How much postpartum bleeding is normal?
After having a baby all women experience postpartum bleeding, which is completely different from menstrual bleeding. After delivery, a substance is discharged from your uterus, through the vagina. This comprises of mucus, placental tissue and of course, blood. Normal postpartum bleeding usually lasts for no more than 2 to 3 weeks. However, you need not worry excessively even if the bleeding goes on for about 6 weeks after delivery.
For the first four days of delivery, normal postpartum bleeding is quite heavy, but soon after that, the flow gradually lightens, until it tapers off completely, in about 3 to 6 weeks. Passing small clots in the beginning is also normal. A break in bleeding for a couple of days is another part of normal postpartum bleeding. In such cases the postpartum bleeding will resume on its own. This could happen if you stop bleeding soon after your delivery. Medical experts are still not sure exactly why postpartum bleeding stops and resumes after a while, but it is believed that the contraction of the uterus back to its original size could be one of the reasons. During this phase, your body is still trying to get used to the influx of hormones, which could also be one of the possible causes. However, if the bleeding is too heavy when it starts again, it means that you are exerting yourself and need to take it easy.
You will know that your flow is abnormally heavy if you need to change your sanitary pad every 1 or 2 hours. This could be caused by placental tissue that is left over in the uterus. If you happen to notice abnormal postpartum bleeding or blood clots the size of golf balls, you should let your doctor know about it immediately.
Submitted by J on October 22, 2012 at 12:24
What are the causes, symptoms and treatment of postpartum bleeding?
Postpartum bleeding is mainly caused by the hormonal changes experienced by a woman's body after she has delivered a child. During her pregnancy, the menstrual cycle that she experienced earlier was thrown out of sync because of the fertilization of the embryo. However, after the delivery, the menstrual cycle begins to regulate itself, leading to postpartum bleeding that usually lasts about forty days. Knowing that the causes of postpartum bleeding are naturally occurring, there are no medications that can be taken to avoid the phenomenon. As mentioned earlier, postpartum bleeding lasts approximately forty days. This period of time, however, is a very trying one for new mothers who are coping with the physical exhaustion of the delivery, and with the discomfort experienced due to the bleeding after not having faced it throughout the pregnancy. The symptoms of postpartum bleeding are the same as a regular menstrual cycle. However, the postpartum period lasts for a much longer duration that a regular menstrual cycle. There is no specific treatment of postpartum bleeding, and the phenomenon will usually end itself in approximately forty days, after the menstrual cycle has been restored to its natural period. However, if abnormal postpartum bleeding is experienced and lasts for a longer duration, it is advisable that you consult your obstetrician for further advice.
Submitted by N on October 19, 2012 at 12:18
Can you get postpartum bleeding after intercourse?
A large number of women ask whether it is normal to experience postpartum bleeding after intercourse. Postpartum bleeding is a natural phenomenon that takes place after the process of childbirth. As the body regains its original shape, and the hormonal balance is restored to the body, the menstrual cycle that ceased during the pregnancy, begins again and regulates itself over a period of approximately forty days. There have been occasions, however, when even after the postpartum period of bleeding, people have indulged in intercourse and found to be experiencing bleeding or light spotting after that. Bruising of the vaginal canal is one of the main causes of bleeding after intercourse. After the delivery, the vaginal cavity is still healing and intercourse causes bruising which will lead to bleeding. Postpartum bleeding after intercourse is expected, but should not last for very long durations of time. If you experience bleeding such as you would during your regular menstrual cycle, you must speak with your obstetrician or gynecologist and seek further medical advice on what is to be done to improve the condition. This may occur the first time you have intercourse after your pregnancy, but should not occur after subsequent sessions of intercourse.
Submitted by N on September 13, 2012 at 07:48
How to make postpartum bleeding stop?
Postpartum bleeding can be the cause of great discomfort experienced by mothers who have just given birth to a child. Besides the physical exhaustion experienced during the process of childbirth, the new mother now has to deal with the restoration of the balance of hormones in her body, as well as the regulation of the menstrual cycle that ceased to exist during the tenure of the pregnancy. There are no drugs that can be administered in order to stop postpartum bleeding, which in itself, is a natural phenomenon. However, when women experience postpartum bleeding stops and starts that are erratic, it is a cause for concern. Postpartum bleeding that is abnormal in nature is generally caused by growths inside the uterus, or an incomplete Dilation and Cutterage (D&C) after the pregnancy, leaving a certain amount of impurities within the uterus itself. There are various home remedies that recommend the consumption of a variety of herbs to stop postpartum bleeding. These practices have been commonplace from times gone by and were used by midwives to ease the deliberations of the new mothers. Ground ivy leaf, when brewed and strained, and the liquid consumed, provides a certain amount of relief from postpartum bleeding. Catnip is another herb that has been well recommended to relieve postpartum menstrual cramping.
Submitted by N on October 12, 2011 at 05:02
What are the causes and symptoms of postpartum bleeding?
Postpartum bleeding refers to the flow of blood that a woman experiences after going through childbirth. The blood that is discharged after delivery is known as lochia and it consists of excess blood, mucus and placental tissue. Postpartum bleeding could last for anywhere between 2 weeks to 8 weeks.
Causes of postpartum bleeding
Postpartum bleeding is a very normal process, through which excess blood and placental tissue are eliminated from the body. After childbirth, the uterus and the placenta get separated and as a result of that, the blood vessels in the uterus remain open. The bleeding of the blood vessels in the uterus leads to postpartum bleeding. After childbirth, as the uterine muscles continue to contract, a higher amount of placenta is expelled and gradually the blood vessels in the area close off.
Symptoms of postpartum bleeding
Postpartum bleeding is much heavier than menstrual bleeding, especially in the first 5 to 7 days. After that the flow of blood reduces to some extent. In the beginning, small blood clot and pieces of tissue may also be seen in the lochia, along with some mucus. After a while the passage of blood clots and tissue should stop.
In case the bleeding is too heavy, or there are large blood clots present, the doctor needs to be informed right away.
Submitted by J on September 15, 2011 at 01:28
Postpartum bleeding can last from anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks.
Postpartum Bleeding
All women, who have a baby, whether by caesarean section or by vaginal delivery, experience postpartum bleeding. This is also referred to as ‘lochia’.
Postpartum bleeding is not only made up of blood. It also contains placental tissue, mucus, excess blood, and any other debris and particles, which are left over in the uterus, after the baby has been delivered. The body needs to get rid of this now-unwanted material, and it does so by means of postpartum bleeding.
Menstrual Bleeding
While it is similar to menstrual bleeding, it is also very different.
While a menstrual bleeding occurs for only 3 to 5 days, or say 7 days, postpartum bleeding starts immediately after giving birth, and may go on for 2 weeks and even extend upto 6 weeks. The color and texture change over that period.
The vaginal discharge of lochia or postpartum bleeding is bright red in the first 7 to 12 days. The flow is heavy and steady. Sometimes, it may also contain small grape-like clots. Gradually, the color becomes a more brownish-red. The liquid becomes thinner and the flow becomes less. After a few days, the color becomes lighter – it’s now pinkish or a yellow-white color. The flow slows down to a mere occasional trickle, till there is only the occasional spotting, before it stops altogether. This is a signal that your body has gone back to ‘normal’.
You will need to wear sanitary pads during this period of postpartum bleeding. Even if you are used to wearing tampons, it will be better not to use them, because they can introduce bacteria and infection into your uterus.
Since your body is still going through many hormonal changes, it would be better to take as much rest as possible in the first month after delivery.
Sometimes
postpartum bleeding can become abnormally excessive. This is called a postpartum hemorrhage and can even lead to death. Look out for signs which indicate that it is not normal and consult your doctor immediately.
• If your bleeding is so heavy that your sanitary pad becomes soaked in an hour, and you start feeling dizzy or faint, it is cause for worry.
• Sometimes the blood may gush out. Or the discharge may contain blood clots the size of gold balls. That could also signal some problem.
• Also look out for a foul odor in the discharge, since this could mean some infection in the uterus.
Submitted by P T on March 17, 2010 at 05:24
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