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Member since 12/05 1304 total posts
Name:
kristen
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Need help w/ tmi problem
Ok ladies,
I had the baby almost 5 weeks ago I was bleeding on and off, now I am bleeding out of control and have really bad cramps.. Is this normal and is it just my monthly friend coming back???
Please help... should I call the doctor??
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MM2004
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Member since 5/05 1854 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need help w/ tmi problem
I found this on a baby website...
What is lochia?
Every woman bleeds after having a baby. Postnatal discharge, known as lochia, is the way your body discharges leftover blood, mucus, and placental tissue from the uterus. The discharge comes from the site where the placenta was attached to the uterus and it may come out in gushes or flow more evenly, like a normal period. After the initial bleeding slows, and as the healing continues, the flow of lochia will typically turn from bright red to pink, and eventually to yellow-white, although these phases may differ between women.
How long will it last?
You may bleed for as little as two to three weeks or as long as six weeks after birth. The flow will taper off very gradually. Red lochia should not persist for more than two weeks, although if you try to do too much too soon, it may start flowing again. If you see bright red blood, it's a sign to slow down.
Do I need to do anything about it?
No. If you gave birth in a hospital or birth centre, you were probably sent home with some heavy-duty maternity towels that look like the ones your mum may have used a generation ago. Stock up on more towels when you get home; tampons are off limits for the first six weeks because they can introduce bacteria into your still-healing uterus and cause infection.
When should I call the midwife or doctor?
Call your midwife or doctor if the bleeding:
• soaks more than one towel an hour
• remains heavy and bright red after the first week
• returns to bright red four or more days after birth and does not improve with bedrest
• has large blood clots (bigger than a 50p piece)
• has a foul smell and you come down with a fever and/or chills.
In rare cases, some women will have what is known as delayed postpartum haemorrhage. If you do have abnormally heavy bleeding (saturating a sanitary pad within an hour), call your doctor or midwife immediately. This could be a sign that a piece of the placenta was left inside the uterus or that the uterus isn't shrinking properly. If you're bleeding briskly and feeling faint, call an ambulance.
Reviewed March 2006
I'd call the doctor to be on ths safe side.
Feel better soon!
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