bleeding after birth?

[laetitia85]

I'm no where near having my baby, but I read on one of the posts here that you bleed for weeks after having a baby. (see "sex after birth" post)
i wasn't aware of that! please tell me more. What kind of bleeding is it? is it like having your periods? or just getting rid of all the placenta fluid etc.?

 

[Sammystar]

It starts off like a period then becomes very watery. It lasts for a few weeks. It also tends to come and go a bit. DOn't worry though, you don't get the period pains.......

 

[Emmylou]

Hi Laetitia...its called Lochia. It lasts for up to 6 weeks depending, I bled for 2 weeks, its heavy at first but gets lighter, and really isn't that bad, the worst part is the pads as tampons are a no-no, I hate Sanitary pads

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lochia

 

[laetitia85]

thanks ladies. So much to learn......

 

[mum2A&L]

there is soo much like this you don't get told about when you are expecting!

for a week mine was heavy, but for the rest of the time it was just there when i wiped.

I still can't wear tampons it feels like they are going to fall out!

 

[SarahB]

I bled for 4 weeks after the birth. My midwife kept asking me how was my "loss down below"

 

[laetitia85]

sorry if i seem to be asking too many questions but i was also told about stitching. some women need stitching down there after giving birth. does it hurt?

 

[Tasha20]

sorry if i seem to be asking too many questions but i was also told about stitching. some women need stitching down there after giving birth. does it hurt?

It depends how many, were your tearing is and wether youve had any pain relief.

After the stitchs will be sore, and you may not be able to sit down for few weeks

Once the initial bleeding has stoped from child birth you may not have a period for months if your breastfeeding, I havnt had one at all sinse the birth bleed stopped

 

[Emmylou]

I had stitches as I had a 2nd degree tear, I also had an epidural during labour, so they left the epidural in, which meant that I didn't feel a thing when they were stitching, I did start to feel something towards the end and she used a bit of local anastheatic (if I remember correctly) and that worked.

After all the pain I'd been through pushing her out, the stitches were not a problem

The pain when you pee afterwards is worse, so make sure after labour you drink plenty of water, as the more dilute it is the less it stings (also have a wee in the shower, and direct the water on your lady garden) that helps too

Don't let this all worry you, as having your baby in your arms is worth every pain, and every sleepless minute

 

[missac]

I'm still bleeding but it is on and off!

Weeing is odd to begin with but I didn't really get it like how Em is describing it. It was a bit nippy to be fair but I thought the odd bit was that there seemed to be loads of wee! Evertime I went it felt like I just kept on going like a waterfall!!!!! I am finding now I am getting strange pains when I pee but I must admit this may be down to a urine infection!

It's the pooing you want to watch out for!! My mw kept saying "and have you been yet?!" I was dreading it and finally on about the fourth or fifth day I managed, and I couldn't wait to tell the mw, I was so proud of myself!!

Em is dead right though - you are cuddling the little bundle so it is worth all the pain!!

 

[budge]

I'm no where near having my baby, but I read on one of the posts here that you bleed for weeks after having a baby. (see "sex after birth" post)
i wasn't aware of that! please tell me more. What kind of bleeding is it? is it like having your periods? or just getting rid of all the placenta fluid etc.?

i didn't realise you bled after having a baby when i was expecting my girst!!! a loady where iworked explained it all to me and i was horrified.
with your first baby you may bleed for up to 6 weeks.

I always think its how good your iron levels are. If they are pretty high you'll bleed more and if they are low. natures way of keeping you alive

you will need a couple of packs of maternity pads from boots and a good sized pack of heavy flow normal pads.