lochia question

[dinny]

dd is 2 weeks old today, bleeding had settled down a bit but has got heavier since my mum left and I started doing usual chores/looking after older kids...

told mw and she asked if it smelt offensive...i said no but now i'm not sure...does it smell pungent anyway? paranoid now - if i had infection would i also feel ill/feverish?

thanks, you forget all this stuff!

congratulations !! how was the birth ?

the smell would be bad if there was an infection, rather than the smell of fresh blood. your bleeding would increase if you are doing more.. you can always ask to be rechecked.. i had an infection, no horrible smell, but heavy darker lochia after it had pretty much stopped and a bit of a sore belly. did not feel ill as such

i realsie i have contradicted myself there !! anywy, if you are concerned, you can ask her to come and check you

hi lulumama

bith was sooooooooo lomg - 16 hours! 15 min 2nd stage after membranes went (naturally), had her in midwife-led unit, no shoulder dystocia (hurrah!), gas and air, tore to buggery for the first time! never again!

how do they tell if you have infection?

not sure i have - feeling bit anxious really generally and missing my mum being here...

glad the dystocia was not an issue, sorry about the tearing. arnica is your friend!

they can tell by palpating your abdomen/ internal exam

might want to examine your loss too

sorry you are missing your mum can she come up again soon?

Congratulations.

It's normal for fresh bleeding if you're doing more than you were.

Lochia, ime does smell anyway but not offensive. It smells like new and old blood mixed together, like a butcher's shop really.

Sorry you're feeling a bit low at the moment. Enjoy your little baby and take it easy.

thanks Lulumam and SOh

my mum isn't back for a bit we just had such a lovely time, sad it's past now

re lochia - I 'think' it is Ok, it does just smell meaty really, bleurgh

and the loss has settled again, it seems

what else should I look out for? heavier loss and smell?

sorry, totally tmi!

heavier loss with a bad smell. pain, fever, tenderness, passing clots especially big ones.

try not to do too much, easier said than done, but you are only 2 weeks post natal

I think it's Ok, if thos are the symptoms, Lulumama

with regard to not doign too much, I just can't see how am going to cope with 3, it feels very daunting...just the school run, there and back (half a mile each way) 3 times a day, feels daunting

is there anyone who can do the school run for you for a few days? at least one of the journeys? DD was 5 weeks old when DS started back at school, we had to get up v v early! got everything ready the night before and hda my neighbours on alert for a phone call at 8.15 if DD was sick/pooey etc and DS needed taking to school. people are usually delighted to help someone out with a new baby..

but mentione lochia again to MW , pehaps give them a call today , just for reassurance

lochia seems to have all but stopped for last 12 hours, lulumama...

good stuff

Hi and congratulations!

As the others have said it come back when you do more. Just thought I'd add for re-assurance - lochia is bleeding from the wound where your placenta comes away from the womb wall, healing. So if you've twisted a certain way, or lifted something a bit heavier than before, this can dislodge the healing area a bit. All normal.
Am 2.5 weeks post birth myself, and it has stopped and started again 2 days later twice so far. Also, I don't find the smell too pleasant but I do have a strong sense of smell. I think the MW means really unpleasant smelling, and as Lulu said accompanied by those other symptoms.

If you feel well you probably are is a good addage to go by.

thanks you two

I do have such a strong sense of smell - I keep thinking I stink of BO minutes after a shower, but dh says he can't smell it!

and I do feel well..