Bleeding after birth

[Nononon]

I had thought my bleeding was tailing off and had turned much lighter and a brown colour for a couple of days. Today though I'm getting fresh red bleeding again. Has anyone else experienced this or is it something I should get checked out (baring in mind it's Christmas Eve!). No pains or anything - had been starting to feel much more normal! x

[Nononon]

Oops random x. Mumsnet faux pas

[Fresh01]

How long since you had the baby? Towards the end the bleeding can stop and start especially if you have had a day where you have been more active. I was always told that if it was more than a pad in an hour to get medical advice asap else wait and see if it settles down. If baby is 8 weeks plus I would seek medical advice as it can be a sign of other things.

[Showy]

Fresh red bleeding after it's all died down is usually a sign of doing too much and pulling your wound about. If it smells, is accompanied by tissue or pain/fever or is v heavy, get checked but otherwise feet up and it should abate.

[bonzo77]

How old is the baby? Any chance it's your period?

[WishUponAStar88]

How long ago did you give birth? It could be periods restarting (less likely if breastfeeding but not unheard of), could be a sign of doing too much but also could be a sign of retained placenta. If 8+ weeks I'd let your dr know. I was still bleeding at 9 weeks and was given antibiotics. This didn't help so was referred for a scan which I had last week and now need to have the remaining products removed next week.
It may not be this but it's a possibility. Drs have said that any signs of fever or intense pains should be addressed immediately with a trip to a&e if out of hours.

[Roxie85]

I didn't stop bleeding until 10 weeks and was told by my gp that they didn't do anything until about 10-12 weeks especially when breastfeeding so I shouldn't worry until then.
Often fresh red is doing too much so I would advise resting a bit (if you can) and see if that helps. Maybe make a gp app to check too as I think when they investigate must vary area to area.

[Nononon]

Thanks for all the replies. Baby is only 10 days old so it seems it's nothing to worry about as it was very recently that I gave birth. It has died down again this afternoon and gone back to brown so am wondering if maybe I have pulled my stitches causing a bleed from there. Oh the glamour of having just given birth and stuff pouring out of every orifice...

[WishUponAStar88]

I would say perfectly normal at 10 days unless very heavy. Congratulations on your new baby

[Poppiesway]

Blimey.. Yes perfectly normal for day 10. Wjere I work the drs won't do anything until 12 weeks post birth as bleeding till then is still normal. It will become lighter and lighter..
But as one poster said if it tails off and then starts agin it could be that your doing too much. My health visitor told me off as I was still bleeding at 10 weeks and told me to actually rest which I did for a few days and it stopped.. (Resting in the school summer holidays with other dc was like mission impossible!!)
If it suddenly does become heavier / worse then do contact gp of course but generally up to 12 weeks is normal.

[TeenageMutantNinjaTurtle]

totally normal op but definitely an indication that you are doing too much. feet up and relax!!

[thomasstockmann]

Unfortunately it could be a secondary postpartum haemorrhage. You need at the very least to see your GP. It could be caused by an infection (of the endomitrium). It could also be a sign that there are "retained products" (ie bits of placenta might still be stuck inside). You need to be checked out.
Because you posted on MN, I'm guessing it is not cupfulls (you would have gone to A&E) but more like tablespoonfulls or teaspoonfulls. If GP closed, call the labour ward where you gave birth (if you had a homebirth either call the midwife number or try to find the nearest hospital's labour/maternity ward number). They should guide you as to what to do.
You'll probably be given a course of antibiotics and might be called for transvaginal scan to check nothing's left inside.

All the best.

[Seldamanawi]

Don't worry, I bled on and off for 14 weeks after my c section. It was often when I'd over done it. As long as it's not heavy, it will eventually tail
Off! I went into anxiety mode because of it. Relax and it will take care of itself.