Postpartum bleeding

After you give birth, you will experience heavy bleeding , similar to a heavy period, which may continue for days or even weeks.

Why will I bleed after giving birth?

Postpartum bleeding is nothing to worry about and is a natural part of your body healing and beginning to return to normal after pregnancy. Your body needs to release blood, mucus, uterine tissues and other materials from your uterus as it contracts and returns to its pre-pregnancy size. This vaginal discharge is known as lochia.

What should I expect when it comes to bleeding after birth?

Postpartum bleeding is usually very heavy in the first few days and can include blood clots. These can be quite alarming if you’re not expecting them, but it is normal for clots to appear in your lochia.

You may pass one or two clots which are around the size of a tomato, as well as a few smaller clots during the first two or three days after giving birth. However, if your clots are larger than this, or you are passing a lot of them, tell your midwife so she can check there isn’t a problem.

At first, your bleeding will be red or reddish brown, although the colour and flow will become lighter. On the first day of postpartum bleeding, the blood will be very fresh and is likely to be red in colour and very heavy. You will probably need to change your maternity pad every few hours and you can expect to pass some clots.

From the second day up to your baby being six days old, your flow will still be heavy to moderate but it will turn to a darker brown or pinkish red. Any clots are likely to be smaller, although you will still need to use heavy-duty maternity pads rather than standard sanitary towels.

In the second week, your flow will be lighter, more watery and feel more like a normal period. In the third and fourth week, your lochia will be much paler and possibly creamy white in appearance. At this stage, many women find they only need to wear panty liners rather than maternity pads or sanitary towels.

You should expect to experience some blood loss for six weeks, although some women will continue bleeding for up to 12 weeks after delivery. If your bleeding continues to be heavy and doesn’t start tapering off after the first week, call your doctor or midwife to discuss your concerns.

What should I look out for?

If your flow is so heavy that you are getting through more than one maternity pad an hour, please talk to your midwife about it. You should also look out for any symptoms that might indicate there is a problem, such as .very sudden and severe pains, an intense headache, pain while urinating, a high temperature or fever and an unpleasant smell to your discharge.

It is normal for your lochia to smell a little musty like a period, but if the smell is powerful and noticeable, talk to a health professional as it might be a sign that you have an infection, which needs treatment.

Is postpartum bleeding painful?

You may well experience what feels like period pains and they can be quite intense, especially if you have given birth before. These pains are your uterus contracting and they can feel a little like the contractions you experienced during labour.You may also notice that these pains are more intense during breastfeeding and that your lochia is redder and heavier when you have been feeding your baby. This is because the act of breastfeeding actually encourages the uterus to contract.

If you are worried about any pains you experience after giving birth, always call your doctor or midwife for advice.

Will I still experience postpartum bleeding after a c-section?

If you have delivered your baby by c-section, you will still experience postpartum bleeding as your body still needs to release the additional blood, fluids and tissues it used during your pregnancy.

When will I get my first period after having a baby?

Although lochia can seem like a period, it is not a sign that your body has started menstruating again. It can take some time for your periods to return after you give birth, especially if you have decided to breastfeed.

This is because breastfeeding women release prolactin, a hormone which plays an important part in milk production. Prolactin can suppress your reproductive hormones and delay ovulation and menstruation. However, it is important not to rely on breastfeeding as contraception.

Use a form of contraception as soon as you become sexually active again. It can take some time for your cycles to return to normal and you may be ovulating without realising, so it is important to take precautions to avoid an unexpected pregnancy.

If you aren’t breastfeeding, you will usually get your first period about six to eight weeks after delivery. Parents who are breastfeeding may find that their period doesn’t return for several months and some women won’t experience a period for the whole time they are feeding their baby.

What will my first period after giving birth be like?

Your first period after having a baby may seem different from the periods you were having before you became pregnant. Your body is still recovering and the menstruation process is just starting up again.

You may find your bleeding is heavy or your period may stop and start. You may also find that you experience worse period pains than before as your body is likely to have a larger amount of uterine lining to shed.

It can take a while for your periods to settle down and become regular again and some women find their cycles are fairly irregular for the first 12 months after delivery. It is also possible that your periods will become lighter than they were before you became pregnant.

If you have any concerns about your periods or you are worried something isn’t right, call your doctor for advice.

Can I use tampons after giving birth?

Tampons increase the risk of infection so it is a good idea not to use them in the weeks following delivery. Your body is healing and tampons can aggravate any small cuts or tears in your vagina, along with the place where your placenta was attached to the wall of your womb.

Soft maternity pads are the best option for postpartum bleeding and they also allow you to keep an eye on your flow and any blood clots.

Once you have had your six-week postnatal check-up with your GP, it will usually be safe to use tampons again, but check with your doctor in case there is a reason you should avoid tampon use for a bit longer.

It is also a good idea to avoid the use of any other products which need to be inserted into the vagina, like menstrual cups, until at least six weeks after delivery.