[mizzshannon]

what was wrong with me?

I had the (presumably) normal passing of blood and clots in the weeks following the birth of my first child. I watched the coloring go from bright, to very dark to pale pink to nothing. It totally stopped a couple days before my 6 wk check-up. My CNM did the vaginal exam and 'cleared me' to DTD... lol I laugh at that in retrospect... anyhoo.

The bleeding returned though, before I had a chance to DTD. Sometimes I'd spot very dark brown (like old blood) and other times as bright and heavy as a light menstrual day. And then I got my 'for sure' menstrual cycle at 3 mos pp, followed by my very first encounter with a yeast infection. I was terrified! I called the nurses where I'd delivered and asked what was happening to me? They said its normal for some women to bleed longer than others and attributed the infection to hormonal changes. I just used an over the counter remedy (monistat?) and continued bleeding on and off until dd was like 8 mos old. By then I'd gotten two more infections. And it affected our love life because I was so sensitive in that area -- especially after a menstrual cycle. Even using the toilet was uncomfortable, not painful, but just not normal... idk

There were so many things happening in my life at the time that I just tried to ignore it. (We moved over a thousand miles away from friends or family with dh's job. Packing. Unpacking. Breastfeeding all day and night. Choosing between showering, eating or napping while dd slept. ykwim) I had no support, no community, no relationship with a medical professional in this new town. I searched online a lot for the magic bullet, to no avail.

It stopped though eventually and things began to feel normal. I just wonder what happened & how I can prevent it from happening ever again?

Is it because I bf'd? Is it because the no-good doc tugged at my umbilical cord when I hadn't delivered the placenta after 20 mins? Stress induced?

 

[dewi]

Why not make an effort to find a HCP you like and trust they can help you sort out what's up with your body.

 

[Mrs_Hos]

I had a similar situation...

Lots of things played a part...first, the cord tugging...then the moving/stress...all of those things can get bleeding going. In fact, after having a baby you rest--the bleeding slows...then if 2 wks later you get up and start doing lots of stuff--dishes, vaccuum, shopping, etc..you will bleed.
My 2nd baby I used RRL tea--lots of it in the last trimester...I also birthed at home in water--no cord tugging AT ALL...in fact, my placenta didn't pass for HOURS--my body just didn't want to pass it...I tried!

hahaha
I continued drinking the RRL tea during/after birth...for weeks after. I bled for about a week...then no more blood, just lochia for a couple weeks...lochia without blood smells earthy, but isn't a lot and is definitely more manageable than dealing with bleeding...then I was done...
I attribute my LACK of bleeding this time to 1. RRL tea, 2. NO tugging and letting the placenta pass when I wanted it to, not when they pressured me into, and 3. really doing nothing but laying around nursing my baby for a few weeks...my mom was there to help with the daily routines!

hope this helps!

 

[mizzshannon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dewi Why not make an effort to find a HCP you like and trust they can help you sort out what's up with your body.

does hcp = hospital care provider? in my op i stated that i'd contacted my cnm's. i failed to mention that i contacted them repeatedly.

since, i had a relationship with them & knew they had my charts i figured, who better to ask? but they had no answers for me. they truly seemed a bit disinterested, in retrospect. no answers. i didn't piss anyone off during prenatal visits or even during labor and delivery. all of the staff remembered me in recovery and would each tell me how easy i was to work with & remark how i didn't scream at all or curse them out even at the height of labor. so i don't think it was personal. i just figure maybe i can learn more on the internet from persons with more knowledge of a homeopathic/alternative nature.

ANND... there's the small problem of me having no drivers license. i'm in the process now actually of getting that done -- which would facilitate me interviewing different doctors. i come from a big city where license are truly optional and now we've moved to a town that's any metro girls hell in a nutshell as far as transportation goes.

 

[mizzshannon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs_Hos I had a similar situation... Lots of things played a part...first, the cord tugging...then the moving/stress...all of those things can get bleeding going. In fact, after having a baby you rest--the bleeding slows...then if 2 wks later you get up and start doing lots of stuff--dishes, vaccuum, shopping, etc..you will bleed. My 2nd baby I used RRL tea--lots of it in the last trimester...I also birthed at home in water--no cord tugging AT ALL...in fact, my placenta didn't pass for HOURS--my body just didn't want to pass it...I tried! hahaha I continued drinking the RRL tea during/after birth...for weeks after. I bled for about a week...then no more blood, just lochia for a couple weeks...lochia without blood smells earthy, but isn't a lot and is definitely more manageable than dealing with bleeding...then I was done... I attribute my LACK of bleeding this time to 1. RRL tea, 2. NO tugging and letting the placenta pass when I wanted it to, not when they pressured me into, and 3. really doing nothing but laying around nursing my baby for a few weeks...my mom was there to help with the daily routines! hope this helps!

Ahah! I had RRL tea sitting in my cupboard wasting away after I gave birth. I didn't like the taste very much so didn't drink it as often as I knew I should during pg #1 and was relieved to be free of it after giving birth! Guess the jokes on me, huh? I will stock up on it again, since I'm in the latter half of this pg and be sure to respect its help more this time around, especially for pp.

This time I'm going to do just like you did: RRL tea, h20 homebirth with NO tugging that cord and I may even take a note from other cultures and do nearly nothing for 40 days if need be! Thanks for sharing what helped you.

 

[dewi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizzshannon does hcp = hospital care provider? in my op i stated that i'd contacted my cnm's. i failed to mention that i contacted them repeatedly. since, i had a relationship with them & knew they had my charts i figured, who better to ask? but they had no answers for me. they truly seemed a bit disinterested, in retrospect. no answers. i didn't piss anyone off during prenatal visits or even during labor and delivery. all of the staff remembered me in recovery and would each tell me how easy i was to work with & remark how i didn't scream at all or curse them out even at the height of labor. so i don't think it was personal. i just figure maybe i can learn more on the internet from persons with more knowledge of a homeopathic/alternative nature. ANND... there's the small problem of me having no drivers license. i'm in the process now actually of getting that done -- which would facilitate me interviewing different doctors. i come from a big city where license are truly optional and now we've moved to a town that's any metro girls hell in a nutshell as far as transportation goes.

Yes it's (Health care practitioner)

, since all of us use different types of people and professionals to help us take care of ourselves.
You wrote that you moved, I meant that you might want to find a new HCP in this new place that feels right and is respectful of your concerns and more attentive.

You had so many things going on, the midwife was correct, the shift of your hormones postnatally plays a big part in the bleeding as well as doing too much. It sounds like the yeast infection was very persistent and bothersome for too long of a time. Over the counter meds do not work well enough anymore, the strains of yeast are resistant.

As well Breastfeeding can make you very dry vaginally (again hormonal) if you don't use a lubricatant, so sex can be uncomfortable, desire is also sometimes a big issue when you're busy nurturing a newborn.
Husbands desire is normal and the new mothers has changed alot.

If you feel better now that is really good.

 

[mizzshannon]

dewi,

persistent took on a whole new meaning with that curs-ed yeast infection

:. I guess my body had the 'perfect storm' going on after all. But yeah, I haven't had any of those symptoms since early last summer.

We conceived again last fall and I'm almost 26 wks along with #2. So while I wait out the process of getting my license, I thought I'd better get a head start on this nemesis and mothering seems the perfect place to start. I do hope to connect with a like-minded hcp asap.

Thanks again for your time. I only wish you lived in my area

 

[dewi]

Be mindful that you can get the yeast again, they are waiting for the opportunity to be active again. The natural hormonal shift in pregnancy and postpartum is ripe growing ground.

Stat taking probiotics now!
during your pregnancy and after. One of my local HB midwives has started telling all pregnant clients to include a probiotic.

It really has become important. We have a lot of very resistant yeast infections going around, and it's good to be proactive.

Enjoy the pregnancy !

 

[Mrs_Hos]

I agree with Dewi...PROBIOTICS are your FRIEND!

As for the RRL tea, yep, NOT my favorite taste, however I found adding Juicy Juice CHERRY made it very refreshing...course, lots of sugar in that juice, but it was definitely worth it to me!

I wish you a wonderful pregnancy and an EMPOWERING birth!!

 

[georgia]

Moving to Birth and Beyond