Still bleeding 5 weeks after birth - is this normal?

[StrangewaysHereICome]

I had my ds 5 weeks ago vaginally and I am still bleeding. It's not heavy but is still red. I don't have any other symptoms except maybe a dull ache in my lower abdomen. I had a managed third stage which took 37 mins and had a cord traction. The mw commented the placenta was small. Could this be a symptom of something having been left behind?

Many thanks

Are you breastfeeding?

I bled for about 6 weeks iirc. I'm sure I read somewhere that bf can cause the bleeding to go on for longer.

Do get checked out if you're not sure though. A friend had to go back in to have some retained placenta removed at about 3 weeks. Her bleeding continued to be very heavy though while mine was tailing off by then.

Is it watery? Any clots? Any smelly discharge?

You may have some retained placenta but it is probably unlikely you wouldn't know it after all this time (you'd hemmorhage, I think, my mum did). I BF DS and bled for six weeks.

I bled for a long time, 7/8 weeks I think. And I had ds by emcs
Did bf though so that's interesting.

No clots, it's quite stop start with the odd rush. I am bfing so it's probably that, although I don't remember it going on this long with my dds. Not long until my 6 week check so I'll mention it then.

Thanks all.