2nd day of bleeding after postpartum vaginal exam?

[fawnanddoe]

I was bleeding a little bit after I got checked at my last pp visit on tuesday, but now it's thursday and I am still bleeding but it's a bit more. I have been wearing pantiliners but I could probably wear a regular pad.
Could this be from the check still? Or my period? WTH!

[micklis]

Hi - I just posted this in the June DDC. Hopefully, you don't have what I had. Just want to share my experience.

"All - please keep an eye on your bleeding. I delivered my DD on June 5. I had my 6 wk follow-up on July 13. At that time, my bleeding appeared to be tapering off. As time went by, the bleeding started to pick up and get bright red again and by week 9 postpartum it was medium flow and bright red. Even though I'm breastfeeding, I thought it might be my period (no cramps though) or possibly overdoing it with exercising. I just had a gut feeling that something wasn't right so I called my OB/GYN's office and they got me in for an ultrasound which showed that 1.5 cm of placenta did NOT deliver and that was causing the bleeding. They scheduled me for an urgent D&C which I had last Thursday. Apparently, if that situation is not remedied fairly quickly, you run the risk of hemorhaging. "

[fawnanddoe]

Oh mama! Sorry you had to go though that, but thank you for letting me know.

I just called my birth center and I let her know. She told me to wait a couple days to see if it stops tapering off, if it doesn't then it's not my period and she'll send me to an OB.
I just feel like it's not my period because it started AFTER I had an exam. My period wouldn't be triggered by a vaginal exam.

[blissful_maia]

Did you have a PAP? Some women's cervices are pretty friable that soon after childbirth, and can bleed/spot quite a bit.

[fawnanddoe]

I did have a PAP, but now I am technically on day 5 of bleeding. It started off as just needing a pantiliner and now I need a regular pad. It's a pretty heavy flow. Normally with my period it's the opposite, it starts off heavy then gets lighter.
I'm kind of concerned now. My midwife told me to wait, but it's already been 5 days and I don't want to wait if there's something wrong.
My periods have always been pretty painful too, lots of cramping.

[tracymom1]

I would be just a little concerned and call the OB just to be on the safe side. It could just be some cervical irritation because of the pap, but (especially with your history) I think it is a good idea to just see the doc and get checked out. Let us know how you are doing!