passing clots

[HappiLeigh]

I had my baby three days ago (Saturday) and left the hospital last night. I feel fine other than being tired. I had a natural, vaginal birth with no complications and a few stitches that seem to be healing fine. My placenta came out easily, and I watched my OB inspect it for completeness, and she even showed my DH, who was interested in it, and they held it up and looked it over well. My lochia has been not-so-heavy for the last two days (like a medium day of AF bleeding). Today after I had a bowel movement and was nursing the baby I had a few couple good after-pains. Then when I was standing a few minutes later I felt something coming out my vagina, went to the bathroom, and passed a golf-ball size clot of black jelly (I picked it up and inspected it). Anyone else have something like this? I'm concerned that if I call my OB, they will have me come in, and as I already have to take the baby to the pediatrician today I really feel like it's not in my best interest to have to go all over town for doctor appointments. Just wondering if anyone has information on what to be concerned about regarding clots.
Thanks.

[dachshundqueen]

Scroll down to vaginal discharge.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pos...m-care/PR00142

If you are concerned, or feeling woozy/lightheaded, contact your HCP. Double check your discharge paperwork if you have it handy.

Liz

[clicksab]

That's something that I was told to call the midwives for, so when it happened to me I called. She told me to call back if I had very heavy bleeding, bad afterpains, felt lightheaded... but that just the big clot alone wasn't enough to be concerned about. She told me to take it easy, put my feet up, and not overexert myself (I had gone to Target earlier that day, 4 days postpartum. I got in trouble for that, lol).

I was feeling great otherwise, so I tried not to freak out. Nothing else happened. If you are still concerned, call your OB...or maybe wait a bit and see how you feel.

[RedOakMomma]

I had one big clot (black plum-sized) in my first pregnancy. I think it was several weeks out from giving birth, though, because I remember it pretty much marked an end to my bleeding. Totally freaked me out, but it was fine. And like you described, there was some pain and cramping when it came out (over the toilet, thankfully).

[rparker]

My birth and post-birth experiences were very similar to what you describe. I called my OBGYN when I passed a golf ball sized clot. (I was also having to change menstrual pads every 4 hours or so.) He called in a prescription for methergine and an antibiotic (in case of infection). I didn't have to go in to see him in the office until 2 weeks postpartum and both medications were compatible with breastfeeding. The prescriptions very well may have been overkill, but they eased my fears of bleeding to death... I'm pretty neurotic though

[Wittyone]

The discharge instructions in our practice are to report heavy bleeding (soaking a pad in 30-60 minutes) and clots the size of a lemon or larger, particularly if the clot is associated with heavy cramping/heavy bleeding.

You can always call your provider for reassurance and explain you'd rather not come in if it's not urgently necessary. From what you described I would be surprised if they wanted to see you.

[HappiLeigh]

Thanks to all for sharing your experiences. The clot was not accompanied by any heavier bleeding, nor did I feel feverish or bad in any way, so I decided not to worry about it unless my situation changed. Now it's been a couple days and all seems well. My discharge paperwork *did* say to call if I had clots, but I think sometimes the fine print can be over-cautious.
Thanks for the feedback!

[kltroy]

I think golf-ball sized is ok, but much larger and I'd be worried. Also cause for worry would be bright red blood. As long as it's just a few dark glops, it's pretty normal IME.