In preparation for my daughter’s birth, I read A LOT. It was my goal to be prepared for all things, and yet despite knowing that I would bleed after birth, I was sorely unprepared.
Sometimes called lochia, postpartum bleeding is commonly referred to as a “heavy period.” I figured I had weathered that for years so it shouldn’t be a problem. I stocked up on pads (tampons are a postpartum no-no) and added my comfy period underwear to the drawer that held my nursing tanks. I was ready. The only problem? I had never thought to look up, “How long do you bleed after childbirth?”
I learned the hard way with my second baby. Of course, life was busier with a toddler and newborn, so I gave my recovery a solid three days and then hopped back to it. But I didn’t listen to my body as I should have, and at five weeks postpartum, I passed a golf-ball-size clot in the middle of the night while nursing my son. It sent me into a near panic. I didn’t expect that.
A call to my midwife (and yes, I followed up with a photo text too) assured me that what I was experiencing was within the realm of normal, but it definitely caught me off-guard. I slowed down after that and my body responded well.
Now, clots can happen even if you subscribe to ample rest, up to the size of a lemon, in fact. I’d say it’s all a part of the beauty of birth, even though it’s kind of a pain seeing all we go through during pregnancy and delivery.
Just remember that your medical provider should see you through this season of motherhood, too. Reach out with any and all questions. They’ll guide you on what is normal for your body. If your gut tells you something is too much or too long, advocate for extra care. Your fourth trimester matters just as much, if not more, than the nine months and hours/days giving birth.
