Normal clots with lochia? TMI?

I just have a question, Jovie had a marathon feeding day yesterday with being sick and I am just wondering if it is normal with lochia to have clots. In the arvo I got up after feeding her for around 2 hours straight and went to the loo to find bright red blood (I had only had minor bleeding for the past 24 hours before this) and heaps of it with 4-5 five to ten cent sized clots.

So are clots normal? I didn't have any with Matilda, and haven't had any so far with Jovie. I feel okay other than the virus that we all have here and a shoulder injury. I filled 2 maternity pads yesterday arvo and then it settled back down. Still bleeding more than I was for the past few days but not a huge amount now.

I just want to avoid another trip to the hospital... seems like I've spent the last few days back & forth there...

I 'think' they can be normal Christy, but to what level (size & amount) I am not sure...

I remember passing a fairly big one after Aidyn (20c coin) but I actually am not sure if thats normal or not.

Hopefully one of the midwives/nurses on here can let you know??

Christy,
It is normal to have some clotting. Especially after a marathon feeding session that you had with little Jovie yesterday. Your uterus would have been doing some major contracting. If you think about your placental site, it is quite large. The uterus is amazing in that as it contracts, the blood vessels clamp down quickly to stem to blood flow from the placental site, the blood coagulates and clots so as it becomes smaller, eventually some of the clotting can come away, especially if it works harder than normal eg; a frequently breastfed baby, which starts oxytocin off and causes the uterus to contract.
Anyway, getting off the point... he he

If the clots become copious, large or if you have large amounts of increased fresh bleeding then you need to call someone, actually, if you are worried at all, you should call your hospital that you birthed in. If there is a different odour to the bleeding and you are getting large clots, call someone. If there is a change in colour, ie a green or yellow tinge (sorry TMI) then you need to call your hospital. If you have increased pain with increased loss of clots or you feel unwell with the clotting at all you need to call.

HTH a bit and hope it settles for you soon.

I passed a massive clot (I'm talking the size of the palm of my hand) after my bleeding had mostly stopped, but that was with Zain. It never happened with the others.

I was passing large clots in the hospital (freaked me out!), they looked like the size of a very large thick worm IFKWIM?

Anyway, asked the nurse, she said when you are sitting down the blood tends to pool and clot, and thats why you can see them after longer nursing sessions?!

If you are worried, go to your GP/Obs/Hospital maybe?

I passed 2 clots, 6 days after the birth of Lily, the size of my hand and passed one about half the size of my hand about a week or so after Charlie was born and both times was checked and told it was normal.

Thats great to hear! Things have settled down and no more red blood or clots, so I do think it had to do with the marathon feeding effort rather than anything wrong. Whew... in fact I haven't had any blood today at all!! Last time I bled for so long its a bit strange for it to be settling so soon. Will probably pick up again if we have another marathon feed. Speaking of... better get going.

Good stuff Christy :D yay for the marathon sessions... I just think weight loss when I remember those ;)
I called the dr re: clots, and was told just what Tiggy said - change in colour and smell are the real worries.