How Long Do You Bleed After Giving Birth?

Before having my first baby, I genuinely thought postpartum bleeding was something that happened after a vaginal delivery. I had a C-section, so I did not expect to bleed for weeks afterward. I quickly learned that I was very wrong.

I have now had two C-sections, and I experienced postpartum bleeding after both of them. Both times, it lasted close to six weeks and gradually went from heavier, bright red bleeding to lighter bleeding and spotting before finally going away.

My second experience threw me for a loop because my bleeding seemed like it had stopped and then suddenly came back very heavily with clots. I actually wondered whether I had gotten my first postpartum period, but my doctor told me it was still postpartum bleeding.

If you are wondering how long you bleed after giving birth, especially after a C-section, here is what my experience was like and what I wish I had known the first time around.

How Long Do You Bleed After Giving Birth?

Postpartum bleeding and discharge is called lochia, and it can continue for several weeks after having a baby. It is generally heavier and redder at first and then becomes lighter as your body recovers.

For me, the entire process lasted close to six weeks after both of my births. I had C-sections both times, and my bleeding generally went from bright red and heavier to lighter bleeding, then spotting, and eventually nothing.

I would not expect your experience to follow my exact six week timeline. Everyone's recovery is different, but postpartum discharge commonly continues for several weeks and can last around six weeks.

Do You Bleed After a C-Section?

Yes, and this was probably the biggest surprise for me. I assumed that because my baby had been delivered through an incision in my abdomen, I would not experience vaginal bleeding afterward.

That is not how postpartum bleeding works. The bleeding is not simply the result of delivering a baby vaginally. After pregnancy, your uterus still has blood, mucus and tissue to shed as it heals and returns toward its pre-pregnancy state.

So even though both of my babies were born via C-section, I still experienced vaginal bleeding afterward. In fact, both times it continued for close to six weeks.

This is something I really wish someone had explained to me before my first C-section. There are so many things you are preparing for when you know you are having a C-section, and postpartum bleeding was just one part of my C-section recovery that surprised me.

What Did My Postpartum Bleeding Look Like?

Immediately after giving birth, my bleeding was heavier and bright red. As the weeks went on, it became lighter, eventually turned into more of a spotting situation, and then went away.

That progression happened after both of my C-sections. The biggest difference was that after my first birth, the bleeding pretty steadily tapered off, while my second experience was much less straightforward.

I do not remember every exact week or day, and I do not want to pretend that I do. What I remember very clearly is thinking the bleeding was basically over after my second baby and then being shocked when it suddenly came back.

My Postpartum Bleeding Stopped and Then Started Again

This was the part of my second postpartum recovery that really confused me. My bleeding had gotten lighter and seemed like it had stopped, and then suddenly I started bleeding very heavily again.

There were also clots, which made the whole thing even more alarming. I remember looking in the toilet and wondering what was going on.

My first thought was that maybe I had gotten my period. But I was still relatively early in my postpartum recovery, and the timing did not make sense to me. It wasn't, but that experience made it much easier to recognize my first period after giving birth when it actually returned.

I ended up asking my doctor about it. She told me that what I was experiencing was still postpartum bleeding rather than my period.

That experience was actually really helpful when my true period eventually returned. By then, my postpartum bleeding had been gone for quite a while, so it was much easier for me to recognize that this was something different.

What I Wore for Postpartum Bleeding

In the hospital, I wore the mesh underwear and pads they provided. They definitely are not glamorous, but at that point I was recovering from a C-section and had absolutely no interest in wearing normal underwear anyway.

Once I got home, I switched to Always postpartum underwear. I wore those for the next few weeks while I was still bleeding.

I personally liked having something I could put on and not worry as much about shifting pads or leaking onto my clothes. Especially during those early postpartum weeks, comfort and convenience were pretty much my only priorities.

I would definitely have postpartum underwear stocked at home before giving birth. Even if you are planning a C-section, you may still be dealing with vaginal bleeding for weeks afterward.

Postpartum underwear ended up being one of the postpartum recovery essentials I was really glad I had waiting for me at home.

Can You Use Tampons for Postpartum Bleeding?

I did not use tampons for postpartum bleeding. I stuck with the hospital pads and mesh underwear initially and then disposable postpartum underwear once I got home.

During early postpartum recovery, pads or disposable underwear are generally recommended instead of tampons. Your body is still healing after childbirth, and inserting something into the vagina can increase the risk of infection before you have healed and your healthcare provider has cleared you.

This applies even if you had a C-section. Having a C-section does not mean your uterus and reproductive system skip the postpartum healing process.

Is It Normal to Have Blood Clots After Giving Birth?

I definitely experienced clots during postpartum bleeding, particularly when my bleeding became heavy again after my second baby. The size of the clots was actually one of the things I remember being told to pay attention to.

Some small clots can occur with normal postpartum bleeding, especially early on. Very large clots, repeated large clots or heavy bleeding alongside them can be a reason to contact your healthcare provider.

I would not try to determine whether a concerning clot is "normal" based on someone else's postpartum experience, including mine. If the amount of bleeding or the size of a clot makes you stop and wonder whether you should call your doctor, I would make the call.

When Should You Call Your Doctor About Postpartum Bleeding?

Postpartum bleeding is expected, but there is a difference between normal lochia and bleeding that needs medical attention. This is one of those situations where I think it is much better to ask your healthcare provider than to compare yourself to another mom.

Medical guidance recommends contacting your provider for very heavy bleeding, particularly if you are filling a pad every hour for several hours, if your bleeding becomes heavier rather than gradually improving, or if you are repeatedly passing very large clots. Feeling faint, dizzy, weak or otherwise unwell alongside heavy bleeding also warrants medical attention.

A foul smell, fever or worsening pain can also be signs that something is not right. If you are concerned about what you are seeing or how you are feeling, contact your healthcare provider rather than waiting for your symptoms to match an exact threshold.

What I Wish I Knew About Bleeding After Giving Birth

The biggest thing I wish I had known is incredibly simple: you bleed after a C-section too. It seems obvious to me now that I understand why postpartum bleeding happens, but I genuinely did not know this before having my first baby.

I also wish I had understood that postpartum bleeding is not necessarily a perfectly straight progression from heavy to light to gone. My first experience was relatively straightforward, but after my second C-section, I thought my bleeding had stopped before it suddenly became heavy again.

I also did not realize how confusing it could be to distinguish postpartum bleeding from your first period. I actually thought my period had returned during that second postpartum experience, only to learn from my doctor that I was still experiencing postpartum bleeding.

There are so many little parts of postpartum recovery that no one seems to talk about until you are already experiencing them. This was definitely one of those things for me, and I would have felt much more prepared if I had known what to expect before coming home from the hospital.

Postpartum bleeding wasn't the only recovery symptom that caught me off guard. I also had intense postpartum night sweats after both pregnancies, which was another thing no one had warned me about.

FAQs About Postpartum Bleeding

How long do you bleed after giving birth?

Postpartum bleeding and discharge can last for several weeks, commonly up to about six weeks. Mine lasted close to six weeks after both of my C-sections, although the amount of actual bleeding decreased considerably over that time.

Do you bleed after a C-section?

Yes. You can still experience vaginal bleeding and discharge after a C-section because lochia comes from the uterus as your body clears blood, mucus and tissue left from pregnancy. I experienced it for close to six weeks after both of my C-sections.

What does postpartum bleeding look like?

It is typically red and heavier at first and gradually becomes lighter as postpartum recovery progresses. Mine started as bright red bleeding, became lighter, transitioned to spotting and eventually disappeared.

Can postpartum bleeding stop and start again?

The amount of lochia can fluctuate, and you may notice changes during your recovery. My bleeding seemed to stop after my second C-section and then came back very heavily, so I contacted my doctor and learned that what I was experiencing was still postpartum bleeding.

Can you use tampons after giving birth?

Pads and disposable underwear are generally recommended during early postpartum recovery instead of tampons. Follow your own healthcare provider's instructions about when it is safe to use tampons or insert anything into your vagina again.

Are blood clots normal after giving birth?

Small clots can occur with postpartum bleeding, particularly in the earlier stages. Repeated large clots or clots accompanied by very heavy bleeding should be discussed with your healthcare provider.

How do you know if postpartum bleeding is too heavy?

Very heavy bleeding, such as filling a pad every hour for several hours, bleeding that gets heavier rather than lighter, repeated large clots, or heavy bleeding accompanied by dizziness, faintness or feeling unwell warrants medical attention. If you are uncertain about your bleeding, contact your healthcare provider rather than waiting for it to get worse.

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic, Lochia: Postpartum Bleeding

• Cleveland Clinic, C-Section: Procedure, Risks and Recovery

• Cleveland Clinic, Postpartum Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

Disclaimer

This article shares my personal postpartum experience and is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace guidance from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider. Contact your healthcare provider if you are concerned about postpartum bleeding, blood clots or any other symptoms after giving birth.