how much is too much?

[rjruiz_415]

Reading the PP bleeding thread got me thinking - How much is too much for a new mama to be doing? I have a 4.5 year old, and an almost 3 year old. DH is at work from 12:30 PM until around 11 PM. I had my mom with us the first 5 days, and I literally did nothing. The PP bleeding totally slowed to almost nothing, but a week later, of me doing my regular routine, has the bleeding way up again I obviously can not *not* take care of my kids, things around the house... At the same time, I am sure that the increase in bleeding is my body telling me to slow down - right? Since I have two toddlers, am I doomed to have long PP bleeding (FTR, I bled 6-8 wks with my first two, and I was up and doing everything I could with in days...) Is it unhealthy to have a PP bleeding period of that many weeks??? What do you think is okay for PP mamas to be doing? (as far as cooking, cleaning, folding laundry, etc....)

[katylynn]

I'm not an expert on pp bleeding, but I do remember my dr telling me that the bleeding would slow down, and then pick back up again for awhile. So, I do think that maybe that is normal. As far as how much a pp mom should do---I usually just listen to my body. I also jump right back into my routine. Mostly because I have to, but also because I want to feel back to normal. However, if I am physically hurting or tired, I slow down and take a rest. Hope that helps a little.

[Avani]

As a single mama to 6 i can commiserate. I am still bleeding heavily at nearly one month postpartum but i can't get any spare time to rest so i just deal with it.

[LuNaLu]

I have a 22 month old and a 2 week old and my husband was away for work all this week and will be out of town again next week. So.... yeah, doing it all. And my bleeding definitely picked back up. my midwife reminded me that "they" recommend not lifting anything heavier than the baby (HA!) and that even vacuuming is considered too "strenuous." Awesome, so since I can't lift my 22 month old, I guess we'll just stay home ALL THE TIME? No way! I am bleeding longer this time than last, I'm guessing because I am more active.

[BlessedEarthMother]

I would just say that you should try to take it as easy as you can. I know of a mom who ended up with a uterine infection and had to be hospitalized b/c she was just doing too much too soon.

[Spring Sun]

Butting in to say that you should do whatever you can to get some help, beg friends, hire someone, have family visit. They say 40 days of rest and pampering for 40 years of health afterwards. You just did a major thing so you need to take it easy and be taken care of!

[audmommy]

It has been really hard for me to stay home, not go out, let my DP get groceries on his way home or the weekend, let my DD who is 7 entertain herself more than I would like (I felt really guilty about that one). But when I did too much - sometimes just 2 loads of laundry, I would start bleeding bright red. So I just gave up all house work, and did minimal dinners. It was not easy, but it did work. After a day or so my bleeding lessened and at 5 wks pp I am done bleeding and doing my regular routine again.

Maybe you can just cut back on what you do? not taking care of the kiddoes but everything else?