Lochia still at 8 weeks and beyond?

[Mrs P]

I'm 8 weeks post partum and still experiencing lochia. It varies in colour and amount but I'm mostly using liners and changing them at least once a day. TMI but sometimes there's a smell, other times not so bad - I'm imagining it wouldn't smell like roses anyway!
Dr Google has me thinking about RPOC - it was tricky for OB to get my placenta out... My 6 week check up was fine and OB wasn't concerned at that stage that I was still bleeding.
Has anyone else experienced this? With my first birth (csection) it only lasted 3 weeks - could it be because this was a vbac? I did have quite a lot of damage from the birth including tears to internal vaginal walls.

[*Efjay*]

All five of mine I bled beyond 8 weeks, I think from memory it was an average of 10/11 weeks. No retained product with any. I did however read with my last that low iron levels can cause longer periods lochia. Maybe grab some iron sups & see if it helps.

[HotI]

My first I bled for 10 weeks. My second was not as long, but I was taking liquid iron supplements (not sure if that helped). If you have fever, or feel unwell it be worth getting an appt, if not I would prob just wait it out.

[~Hestia~]

My first was at least that long, do you feel unwell or have any pain?

[Mrs P]

Feel fine and no pain. I had a hemorrhage during the birth and needed an iron transfusion in hospy so it's likely my levels are still low - will try iron supplements.
Thanks ladies it's good to know that it can last more than 6 weeks and still be normal! I'm sick of wearing pads/liners all the time though

[~Hestia~]

Yeah it does get tedious, hopefully it's almost at it's end. Glad you're not feeling unwell.

[Three Graces]

yes, I was 8 or 9 weeks with the first two babies and it drives you nuts! WIth number 3, I did have some retained product and had a pph at week 5. You'd know about it if there was retained product as your body would be trying to get rid of it (ie., changing a liner more than 1/day). Maybe what the others have said: keep the iron uptake and also don't forget to rest when you can.

[Pholi]

Yeah, I went about 13 weeks with bleeding and then another 2-3 weeks of spotting. But I had a mirena put in at 6 weeks, and that can also cause up to 3 months of spotting, so it could have been a bit of that as well. But at 6 weeks, I was still using pretty heavy pads and changing 3-4x/day, so it wasn't just the mirena. I also had a scan at about 9 weeks for RPOC, because I lost a few chunky bits of tissue, and had BM supply issues, so they decided to check, but there was nothing.

[Rosey]

I bled for about 10/12weeks from memory. I had an unplanned cesarean which resulted in a complication, which could have added to the length.

[Cassius2]

i would be worried about the smell TBH. it shouldnt smell offensive at all...that could be a big sign of possible infection, i would urge you to contact your care provider.

[Mrs P]

Just following up on this. I did have a uterine infection After presenting to GP with above described symptoms and a fever (didn't know I had one!) I was put on antibiotics and sent for an ultrasound to check for RPOC.
Ultrasound indicated endometritis i.e. infection of the endometrium. After 10 days of antibiotics all seemed good - no discharge/smell or bleeding - however now the bleeding has started again (about 5 days after I finished the antibiotics). So am going back to GP on Tuesday.

[Cassius2]

this sounds very similar to what I had. Although i had no symptoms until I had a PPH.

For me it took two types of ABs (flagyl and a penicillin).

They didnt find any RCOP?

[Mrs P]

this sounds very similar to what I had. Although i had no symptoms until I had a PPH.

For me it took two types of ABs (flagyl and a penicillin).

They didnt find any RCOP?

Hi Cassius - no signs of RPOC which surprised me. I keep getting thrush too with the antibiotics and DS is getting it in his mouth so then I also get it on my nipples. So I'm not looking forward to yet more antibiotics. Did you have fevers and any pain or cramps?