Postpartum bleeding in a natural birth

• 07-06-2009 2:44 PM

  Mom~of~Munchkins Joined on 09-14-2005 Posts 236

  Postpartum bleeding in a natural birth Reply Contact Hi ladies...got a quick question. I've got some "weirdness" this time around and I'm wondering if its just because I didn't have pitocin or if its something to be concerned with. My bleeding was totally normal postpartum. I had one massive clot in the two days following the birth (about the size of a golf ball), but other than that, I've had nothing larger than a grape. The abnormal thing, for me, is how long this is lasting. I don't bleed all the time, but, even now, I can stand up and then just fill a pad with bright red blood. Then it will stop. Then, the next day, it'll happen again. Bright red. I'll be 4 wks postpartum this Friday. This is really bizarre for me. With the other babies, it has gone like described by the practitioners as being "normal." It is bright red for a few days to a week, then fades to pink, then to white...yadda yadda. I think Mason's lasted for about 3 wks, but that was including the fading to pink and white. I wasn't wearing a pad after 3 wks postpartum. The other two, I didn't wear a pad past 2 wks postpartum. So, I'm not really getting that "feeling" that something is wrong, given that I'm not bleeding profusely ALL the time. I'm not feeling imminent danger. But it just does seem kind of odd that I would still be having "gushes" like this even once a day at this point, doesn't it? Maybe the "weaker" natural contractions just push less out immediately after birth, causing it to take longer to empty? I do know my afterpains were weaker this time around than they were with pitocin delivered placentas. I'm just thrown off by the bright red, fresh-looking blood.

• 07-10-2009 4:46 PM

  In reply to

  verybusymom Joined on 08-17-2005 DFW, TX Posts 149

  Re: Postpartum bleeding in a natural birth Reply Contact Wow, that does seem a little long to be having such gushes. Medically speaking as long as you aren't soaking through more than 1 pad an hour its not considered too much. but by now I don't think it should still be bright red or gushing, like you said should be very light and brownish at this point. I am pretty sure that by this long pitocin v natural should not have any effect on your bleeding. At first maybe but not now. I think I would give my MW a call and let 'em know rather than wait 2 more weeks for your PP checkup. Better safe than sorry. And keep an eye on your temp. biggest risk about bleeding like that so long after is could indicate parts of your placenta are still inside and that could cause infection. Fever is usually 1st sign of infection so just keep watch. Are you crampy at all? Hope it stops soon. Bleeding and pads are no fun!

• 07-11-2009 9:19 PM

  In reply to

  ~willowtree~ Joined on 04-29-2009 Posts 287

  Re: Postpartum bleeding in a natural birth Reply Contact yeah, i would have somebody try to check and see that there is nothing still up inside, because that can really cause the gushes this late. my SIL had the same thing, (after a natural birth), and once they got the leftover tissue out she felt SO much better. on the other hand, i bled for almost 8 weeks with both my natural births, although after #1 i had had pitocin for bleeding. but by 4 weeks it was starting to change color some, if i remember correctly. hope that helps and you feel better soon!

• 07-12-2009 9:51 PM

  In reply to

  *Christa* Joined on 09-06-2005 Posts 462	Re: Postpartum bleeding in a natural birth Reply Contact Doesn't hurt to get checked out.  I had a c/s (no pit), but my bleeding was like that with Keira.  My bleeding with Hannah was just like you described your other pregnancies.  I thought it was weird to even need a pad with Keira, (heck with Hannah I was using pantyliners) past 2 wks.

• 07-15-2009 4:46 PM

  In reply to

  staceyf Joined on 07-01-2009 nz Posts 35

  Re: Postpartum bleeding in a natural birth Reply Contact with my first 3 natural births i bleed for 8-9weeks, so for about 6 weeks was like a tap.i was never given any medication for it.. i had all the after pains you would expect each getting more intense with each child. i had baby number 4 jalso naturally in july last year, this is 8yrs after my 3rd and i only bleed for 4 weeks. i wonder if age had something to do with this, as i was 17, 19 and 20 with my 1st 3, and then 29 with my 4th.. ??? every1 is deifferent.. but do see a doc if you are concered.. it cant hurt..