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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

How long does the post-childbirth bleed go on for?

26 replies

warthog · 01/05/2011 11:47

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HauntedLittleLunatic · 01/05/2011 11:49

typically 4-6 weeks.

With DTDs I only bled for 2-3 weeks (but had my inards scooped out in surgery)
with DD3 I was still bleeding slightly tfor a little over 6 weeks.

ben5 · 01/05/2011 11:50

about 2 weeks maybe just over

Original poster

warthog · 01/05/2011 11:52

gosh - because mine seem to be tailing off and it's day 10.

i'm worried i've got an infection. it's becoming a sort of creamy colour now rather than tailing off and stopping. very light though.

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Casmama · 01/05/2011 11:56

Sounds normal warthog, in fact I think mine went from creamy to quite yellow for a week or two with no infection.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 01/05/2011 12:00

I should also say that with DD3 in articular it did very much tail off within a couple of weeks and then came in dribs and drabs and was very light for the next 4 weeks. It was almost annoying that it was so light for a whole 4 weeks.

mousymouse · 01/05/2011 12:02

I had a heavy period like bleed (red blood) for about a week. and then on and off brown spotting for another six weeks.

Original poster

warthog · 01/05/2011 12:13

ok thanks - this is my 3rd so that would fit in with what you're all saying. i'm a bit paranoid as there was a small chunk of placenta missing after the birth.

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bessie26 · 02/05/2011 23:58

With DD1 I had a heavy period type bleed for 1-2 weeks, then an annoying occasional light bleed just as haunted describes for another 2 weeks.

With DD2 the heavy period bit stopped at 10 days (yesterday). I was hoping the bleeding would be over with quicker this time, but by the sounds of things I was lucky it was over in 4 weeks last time!

Original poster

warthog · 03/05/2011 11:10

oh well - ended up going to hospital yesterday as turns out i DO have an infection. ugh

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G1nger · 03/05/2011 12:13

My friend said 6 weeks of 'proper' period, but maybe she's recalling this differently given what others are saying here. I'm encouraged by the answers above, as I'd begun to dread this aspect far more than the birth itself (I can't bear sanitary towels etc - never have been able to).

Sorry to hear you have an infection, warthog x

CalmInsomniac · 03/05/2011 13:26

I only bled for about 10-14 days, no infection or anything.
Hope your infection gets better. x

runnyeggsareyummy · 03/05/2011 13:32

7 weeks - was the worst bit about post birth - worse than sleepless nights and certainly worse than establishing BF for me! Had always had light periods and had used tampons since forever, so was a right shock to bleed heavily for so long and have to use horrid pads! But a lot of people do bleed for a lots less time - hope your infection clears up soon.

tigerbear · 03/05/2011 21:56

G1nger me too, am 39 weeks and am dreading the bleeding and having to wear massive maternity pads more than the birth itself!

clarebear1 · 04/05/2011 09:55

I bled for about 4 weeks. Last week or 2 was like the end of a period though.

frakyouveryverymuch · 04/05/2011 10:03

My sympathies - I've just been for scans/blood tests to check for an infection/secondary PPH because I had a massive clot and huge bleed on day 10, as bad as it was immediately after the birth and I need to go to the docs this afternoon as it's still quite heavy :(

I think I'll be a 6 week bleeder...

Does it make a difference whether you had the injection or not? I didn't and I've heard it can make the lochia last longer.

mousymouse · 04/05/2011 10:09

I had the injection both times and still bled for 7 weeks.

thell · 04/05/2011 21:10

I think I was told that if you have a natural third stage (no injection), you are likely to bleed a bit more immediately after the birth, but the lochia doesn't last as long.

Warthog, I hope you're ok x

Original poster

warthog · 05/05/2011 19:13

well went back to the gp's this evening to get results of swab to find out what infection is - results not there. ho hum

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4pudding · 07/05/2011 20:06

2 weeks but had a section so I think they take most of it out. Passed some gross stuff all the same though!

Original poster

warthog · 09/05/2011 12:19

apparently i have staff (??) and they won't treat it if i don't have any symptoms. which i don't at the mo.

does anyone know what this is?

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mrspear · 09/05/2011 12:26

Not staph surely?!

Hope you get better soon

Original poster

warthog · 14/05/2011 20:35

what's staph?

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WhatWillSantaBring · 15/05/2011 22:12

9 weeks for me. Only a few days with the maternity bricks though. Still fAr too long IMHO.

nickelbabe · 16/05/2011 11:16

info on staph infection

Original poster

warthog · 16/05/2011 21:01

thank you. i don't have symptoms at the moment so the gp isn't going to treat it. we're hoping it will just go away

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