Periods after giving birth, what is normal?

[RedHerring24]

Can anyone offer advice?
I have a doctors appointment booked but im having to wait a month so thought I would see if anyone has had similar?

I gave birth to my daughter 7months ago. It was a vaginal delivery with episiotomy. I haemorrhaged and required medical help afterwards.
I bled continiously and heavily for 9 weeks post partum (including haemorrhages which put me back in hospital) and finally found a chunk of placenta had been left behind. It removed itself eventually.

From 4 months post birth my periods returned. The first was much heavier than normal and lasted about 2 weeks. The second was much the same.
When my last period finished it hadnt been as bad. About a week and not as heavy.
But 2 weeks later i had blood streaked mucus, around the time of ovulation.
I thought it would subside but it turned into another bleed. Which is still happening over a week later.

Is this amount of irregular bleeding normal?
Ive never spotted between periods before.

Has anyone had similar and can offer reassurance before my appointment?

My first few after birth periods were very heavy, and a bit irregular, though mine went the other way and were 6+ weeks apart. After about 3 or 4 periods it settled down.

I think seeing the GP is a good idea, though if they’re anything like mine the advice will be to come back if they’re still off in a couple of months.

Your experience sounds fairly horrific, I hope you're doing ok emotionally, it must be so draining.

Last time my periods came back around 7 months and were fairly normal from the start, def back to usual 27 day cycle from 9-10 months post birth. This time DS is nearly 4 months and no sign of them yet. Not nearly so much or as distressing as your sound, GP is a good idea - I hope they take you seriously.

Thank you @SBAM and @CorpusCallosum for replying, it means alot.

I must be honest and say i have been struggling alot. The birth wasnt straight forward in that I developed pre-eclampsia and had to be induced immediately. Then had the crash team out twice because of haemorrhage and blood pressure drops.
There are question marks over the birth as I dont remember things from where i was basically unconscious.
But baby is fine and thats what matters.

Im sad that it took almost 3 months for them to realise placenta had been left behind and even then they wouldnt have me in for a recheck. I had to just sit it out at home.

Im not holding out alot of hope with the GP. We have to do e-consults currently. I did one over a week ago and they emailed to say i need a face to face appointment with a doctor.
But today ive learnt they have booked me with a nurse. Prob to discuss going back onto contraception.
I think i am worried about a potential prolapse or something? Its not always comfortable using tampons which has made me wonder.

Its reassuring that you both had irregular cycles initially too. Im glad things settled down for you though.
@CorpusCallosum hopefully things get back to normal for you soon too

I think you should push for a referral to gyne. I had a very similar experience to you (retained placenta, massive haemorrhage, readmitted due to bleeding) and I was treated by the gynaecologist at the hospital rather than my GP. While I was in they scanned me and I had an MRI. Could you self refer or would it need to be via your GP? My periods finally returned after 4 months and they have been totally fine, not heavy or painful.

Thanks for replying @frangipani13.
I was referred to gynae for the placenta issues originally as an urgent case as GP said i needed a D&C to remove it.
My 'urgent' case was dealt with as a phone call where I wad told it wasnt urgent and that it would pass within 2 weeks naturally. They said they would provide a follow up call 2 weeks later.
In that time i had a second big haemorrhage and to be fair, i did pass the placenta in pieces.
When they called I asked to be seen for reassurance but they refused and said 'your miscarriage is over now, your periods will return, youre fine'.
Which was hugely upsetting as my miscarriage was 3 months old and smiling at me.

Ive spoken to my GP surgery as im booked in with a nurse, not a doctor. Asked for a GP appointment instead and have been told that my e-consult was revied by a GP and all i need is a nurse appt, it doesnt warrent seeing a doctor.
Sadly I cant self refer either.

When youbsay youbwere treated at the hospital was that just for the retained placenta or did you need investigations into irregular cycles after birth?

Following this with interest. My DD is 12months old. I had a period at 10months post partum (after stopping bfing) and then one this month. In between i had 2 weeks of spotting around the time I think i might have ovulated and i never had spotting pre pregnancy. Had a smear at 6months post partum which was clear. I have PCOS so assumed it's just cycles settling back into some kind of rhythm but was thinking about going to GP if it happens again next month to get checked out. I had a relatively straightforward labour with no hemorrhage or placenta issues.

Hey @RedHerring24 after having my dd I was kept in a week as I’d lost over three litres of blood, and during an mri they’d seen I had a big piece of placenta left in there. On discharge they booked me in for a follow up with the hospital in 6 weeks time. Before the 6 weeks I ended up being readmitted with more bleeding (not periods, it was caused by the retained placenta). By the 6 week check up where I was scanned, everything had passed/dissolved. Lucky I am totally back to normal now.

Horrible that they referred to your baby as a miscarriage, that’s really piss poor.

have you had a smear yet? Keep an eye on your cycles, perhaps note down everything unusual and insist on a GP appt if you’re still having issues in 3 months.