*TMI* postnatal bleeding

so my postnatal bleeding has been pretty light since day 4 or so, very much pinky-red. it stopped for over 12hrs last night/this morning and i assumed it was over quite quickly cos apparently my uterus is apparently not far off normal already. however I'm so glad i had a maternity pad on still for the padding it gives my stitches cos i have just started bleeding again, bright red and heavy enough it was dripping when i sat on the loo (sorry, gross i know!). is this still within the scope of normal because it is so soon after birth? does it just mean i have been doing too much?

I'd speak to a midwife, they might want to keep an eye on you. It could be that you have burst a stitch through doing too much, but this can also be a sign of infection or a bit of your placenta left behind so always best to see a health professional just to be safe.

Ok, I'll buzz them *sigh* it better not be retained product, they said placenta etc was all intact.

It probably isn't retained product but best to be certain.

Sounds normal to me, mine slowed right down and then started up pretty heavy again. I think it is a sign of over doing it a bit as it happened when i walked to the shops and back.

But if you are concerned can't hurt to give a midwife a call.

I called my MIL (a middy at the hospital) and she thinks I was just doing too much but to keep an eye on it.

Glad to hear it, rest up now and get back to the business of babymooning :)

It's normal! Mine stopped within the first week and then when I did my first poo started again. Was just a pressure straining thing!! This went on for another week! All was fine after about three weeks it was all but a light discharge! Def keep an eye on the off chance it is something more!

That happened for me with DD2. Was all over by day 5. Nothing at all, then day 9 was horrendous. Went on and off like that for about 6 weeks. An enormous PITA. Never had it with the other kids.

thanks girls, it is definitely doing too much, it had settled down this morning until i carried a basket of washing out to the line.
trav- Will do!!!!! :D

I'm finding mine this time is hugely linked to BF... whenever I sit down to BF little man, I bleed. It's lessened a little bit this week but in the first week or ten days or so, once that initial heavy bleeding passed, every time I fed I'd get a big gush. MCHN said it was normal.

FWIW mine has dropped right back again to brown blood.

Also placenta can look intact but you can still have retained product as the pieces can be very small. As I recently found out when I was bleeding on and off like stop for two weeks and start again. Told midwife and she suggested I see GP and do then had an ultrasound which found retained product. Eventually had the D&C at 15weeks.

But hopefully it's just because you did too much, take it easy.