Very heavy bleeding - 2nd period since giving birth

[FfreckleFface]

My daughter is 10mo, and is breastfed. I had my first period since having her in November, and it seemed fairly normal. I have always had fairly light, short periods, and haven't ever really suffered with cramps/pmt/etc (I know I'm very lucky). The period I had in Nov lasted for four days, and even though I expected to need Super tampons instead of regular because of a vaginal birth, they didn't seem necessary.
However, I woke up at 5 on Wednesday morning, with blood soaked through my pants, pyjama bottoms and the bedsheet. Since then I have been going through an 'extra super' (the ones that I feel should probably be labeled 'Bucket Fanjo' every two hours or so)tampon every two hours or so, with fairly large clots whenever I pull them out. (Really sorry about the TMI here.)Plus, it has all been quite painful, which I am not used to. It seems to be calming down a little now, but is still much heavier than any period I have ever had.

Does this seem normal? Is it just my body 'sorting itself out', as my mum put it? Apart from the cramps I feel fine, just a little tired. I'd appreciate any advice.

I recall after having ds (second child) that my first periods post-natal were horrendously heavy (about 9 months after he was born).

TBH, while they are lighter now, they still hurt more than before having him, and they are much heavier i.e. need heavy duty tampons and lots of em. I also never used to get PMT or spots, and that's happened gradually since I had him (3 years ago mind).

I went to the doctor and blood tests revealed that have v. low iron, so I take a supplement now. It was suggested that I might want to consider oral contraception because might regulate my periods. But am hoping to have another baby soon.

Anyway - in response to the OP, hopefully your periods will settle down, but I do think that a certain difference between pre-dc and post-dc hormones and periods can happen. I think it would be a good idea to go to the doctor because having had your dd and now heavy bleeding your iron stores may be depleted.

None of this happened between dd and ds, but I think that I only stopped breastfeeding for about a month before ds was conceived and I wonder whether that was related.

I had very heavy periods after dd, sometimes so bad that I vomitted. Still quite heavy I but I think less so. I don't know what is normal though, I was freaked by mine at the time though and looking back I probably should have seen the GP. Probably best to speak to your doctor.

Thank you. I might go to the doctor next week, depending on how it goes over the weekend.