How long do you bleed for afterwards? sorry if t.m.i

[ohnelly]

Hi I had a baby nearly 2 weeks ago and was just wondering how long roughly I will bleed for and need to wear pads. I have a son age 4 too but cant remember how long it was with him

About 6 weeks is usual - the time it takes for the womb to fully contract down to its normal size.

Another question on this - I am on day 4 (DS2 born on saturday) and already its going tan coloured, although still some blood and quantity is already quite small - like tail end of normal period / or like heavy discharge. Is this normal?

Was thinking I have bought far too many pads, although only bought some maternity ones (used up by yesterday) and a couple of packs of always ultra?

mine lasted 2 and a half weeks, but about the second week of that was just a small amount each day... so I think it varies...

Thanks for replies
MumNWLondon - mine did this a bit then got heavier again, it varied day to day. I thought mine had nearly gone then yesterday I got out of the bath & it was running down my legs

Currently still going at 3 weeks - think it was 6 for DS

I think 6 is considered fairly normal. I bled for about 8 or 9 and was sent for an internal scan to make sure there was no retained placenta... it seemed that i had just carried on into a period.

So if it does carry on a long while you should let your GP know.

thanks for warning me.... actually i asked midwifes when they came today and they said stops quicker if you are breastfeeding... said speak to doctor if it lasts more than 6 weeks but very normal to last less.

2 weeks heavily for me and then about another week with normal pads rather than maternity ones.

2 weeks here, just lucky i guess congrats on the new babys both of you

Breastfeeding helps the uterus to contract back down.

I bled for 6 weeks, seemed to tail off and then start up again. Often how much you do can have an effect.

Varies a lot

For me it was only about 2 weeks each time - I was similar to you mumNWlondon - went brown quickly and had a couple of heavier days after that.

I bled for over 6 weeks, despite exclusive breastfeeding. It was definitely worse when I overdid things - my midwife told me it's because trying to do too much increases the blood pressure. So resting is best.

Not so easy with the second baby, though.

About a week with both of mine, then just spotting for a couple of weeks. Only a couple of days that warranted maternity pads though. Still have leftover maternity pads I bought for ds1

I bled for about 6 weeks ish with both my DS's. For the first 5/6 days it was reasonably heavy and then really tailed off so I used Always slim type pads. Did stop and start a bit tho as others have said.

9 weeks and still going...
I've been to the GP, had a scan (no retained products) and antibiotics to clear any potential infection but it still keeps coming back. I think there's some damage that just wont heal.

My first little boy was stillborn so you can imagine I just kept really realy busy... inc planting a tree..

bleeding lasted 6 weeks and was pretty heavy

My second little boy was jaundiced so we were in the hospital for over a week... cos I never got up to do more than shower, eat or change a nappy my bleeding had stopped by the time we got out

Sorry to hear that frasersmummy I cant imagine how awful that must have been

thanks ohnelly butI really dont want to turn your thread to me

I was just trying to say ... I think the more you do the longer you may bleed

I have a 4 year old too so there is no point in me saying sit down have a cuppa it will help is there???

haha not much chance of that!

I was going for 7 weeks. Stopped and started a couple of times. Mine was also tan colour after a couple of days but it changed back again.