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| |    Vaginal Bleeding after Delivery by Lisa Rodriguez, R.N. and Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. After nine months of having no periods, it may seem strange to start bleeding vaginally again. Following delivery, the blood that formed the lining of the uterus, along with tissue and mucus, is expelled from the uterus. This is called lochia (pronounced lo-kee-ah). Typically, the bleeding starts out as rather heavy and bright red in color. You might notice that the first time you get out of bed after delivery, blood may run down your legs. You may even notice a few small clots on your pad or in the toilet after you use the bathroom. This is from the blood that pooled in the vagina while you were in bed, and it's normal. Large clots, however, should be reported to your nurse or doctor. After the first few hours The bleeding will slow to what you might have with a normal period over the course of hours to days. In time, it will become a watery pink color and then change to a brownish discharge. You may notice that when you are up and around the house, your bleeding may go back to being bright red. This is also normal as long as it is not more than the bleeding you would have with a heavy menstrual period. After a few weeks, the discharge may become clear to yellowish in color. Some women bleed for two months, others bleed only for a week or two. Throughout this time, you should use sanitary napkins instead of tampons to reduce the possibility of infection. The return of your period Each woman is different in regard to when menstruation returns. If you are not breastfeeding, your period may return as early as four to six weeks after you deliver your baby. If you are a breastfeeding mom, you may not have a period again until after you stop nursing. This, however, is not true for everyone. While most women who are exclusively breastfeeding will not menstruate for at least the first six months, some will have a period as early as three or four months. Resuming ovulation Usually the first period comes before the first ovulation and signals that fertility may be returning-but not always. If it is important to you to prevent pregnancy during this time, some means of contraception is recommended. Discuss your options with your healthcare practitioner.
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