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Childbirth

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

Original poster

lochia getting heavier. normal?

12 replies

NutellaLawson · 15/04/2014 16:50

I'm 2 weeks post partum and lochia has gone from slight and brownish to heavier and more red. I'm ebf so I doubt it's a period.

Has anyone else had this? Dr google is inconclusive. On the one hand some sites say this is an infection and will need antibiotics. others that its normal and just a sign you've been overdoing it.

I don't want to take antibiotics unnecessarily as I'm breast feeding. so anyone had this? Or how has your lochia been if yours had been textbook normal?

OP posts:
Moonshine1 · 15/04/2014 17:23

Mine would start getting lighter but then suddenly get heavier again if I overdid it a bit. I'd relax a bit more and it would get lighter again.

FrumiousBandersnatch · 15/04/2014 17:28

Have you been any more active? As you say, it can indicate that you have overdone things. I appreciate your reluctance to take unnecessary antibiotics BUT if you have any other symptoms of infection (offensive smell to the blood, fever) then please get medical attention immediately. Infections can make you very ill, very quickly.

puntasticusername · 15/04/2014 22:21

I had that, after every bout of undue exertion - eg deciding that I was failing in my motherly duty if I didn't play football with DS1 in the park; suddenly taking it into my head to vacuum the whole of our downstairs because I could see a few specks of carpet fluff Hmm It eased off when I did...

As a pp said, don't hesitate to seek medical advice and take antibiotics if need be - your health and your baby's health are the most important things, even more important than bf!

mercibucket · 15/04/2014 22:41

do you have pain or a heavy, dragging feeling?

Original poster
NutellaLawson · 16/04/2014 03:27

no pain or fever or feeling unwell in any way.

I do have a toddler as well as the newborn but with dh at home the toddler has mostly been looked after by him. I seem to spend of my time sat down with a newborn attached to a nipple.

We typically go out for a walk to the shops each day which is a mile round trip but that's it for exertion. dh has been doing all the housework, pretty much - bar a bit of cooking or the dishes.

re the heavy, draggy feeling. I haven't felt that today. I did have that feeling for months after dc1 was born because he wrecked my insides due to being almost 11lbs (and gave me a prolapsed bladder and torn pelvic floor) I used to get it even a year post partum, but only after sex. This is why I'm so surprised NOT to have that feeling in my undercarriage now. Last birth it took months before I could walk without feeling like my insides were going to fall out. I thought that was normal. I didn't have much lochia with that birth, though.

OP posts:
nolongerbumpieorlumpie · 16/04/2014 03:40

Do you have any clots (sorry tmi), it used to happen to me after a big feeding session but was told to look out for clots?

MinesAPintOfTea · 16/04/2014 03:48

At 2 Weeks PP has your dh just gone back to work? Mine got heavier when dh finished paternity leave and I had to get off the sofa more often.

PastaandCheese · 16/04/2014 09:38

I'm so pleased people are saying their lochia got heavier after lots of activity.

Mine stopped and started again five days later after a lot of walking up hill with the pram. Had my 6 week check yesterday and the GP denied it was exertion and said it was definitely my period despite it being 3.5 weeks post birth and EBFing DS.

GP said I am to wait for my next period before starting my mini pill. Given I had this with DD and then didn't get a period for 9 months I'm going to have a long wait if I listen to his advice.

OP I think you have to put your activity levels in the context of women spending the first 10 days on bed rest in years gone by.

Inglori0us · 20/04/2014 14:51

My bleeding stopped after a week then came back after 17 fats or so. Midwife warned this might happen when I said it had initially stopped so I'm assuming it's normal. Also like your experience, it's more red now.

cathpip · 20/04/2014 15:00

Same is happening to me, health visitor has said that increased activity can cause increase in lochia as can a baby cluster feeding. I tend to agree with her, she has had 4 children :)

ilovepowerhoop · 20/04/2014 15:06

pasta you can start the mini pill at any time (if you are sure you are not pregnant) and need to take extra precautions for the first 2 days of pill taking.

PastaandCheese · 20/04/2014 19:05

I did decide to start taking it ilovepowerhoop after reading the leaflet.

I'm sure that is what I was told to do last time too but I can't remember.

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