What is postpartum bleeding?

[mother2b]

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]

you can ovulate ...plenty of women have been caught out , lots haven't though ! depends how strongly you feel about getting pregnant or not

you can use condoms , no hormonal issues

You can use mini-pill when bf but its not as relible as the combined pill (hence DS )

Expect to be quizzed on your contraceptive plans before you leave hospital. Sex may be the furthest thing from your mind at that point!

Oh yes you will be asked about your contraceptive choices within hours of giving birth. I just laughed hysterically.

My lochia went on for 12 weeks with dd but only 6 weeks with ds

Oh and don't forget what great fun it is to lie in the bath and squirt milk to the opposite wall of the bathroom

You may not have leaky boobs - I didn't, and breastfed sucessfully 3 times. Your periods may return quickly, even if exclusively breastfeeding - mine did, damn it! It's all pot luck really.

I bled for about 6 weeks, I had leaky boobs for about 5 mths, and no periods for 9 which was great. Then I had one and haven't had another since.
I was dreading the pooing bit, DH had strict instructions NOT to look. But as I knelt in his lap as he sat in a chair he couldn't see anyway, thank God.
Also I always assumed that once you gave birth the painful bit was over, but I was so sore down there for weeks, esp after DD1 who gouged a great trough in my labia on her way out as she had her hand up round her face. Agony everytime I had to wee.
Sorry, but you did ask. I would rather someone had warned me actually. I didn't tear which was good, with either of them, and recovery after DD2 was easier and quicker.
Luckily you will love that little baby so much that it'll be worth all the pain, discomfort and gross factor

I didn't find out about the postnatal bleeding until the first week of my midwifery training. It is a very well kept secret omitted from the speech on having babies. It can last for upto about 6 weeks but is generally sooner and yes your periods can return very soon after. Obviously this all varies from woman to woman. The bleeding starts off heavy, fresh and red an should subside a little everyday, turning to red/brown to pink to white. You will probably find it heavier following a breastfeed and your after pains worse as the hormones cause your uterus to contract and return to its usual size and place. If you pass clots, the bleeding suddenly becomes much heavier or it starts to smell offensive you should ring your midwife or labour ward IMMEDIATELY. Always and the towels which are kind of plasticky on top can make you hot and sweaty and sore and nasty so go for the more papery/cottony vaiety. They are more comfortable. You should not use tampons until the bleeding has stopped and periods start again as the placental site where the bleeding comes from is an open wound and there is a risk of introducing infection which can make you quite ill. For the same reason avoid sex until the bleeding has stopped and your perineum is healed/comfortable. HTH