I hate the "Is this normal?" threads, but...Is this normal?

[GreedyGecko]

Do periods change a lot after having children?

Since having DS2 my periods have been really heavy, clotting, lasting for over 2 weeks. Before having him they were always very light, lasting 3-4 days.

I've been to the dr today because I'm on day 11 of a breakthrough bleed becasue I forgot 1 pill. The triage nurse was going to give me some progesterone, but when she checked it with the GP, he said it was fine and my body would 'reset' itself after my pill free week which I start tomorrow. (So I have at least another week of bleeding to look forward to.)

I've been bleeding more in the last 7 months than not. Surely this is not normal?

if you're not happy with it insist on being referred to a specialist and don't let the gp refuse.

Well, all I can say is that my periods were heavy before ds and are still heavy now. (Giving the lie to the fatuous "it'll sort itself out once you've had a baby" lie from healthcare professionals). On which basis, I don't think your periods should be worse after having children, but a sample of one is not representative! Surely heavy periods on the pill at all is a bit of a no-no?

I have the same issue and went to GP. My preiods were like you regular and for a set numbe4r of days no more than 7 - at the very very most. Now I am having 3 week periods but they didn't go like this till Sept last year , maybe Oct. I am not on any contraceptive pill though. I have been referred for a scan and they gave me mefanenec (spelling) which dried my bleeding up. Less than 10 days later and I have another period. How long ago did y9u have yoiur LO?

Thanks, yes I thought pill made periods lighter.

DS2 is now 14mths.

So far they have been 2wks on, 2wks off since beginning of June (some of that time I had Implanon in and I thought that was the problem (as did FPC), but I had that out in November).

I even said to the doc you have no idea why this is happening do you, he said no and it could take a few months for an ultrasound date to come thru. Brilliant I thouight. Dont mind me walking around on a permanent period. I bet that it turns out to be 'hormonal' just the favourite andswer to every female issue

I wish you luck and I pray that I am not in for another 3 weeker.

Sounds like yours has been going on a bit longer than mine. My LO is 15 months. I tried depoprovera, but never again, the headaches and weight gain were awful.

My periods have got heavier after each child. Now, after my 3rd who is 21 months, my periods are very very heavy and last for 2 - 2.5 weeks. I have had a scan and 'all is well'. GP says its hormonal and wants to put me on the pill. DH has had a vasectomy and the pill doesn't agree with me.

She did mention Mefanenec (sp?) to make them lighter but she said it won't make them shorter. Was it any good? Any side effects?

I didn't have any side effects, after a few days my period just stopped. It was really odd not bleeding!!

so it did shorten it then? >

Sorry I've only just been given it a couple of weeks ago. I took it 3 times a day to stop the bleeding which had been going on for 3 weeks - it took a few days to stop but it dod stop. I have started bleeding agin and its been about 10 days since my last 'period'

Does that make sense? I have to just wait and see how long this period lasts...

I didn't find my cycle any different after having dc, but what I did find messed it up was when I took any hormonal contraception and then stopped - I was on the pill for a few months as I recently got sterilised and now I'm off it my cycle is a bit up the left. You should get it checked out further though if the bleeding is really heavy. Are there any other factors that could be taken into account? other medication,moods, weight gain or loss etc. I would be alarmed if I was bleeding more than not in the last few months

There are no other changes besides having a baby & starting to use contraception again (something i haven't done in 7 years). No change in diet/lifestyle etc. I sat down earlier & worked it out for when i see my gp. In the 7 months since they started again I have bled for 20 weeks, and only 12 weeks without bleeding.

Have you discussed cahnging your pill? Maybe it's just not suiting you.

I had mefenamic acid tablets, they did not shorten the period at all, they only help with the spasm in tummy...

I had heavy and persistant bleeding after I had DS2 and it was down to developing hypothyrodism. I'd missed the weight gain/tiredness symptoms because getting fat and being knackered didn't seem abnormal for someone with a baby and a toddler! Might be worth checking out?

Are you on the mini pill? This causes all of what you describe, at least it did with me.
Really heavy painful periods, when I stopped taking it, periods returned to normal.

Mine are worse since childbirth - but not as bad as yours sound GG. I would go back and see a different gp.

I did have the implant when ds2 was 7mths and that's when they came back. I had that removed, went back onto mini pill, when he stopped bf went back onto combined pill, so changing contrception hasn't helped.

I will make an appt with my favourite gp tomorrow (unfortunately she's everyone's fave, and it'll be 2wks before I get to see her).