy for 2 days then it went very light. It lasted for 6 weeks. It really wasn't that much of a problem.

It's not really true for most the mums I know.
I've had 3. First two only bled for 2 weeks or so. Last one bled more and it lasted 7 weeks but most of it was just brown annoying amounts like the end of a period.

Regretted buying maternity pads for all 3 - night pads were sufficient.

My periods were very heavy when I was younger (sound like yours) but have got lighter with age - but I'm not sure the two are related.

I have bled for 3 weeks with all of mine TBH it was just like a period after the first few days.

Everyone is diffrent though and some women can bleed for around 6 weeks ,just remember if it gets really heavy to get checked for low iron .

Buy some black leggings and knickers from prmark then at least you wont be worrying too much about leaking ,but tbh I think you will find its just like a period after the first few days .
Good luck .

About 3 weeks here as well - had a couple of sudden heavy bleeds but they were linked to doing too much too soon. The actual bleeding wasn't really a problem.

Paper knickers are good too for the first week after birth ,then you can just tear them off at the sides and throw them away ,which means not too much bending when still sore and not adding to washing pile.

my periods are like yours and my bleeds after both ds's were about as heavy as a period for 1 - 2 weeks and then the very light for a further 3 - 4.

I bled really heavily for 3 weeks and then like a period for another 5 weeks. I was also very ill after the birth so in theory it should have been a real nuisance but TBH the bleeding was the least of my worries, it barely registered. The things you think will bother you after childbirth are rarely the ones that do in my experience!

3 weeks quite heavy, then 3 light to nothing.

i was actually very surprised as to how little blood there was, compared with my expectations.

i too had dreadful periods. since having giving birth they're much much lighter and pain free.

No, it doesn't go on for several months (who told you that?! ) and it shouldn't really be particularly heavy after the first few days, in fact.

Everyone is different, but the 'usual' pattern of bleeding is heavy for a couple of days after the birth, then progressively lighter over the next couple of weeks or so. Assume it's going to last for 6 weeks - some women find it's much less than that, for some it's a little longer. But it absolutely shouldn't be months.

You may find that your bleeding is heavier than 'usual' but ime your periods don't have much relevance to post-partum blood loss. You may even find that your periods get lighter after having a baby - it does sometimes happen.

Blood loss in the postpartum period also comes and goes depending on your level of activity - heavier bleeding when you're more active.

Your mw should ask you whenever she visits about the level of bleeding and will be able to help you assess what is 'too much'. But try not to worry - you may well find it's not half as bad as you're expecting.

I bled for 6 weeks, like a heavy period to begin with and lighter as the weeks went on, night time pads were good, with nice big pants from Asda £5 for 5 pairs. I got my bloody period back though at 10 weeks, even though I was breasfeeding!

3 days of heavy bleeding followed by 3 weeks of fairly light loss, though heavier when I was more active. Used maternity towels at the start, normal towels for the rest.

It's not too bad tbh - like you, I expected much worse.

Oh, ladies!
You have all cheered me up so much!
I am so grateful for your replies as it clearly sn't as bad as I had imagined! Right...I feel much more able to deal with it now.
Will be buying those cheap pants of which you speak...

6wks here too.. the nastiest part was dealing with it while my stitches healed.. but i dont think it'd have been as bad without the stitches.

I second the cheap knickers, black is better imho, they dont look so nasty if you do leak.
AS long as you change the pad regularly, it shouldn't bother you at all!

Heavy periods here - but lochia stopped after 2 weeks. MrNC's old boxers and later cheap Primark knickers, and Kotex Nighttime sufficed.

9 weeks here. <sorry to buck the trend>

Really heavy for erm, 2 weeks maybe? normal pads fine after that. Though try not to get plastic backed ones. if you have a tear cut it helps heal if things are more airy iyswim.

aha - I also used to have carrie style -periods. No more after having child one.