Panicking help, post c-section bleeding pics warning

[northernsunshine]

graphic pictures warning!

I am 11 days post partum after a planned c section where I lost a fair amount of blood. My blood loss was heavy for first few days and then went to the lochia and kind of tapered off this week with some tiny little blood clots. Had nothing really yesterday or most of today when suddenly started bleeding heavily this afternoon from 5pm onwards, leaving pools of blood in the toilet bowl after and have got through two pads. Maternity unit doesn’t seem worried but I am. Please help. Is this normal?

I would monitor the amount of blood. It could be your period 2weeks after you gave birth? See what you are like in the morning if you are loosing a lot of blood I would contact the maternity unit again. My friend thought she had a haemorrhage but it turned out to be a period. Keep an eye on how much blood you are loosing and seek medical advice if you are worried.

2 pads in 7 hours isn't too bad. Have you got any pain? It could be due to an infection. Or it could just be because you are moving around more. Has the midwife signed you off?

Are you breastfeeding op? It can make bleeding worse and more bright red due to hormones, i was all over the place with bleeding for weeks afterwards it seemed never ending, more so when I was up and about a bit more than the first week home, if you are at all worried you could always call 111 and ask for advice too.

Was normal for me

@whenemmafallsinlove i haven’t been signed off from the midwife yet as it was a community assistant doing the day 10 appointment. She did say that bleeding could start up again but everything online says about it should be getting lighter whereas this is as heavy as it was day 1 / day 2 post section, which is scaring me!

@sandyhappypeople i am breastfeeding that’s an interesting point thanks they did say breastfeeding might make bleeding worse but wasn’t sure to which extent.

@Foundaplan that’s reassuring to hear, did your bleeding stop : start too?

Doesn’t look concerning, you’ve no signs of heavy blood loss symptom wise. Google isn’t a good source for individual situations, listen to your maternity unit and if continues contact them again they don’t tell you it’s okay for nothing it’s their job

@Ukholidaysaregreat thanks I will do. Urgh am so anxious at the moment

@Adamsapple89 thank you I will do

Feeding releases hormones which make the uterus contact (to get it back to pre birth size, handily). You can sometimes feel this happening. Maybe monitor your loss to see if it's worse during or just after feeding.

I'd also take temperature just in case you have an infection.

If it gets heavier or smells worse than usual or you feel crap eg temp then I'd ring your midwife tomorrow and ask to be seen for a swab just in case. If no red flags then I think you can assume it's hormonal or activity related and you can wait for it to desist!

Have you been put walking or anything today or yesterday? I had DD2 earlier this year (although she was a vaginal delivery) and i had two big surprising bouts of bleeding after my lochia had started to calm down - the first time was after i passed a piece of retained membranes around day 10. This was very obviously something different as it felt like a contraction when I passed it and it was clearly a mass (this is tmi but I fished it out of the loo when i passed it as i was concerned at what it might be). Triage checked me over and provided antiobiotics. The second time was after i did a big walk round the park probably a little bit too early. I was quite sore for a few days and the bleeding intensified a lot. I took it as a sign to take things easy for a bit longer.

I was bleeding heavily, through a pad every 20-30 mins so went to hospital and put me in tranexamic acid then the mirena coil. I think it was a few months after section though. I'd certainly record amount of blood loss and keep speaking to medical support

I'd keep an eye on it but I wouldn't be concerned yet. I didn't have a C-section but my bleeding stayed red for weeks and weeks.

i was bleeding on and off for about 3 weeks after birth. But get yourself checked to ease your mind. You have loads to worry about now.

Hello OP, it doesn’t look bad at all . The toilet just looks like a little blood mixed in with water so that it looks like a whole pool but isn’t. You know this because it is still translucent.
Just keep an eye on things . Congratulations on your baby !

Honestly seems quite normal. And every time I breastfed it made me pass blood faster. However if anything like a fever kicks in. Seek medical attention

OP I was bleeding and using pads for 5 weeks post C section, and there was that much blood for 2 weeks easily. Like others say, get help if you have a high temperature or dizziness or headaches.

I really think it can vary between us all and you just need to keep an eye on it and look out for any additional concerning symptoms.

After my section I didn't bleed at all for 2 weeks (I was breastfeeding) then suddenly on day 14 I had the biggest loss of blood you can imagine with clots and all sorts (sorry if TMI). I was so scared thinking I was hemorrhaging, it lall came out at once and had been so sudden, the room looked like a murder scene.
That was it. I didn't bleed again until my period came back months later.

Looks quite normal. It usually eases and gets heavier on and off for a couple of weeks. I find once you get moving a bit more it's heavier again and you're probably being a bit more active now at this stage are you? Try not to panic, it's certainly not pools of blood in the toilet! You can still see through the water so it's like 95% water and a bit of blood. Soaking through a pad in an hour, temp, severe pain or faintness all require urgent medical attention. If none of these then keep an eye and see how you feel. Can always ring again if something just doesn't feel right. You know your body best.

This doesn’t look like a lot of blood. It’s the amount I would lose on a light - moderate flow day of my period. It doesn’t look like there are any clots or anything. From what I remember from a c-section, this could go on for another 2 weeks or so?

The bleeding has returned today after nothing much yesterday just some after wiping. Midwife not replying to my text :(

For context it’s dark red/ fresh red colour so not the lochia

Hi OP, I wouldn't worry unless you have other concerning symptoms. I know some women continue bleeding on and off for weeks.