Postpartum bleeding refers to vaginal bleeding in the days after you’ve given birth. This is the most sensitive and vulnerable time in your life, both physically and emotionally, so it’s normal to be concerned. However, postpartum bleeding is a common occurrence after giving birth, and it doesn’t always have to be an indicator that something’s wrong. This guide will help you understand what your body is going through better and determine when to call your doctor.
Why Does Postpartum Bleeding Happen?
Giving birth is the hardest thing your body can do, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the healing process takes some time. The placenta is the organ that provides nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy, and it starts shedding right after you give birth.
This process causes postpartum bleeding (lochia), and it’s completely normal, so long as you monitor the blood flow and other symptoms.
What’s The Color and Consistency of The Blood?
The color and consistency of the blood can vary from person to person. Small blood clots after birth are common in some women, while others may only have red/brown blood. This is usually the first stage of lochia that happens for the first two weeks after giving birth.
The next stage can last for another two or three weeks, and it’s characterized by the red or brown color slowly turning pinker. If you’ve had small blood clots, they’ll likely turn watery during this stage.
You’ll know this stage of lochia is ending by the color slowly becoming paler until it turns whitish. This is because lochia is made up of red and white blood cells, along with the mucous membrane lining of the uterus. By this time in the process, the red blood cells responsible for common blood clots after birth have completely passed, so there’s nothing to turn the lochia red.
You can expect the whitish discharge to persist for up to six to eight weeks.
How Long Does Bleeding After Birth Last?
On average, lochia lasts around six weeks in total. A lot of women experience it for up to eight weeks after giving birth, so having lochia longer than six weeks shouldn’t be an immediate concern. As you can see by the previously explained postpartum bleeding stages, it’s a lengthy process.
It takes a while because the uterus can’t return to its original state overnight. To help make the process more comfortable, wearing pads is recommended instead of cups and tampons. Among other things, pads can help with the postpartum bleeding smell. Moreover, tampons and cups have a higher potential of introducing bacteria to an already sensitive body.
What Is Considered Excessive Bleeding After Birth?
Most women can be concerned by the amount of blood they pass during the first postpartum bleeding stages. However, a heavy flow can be expected as the tissues from the pregnancy are shed. The flow should decrease with the postpartum bleeding stages until only a light flow or spotting persists.
The flow can also vary depending on what you’re doing, as some women report bleeding more after being physically active, breastfeeding, or after they first wake up.
Is Postpartum Hemorrhage a Big Concern?
Postpartum hemorrhage is a term for excessive bleeding after giving birth. It happens for a variety of reasons, including giving birth to multiple babies at once, being pregnant before, or your uterus being unable to contract down.
A retained placenta and lacerations can also be at the core of the issue. Postpartum hemorrhage occurs directly after giving birth, but some women experience excessive bleeding after birth even when they come home from the hospital.
While it doesn’t have to happen to you, your doctor should have still explained the risks of postpartum hemorrhage as part of your postnatal care. Never shy away from contacting your doctor if you have any concerns or need more advice.
What Other Symptoms Can Be Warning Signs?
While bleeding after birth manifests differently from person to person, there are other warning signs that can indicate something is wrong. If you experience any of them alongside lochia, feel free to contact our clinic for Dr. Nathan Hirsch or any other of our friendly professionals.
Keep an eye out for:
- Feeling like you’re going to faint or feeling very weak
- Increased heart rate
- Abnormally large (golf size) blood clots after birth
- Severe cramps
- Postpartum bleeding smell
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness and nausea
- Fever and chills
How Is Postpartum Bleeding Treated?
If you notice the symptoms above and visit a knowledgeable South Miami OB-GYN, they can determine the kind of treatment you need. After examining you and listening to how the symptoms manifest, your doctor will choose a treatment plan that works best for you.
A lot of different options exist:
- Taking medicine to help the uterus contract
- Getting a blood transfusion
- Getting a shot that stops the bleeding
- Using a Bakri balloon to add pressure inside the uterus and slow the bleeding
- Completing a uterine artery embolization to limit the blood flow
- Getting surgery to determine and treat the cause of the bleeding
- Massaging the uterus
- Removing stuck pieces of placenta
- Getting a hysterectomy
Is It Your Period or Postpartum Bleeding?
Women who haven’t heard of lochia before or are just having their first child may confuse it with the first period after pregnancy. This is especially possible if the woman in question is used to heavy periods.
However, you can expect a bright red flow after a minimum of six weeks have passed after you’ve given birth. Anything sooner than that is more likely to be lochia.
Another difference between the two is that lochia tends not to have a steady flow. As we have already mentioned, it can be a lot heavier after certain activities and exertion.
Furthermore, there is a distinct postpartum bleeding smell that doesn’t resemble the smell of your period.
In general, lochia is the first phase of healing, and your period comes afterward. Some women may even go months without getting their period back right away, which is especially common if they’re breastfeeding.
Some variations from your typical cycle before your pregnancy are possible, too. Your first period could come back much lighter or heavier, for example. This happens because the hormones are returning to their pre-pregnancy state. Many women report permanent changes in their cycle after their first pregnancy, so your first period can even be the start of a new cycle.
Conclusion
Many women experience postpartum bleeding a few days after giving birth as part of the body’s natural healing process. Monitoring the flow and knowing the warning signs can help keep your mind at ease and push you to react if you notice something is wrong.
Has this article been informative enough? Do you still have concerns? Give us a call with your feedback and questions any time at (305) 665-1133 or book an appointment through our site.