Ridiculously heavy first period after birth

[teatimeplease]

Is this normal for my first period after having a baby- Soaking through the tampon in less than half an hour? I'm using maternity pads instead of/aswell and they're filling up really fast too. It's just not slowing down at all, this is the third day and so far it's got worse day by day.

I feel okay at the moment but I've never had a period like this before, I don't remember it being this bad after my first baby either! Does having a c section potentially make it worse? I'm bleeding more now than I did straight after birth!

[ditzzy]

My first couple of periods after my second daughter was born were very heavy. Much crampier than usual and had several flood events (I’d feel cramps and about an hour later get a very heavy flow for 10-20 mins).

I don’t recall exactly how many periods were like it, but it got back to normal after a few months.

Hope that helps! Obviously if you’re worried then give your health visitor a call and they can give you guidance on whether (or when) to seek medical advice.

[OldTinHat]

I had this after a miscarriage and ERPC. The period I had after was horrendous. The following ones were much easier. It was just that first one.

[Gymbelle]

Yes I had this, the dr said it was normal. I did get some tablets to take but it eased before I got them. My next 2 periods have been much lighter.

I had a C-section too and my first period was much worse that my bleeding after the section.

[RichinVitaminR]

@teatimeplease

Is this normal for my first period after having a baby- Soaking through the tampon in less than half an hour? I'm using maternity pads instead of/aswell and they're filling up really fast too. It's just not slowing down at all, this is the third day and so far it's got worse day by day.

I feel okay at the moment but I've never had a period like this before, I don't remember it being this bad after my first baby either! Does having a c section potentially make it worse? I'm bleeding more now than I did straight after birth!

I mean, keep an eye on it, but yeah sadly I think pretty standard 😭 Mine was very heavy too. Rest plenty OP. I felt so crap and depressed when my period came back! Not having it for the best part of a year was bloody bliss.

[Mumoftwo1312]

My first period pp was over 16 days long, I thought it would never end... but I had caught covid which, for me, messes up my period (I found out later when I caught it again a year later). I was also 14mo postpartum when I got my period back so I hadn't had a period in about 2 years, it felt like my body was making up for lost time! It was a c section but I don't imagine that makes a difference (I don't know though).

If I recall correctly, it settled back to normal by about the third or fourth cycle. My periods have always been on the long side though, about 8 days long usually.

See how it goes by about the third cycle, hopefully it'll be normal by then

[Halloweenrainbow]

Same. I stuck two night pads together then another across the middle but still needed to change every half hour! At night, I bled through the pads, pajamas, and two layers of bedding it was so bad I considered taking myself to hospital! It settled into a normal flow by morning and next period was normal. Was aneamic and had low vitamin D for several months afterwards so make sure to get checked if bleeding is heavy.

[Teacup19]

I'm ashamed to say I went to A&E for this because I just wasn't expecting it! Turns out it can be normal, but you can have tablets (Tranexamic acid) to slow it down.

[teatimeplease]

Thanks everyone! You've eased my worries- I used to have heavy periods but this is just another level, currently soaking through the heaviest level tampon every half an hour and the last of my maternity pads are getting used vv quickly!

Anyway, I've put a towel down in the hope of saving the mattress 🤞🏻 and I'll pray it eases up tomorrow otherwise I'll not be leaving the house again

[Mumoftwo1312]

Instead of a towel, have you ever tried incontinence bed pads? They're cheap on amazon, basically a thin sanitary pad the size of a pillowcase. We use them everywhere, under the cot sheet, in the pram, etc. And under the master bed sheet, period accident location. Life changing