Why Am I Still Bleeding After Delivery?

Is bleeding after delivery a normal thing or not? I have been asked this question more than 6 times after my last post on How Long It Takes For Period To Return After Child Birth. Well, Yes, will be the suitable answer for the question i earlier asked in my opening. It is natural for women to lose some blood during delivery and even after delivery.

Few days after a woman goes through delivery, she seems to have a heavy menstrual flow. This is normal because the amount of blood you have in your body rises during pregnancy and it can go as far as 50% increase, preparing your body to meet up with the normal loss that will take place during and after delivery.

This is how it usually happens

Placenta always leaves open blood vessels when it detaches or separates from the uterus where it
was initially attached to. These open vessels begin to bleed into the uterus after the placenta separates. The bleeding will continue reducing after birth because after the placenta is delivered, there is a contraction in the uterus and as it contracts, the blood vessels will be closing up, thereby reducing the bleeding. People who experience tear or episiotomy during delivery will also bleed from the tear unless it is closed up.

At times, postpartum hemorrhage (excessive blood loss) happens when the uterus fails to contracts well after child birth.

What is called lochia?

This is a vagina discharge that occurs during the postpartum period. Lochia is a term from Greek word which means, "relating to childbirth" . This lochia consists of tissue from the uterus lining, blood and bacteria too.

Through the first period of days after delivery, lochia will have a fair amount of blood, bright red which makes it look like a heavy menstruation. In some cases, it may flow evenly or gushing out intermittently. If you are in a sleeping position for some time, the blood will gradually get collected in the vaginal which can make you notice some blood clots when you rise up. 

As each day passes, you should have a lesser discharge and colour lightening . Between the second and the fourth day after delivery, lochia becomes more pinkish and watery too. This may go on till about nine days after childbirth. From around the tenth day, you should be left with only small amount of yellow or white discharge. Lochia will go lesser by the day till it finally stops between two to four weeks after childbirth. For a small number of women, they still experience lochia intermittently for more weeks than others.

So, How should I manage lochia?

To manage lochia, start with heavy-duty sanitary pads. This type of pad is always part of the content of your bag when you are going to the hospital for delivery (Eru-omo in Yoruba). When the lochia is reducing gradually, you can then switch to minpads but don't make use of tampons because they are more likely to cause infections in the uterus and vagina.

Your bladder may be less sensitive during the first few days after giving birth, as a result of this, the feeling to urinate may not be felt even when your bladder is already heavy. Now, even when you don't feel the urge to pee or urinate, still go ahead and try it because a full bladder will make it difficult for the contraction of the uterus which will lead to more bleeding and pains.

Make sure you relax as some mothers hardly rests before they go about dragging and carrying things. If you stretch it much, you may start experiencing fresh bleeding again.

How would i know if I'm bleeding too much after childbirth?

If after your lochia has lightened up, bright red blood is seen again, you should slow it down and take your time to rest. If it however continues, contact your doctor.

You should ensure you inform your doctor or midwife if after few days of delivery, you still see bright red lochia or it is bringing a foul smell.

If lochia gets heavier or you are having an abnormal bleeding which makes a sanitary soak within an hour either with big blood clots or not, inform your doctor as this may signal a late postpartum hemorrhage.

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Thanks.

If you'll also love to know when your first period comes after childbirth, check this link.

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