Foul smelling blood - what does it mean?

35 replies

WhatDoesItMeanq · 30/03/2023 20:18

Hi,

I have had a gushing of blood once on day 9 and then on day 10 postpartum. Normal bleeding stopped after about 5 days. I have been asked if it smells fishy or foul. What is foul smelling? Yesterday it melt like period with a very mild smell of 'fart spray' from the 90s. Today that was slightly stronger. There's something different about it compared to period blood but I wouldn't say it's 'foul or fishy'.

Any experience what foul smells like?

OP posts:

RuthTopp · 30/03/2023 22:14

What did they say ?

Northernlurker · 30/03/2023 22:14

Defo good to go in. I had an infection at this point with dd1. The blood was a bit gritty but not awful but my goodness I've never felt so ill. We didn't have a car and I had to ask for a gp home visit. Which probably save my life tbh. It's nasty.

Shoemadlady · 30/03/2023 22:21

That sounds like an infection of placenta matter left in your uterus which can be very dangerous. Speak to your midwife or medical team asap

Shoemadlady · 30/03/2023 22:22

WhatDoesItMeanq · 30/03/2023 20:33

Ok, this is helpful. It's on the very bad breathe end of smells. Worse than yesterday. But not like something has died there

What is the test to see if there is an infection? Can they tell other than by your symptoms that you describe?

I'm asking because it's been offered for me to go in to get checked. But if I go in, I will have to leave my new born with my partner (no child care for toddler), which means she will be fed by formula in my absence

If you have to go in for treatment (I had to have an op to resolve) they let you take your baby with you so you can continue to breastfeed and bind with baby

Mumma · 30/03/2023 22:47

Lochia does smell rank. I hated the smell

melonies · 31/03/2023 12:39

Lochia does have a slightly unpleasant smell, but when I had a bit of retained placenta, it smelt really awful, very much like something had died inside me 🤢

Original poster

WhatDoesItMeanq · 31/03/2023 18:48

Thanks all, tests came back clear but given some of my symptoms it is good to have it checked out. I think in my case the locia smelt bad and I hadn't had any bleeding in 5 days, so perhaps it pooled in there for a bit longer before coming out. Best to be safe though.

OP posts:

TheProvincialLady · 31/03/2023 23:13

That’s good to hear. I’m glad you’re ok and I’m really glad you got checked out.

BornBlonde · 31/03/2023 23:38

Glad to hear you are okay

Summersunx · 16/12/2024 19:32

Mafelicent · 30/03/2023 20:29

In my experience, post partum bleeding never smells like normal period blood. But when I had an infection it smelled like something had crawled up there and died, and I had dreadful uterus pains (but I wasn't running a fever). There was no mistaking the smell 🤢

Hi what happened in the end did they give you antibiotics

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