First Period After Birth

[ConfusedChop]

I apologise for probably a very frequently asked question but I couldn't seem to find what I was looking for so I thought I would just ask.

So I had my DS just short of 8 weeks ago and today I think I'm starting my first period.

Now I understand that the first period after is going to be heavier, but how much heavier because I'm starting to panic, as my periods before Ds were very heavy to start with. I would have to use two nighttime pads and still leak. On my heaviest days I couldn't leave the house because it was that bad.

My bleeding after Ds lasted 6 weeks and although it wasn't very heavy it was always bright red up until the last few days.

So what I suppose I'm asking is possibly for some of your experiences of your first period and if it was as bad as it's made out to be, just so I can hopefully stop worrying so much

Sorry to say OP but mine was really bad.

I don't usually have bad periods luckily (or at least I didn't before DD, they do seem to be worse now). But that first one really had me struggling!

I would suggest lots of pads, hot water bottle, plenty of painkillers and just try and chill out in the house. I hope yours is better than mine

Thank you @ineedanewjobplease for taking the time to reply to my question, an I'm sorry to hear you struggled with your first. I'm just gonna have to grin and bare it and hope that it's not too bad.

I do recall having to go back to maternity pads for the first few days as I was so heavy, maybe worth getting a few more of those in too, have just remembered that

I'll get some in case, thank you. If you don't mind me asking was it much longer than your normal period in length (days) or was it normal but just alot heavier.

I believe that it was about a week which is usual for me but yes just much heavier

Sorry but mine was awful. Very heavy and very painful cramps, my HV popped round on the first day as I was curled up in a ball crying!

But, for the opposite view, my friend usually has very heavy periods and her first after birth was totally fine! She said it was lighter and less painful than normal!

It depends if you are breastfeeding really, it was 6 months for one, 15 months for the other. I was given a tip for heavy periods/post birth to use tena pads. I didn't need it but several people I know used them

I remember asking DH why there wasn't an epidural available for the first period after childbirth.
The first day of cramping floored me but it wasn't too bad after the first day.
Heavy, but less cramping. Second period was back to normal.

Mine was just the same as a normal period, but I was bf.

Thank you everyone , it's not been as bad as I was expecting thankfully.