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Abnormal Bleeding With Clots After Vaginal Delivery. Should I Be Concerned?
Posted on
Sun, 17 Feb 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 17 Feb 2013
Answered on
Mon, 11 Mar 2013
Last reviewed on
Question : Since the birth of my daughter, I took quite a while to recover. I bled for approximately 10 weeks post-delivery. With that, once I stopped bleeding every time I tried going to the gym and had a harder work out I would start to bleed again. During this recovery I did not notice any large clots passed, just little ones that seemed soft and pliable. Recently, I stopped breastfeeding. I started weaning my baby about 3 months ago and stopped completely about 2 months ago. Since then, I've had bleeding (or what resembled a period) about 5 times. It seems I get a period every two weeks. This last time I got my period, it lasted about a week... stopped for a couple of days at which point I started getting brownish/red discharge with some clots. This wasn't very much but enough for a light pad. This went on for about 2 weeks. Now I got what I'm guessing is my period again but with bleeding that's very heavy. I have also passed one larger (approx half inch by 1.5 inch) that was very hard and have been passing smaller clots that are also very hard. I'm not sure if this is cause for concern. Could this be hormonal changes affecting me? I had a pap done in early pregnancy and everything was fine.
Hello
Thank you for your health query.
After a vaginal deliverY, it is common to see altered menstrual bleeding for 2 - 3 months, and sometimes, the effect might last for unto 6 months.
In your case, the irregular cycles are persisting for long.
Most probably, it is due to the hormonal changes brought on by childbearing and breastfeeding.
Since you have stopped breastfeeding completely two months back, your cycles should regularize within a month or two now.
Since you bled more than average in childbirth, sometimes, the pituitary is affected by this, leading to altered cycles.
Get yourself checked for anemia, hypothyroidism or increased blood sugars.
Adequate calcium and vitamin D supplementation is a must.
Also, sometimes, an undetected pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, missed abortion can lead to such bleeding.
Being on birth control pills or hormonal medications could be a reason.
Sometimes, endometrial hyperplasia or polycystic ovaries present like this.
Obviously, cervical polyps or growths are a common reason.
You should have a complete gynaecological check up, blood work and pelvic ultrasound.
Keep working out regularly, eat well, and take calcium and vitamin D supplements.
The periods should smoothen out in a couple of months.
Avoid stress, anxiety, rapid fluctuations in weight, as these are major culprits.
Take care, and feel free to ask for further clarifications.
Thank you for your health query.
After a vaginal deliverY, it is common to see altered menstrual bleeding for 2 - 3 months, and sometimes, the effect might last for unto 6 months.
In your case, the irregular cycles are persisting for long.
Most probably, it is due to the hormonal changes brought on by childbearing and breastfeeding.
Since you have stopped breastfeeding completely two months back, your cycles should regularize within a month or two now.
Since you bled more than average in childbirth, sometimes, the pituitary is affected by this, leading to altered cycles.
Get yourself checked for anemia, hypothyroidism or increased blood sugars.
Adequate calcium and vitamin D supplementation is a must.
Also, sometimes, an undetected pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, missed abortion can lead to such bleeding.
Being on birth control pills or hormonal medications could be a reason.
Sometimes, endometrial hyperplasia or polycystic ovaries present like this.
Obviously, cervical polyps or growths are a common reason.
You should have a complete gynaecological check up, blood work and pelvic ultrasound.
Keep working out regularly, eat well, and take calcium and vitamin D supplements.
The periods should smoothen out in a couple of months.
Avoid stress, anxiety, rapid fluctuations in weight, as these are major culprits.
Take care, and feel free to ask for further clarifications.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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