Postpartum Bleeding

Every woman is different. No two bodies are the same. This makes it hard to determine what is normal and what is not. While some women bleed heavily for 6 weeks, others may only bleed lightly for 2 weeks. If you are ever unsure or concerned if what you are experiencing is normal, you should contact your physician.

Now that you have made it through 40 or more weeks of pregnancy aches and pains, be prepared for your postpartum ones. Bleeding, and a lot of it, can be expected after having a baby. The bloody discharge you're experiencing is called lochia, but really it's just like a period — the heaviest one you've ever had (and after nine months of period reprieve, it may look even heavier). It's made up of leftover blood, mucus, and tissue from your uterus, mostly from the site where the placenta was attached to the uterine wall.

• How long will this last?

Lochia should stop sometime between four and six weeks postpartum. Most women bleed heavily for the first three to ten postpartum days, after which the bleeding should taper off, turning from red to pink, then brown, and finally to a yellowish white. 

• What should I look for that is not normal?

If you notice large clots or an extremely heavy flow (so heavy that your pads are soaked every hour), put in a call to your practitioner.

If bright red spotting reappears after your lochia has already lightened, it may just be a sign that you need to slow down. But if you continue to spot after taking it easy for a few days, check in with your midwife or doctor. 

Don't wait to call if your bleeding is getting progressively heavier, though, or if:

• Your lochia is still bright red four days after your baby's birth.
• Your lochia has a foul odor or you come down with fever or chills.
• You have abnormally heavy bleeding (saturating a sanitary pad in an hour or having blood clots bigger than a golf ball). This is a sign of a late postpartum hemorrhage and requires immediate attention.

Note: If you're bleeding profusely or feeling faint, call 911.

• Can I use tampons after delivery?

Tampons are a no-no for the first six weeks because they can introduce bacteria into your uterus (the same reason why sex is off limits during this time), so you'll need to use those heavy-duty pads that are as thick as those diapers you're putting on your baby's bottom — and to change them almost as often.

Sources: What to Expect, Baby Center

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