Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think pregnant women should be made aware of this?!

178 replies

mum2Bomg · 22/07/2016 08:32

I'm putting this here for awareness more than anything else.

I've just been told (warned) about something by a friend. I told her I was having a little girl as we found out at the scan. She's now told me that some newborn baby girls can have bleeding similar to a period.

Why does no one tell you these things? I would have absolutely freaked out and run to he hospital if I hadn't known!

Is this common knowledge? I used to work in childcare and no one has ever mentioned this.

OP posts:
Lolly86 · 22/07/2016 08:34

I did know of it but I am paediatric nurse I'm sure it's not common knowledge though so YANBU

Tuiles · 22/07/2016 08:34

It was covered in our NCT course. I also recall some kind of NHS pamphlet.

Ihatechoosingnames · 22/07/2016 08:35

I knew but it didn't happen to my DD and the few friends who I spoke to it didn't happen to their DD either so I am not sure how common it is

MephistoMarley · 22/07/2016 08:35

I think it's pretty rare!

TanteRose · 22/07/2016 08:36

I had my kids 18 years ago, and I knew about this.
if you do a modicum of reading before you give birth, it mentions it.
No internet when I was pregnant but it was in the books...

LuckySantangelo1 · 22/07/2016 08:36

Yep I also learnt this at NCT.

Littlecaf · 22/07/2016 08:36

I knew that.

Tiggeryoubastard · 22/07/2016 08:36

I was made aware 27 years ago, so I'm guessing the information is still readily available.

BibbidiBobbidi · 22/07/2016 08:37

This happened to my baby about s week after she was born.
It lasted for about 5 days, just like a normal period does.

Luckily it was mentioned in my antenatal class, I'm not going to pretend that it didn't freak me out when I first saw it though!

She's 16 weeks old now and it hasn't happened again.

Bishybishybarnabee · 22/07/2016 08:37

I was aware of it, not sure how though, possibly NCT or some book I've read.

reallybadidea · 22/07/2016 08:37

I read it in the NHS birth to 5 booklet I think. It didn't happen to my dd though.

Tumtitum · 22/07/2016 08:37

Yup was told at NCT and is also in every book I read! They can get little swollen boobs as well for the first few weeks! All your hormones flushing through them :) newborns do all sorts of strange things!!

thecraftyfox · 22/07/2016 08:38

I didn't know I was having a girl but I still knew this before I gave birth. Either from a book/Internet or at my NHS antenatal class

beenaroundawhile · 22/07/2016 08:38

Despite my limited experience as mother of one DD I would categorically say that any kind of bleeding should be immediately checked by a doctor and that mothers should not be given any kind of suggestion that this is normal in case a bigger problem is overlooked.

SnugglySnerd · 22/07/2016 08:38

I knew that. It didn't happen to my DD though. I can imagine it would be pretty scary if you were unaware.

MimiSunshine · 22/07/2016 08:39

The midwife / health visitor will tell you once the baby has been born as well as the fact that the area around their nipples may slightly swell (presumably happens to boys as well) due to your hormones. I think are both much more likely if you're breastfeeding.

It's likely no has mentioned it yet because you've not had the baby, (scans can be wrong regarding gender) and there are plenty of pregnancy related updates to give you before you need to 'worry' about this.

TanteRose · 22/07/2016 08:39

oh and it happened to my DD (I think...it was a long time ago!)

Stiddleficks · 22/07/2016 08:39

It happened to both my girls. The first bled so much that we were sent to the hospital by the midwife to get her checked and they kept us in the night to keep an eye on her but she was fine. We were told it was very unusual for that much though.

MyBreadIsEggy · 22/07/2016 08:39

YANBU - I don't think it's something that's common knowledge unless you do lots of reading up about post-birth (which I did because I was more scared of the post-birth period than the actual birth!) I read about it in the NHS website - it's on the page about what happens after the birth.
It explains that baby's genitals and nipples (both boys and girls) can be swollen at birth, and sometimes girls can have a little spotting in their nappy - it's all to do with a massive rush of hormones that they get from mum during the birth.

nutellacrumpet · 22/07/2016 08:39

I was unaware of this until I had a little girl, the midwife and HV told me about it when I had her (we didn't know her sex until the birth) I guess there is actually no real need to know this information until you know you are having a baby girl.

Luckystar1 · 22/07/2016 08:39

I think it's far more important that pregnant women are made aware of Group B strep. Get tested!

Nanunanu · 22/07/2016 08:40

If you are really lucky they will have both a bleed and those red urate crystals in their wee. And you can panic twice 😊

BibbidiBobbidi · 22/07/2016 08:42

I read somewhere that babies (boys and girls) can also lactate after birth.

This didn't happen to us though, just the period.

ShowOfHands · 22/07/2016 08:43

I knew before having children but was also told by the midwife when dd was born.

MagnumAddict · 22/07/2016 08:44

Congratulations on your pregnancy op. How far along are you?

There is a mountain of information when you are pregnant but they do usually tell you at ante natal class. Baby centre website is a good source for weekly updates too.

It's a whole new world isn't it!