Lochia & 6 week p/p check-up - graphic

Not sure what to do. My 6 week post-partum check-up involves a pap but I'm
still "bleeding". I'm really not sure what to call what is going on. I'm
thinking of calling and canceling the appointment cos I don't think a pap is
accurate if you're still "bleeding". Is that right? I also am on my 3rd
week of the pill. It's a new one for me - Norinyl 1+35-28 (if that means
anything to anyone) I couldn't remember what I was on before and the Dr said
this is usually good for everyone. With the last 3 pregnancies my lochia
stopped almost immediately after starting the pill. Not this time.

Here's the graphic part -

I hardly had any bleeding right after birth and for about the first 2 weeks.
I could have just used a pantyliner. Then it was what I'd call normal
lochia for a while. Then it seemed to go away but now, it's pretty yucky.
It's very dark - not red or even brown - what I passed today (I wouldn't
quite call it a clot but it was kinda big) was almost black. What is this?
Do I have an infection? I feel fine, it doesn't smell "off" (smells like
lochia, which isn't great but doesn't smell like an infection).

Any ideas? Call for a phone consult? Cancel the appointment? Go to the
appointment anyway?

Thanks.

--
Sophie
mom of 4

"Sophie" wrote in message
...
Not sure what to do. My 6 week post-partum check-up involves a pap but
I'm
still "bleeding". I'm really not sure what to call what is going on. I'm
thinking of calling and canceling the appointment cos I don't think a pap
is
accurate if you're still "bleeding". Is that right? I also am on my 3rd
week of the pill. It's a new one for me - Norinyl 1+35-28 (if that means
anything to anyone) I couldn't remember what I was on before and the Dr
said
this is usually good for everyone. With the last 3 pregnancies my lochia
stopped almost immediately after starting the pill. Not this time.

Here's the graphic part -

I hardly had any bleeding right after birth and for about the first 2
weeks.
I could have just used a pantyliner. Then it was what I'd call normal
lochia for a while. Then it seemed to go away but now, it's pretty yucky.
It's very dark - not red or even brown - what I passed today (I wouldn't
quite call it a clot but it was kinda big) was almost black. What is
this?
Do I have an infection? I feel fine, it doesn't smell "off" (smells like
lochia, which isn't great but doesn't smell like an infection).

Any ideas? Call for a phone consult? Cancel the appointment? Go to the
appointment anyway?

I'd tend to going in anyway. That way you can ask your questions there.
Thanks.

--
Sophie
mom of 4

Sophie wrote:

Not sure what to do. My 6 week post-partum check-up involves a pap but I'm
still "bleeding". I'm really not sure what to call what is going on. I'm
thinking of calling and canceling the appointment cos I don't think a pap is
accurate if you're still "bleeding". Is that right? I also am on my 3rd
week of the pill. It's a new one for me - Norinyl 1+35-28 (if that means
anything to anyone) I couldn't remember what I was on before and the Dr said
this is usually good for everyone. With the last 3 pregnancies my lochia
stopped almost immediately after starting the pill. Not this time.

Here's the graphic part -

I hardly had any bleeding right after birth and for about the first 2 weeks.
I could have just used a pantyliner. Then it was what I'd call normal
lochia for a while. Then it seemed to go away but now, it's pretty yucky.
It's very dark - not red or even brown - what I passed today (I wouldn't
quite call it a clot but it was kinda big) was almost black. What is this?
Do I have an infection? I feel fine, it doesn't smell "off" (smells like
lochia, which isn't great but doesn't smell like an infection).

Any ideas? Call for a phone consult? Cancel the appointment? Go to the
appointment anyway?

I would call and ask. I wonder if some of the placenta was left behind?
That happened to my mother.

I would call and ask. I wonder if some of the placenta was left behind?
That happened to my mother.

With a c-section? I asked to see it this time, I'm sure while he was
showing it to me, he'd have noticed if some was missing, or the other Dr
would have.

In article ,
says...
Sophie wrote:

Not sure what to do. My 6 week post-partum check-up involves a pap but I'm
still "bleeding". I'm really not sure what to call what is going on. I'm
thinking of calling and canceling the appointment cos I don't think a pap is
accurate if you're still "bleeding". Is that right? I also am on my 3rd
week of the pill. It's a new one for me - Norinyl 1+35-28 (if that means
anything to anyone) I couldn't remember what I was on before and the Dr said
this is usually good for everyone. With the last 3 pregnancies my lochia
stopped almost immediately after starting the pill. Not this time.

Here's the graphic part -

I hardly had any bleeding right after birth and for about the first 2 weeks.
I could have just used a pantyliner. Then it was what I'd call normal
lochia for a while. Then it seemed to go away but now, it's pretty yucky.
It's very dark - not red or even brown - what I passed today (I wouldn't
quite call it a clot but it was kinda big) was almost black. What is this?
Do I have an infection? I feel fine, it doesn't smell "off" (smells like
lochia, which isn't great but doesn't smell like an infection).

Any ideas? Call for a phone consult? Cancel the appointment? Go to the
appointment anyway?

It sounds like a clot. Did it look like a liver? - I passed one the
size of a baseball 2 days postpartum, and one the size of a golf ball a
week after, and then a smaller one about 2 weeks pp. I would ask your
Dr. about it if you are passing them this late, but the nurses and my
Dr. didn't seem to get too concerned if the clots were smaller than a
quarter, didn't smell nasty, and were dark (rather than the color of
fresh red blood).

-kim


I would call and ask. I wonder if some of the placenta was left behind?
That happened to my mother.

Sophie wrote:

I would call and ask. I wonder if some of the placenta was left behind?
That happened to my mother.


With a c-section? I asked to see it this time, I'm sure while he was
showing it to me, he'd have noticed if some was missing, or the other Dr
would have.

Yeah I thought of that, too, but I thought I would say it anyway since
no surgeon is perfect (and they may have missed something). Anyway, I
would still call and ask. No point in letting yourself worry,
especially if it turns out to be something simple. ...but remember that
I'm speaking as a first-timer. ;-) To me, *tons* of things are
call-and-ask situations!

wrote:

Not sure what to do. My 6 week post-partum check-up involves a pap but I'm
still "bleeding". I'm really not sure what to call what is going on. I'm
thinking of calling and canceling the appointment cos I don't think a pap is
accurate if you're still "bleeding".

Go anyway and just don't have the pap. I think it's better to have your mind at
rest about the bleeding, get the pill question sorted, etc.

One thing to guard against, by the way, is that some moms have a tendency to
cut way back on their own health care once they quit having babies. You
probably have more sense, but I had to totally force myself to schedule
physicals. It seemed as though I was there so much with all the kids that the
doctor ought to just KNOW whether there was anything wrong with me already ;-)

--Helen

Go anyway and just don't have the pap. I think it's better to have your
mind at
rest about the bleeding, get the pill question sorted, etc.

Good, I didn't want the pap anyway. They seem to do so many.

One thing to guard against, by the way, is that some moms have a tendency
to
cut way back on their own health care once they quit having babies. You
probably have more sense, but I had to totally force myself to schedule
physicals. It seemed as though I was there so much with all the kids that
the
doctor ought to just KNOW whether there was anything wrong with me already
;-)

--Helen

Ya know, I've taken care of myself more, the more children I've had. I
absolutely get my eye exams done, and my teeth cleanings (won't get into how
important I've found dental care to be). It's sad but I find my
appointments to be nice little breaks cos the kids go to daycare and I go
shop afterwards - lol.

I hate feeling bad so I *hope* I don't let my own needs slide. Good
reminder though

It sounds like a clot. Did it look like a liver?

Yeah it kinda did.

- I passed one the
size of a baseball 2 days postpartum, and one the size of a golf ball a
week after, and then a smaller one about 2 weeks pp.

Those sound big, bigger than mine.

I would ask your
Dr. about it if you are passing them this late, but the nurses and my
Dr. didn't seem to get too concerned if the clots were smaller than a
quarter, didn't smell nasty, and were dark (rather than the color of
fresh red blood).

-kim

Okay that's what this was like, but I agree, it seems kind of late for this
to still be going on.

Thanks, oh and I'm definitely keeping the appointment.

Yeah I thought of that, too, but I thought I would say it anyway since
no surgeon is perfect (and they may have missed something).

Very true.

Anyway, I
would still call and ask. No point in letting yourself worry,
especially if it turns out to be something simple. ...but remember that
I'm speaking as a first-timer. ;-) To me, *tons* of things are
call-and-ask situations!

Well I am keeping the appointment and will update you all (I bet it'll just
be my pill).