Did you just give birth and are wondering when your postpartum bleeding will stop? Here’s everything you need to know about bleeding after birth.
Having a baby comes with a lot of physical changes, but bleeding after delivery can seem scary at first if you’re not expecting it. But rest assured, it is totally normal and expected.
This post discusses exactly what to expect from bleeding after birth including post partum bleeding after c section, stages of bleeding after birth, what normal bleeding after birth looks like, tips on how to manage bleeding after delivery and so much more.
After reading this, I hope you feel more prepared and informed about what’s to come.
This post is all about bleeding after birth.
What To Expect Postpartum
Having a new baby is an exciting time, but it can also be exhausting, overwhelming and downright hard some days.
The fourth trimester (the 3 months after birth) is filled with sleepless nights, learning to care for a newborn and finding ways to love your postpartum body. It’s an exciting time but it can also be exhausting, overwhelming and downright hard some days.
Your newborn baby will need a lot of your attention and it may feel like all you do is feed, burp, change and lull the baby to sleep. The first few weeks can be tough too with all of the interrupted sleep at night.
On top of that, you will need time to recover from birth whether you had a c section or vaginal delivery.
The fourth trimester can really be a lot to handle but the most important thing is that it’s temporary and you WILL sleep again. And despite the new challenges you will face, it’s totally possible for you to really thrive during this time!
This post will be focused on a part of the postpartum period that isn’t talked about nearly enough – postpartum bleeding. Let’s get into it.
Bleeding After Birth
Postpartum bleeding is also known as lochia. It’s a period-like discharge women have after giving birth.
It’s made up of the mucous membrane that lines the uterus during pregnancy as well as blood, endometrial lining and placental tissue.
What Causes Bleeding After Birth?
The bleeding is a way for your body to get rid of the extra blood and tissue in your uterus that helped your baby grow.
Typically, the blood comes from the area where the placenta detached from the uterine wall during birth. This leaves a wound that needs to heal.
The endometrial lining, which thickened during pregnancy, sloughs off after birth and is similar to when you have your period.
Bleeding After C Section
You might be surprised to know that bleeding after a c section is also normal and expected. Women will experience bleeding after birth regardless of if they had a vaginal birth or c section.
Although c section moms don’t give birth vaginally, the bleeding that occurs after surgery is for the same reasons discussed above – the body needs to shed the extra blood and tissue in your uterus that helped your baby grow.
Related: 10+ Tips to Speed Up Your C Section Recovery Time
How Long Does Postpartum Bleeding Last?
Bleeding can last from about four to six weeks after delivery. You can expect it to be heavier in the first few days after giving birth and gradually decrease over time.
You may notice it’s heavier during certain times of the day or after you’ve been more active too. It’s just important to know the difference between normal bleeding after birth and a postpartum hemorrhage.
Normal Bleeding After Birth Vs. Heavy Bleeding After Birth
Normal bleeding looks like a heavy period at first but will gradually start to change. Here’s a breakdown of the stages of bleeding after birth you can expect during the first few days to weeks:
0-5 Days Postpartum
The bleeding will be at its heaviest and is usually a dark or bright red color. It’s normal to see clots that are smaller than a quarter or a small plum. You can also expect to feel some cramping and contractions as your uterus shrinks down to its normal size.
5-10 Days Postpartum
Postpartum bleeding slows down during this time and changes from a light red to pinkish brown color. You can still expect to see clots during this time but they should be much smaller than the first few days after giving birth.
10 Days to 6 Weeks Postpartum
Lochia changes from pink to light brown to yellowish white color. This stage of bleeding is mostly white blood cells leaving the body after they helped your uterus heal. The bleeding will be very light at this time and towards the end you will most likely see more spotting than anything.
When To Call the Doctor About Bleeding After Birth
- Large clots – It’s important to let your doctor know if your clots are bigger than plum sized so you can be evaluated and watched for potential postpartum complications.
- Foul smell – This can be a sign of an infection that will need to be treated by a doctor.
- Severe pain or fever – This can be a sign of an infection that will need to be treated by a doctor.
- Heavy bleeding – If your bleeding is increasing over time and not decreasing or you’re bleeding through more than one pad per hour, it can be a sign that something isn’t right. It’s possible that you have a postpartum hemorrhage, a bleeding disorder or problems with your uterus. It’s important to call your doctor so you can be treated right away.
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Signs of a postpartum hemorrhage include bright red bleeding beyond the third day, blood clots bigger than a plum, blood that soaks through more than one pad in an hour, blurred vision, chills, clammy skin, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, weakness, nausea or a faint feeling.
Tips for Managing Bleeding After Delivery
- Pads – Make sure you’re stocked up on good, heavy flow pads. I recommend even getting the nighttime version that is extra long so you don’t have to worry when you’re laying down.
- Adult Diapers/Underwear – You may also consider adult diapers/underwear for the first few days when bleeding is the heaviest. It usually comes in different sizes with different levels of absorbency, just like pads.
- Rest – Although it’s good to get up and do some light walking when you’re feeling up to it, being too active early on can slow the process of your postpartum bleeding lightening up. This is your permission to rest as much as you can in the first few days to weeks and soak up all the newborn baby snuggles. This includes sleeping and spending time in bed or on the couch relaxing.
- Use a peri bottle – Rinsing with a peri bottle can really help keep your sensitive parts clean, whether you had a vaginal birth or c section.
- Take a sitz bath – This is another way to help keep yourself clean and ease any discomfort you may be feeling following a vaginal birth. This is a really popular one you can try.
This post is all about bleeding after birth.
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