period or miscarriage?

[axlikins]

I am currently nursing a 6 week old baby exclusively. I just started my first period...I think. I was able to have sex with my husband after 2 weeks. I have never had a period like this before. It is really heavy dark and clotty. I have had a constant headache for about 5 days now, I am extremely exhausted, having bad cramping, i have very swollen and tender breasts and nipples(but not swollen with milk) my breasts hurt so bad right now that feeding my baby is excruciating and making me cry every time. If I was not bleeding, I would swear that I was pregnant. I know what implantation bleeding is supposed to look like and this isnt it. Could I possibly have gotten pregnant again and am now experiencing a miscarriage or is it typical for the first period after birth to be awful?

[chaosKOSMOS]

The only time I bled so soon after having a baby was with DS1 because I wasn't EBF. I was supplimenting w/some formula, so my body wasn't producing enough of whatever hormone was needed to stop my period.

It could be that you've retained a bit of stuff and it's just now coming out. Everyone is different. I did retain a bit after DS1. It was like you described (this was after the initial lochia was done and over with). I really doubt that's a miscarriage, but I really don't have experience w/that.

Hopefully someone else can help you. Sorry I'm not much help. I know what you're going through though, because I had the same thing (sans having sex so soon after birth.... I was SO NOT in the mood, LOL).

I did spot a little after DD was born (she's 6 months old) but I didn't have any signs that led me to believe it had anything to do with a possible pregnancy.

Could you maybe describe the pain you are feeling in your breasts? It could be a number of things: thrush, bad latch (6 weeks is still very young), strong suction, etc.

GL!

Grace

[tifttu]

Honestly, there's really no way to know for sure. It could be a m/c or a period. Sometimes the first one is bad, sometimes it's not. I was still having PP bleeding at nearly 6wks after DS.

The only thing I can say for sure, is that if you don't want to get pg at this time, you need to use some sort of bc even if you are EBF.

Like PP, at 2wks PP, there was no way I was having sex! Are you fully healed? Doing too much PP can restart bleeding, so keep that in mind too. I hope you're feeling better.

[StillSingingMom]

It's okay to take some ibuprofen if sore nipples are making breastfeeding miserable. You don't get extra points for suffering.

It's probably not a miscarriage, but it is possible. Some women ovulate in the immediate postpartum period. If it is a miscarriage, you would want to be treating yourself very gently; that's no way to treat your body. If you're feeling very exhausted and crappy, a visit to your doctor is in order. In fact, since you are still in the immediate post partum period, I'd send you back to the OB, just in case.

With a headache, heavy and tender breasts, I'd say you're also at risk for mastitis. Are you running a temperature? It would be wise to check. Rest, drink lots of fluids, and think about getting some extra vitamin K to help put an end to the bleeding. Beets and iceberg lettuce are good sources of K.

[Nipple_nectar]

Having sex two weeks after a vaginal birth? That could lead to a serious infection, that is why most professionals recommend that you wait six weeks to give everything substantial time to heal.

I would also suggest you visit with your OB, with all those symptoms.