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Original poster

How long did your post-partum bleeding go on for?

24 replies

Enid · 19/12/2002 17:21

Dd2 is 9 weeks on Saturday and I am still bleeding. Not a huge amount, but enough to have to wear pads all day/night. I'm sick of it. I want to get on with life/sex life and its really starting to get me down. Is it normal to bleed for this long?

OP posts:
Tinker · 19/12/2002 17:24

Oh Enid, I bled for at least that long. Can't remember when I stopped really, only bf for 12 weeks so than, maybe? It's is a right PITA though!

mears · 19/12/2002 17:42

9 weeks is rather a long time. By 6 weeks postnatally you should not be bleeding from the birth. You might experience a period straight after the bleeding stops post birth which can extend the length of time of bleeding in total IYKWIM. Have you started taking any contraceptives or had a coil inserted? If the answer is no to both then I think you should see your GP.

Original poster
Enid · 19/12/2002 18:00

mears, I thought I had a period at 6 weeks as the bleeding was stopping, then came back red and heavy. But I can't believe I've had a 3 week period!!

OP posts:
mears · 19/12/2002 20:04

Definately should not have a 3 week period. What about the contraceptives? That can cause prolonged bleeding. Could be hormonal imbalance. It can take a while for things to settle back down after giving birth but 9 weeks seems a bit long to me.

Lollypop · 19/12/2002 21:26

Enid I understand exactly what you mean it really doea get you down after a while. I bled for 8 weeks and stopped the day before I was due for a scan to see if I had retained some placenta. Hormones! I'm sure of it. I hadn't started any contraception at all, I just think that my body hadn't read the same text book as the doctors. After all, I did have a consultant that didn't belive me when I told him I normally had a 37 day cycle. SIL also bled for 9 weeks for no apparent reason. I'd check with your GP though.

clucks · 19/12/2002 21:45

Bled for almost 3 months, has swab and found to have bacterial vaginosis. Had no sexual contact for the first 4 months anyway and took metronidazole which stopped the bleeding too.

susanmt · 19/12/2002 21:49

Bled for 7 weeks second time, turned out I had a retained bit of placenta, which cme out before the D&C was scheduled (thank goodness) with a little encouregement from some metro- whatchamacallit antibiotics). I would see your GP, just in case there is anything wrong.

susanmt · 19/12/2002 21:50

Bled for 7 weeks second time, turned out I had a retained bit of placenta, which cme out before the D&C was scheduled (thank goodness) with a little encouregement from some metro- whatchamacallit antibiotics). I would see your GP, just in case there is anything wrong.

Original poster
Enid · 20/12/2002 14:57

Saw gp this morning and he's given me antibiotics, also took a blood test and is arranging for a scan. He thought that 9 weeks was at the very upper limit of 'leaving it to settle down' so looks like I might have something left behind - damn! After the lovely easy birth too

OP posts:
batey · 20/12/2002 18:13

Hope you get some relief from the antibiotics and/or get it sorted soon too. Bummer timing though...

Original poster
Enid · 28/12/2002 12:06

Had a scan yesterday and they found quite a lot of stuff left behind so was whisked in for a d&c - home now with a lot less bleeding than I had been having!

Can you believe that my (womens, maternity!) hospital didn't have a breast pump?? So I leaked everywhere.

OP posts:
bossykate · 28/12/2002 20:57

enid, rubbish timing! hope you are feeling better now.

honeybunny · 28/12/2002 21:05

Enid-glad things are improving, and hope you'll get back to normal in no time. LOL

Batters · 28/12/2002 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tigermoth · 29/12/2002 10:31

Saw on another thread that you took you new gameboy with you. Good thinking, Enid! Hope it provided some consolation and that you feel better for new year.

ScummyMummy · 30/12/2002 19:53

Missed this- bad luck Enid. Hope you're feeling better now. Agree with Tigermoth that taking your Gameboy in was an inspired move!

batey · 30/12/2002 21:08

Hope you get back to normal soon. Happy New Year too.

Marina · 01/01/2003 20:47

Glad you had some distraction for this miserable interlude and hope it is all properly sorted for 2003. Quite surprised they didn't realise you were missing a few bits - my midwife spent a lot longer checking the edges of my placenta than she did inspecting ds1! And I got a "more information than needed" description of it too.

WideWebWitch · 02/01/2003 02:39

enid, glad this is sorted out and the gameboy was a distraction. Happy new year.

pamina · 14/06/2003 08:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

codswallop · 14/06/2003 09:14

I was 10 weeks - for me it was a sign I was doing too much!

bossykate · 14/06/2003 10:06

pamina, i had a similar experience, thought i was getting my first period at when ds was about 10wks old, even though he was bf. it stopped after a few days and i didn't have any more until well after i had stopped bf at 6m. hv said at the time it was a period. don't know if that is any help whatsoever! go to your gp next week. best wishes.

Original poster
Enid · 14/06/2003 12:41

pamina, see below! I was also told my bleeding was a period, and it did stop and start, so please do go and get it checked out, a quick scan should be all you need. Congratulations on the baby BTW x E

OP posts:
pamina · 14/06/2003 13:33

This reply has been deleted

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