"real" periods

[Tea1Sugar]

Daft question. What are they like? How heavy? How long do they last? I haven't had a "real" one for 10 years what with having a mirena 2years (stopped periods) the pill for 7 (pain free, lasted 3 days, light)and a pregnancy, I'm clueless . Oh and also REALLY blood phobic and following a catastrophic haemorrhage in childbirth I'm really nervous of my first "real period" which I'm pretty sure will arrive in the next few days as this is only cycle1 of ttc2.

Anyone?

I think it's different for everyone to be honest. Mine are about 6-7 days but only the first 2 days are heavy. They're never painful though. I can understand you being nervous following your difficult childbirth, but please try and think of it as a different type of bleeding. (I.e. not continuous, not pain as associated with normal bleeding due to an accident or cut etc).

Hope it's not too scary or uncomfortable for you x

Everyone's are different OP.
I've come off the nuvaring in Feb and my periods aren't very different than when I was on it - slightly longer cycle (30 days ave) which is the same as before I used contraception, but no terrible red tides or anything.
Oh and im just a bit mardier a few days a month than I used to be on nuvaring
I guess you can expect yours to go back to whatever was normal before.

Hello Tea my periods usually last between 3-5 days. I usally get no warning often waking up and feeling wet in the morning (tmi) I often only have one very heavy day and the rest I could probably get by only wearing a liner but always wear pads.

When I came off the depo it took 7 months for my periods to come back and they were very light for the first 4 cycles. I had previously been quite regularly however now DH and I are ttc they seem destined to be as irregular as possible

Thank you for the replies im imagining the orange tampax and flooding

Oooh gosh no, hopefully not! Unless that was 'normal' before!!!
You'll be fine, try not to worry & enjoy the lunatic roller coaster of the first month as your hormones settle themselves

Bad move me taking my last pill 21st June when we're going away 4th August, doesn't give my system long to settle! Anyway, I'll poas on Thursday and hopefully Af will arrive by next weekend. I think pre-pill I was regular at about 27 days, we'll see!

Mine are horrible!!!!!

I had the Mirena for 2.5 years and so I had completely forgotten how vile they were until I had my Mirena removed in May. I had my first 'real period' about 3 weeks after my Coil came out and it was a huge shock to my system!!!

My typical period:

I wake up in the morning and I can sense how wet I feel down below as my period always starts in the middle of the night. I have to grab a towel or piece of clothing that is next to my bed, push it tightly between my legs and run to the bathroom. As soon as the towel/clothing s removed thick, red blood streams down my legs. I have to quickly sit on the toilet and let everything that had collected over night drain away. I use tissue to wipe myself and the amount of blood is unbelievable. There would sometimes be clots too. I always look down into the toilet bowl afterwards and I wonder how I don't bleed to death. I use tampons and have to regularly change them. Every night during my period I go to bed with a 'Night Time Sanitary Towel' in place, ready to catch the blood in the morning when I stand up. I have horrendous cramps the day before my period arrives and usually the next 2 days too. My periods last between 5 and 7 days and I hate, hate, hate them!!!

Every day is just messy, painful and disgusting!!!

I can't wait to fall pregnant because as soon as the baby is born I'm getting another Mirena ASAP!!!!!!!!

Thanks for scaring the crap out of me!!

Mine pre-baby were like Writers until I went on the pill. Had DS and since they returned following his birth they are light and virtually pain free - maximum of 3 days, and light enough that if it wasn't for concerns re hygiene I could get away with one sanitary towel per day! I know a few friends have found their periods have gone loads lighter naturally following childbirth!

Sorry Tea1sugar

I hope I'm in the minority!!

It is only because I had the Mirena do I look back in hindsight and think, "How the hell did I put up with periods like those for 15 years????"
But during that time it was just normal for me and I just got on with it

Mother Mature is a cruel lady!!

I had my first period in 8 yrs!! Started thursday and appears to be on its way out today. I ws on depo provera, last injection sept covered me until 6th dec. Its taken until now for my period to reappear. Previously, i was on the pill and they were 5-7 days and heavyish - green tampons. Three days would be too heavy for sanitary towels (hate the gloopy feeling!)

Anyway, while i had forgotten quite how vile periods were, it wasn't that bad. I had achey hips, and only used pads rather than tampons. Felt quite 'dirty' i have to say. But hope they continue like this!!

Pre pill i used to have very ling/heavy/painful periods so hope they don't return!!

I have a happier period story to unscare you Tea1Sugar Mine last about 4 days (woohoo!). The first 2 days are 'heavier' but not heavy, I would wear a normal tampon for 6 hours with no leakage. the 3rd day I use a mini tampon because the normal is too absorbant and the 4th day is a 'I'll wear a pantyliner and then judge if a tampon is needed' day. This last cycle I didn't need a tampon on day 4 (I could scarely believe that my period was really only 3 days! day 4 was more like spotting). My periods have always been quite short though even before the pill so I've never worried about it. I will if I can't get preggers though.

I've been on various pills for the last 10 years

Oh and I usually get cramps before it starts unless it starts during the night

It's here and only cd25, is that ok? First cycle off pill im pleased I am clearly ovulating but it seems such a short cycle. Iirc pre-pill I was about 29, hoping it lengthens out

If it's your first cycle I wouldn't worry too much, your hormones will still be a bit skewy. Is that your first bleed since stopping the pill? If it is it's actually a withdrawal bleed and not a period so it wasn't a cycle and therefore nothing to worry about at all.

Either way you are on CD1 good luck to you, if this cycle is a bit short you can take B6 (I think) to help lengthen the luteal phase of your cycle.

My withdrawal bleed After the pill began 24 June so today's has begun 25 days since then

I wouldn't worry about it, yes it's a bit short but not hugely so. Give it another month, bearing in mind that you will be ovulating earlier if your period is coming earlier. Chances are it was a 1 off since it is your first month off the pill. It can take from 6 months to a year for your body to regulate itself again.

Honestly don't worry about it, wait and see what happens this cycle you can judge anything from the first cycle after the pill.

thats meant to say you can't judge anything from the first cycle...

Thanks Disney well day 1 of first proper period in a decade and tmi but a green tampax has lasted 8 hours so I'm not too freaked out at the mo!

Not entirely convinced this is a real period now! started Thursday am and all of Thursday and Friday I've used green tampax but each lasted 8 hours easily and today just spotting with a purple tampax. Oh well can't complain!