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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What is postpartum bleeding?

56 replies

mother2b · 21/06/2007 15:14

would hav asked on my other thread but it seems to have turned into a bit of a debate about [http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=49&threadid=342504&stamp=070621151106 racism]

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Mumpbump · 21/06/2007 15:47

But you clear your bowels beforehand - one of the signs of impending labour - so you don't necessary sh*t yourself. Am pretty sure I didn't. Had to pee once whilst in labour, but couldn't drink anything so I would be surprised if I peed during labour. Just remember lots more blood than I had expected, but I had an episiotomy.

stleger · 21/06/2007 17:30

mother2be - are you OK?????The feeling of being made of marble when the milk comes in is interesting too.

LackingNicknameInspiration · 21/06/2007 17:38

It does rather put you off using spicy foods to try and bring on labour, doesn't it!

MrsMar · 21/06/2007 18:12

Hi, sorry to thread hijack (sort of)... I had heard of lochia, but (and this is the gross bit) are the pads you need larger than trad sanitory towels? I haven't used sanitory towels since I was 13 and having my first period, and I always used to block the loo at mum and dads and have the shame of my poor dad having to unblock it. How do you dispose of them? You can't possibly chuck them in the bin, do you tear them up? Sorry, it's just one of those random thoughts that popped in to my end in between endless toilet trips last night!

jinxed · 21/06/2007 18:16

Sanitary towels, wrap in loo paper and into a nappy sack and into the bin!

Tampons are not suitable for postpartum bleeding.

I find NightTime towels easier than the huge thick maternity sanitary towels.

HTH

MrsBadger · 21/06/2007 18:17

if you use normal sanitary towels get the very biggest size (maternity pads are usually cheaper though as they don't spend lots of money working out how to make them ultra thin as you will NOT be rollerskating on beaches in tight white jeans)

and of course wrap them and put them in the bin. Use scented nappy sacks if it makes you feel better.

MrsMar · 21/06/2007 18:18

just read further down... mother2b - I'm a first timer too, I did know about the pooing thing because my BIL always tells us about the time my sister pooed on his new shoes when giving birth to their daughter! Another friend of mine had her whole family come in and see her new daughter when she was only a few minutes old, she had no idea there was poo all over the floor. I think it reassures me (a teeny bit) when they both say they had no idea that a) they'd even pooed, and b) anyone else had noticed. There really is apparently no shame in childbirth. In the old days my mum says they used to give you an enema to clear your bowels out, not sure which is worse!

It's all a bit daunting, I'm hoping the gas and air will make me feel so spaced I won't realise how undignified I look!

MrsMar · 21/06/2007 18:19

ooh thanks Mrsbadger and jinxed, must add nappy bags to my shopping list then. I really don't fancy calling an emergency plumber out two days after I've given birth to clear out maternity pads from the loo in my lovely new bathroom!

MrsBadger · 21/06/2007 18:21

oh, and you might find the nappy sacks come in useful for

nappies

MrsMar · 21/06/2007 18:22

I know that's what they're designed for, but my sister never uses them, just rolls the nappy up and uses the sticky strips to hold them shut. Is that totally gross then?

perpetuaphoenixfire · 21/06/2007 18:23

thick kotex are good as maternity towels. i never used nappy bags, just emptied bin often . would have had nightmares about how ungreen i was being

Ceolas · 21/06/2007 18:23

Noooooo maternity pads near the loo!!!!

Tell you a funny story...

I had just had DD1 and sent DH for some pads. He went to Boots and had to seek assistance. Shop assistant pointed out they were on 3 for 2.

"Oh, I'm not sure she'll need 3" said DH.

Assistant enquired "how old is baby?"

DH replied "5 days" whereupon assistant took 3 packs, handed them over and said "You night as well take another 3 while you're here!"

DH was a bit

Think I'm going to use cloth this time as I fin disposables hot and uncomfortable.

MrsBadger · 21/06/2007 18:23

depends how often you take the bins out tbh
(flipping the poo off into the loo if sufficiently solid helps too)

perpetuaphoenixfire · 21/06/2007 18:24

i do that with nappies. sometimes need to put straight in outside bin but imo nappy bags smell as bad as nappies

jinxed · 21/06/2007 18:25

We used nappy sacks for the first few months, now just tape them shut and stick them in the bin. Bin gets emptied daily and sprayed with Oust and cleached once a week!

Nappy sacks also handy when out and about, last thing you want is the prospect of a poopy nappy exploding in the change bag!

MrsMar · 21/06/2007 18:26

Thanks for that mrsb... I guess it also depends on what the baby's eating, my sister always says bf baby poo isn't so bad, it's when they start on the solids that you get the green stuff!

ceolas, great story! I remember reading an article in Marie Claire (or something) where they asked men how many tampons they thought the average woman used in the average period. Most thought it was about 2 or three (!!!) so I'm not surprised your dh got a surprise!!

Ceolas · 21/06/2007 18:27

BF baby poo? - think Korma...

MrsMar · 21/06/2007 18:30

hmm delightful.. does that come with poppadoms?

cece · 21/06/2007 18:34

Do you know about breast pads yet?

kittenbaby · 21/06/2007 18:35

mother 2b i didnt know this either
i guess my 2 packets of mat pads will not be quite enough then lol!!
i had know idea i can last 6 weeks i thought a couple of days
omg wonder what else we dont know !! lol
xx

jinxed · 21/06/2007 18:36

oooh yes leaky boobs!

MrsMar · 21/06/2007 18:40

re: leaky boobs, a friend told me a story, she hadn't been warned about leaky boobs, and one day when her first ds was a few days old she had a bath, dried herself off, and then spent a good minute or so trying to work out why her feet were still wet after she'd dried them! She dripped milk all over them!!

pooka · 21/06/2007 18:56

I didn't have periods for about 8 months each time.

Bled for at least 6 weeks, maybe a little more. The worst bit- prob because never usually wear pads and they are blimming horrible. Like having a brick in your knickers. May I recommend Always ultra night time (the heaviest flow one). They're a little less uncomfortable.

NoviceKnitter · 21/06/2007 19:06

So, if you don't have periods, do you ovulate? I know bf ing does not necessarily protect against conception, but what's the best contraception during this period - e.g. would feel reluctant to go on the pill if a) bfing b) not having periods - presumably rhythm method not reliable while cycle non-existent - any tips/thoughts?

dal21 · 21/06/2007 19:12

for contraception - I have read that you should use some form of barrier method. Unfort the fertility awareness method is not reliable during BF. Most pills are not recommended during BF. And yes it is possible to ovulate and not have a period (and vice versa). Have about 3 friends who all fell pg much earlier than planned with their 2nd because they didnt use protection when BF.

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