Bleeding post birth

[MegMog]

I am 12 days post birth - just a bit concerned about my bleeding. Can anyone tell me what is normal at this stage? I thought it was starting to ease off but since yesterday it seems heavier. It is about the same as day 2 of a period and is reddy brown in colour although seems to be bright red when I wipe after a wee. Have tried ringing the community midwife, who are hopefully going to come and see me tomorrow but do I need to be seen tonight? Have some period like pains but wonder if that could possibly be my bowel. Can anyone advise on what is normal blood loss at this stage? Thanks.

Have you been a bit more active today or up & down stairs a lot, I found that if I was more physically active during the first couple of weeks or if baby fed a lot then it was a bit heavier. Hope it gets better soon.

I can't remember completely accurately, but I don't think your description sounds a million miles away from what I had following the birth of both of my dcs. I seem to remember that at some point it got better and then heavier again. I bled for nearly 7 weeks with both of mine though. I'm always amazed when I hear that people stop bleeding after 2 weeks or so.

If you are worried, of course it's a good idea to talk to your midwife.

It sounds pretty normal tbh. My bleeding has lasted for over four weeks each pregnacy and did tend to go in stages of not much and then a bit heavier and then not much again. Also like Jbck it would get heavier if baby was cluster feeding.

Have you had any things going on other than the pain that would indicate infection? fever, chills etc?

I bled for weeks and weeks each time (I had c-sections,don't know if that made any difference) and if I had a day where I had been a bit more active then the bleeding would be bright red again and more profuse.The MW said this was normal as I was worried the first time,and it was just the same second time around.I think it took about six weeks to stop.

hellymelly, I bled less after my VBAC than I had with my previous two sections. I thought it would have been the other way round, but there you go!

I bled heavily for a few days after birth and then like you would expect on a period for about a month. It did get lighter but didn't stop altogether until 16 weeks after the birth. I mentioned it to doctor and HV a few times but they were of the opinion that it just happens to some people and nothing to worry about if everything else is ok.

Thanks all of you. I spoke to the community midwife yesterday morning who said I should probably go back to the hospital, which I did. Had an internal (horrible!) and as the lochia was slightly smelly have been given antibiotics as a precaution. Now worried about the antibiotics and breastfeeding! It seems as though everything that could go wrong has since lo was born even though he is absolutely gorgeous of course!