STILL bleeding 1 month PP?

[jazzybaby9]

It's a bright red blood. I quit bleeding for about a week- then BAM it started up again...but it's bright, instead of the dull red it was before- It's been 1 month since I gave birth- Wasn't I supposed to stop at 3 weeks? I know everyone is different but what is the longest you should let yourself bleed before contacting a HCP

[Joyce in the mts.]

Howdy! I'm a birth and postpartum doula and midwifery student. Congrats your new baby, jb9.

The return of the bleeding or lochia, is your body's way of letting you know you need to take it easier for a while longer. So my advice is to do just that and take it easier than you have been lately.

Did you know that it can often take up to and beyond 6 weeks for the lochia flow to complete its normal process? Certainly it can be a much shorter time if one is very careful or if that is normal for you. Making sure you get the rest and nourishment for your body to really heal is very important and sadly there seems to be a big hurry about it in the US.

Just an additional few thoughts: This country's view of postpartum seems to be based on expectations of women's very quick return to normal in all ways: get back to sex as usual, lose that pregnancy weight, get back to housework, childcare and your job ASAP. In contrast, other cultures view postpartum as a special time when the woman is given nurturing, nourishment and care to strengthen her and time is taken to support her in learning sensible self-care and to support her getting to know her baby. The family is cared for to keep things normal as possible. Pretty nice!

So... I hope that you find space and time and get help if you need it, so you can take it a bit easier for your wellbeing till your body is through the lochia process. And of course, do what you know is best for you and your family.

Enjoy!

J.

[tammyswanson]

My bleeding lasted forever...allright, it lasted about 8 weeks, but seemed like forever!

[jazzybaby9]

Originally Posted by Joyce in the mts.

Howdy! I'm a birth and postpartum doula and midwifery student. Congrats your new baby, jb9.

The return of the bleeding or lochia, is your body's way of letting you know you need to take it easier for a while longer. So my advice is to do just that and take it easier than you have been lately.

Did you know that it can often take up to and beyond 6 weeks for the lochia flow to complete its normal process? Certainly it can be a much shorter time if one is very careful or if that is normal for you. Making sure you get the rest and nourishment for your body to really heal is very important and sadly there seems to be a big hurry about it in the US.

Just an additional few thoughts: This country's view of postpartum seems to be based on expectations of women's very quick return to normal in all ways: get back to sex as usual, lose that pregnancy weight, get back to housework, childcare and your job ASAP. In contrast, other cultures view postpartum as a special time when the woman is given nurturing, nourishment and care to strengthen her and time is taken to support her in learning sensible self-care and to support her getting to know her baby. The family is cared for to keep things normal as possible. Pretty nice!

So... I hope that you find space and time and get help if you need it, so you can take it a bit easier for your wellbeing till your body is through the lochia process. And of course, do what you know is best for you and your family.

Enjoy!

J.

Thank you, I agree with everything you said. The thing is I'm a student and was required to return to class at 2wks PP. At least it's just Massage Therapy school.

[momto l&a]

My bleeding lasted 5-6 weeks maybe longer.

Then we had sex and it started and last a week

Then we had sex and the bleeding started and again lasted a week.

A few times of that we figured out that sex caused a week long bleeding.

So at 17 weeks pp I hauled myself off to GYN who tells me that everything is normal and the the bleeding I am experiencing is the far side of normal. Its also possible she tells me that is due to our move and not being totally happy, not having support ect. Who knows!

I am so stinking frustrated!!!!

My baby was born May 21. I still bleed after having sex

Enough to drive me insane!!

[ColoradoMama]

Originally Posted by momto l&a

My baby was born May 21. I still bleed after having sex

Ugh - That has got to get old!!!

I've always been a six week bleeder.

[icxcnika]

I would definitely take it easy and see how it goes. Can you call your midwife or doc and ask them what they think about it? Definitely rest; I have heard that even something as simple as going up and down a flight of stairs in your home each day can make the lochia last longer.

With one of my babes, the lochia lasted for about six weeks. I did end up taking methergine (prescription from my midwife) for a day or so and resting, and the lochia stopped. Will you have a six-week pp appointment with your midwife or doctor? You could definitely call and ask their opinion.

I loved reading Joyce in the Mountains' post about valuing the postpartum period and the mother's need for rest and nurturing to make a healthy (and possibly quicker) recovery! Yes, I think we need more understanding of that in the U.S.

Take it easy, mama, and let us know how it goes!

[Goatriffic]

Mine lasted 7 weeks with my last baby, and 6 weeks with the other 3. I thought 6 weeks was average?

[KariM]

My bleeding lasted at least six weeks and probably longer (can't recall exactly, just remember thinking it went on forever and it certainly wasn't the couple of weeks I kept reading about here on MDC).

One factor in my case is our house layout. The bathroom is on the second floor and our main living (kitchen, dining room, living room) is on the first floor. Well...you loose a lot of excess fluid in those first weeks after birth and I had to climb a flight of stairs to get to the bathroom. I'm pretty sure that delayed the stopping of lochia flow.

[meggles]

My pp bleeding lasted 7-8 weeks, and was bright red and dull red, off and on.

[wildflower_mama]

I bled for about 6 weeks but the last few were pretty light.

But I was surprised at how long my C/S (unplanned) area hurt. For months.

[wannabe]

I had lochis for three months. Six weeks is 'normal'.

[simplehome]

Six weeks here, too. I wouldn't worry to much, but try to take it easy when you can. My midwife gave us a very helpful tool to use to think about the healing that my body was doing----she said "You have a wound the size of a DINNER PLATE that is trying to heal inside your uterus." A bit graphic, but I found it helpful when I'd start to feel peppy, and then BAM the lochia started again. This description also helped my PP support (dh, mother, etc) to understand that although I LOOKED great, I still neede time and help.