How long do you bleed after birth?
Having a few blood clots isn’t usually anything to worry about. You probably passed a huge few clots when your baby was just a few days old (USH NHS 2024).
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Passing blood and clots (
lochia) is part of the natural process as your womb (uterus) shrinks back to its normal size and position, and replaces its lining
(USH NHS 2024). Some women bleed for as little as two weeks, while others will bleed for as much as 12 weeks
(NCT 2021). However, for most, bleeding is likely to last for about six weeks in all, and will tail off gradually over that
time (NCT 2021, USH NHS 2024).
Here's what to expect in terms of bleeding and blood clots after pregnancy:
- Day 1: Fresh red to brownish-red blood. Heavy flow that probably soaks one maternity pad every few hours, with one or two clots or several smaller ones.
- Day 2 to 6: Darker brown or pinkish red blood. Moderate flow with 7 cm to 12 cm stains on your maternity pads and smaller blood clots.
- Day 7 to 10: Darker brown or pinkish red blood, becoming lighter, with less than a 7 cm stain on your pads.
- Days 11 to 14: Darker brown or pinkish red blood, becoming lighter. You may have some sanitary towels that are hardly stained.
- Week 3 to 4: Paler, possibly a creamy pink blood loss and lighter flow.
- Week 5 to 6: Brown, pinkish red, or creamy yellow stains, possibly for several weeks, and possibly only on some days.
(NCT 2021, USH NHS 2024)
What else causes blood clots or heavy bleeding?
Now that your baby is a few weeks old, you also may be starting to get more active, which can encourage more clots to pass (NCT 2021). Although this isn’t usually anything to worry about, listen to your body. If you feel tired, take the time to rest when you can. When your baby goes down for naps, put your feet up instead of catching up on chores. Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet with lots of iron-rich foods.
Breastfeeding increases your levels of the hormone oxytocin which causes your womb to contract. You may feel these contractions as afterpains, but they may also be painless and only noticeable due to a slight increase in the amount of bleeding. You may notice that your bleeding seems heavier or turns to a fresher red just after a feed. In fact this is the same amount of blood, just coming more quickly due to your womb contracting (NCT 2021).
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When you lie down, the bleeding will pool in your vagina, so it may seem heavier in the morning, or after you stand up
(NCT 2021).
Do blood clots hurt when they pass?
You may feel pains or discomfort before passing a clot, similar to period pains. This is caused by your womb contracting, as it gets rid of the clot. If you’ve previously had a baby, you may notice afterpains more as they increase in frequency and intensity with second or third babies (USH NHS 2024).
Clots can vary in size, from the size of a grape, to around the size of a tomato (USH NHS 2024). Usually, a clot will fall away when you go to the toilet, but it may be caught on your maternity pad. The larger ones can come as a surprise, as they can look a bit like lumps of liver.
When do I need to worry about postpartum bleeding or blood clots after pregnancy?
Contact your midwife or GP if:
- Your bleeding is sudden or very heavy.
- Your bleeding increases rather than reduces.
- You pass large clots, placental tissue, or membranes.
- You have symptoms of possible infection, such as abdominal or perineal pain, fever, or chills.
- You have vaginal bleeding or discharge with an unpleasant odour.
- You have any other concerns or questions about your postpartum bleeding
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(NCT 2021, NICE 2021, USH NHS 2024) Passing a lot of large clots or soaking through a large pad more quickly than once every hour or two could be a sign of postpartum haemorrhage - contact your midwife or GP straight away (NCT 2021).
Sometimes, an infection can set in about two weeks or three weeks after your baby's birth. This may be caused by a small piece of membrane or placenta staying behind in the womb.
If you experience a high temperature, nausea or vomiting, breathing difficulties, heavy vaginal bleeding or large clots, or severe pelvic pain, contact your midwife or GP immediately. Your doctor might recommend a transvaginal ultrasound to check for retained placental tissue, which may require surgical removal (Tommy’s 2023).
If you suddenly lose a lot of blood, and start to feel faint or dizzy, and your heart is racing or beating irregularly, call 999. These are all signs of shock, and can happen if you have a very heavy bleed (NHS 2022).
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More advice and information on your post-baby body:
