Is It Normal to Have a Really Heavy Period After Having a Baby

Of all the side-furnishings of giving birth – stretch marks, wobbly bellies and constant fatigue – there's one I wasn't prepared for. Heavy periods.

And I'chiliad non only talking a trivial heavier than before. I'm talking the concluding serial of Game of Thrones, carnage on the battlefield at King'due south Landing, heavy. Abiding toilet checks, leaking through jeans, changing tampons hourly.

Super plus, extra heavy. Who even knew those purple boxes existed? Not me. Not until I had ii children.

After I finished breastfeeding, my periods came back with a vengeance. And still now, those really heavy days may only last 48 hours in the middle of my cycle, just during that time it can be hard to recollect about annihilation else.

Notwithstanding seemingly, and somewhat reassuringly, I'grand not alone. Many of my closest friends are at present shopping for the blazon of tampons I used to imagine were only useful to plug a leak or hole in the wall – because they're massive.

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One friend told me she'd had relatively normal periods before having children, but experienced much heavier blood loss since having her 2d. She visited her GP and was booked in for a hysteroscopy – a procedure used to examine the inside of the womb. "Everything was fine, which was a relief," she said.

She was told she had a low platelet count, which meant her blood couldn't form clots, and was prescribed Vitamin K. She chose to have a hormonal IUD (coil) fitted, which after ii months, she says, stopped her heavy bleeding. "Information technology 100% worked for me," she said. "The amount I was bleeding has improved massively."

Another friend told me she didn't notice any change in her menstrual cycle after having her first child, but since having the second they're in "some other realm of heavy". She's as well a lot more irregular than before – her periods last longer, and finish-and-start.

"It's actually inconvenient because it'south non practical when you lot have two children to get to the toilet at least every two hours," she said. "I'd never even heard of the heavy absorbency products before, and now I'k using them. Otherwise, I'll leak." Later on a series of blood tests at the doctors, she was told she had low iron. "They gave me supplements and told me unlike contraceptive devices might help," she added.

So, what's causing our heavy periods after childbirth? Of class, this may not happen to everyone, and some women may become back to regular periods soon after welcoming their child. As with many medical scenarios, it tin can vary depending on the individual – but these are some possible causes:

Hormone Levels

The body takes time to recover later on giving birth, and may non settle into a regular 'routine' for many months postpartum.

Breastfeeding

If you're breastfeeding, the hormones that support that tin filibuster ovulation, crusade irregular periods, or stop them birthday. (Only don't be fooled if you're not bleeding, y'all can nonetheless get pregnant.)

Previous Conditions

If y'all've suffered with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis, you may take had irregular periods since before giving nascency. Or, you lot may not ever accept known you lot had these conditions. "Often the mother is totally unaware that she has a gynaecological problem because she'southward been able to go meaning and have a baby," says reproductive medicine specialist Dr Andrew Orr.

Information technology Might Non Be A 'Period'

If you've simply very recently given nativity, you may exist concerned about a blazon of heavy haemorrhage chosen lochia. This isn't a menstruum, merely a natural belch afterward childbirth that tin be dark ruddy. You may also laissez passer clots. The bleeding should get lighter over days or weeks, until it turns clear.

Contraception

Although there are many contraceptive options that help to regulate periods, copper IUDs (the 'copper roll') practise not contain any hormones and can cause periods to become heavier, particularly in the kickoff three months after insertion.

What To Practise

See your GP if you have any concerns or detect meaning changes in your menstrual wheel. According to Dr Diane Immature, it's essential to seek medical advice if yous're experiencing any of the following:

• Very heavy haemorrhage that soaks through more than a pad per hr, for more than than two hours

• Bleeding with a fever

• Intense cramps

• Passing clots that are larger than a golf ball.

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Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/periods-after-giving-birth_uk_5cefc58fe4b07e067d89c2fa

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