Really heavy period four weeks after birth

[AliceRR]

I posted last week thinking I might have my period, 3 weeks after birth (full term still birth) as I had felt “hormonal” / PMT the week before and then had a bit of spotting. Wasn’t sure if that was period or postnatal bleeding restarting after having had an active day the day before.

Anyway I still don’t really know what that was but it sort of went away and then I had a period coming on which started light and now is quite heavy to the point that blood soaked though a nighttime pad and onto my PJs last night and I’m worried about going out in case I continue to soak through pads.

I called the GP and she said she thinks it is just a period.

I have some maternity pads left and wondering whether to use those instead of an Always pad as I put one on at 9 o’clock and already need to change again

I’m actually also slightly worried about going out at all

Anyone else had this? Any tips?

I can feel the blood in the way I could with bleeding in the day or two after birth... and managed to soak through to my jeans while I was out!

I had this and it was a bit of retained placenta, which can lead to infection. So if I were you I'd get it checked out, I called labour triage and they asked me to go in to be checked out there. Felt weird going back with a 3 week old baby but they were lovely and said to go straight back there if any more problems

I'm so sorry for your loss. At three weeks post partum I was still dealing with lochia. I didn't have a period until about 5/6 weeks. I think you should speak to midwives or a gynaecologist - a gp might not have the expertise to help.

Thank you for replying.

I later spoke to my bereavement midwife and my community midwife yesterday and they both said it sounded like a normal heavy period after birth

I’ve woken up today and it feels like it might already be tapering off slightly (think yesterday was the heaviest) but it’s hard to know what’s normal when it’s your first baby.

And my MW was suggesting my period might have come back sooner because of the circumstances - stress and my body probably knows I don’t have my baby...

Did you have other symptoms or signs of infection @AubreyBeardsley?

OP I am so so sorry for your loss.

I had a section 3.5 weeks ago very different physical and emotional circumstances but my bleeding is also abnormal/ unusual especially as I should have been cleaned out in theatre. I hope you don’t mind me following this thread as I feel like I’m being palmed off that it’s a period - I’m BF as well so it would very very unusual. As PP GP may not have the expertise but my experience is beceause I don’t have infection symptoms (no pain or fever) they aren’t interested. My bleeding keeps stopping and starting, as you say sometimes it’s heavy enough to feel it. Mine has varied in colour from bright red to brown and back again, and sometimes very mucusy

@AliceRR You are going through the worst possible thing you could be right now, having a really heavy period on top of that is hard to deal with. I had similar after I came home without my baby too but mine was accompanied with horrendous pain and was a couple of weeks later than yours.

Take care of yourself and get yourself checked out if it doesn't get any better

@Blondiecub0109 I had my baby on 13 Feb. My bleeding went through what I think of the normal stages of lochia - red blood to pinky then to brown and then to orangey I think before almost going clear by about three weeks (or just before) and then I had a trace of bleeding again last Thursday but I had had a an exhausting day the day before of walking around a lot and so thought it might be that. Then that kind of went and this bleeding started on Monday I think hit it got heavier up to yesterday and we’ll see how it goes now as it doesn’t seem as bad so far today.

@whitetoblerone I’m sorry to hear you’ve been through something similar. In a weird way I like the idea that it is a period as it means my body is getting back to normal. The timing wasn’t ideal as it was my baby’s funeral on Wednesday so the bleeding has come at the same time as that. But my mind the only thing that could make this worse is the idea that I could never have any more children due to some fluke infection following the birth so I am being careful to keep an eye in case of infection or anything. They all seem to think if no foul smell or anything then it’s fine.

I don’t really have pains now. I had pains a week or so ago but that seemed to be down to a UTI and seems to have cleared up with a second lot of antibiotics.

So sorry just skim read and didn't see you'd lost your baby. I must have seemed like an insensitive arsehole.

No I had other symptoms just bleeding, until I passed a bit of placenta. Had a scan and there was a still a bit left but not enough to remove, I had no temperature so it was a watch and wait situation to see if I developed an infection, luckily I didn't.

Sorry for your loss and thinking of you

@AliceRR I really hope you are able to have more children. I am lucky enough to have an 8 month old now.
Any sign of anything you're not sure of or unhappy about just get checked out. Don't let anyone fob you off if you feel something is really wrong! Really hope your future is brighter than it might seem at the minute

@AubreyBeardsley No I didn’t think that. Thank you.

@whitetoblerone I’m so pleased for you. Congratulations 😊 I’m trying to stay positive but really it is still sinking in. But I am grateful for the time I had with her and the support we have from friends and family.

To be honest I feel like everything probably is ok and it likepy is just a heavy period. It’s just a lot heavier than I expected!