1st Post Partum Period

[sarahlg33]

Ok, fair warning, some of this may be TMI.... I'm 7 weeks post partum from the loss of my DS at 26 weeks. I started my period on Sunday, but now I'm starting to question if it's really my period or something is wrong? I felt like I had major PMS (which with all the hormones and emotions was hard to fully recognize!) for a few days and just had that heavy feeling yet everytime I went to the bathroom there wasn't anything there. My DH and I had sex on Sunday (it didn't hurt) and an hour or two later I went to the bathroom and I was bleeding - period like. We had sex a few days prior, but it was the first time and was so incredibly short, but it didn't hurt and I didn't bleed. I figured that if I continued bleeding the next day it must be my period, which sure enough, 3 days later and still bleeding like a typical period. I guess my question is, it's really only blood, there isn't any clot type stuff like a pre-pregnancy normal period, so, is what I'm having my period or did sex somehow hurt something inside that is causing me to bleed? I feel rediculous asking this question! Ha~!

Thanks everyone!

[RABITGRL]

Hi, first of all I am really sorry for your loss.
Im no expert but I started my period 5 weeks after a 24 week loss and it was just blood, no clots. I was a little suprised by this but it only lasted 5-6 days and was only slightly heavier flow than pre-pregnancy. I would only be worried if bleeding seemed really excessive or lasted a really long time, although I was told to expect the unexpected with my firt period post-partum. I had sex 3 weeks after the delivery so I don't think sex could have caused a problem, but everyone is different so if you are really concerned you could always call your care provider just to make sure.
Take care of yourself :hug

[bc1995]

I never have clots with a normal pre-pregnancy period, so I don't know. I would guess that it is just your 1st post partum period. If something did somehow happen to cause bleeding, I would think you would have some major pain especially if it was lasting this long.

[WeasleyMum]

Hmm. My periods are generally clot-free-- just blood. But my post-miscarriage periods tend to be really awful, almost like miscarriages themselves. So mine are like opposite yours. But, my losses have all been 1st-trimester losses, and the PPAFs have all been within 5 weeks or so. It doesn't sound like your DH did any damage, though, so I would probably just count it as your first PPAF.

I'm so sorry for you loss, I can't even imagine... :Hug

[sarahlg33]

Thanks guys, it seems to be on the last day of AF today, so I'm just going with it that it is "normal". I wanted this period so bad, as I felt it would be an official sign my body has returned to normal. I didn't think it would be different than pre-pregnancy periods! Who knew!? Ah, one day at a time, I suppose.
:innocent:innocent

[RMG]

Sounds like what happened to you, happened to me too.

I had a loss at 24 weeks gestation last month.
Then had to have a D&C after as my placenta would not deliver.

So, I bled for two weeks, and then only last week I had my first period.

It started off and stopped just like a regular period for me, and was only a little bit heavier than a normal period. Lasted about 5-6 days or so. No clots.

So I would say it was your period. I'm pretty sure it must have been mine returning, and I guess in some way I'm a little bit "thankful" for that because I assume it means that things are going back to some sense of "normal" bodywise.