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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 7 weeks post partum is too early to get my period?

28 replies

b0bb1n · 22/05/2019 09:41

Gave birth April 2nd, this morning it appears I have started af. Blood is dark red not bright - I can't remember if that's normal for a period?

Also no cramps or any other indication of a period now or leading up to now, which is not usual for me.

Has anyone else started af this early after giving birth? I am exclusively breast pumping too so I don't know if that affects fertility like bf does.

OP posts:
PeachPotato · 22/05/2019 09:44

I’d be inclined to check with the gp that it’s nothing to do with the placenta? How do you feel generally?

How frequently are you pumping? I think it’s if there’s a gap of more than three hours that it can come back but everyone is different!

outreach29 · 22/05/2019 09:45

sounds normal to me

kb1992 · 22/05/2019 09:46

I had my first period 5 weeks post birth, I bled for three weeks after giving birth, had a two week gap and then my period came

GlossyTaco · 22/05/2019 09:47

Sounds normal to me too , but do make an appointment if you're concerned.

KTD27 · 22/05/2019 09:47

This happened to me. But then nothing else until 6 months. Just put it down to a random hormonal thing.

Slippingcareer · 22/05/2019 09:48

My period returned at 8 weeks post partum but I wasn’t breastfeeding. The first few periods were extremely heavy.

AnneLovesGilbert · 22/05/2019 09:48

My mum got hers 6 weeks after a couple of my siblings were born, all EBF.

See how it goes but check with the HV or midwife if you’re worried it’s something else.

8misskitty8 · 22/05/2019 09:49

Both my girls I bled for almost 4 weeks. Then period returned at 6 weeks.

DeadDoorpost · 22/05/2019 09:50

DM had her first period 4 weeks after, mine came back about 6 weeks after but then disappeared for another year almost. I was EBF. No fertility until the almost year later. (I checked, just to make sure it was periods starting again not a random one off. Ended up pregnant soon after, after a late ovulation)

But again, if worried, always check with GP

Contraceptionismyfriend · 22/05/2019 09:51

Sounds normal to me.
I EBF both of mine and went straight into a period after PP bleeding.

outsho · 22/05/2019 09:52

I had lochia on and off until DS was around ten weeks old. Definitely wasn’t a period, had my first period when he was five months old though despite EBF. EBF doesn’t stop periods for everyone but I would agree that 7 weeks is early whilst BFing.

Original poster
b0bb1n · 22/05/2019 09:53

Thank you all fir your replies :)

I do feel a bit rough Peachpotato but that's cos I have mastitis again, I almost always have more than 3 hrs between pumping so I guess that could be why it could come back so soon.

Have my '6 week' check on 31st so might just see how it goes and mention then. There was a clot but looked pretty normal not placenta.

OP posts:
Original poster
b0bb1n · 22/05/2019 09:54

It's good to know so many others have got theirs quite early too! I wasn't expecting it for ages

OP posts:
Samind · 22/05/2019 09:55

I bled post partum for 6 weeks. Then a week later I had no cramps/sore boobs or any symptoms and I had TMI dark clotty mucuosy blood. It went on for couple of periods then back to normal!

Congrats on your baby!

Pommes · 22/05/2019 09:56

Happened to me three times, I was EBF every time. I felt cheated.

The first time I was convinced it had to be irregular bleeding and the GP sent me for further investigations... it was a period! Blush

largecoffeeplease · 22/05/2019 09:57

I think that's quite normal but as someone else has said, do check with your HV or GP. I had a very clotted bleed 4 weeks PP and it was some retained placenta which I had to have surgery for.

Sexnotgender · 22/05/2019 09:57

I’d speak to the GP. I had this and needed antibiotics- 7 and then 10 day course to shift an infection.

Debenhamshandtowel · 22/05/2019 09:58

I got my period at 6 weeks. I’d stopped the post pregnancy bleeding about a week before that.

escapade1234 · 22/05/2019 10:00

Yes yes yes, completely normal OP!

Mine returned 4 weeks after giving birth with each baby. The first time I thought the post-partum bleeding had started up again and only realised when it happened again 28 days later.

I also fully breastfed with each child - never got a menstrual break with any of them.

Don’t believe anyone who says you can’t fall pregnant whilst breastfeeding. That myth comes from the fact that many women don’t ovulate or have periods while they’re bfing. But if you’re having periods, you’re ovulating and are fertile again. Be careful!

Dvg · 22/05/2019 10:05

Mine returned 4 weeks after and i got pregnant that month .. there is going to be 10 months difference between my son and Daughter ... :(

stucknoue · 22/05/2019 10:06

I was still bleeding from the birth then, lasted until 7 weeks continuously - then nothing until 13 months

PinguForPresident · 22/05/2019 10:06

I'm a midwife. It's a touch on the early side, but not unusual. Definitely within the range of normal.

Check with GP (HV only does babies , not mums, and 6 weeks PP you won't be under midwifery care any more) if you get big clots (about satsuma size!), if the bleeding smells offensive, or if you get sudden unexplained gushes of blood. Those are signs of infection as potentially to do with retained products. If it's a normal period, then it's probably the return of your cycles.

Original poster
b0bb1n · 23/05/2019 01:53

Just wanted to pop back and thank you all for your replies :)

As the day has gone on it definitely seems like a true af (minus cramps or anything else). So surprised still how quick it has returned! I guess the true test is if it happens next month too.

Aibu that I have baby fever already! Ds is only 7 weeks and I want a new newborn again Grin Now I know my cycle has started it's only revved up the baby fever!

OP posts:
agnurse · 23/05/2019 03:31

Cycles can start as early as about 6 weeks postpartum, especially if the mother is not breastfeeding. (I know that you are - this tends to delay return of menses but it isn't always consistent.)

You should be aware that now you've got your period back, breastfeeding isn't effective birth control.

Just a word of advice - as a PP said, if it seems "funky", make sure to let your provider know. Also let them know if it goes on for several weeks without stopping. I once saw in clinic a girl who had gone back on Depo not long after her baby was born. She had been bleeding for several weeks after the shot. I decided to order an ultrasound. Good thing I did, too, as the following week I was writing a referral letter for her to have a D&C for retained placenta!!! Uncommon, I'm sure, but it can happen.

Original poster
b0bb1n · 23/05/2019 03:44

Wow that's scary, it can be very dangerous I hear to have retained placenta. After I gave birth I got very poorly because my uterus has kind of drawn up high and was preventing the placenta etc leaving it. No one knew until the mw saw me get up to go toilet and I barely had enough strength to walk. I felt completely weak and breathless and nausea. After they had pumped a lot of it out (literally pressed my abdomen like a pump lol) I still felt weak, shaky and breathless for a few days after, it was a very scary time (plus very sleep deprived so everything seems worse then). It was weird tho because no one seemed to be able to tell me why I still was breathless and weak for so long which made it all the more worrying!

OP posts: