Post part bleeding

[babynunber3]

C section 3 weeks ago
Stopped bleeding day 4 (completely)
Haemorrhage day 12 back to hospital, still unclear to reason ? Retained products , scan nothing really significant, uterus still High, discharged on antibiotics, co max and metronidazole, this was three days ago last night had bright red blood (not great deal like before) told may have done too much and to sit a while, stopped after half hour then tonight same again! Very small clotty material and red blood not a great deal but still there! I've done nothing today been in bed resting due to yesterday! Am
Mixed feeding but through night last night purely breast fed! Have crampy pains
Anyone similar as worrying!!

Bump

I had bleeding for several weeks after. I can't remember but at least 3 and maybe 6 weeks? So, it seems strange that you stopped entirely on day 4. I don't know what that means, but I think it's normal to still have blood at 3 weeks.

But not bright red, no. Sorry. I should have left this one for a health person. I don't know what it means.

I've had 5 sections. Always stopped bleeding completely on day 4/5 and then started again after a couple of weeks and then bled for up to 6 weeks. It's horrible, but your experience sounds normal to me.

Your body might be trying to expel the retained products, hence the clotty material with the red blood. Did the hospital explain anything about the retained products to you?
Breast feeding will also increase lochia.
If you’re at all worried, phone the hospital. They should be happy to reassure/follow up after haemorrhage.
Take care.

Postpartum bleeding can last up to six weeks. As long as there’s no clots bigger than a 50p, no offensive smell, and no significant bleeding where you’re soaking pads frequently what you’re experiencing now sounds normal. Your uterus needs to contract back down into your pelvis that’s one of the reasons you’re getting cramps, the uterus also contracts to help control the bleeding, breastfeeding causes the uterus it to cramp too. It can take 2 weeks for the uterus to return to tyre pelvis, but because you’ve probably had some retain placenta and now an infection it can’t contract properly and return to the pelvis, so you’ll probably have some more bleeding for the next week or so. (If you do get clots bigger than a 50p, there is an offensive smell, or significant bleeding get checked out again)

Sorry for the typos

@AloneLonelyLoner that is reassuring! How heavy did you bleed? I have literally spent the last two days in bed resting not to set off a bleed again! And then woke up today and bleeding like a very heavy period with small clots nothing huge!
I'm so scared of bleeding and because I stopped and even after the big bleed I stopped and had nothing I find it so strange!! I rang hospotal they just say of not filling pad in hour etc but my anxiety is terrible!

@Didyeaye not really they said ultrasound was inconclusive nothing really to see but assumed with uterus etc probably was something retained tht I had passed with bleed? Put on antibiotics but no real sign of infection just covering bases! I BA dbeen aslong midwifes all along I won't bleed now loads will I?! And then I did!! I have pretty much stopped breast feeding now so it's not tht and owt few days I thought had tailed off till this morning started heavy! But I've done nothing to make it come heavy again!
When a rang hospital they said ah could be your period! But how can it when two days ago my uterus was still high surely I can't ovulate with tht?? It's like they don't know Thts they worry!!!

I had my period after one section around the 4 week mark. The only reason I know that is because when I stopped bleeding eventually I was actually pregnant.

If there is no smell and the pain is relatively normal I wouldn't worry too much. I would suddenly get floods if I went out walking.

I think if there was anything significant there it would have shown on the scan.
Do watch your iron levels though and rest/drink a lot. If you get shortness of breath or headaches, get back to the gp

Obviously I'm not a medical professional just an experienced c-section mum.

@AloneLonelyLoner past couple days I would say just strong after pains but paracetamol and brofen didn't really do anything! The thing that worries me is it's fresh red blood like a period! But they say shouldn't be like tht at 3 weeks + down line! However obviously I only had spotting for 4 days! It's so strange how it's started even though I'm laid on bed resting so deffo not done too much which is what they saod the other day! My anxiety is tht bad tht every time I feel it I go toilet to wipe as I have to moniter it this is just my silly anxiety!! I think of o hadn't of stopped then started I wouldn't be so bad!!
It's just got the fresh blood iron smell!
I'm trying to potter round doing jobs see how tht effects the bleeding!

After I had my lb I stopped bleeding after 4 weeks then was out hiking with the dogs and went to toilet and huge clots came away with a gush of blood. Went to out of hours and she said there might have been a clot and because I was walking and climbing hills it might have disturbed what was there and the blood had piled up that's what caused the gush. The bleeding didn't last long tho and 1 week later I came on my period.

Also you said you were on bed rest so possibly the blood has built up.

@nearly I was wondering this it pools so maybe Thts why got more Thts why been walking around doing few bits just now to see the effect it has x

Here is some information about blood loss (lochia) following birth. As I previously advised bleeding can last up to six weeks following giving birth. Usually it changes in colour and heaviness over the weeks, however as you mentioned your bleeding has probably got heavier as you only initially had light bleeding for 4 days. Also over doing things can trigger bleeding, so try to take things easy for up to 6 weeks this includes not lifting anything heavier than the baby and not vaccuming etc.

Your postpartum haemorrhage happened due to your uterus not being able to contract properly (which helps control bleeding and helps the uterus return to the pelvis which takes approx 12 days for it to return to the pelvis). The haemorrhage was either caused by some retained placenta or you had an infection in your uterus. Even the smallest amount of retained placenta can stop the uterus from contracting properly and returning to its non pregnant size and back to the pelvis, an infection can also prevent it contracting properly too). The uterus is it’s non pregnant size within approx 6-8 weeks, hence why bleeding can still occur up to 6 weeks, as it needs to heal and shed its lining etc following birth.

Usually following birth lochia is quite heavy as the placenta comes away from the wall of the uterus. The uterus is a muscular organ and contracts to help control bleeding which also helps it to return back to the pelvis which causes the after pain cramps. After pains get stronger the more children you have as the muscles have to work harder to contract, however if the pain is not relieved with paracetamol/ibuprofen it may mean that there is some retain placenta/or infection.

As long as you’re not soaking pads every hour, there’s no clots bigger than 50p, no offensive smell, and you’re feel well in your self (no temperature, no impending feeling of doom, no vomiting/sickness, no severe pain etc) the blood loss should tail off over the next few days. Also yes you can still probably ovulate even if the uterus was still high as it’s to do with hormones, but I’m guessing the bleeding is more to do with the uterus needing time to heal etc. The process is called uterine involution if you wanted to read up on what happens over the 6 week period.

www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/your-body-after-birth/bleeding-after-birth-10-things-you-need-know

@Blahblahblahnanana thank you so much for your time! My worry is
1- they said unlikely retained due to c section
2- they swabbed me and said bloods didn't indicate infection but had antibiotics just incase
3- how do I know uterus is going down?? As I had after pains even when wasn't bleeding when feeding baby etc
4- I do feel doom lol due to my anxiety about the bleeding!!!
I think it's because I just didn't get a diagnosis and when asking midwifes they saod it's ok to stop bleeding as they clear you out with c section! They say no red blood or ring when I ring it's oh it could be period I feel a little fobbed off I don't have a proper diagnosis and I've no idea what actually happened I think Thts my issue! I'm a nurse and make the worst patient as obstetrics isn't my strong point! I have added stress at the minute due to family problems so just really fed up cxx

Oh and after first week I felt really good! Started to do few more things I mean I admit I probably over did it was cooking with partner changing bed went to Tesco among other supermarkets in same day drove carried car seat etc so yes I think I over did it but a just feel like I've gone backwards! And I'm trying to just potter around house and do little bits but mostly watching films in bed! I'm scared to go sleep caus this is when I wake up with lots of blood (I know it's because it's pooling due to me laying down but because of tht big loss I'm terrified! I haemorrhaged after my son 11 year ago but I was in hospital! It was sorted and I had no problem since I've saod all along my fear is for it to happen at home! And it bloody did! And due to no proper diagnosis I feel like could it happen again midwofe saod it's posssible and ring 999! Thanks! But I'm discharged form them so a just do t know where to turn! Xx

1- they said unlikely retained due to c section it can still happen after a caesarean.

2- they swabbed me and said bloods didn't indicate infection but had antibiotics just incase if the swabs and bloods came back clear it’s more likely there was some retained placenta. Even a tiny amount left can stop the uterus involuting back down to the pelvis.

3- how do I know uterus is going down??As I had after pains even when wasn't bleeding when feeding baby etc even though you were getting some after pains the uterus couldn’t contract effectively and involute back to the pelvis due to the retained placenta. Abdominal palpation is done by the dr/midwife to feel the fundal height to check that the uterus is involuting at the correct rate. It’s at the umbilicus straight after birth and involutes approx 1cm per day (can be quicker) and takes approx 12 days to return to the pelvis. In your case it couldn’t involute properly due most likely due to retained placenta.

4- I do feel doom lol due to my anxiety about the bleeding!!! try not to worry, your uterus needs time to heal. It takes approx 6 weeks for it to heal and go back to its non pregnant state. Your GP or HV Will be able to palpate your uterus if you’ve been discharged from midwifery care.

Like I said any sign of infection or heavy bleeding get checked out.

The bleeding may also be your first period, but honestly bleeding up to 6 weeks postpartum is usually normal, as long as it’s not heavy and there’s no signs of infection it’s part of the healing process. And yes, lying down does mean that it pools in the vagina, it can then start to clot but also when you stand it up feels like you’re flooding but as long as you’re not soaking pads it should settle down (if you’re soaking pads or lose a large clot go to a&e). If it doesn’t settle down after a few days i’d rring the maternity assessment centre as even though your discharged to your health visitor and GP’s care, they should still provide care up to 6 weeks postpartum. After 6 weeks you’d need to go to your GP/A&E.

Also as part of your 6 week check with your GP they should palpate your uterus to check its back in your pelvis.

And yes (sorry) you could have another PPH if there is still some retained placenta or infection in your uterus, but hopefully if it was retained placenta/infection it’s sorted itself out now

I’d also ask your GP for a FBC to check your iron levels just incase you’ve developed anaemia

@Blahblahblahnanana Thankyou so much for your time to reply to me! Honestly my anxiety is through the roof! One more question! If my uterus is still
Not going down can this cause me complications? Or am I ok to wait for the 6 week check!
With the PPH doctor said uterus was at 18weeks which was too high, next day a doctor said she thought at 14 weeks? Each have saod hard to feel due to my stomach muscles! (So strange as I'm no fitness freak Infact can't remeber last time I saw my stomach muscles!) my midwofe day after discharge cane out (she's not great) she said where did they say it was? And then just agreed it's where they said and said Thts not a problem??? This was 18 days pp

Normally the uterus is back in the pelvis at approx day 12 and it’s not palpable on abdominal palpation. If it was at 18 weeks when the dr examined you it was just a bit higher than expected (see diagram). We don’t have to palpate on discharge from midwifery care unless it’s clinically indicated, but I probably would have done as you had a PPH and are concerned. If you’re worried i’d speak to your Gp tomorrow and ask them to check it for you.

www.practisingmidwife.co.uk/tpmindex.php?p1=a-z&p2=707&p3=f

Thanks again! I will contact gp tomorow to put my mind at rest!

Hopefully you find out at GP tomorrow that everything's ok or they can point you in the direction of the correct health professional to speak to. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. I know how hard it is with anxiety on top of everything else that's going on

Thanks hun! Honestly it's awful and Xmas eve my Nan got rushed to hospital and out of blue put on end of life! All through a twisted hernia! I went to visit and started to bleed tht night so I'm terrified to go back there but then don't want to miss my Nan before she goes! Honestly it's a awful time right now and should be the happiest!