Postpartum bleeding is common in the days and weeks after a woman gives birth. However, excessive bleeding or passing large blood clots can be a cause for concern.
At Raveco Medical, we offer comprehensive obstetrics care for low-risk and high-risk pregnancies – from preconception all the way through your postpartum recovery.
Our highly skilled medical team takes a personalized approach to monitoring you and your baby’s health after childbirth and delivery. They provide a variety of diagnostic screenings to identify the cause of abnormal bleeding or clots and customize care plans to prevent further blood loss.
In the hours and days after you deliver a child, your uterus starts to go back to its original size (uterine involution). As the uterus shrinks, it expels excess tissue and blood for several days or weeks.
The discharge may be heaviest on the first day after childbirth. It’s also common to pass small blood clots that range in size from a quarter to a golf ball. By the first week postpartum, blood flow is typically moderate, and some small clots may still be present.
During the second postpartum week, blood flow lightens and may even stop. Between 2-6 weeks after childbirth, women shouldn’t pass any clots. However, some may notice a few clots up to six weeks after delivery.
Our medical team offers postpartum checkups in the weeks following your discharge from the hospital. However, it’s important that you continue to monitor how much blood you’re passing, so you can report any abnormalities to your physician right away.
As a rule of thumb, let our providers know if you continue to experience heavy bleeding or clotting after six weeks postpartum. We perform the necessary testing to assess how much blood you’re losing and find out what’s causing it.
Any time you pass clots that are bigger than an egg or if you pass a lot of blood with tissue, you need to meet with our team for an evaluation. Passing large clots or losing a lot of blood can be a warning sign of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a condition that occurs when the uterus isn’t contracting properly.
Postpartum hemorrhage is most common in the first 24 hours after birth but can affect some women several days or weeks after delivery.
Without treatment, PPH can lead to a potentially dangerous drop in your blood pressure levels, shock, and even death.
Your treatment plan for excessive bleeding or clotting after childbirth depends on its cause and your overall health.
Our physicians will ensure that your uterus is healthy and free of tissue and other obstructions left over from childbirth. We can also use massage techniques or medications to help your uterus contract properly.
If you’ve lost a lot of blood, you may need an intravenous (IV) infusion of fluids to rehydrate your tissues or a blood transfusion.
In some cases, surgery might be necessary to identify the cause of bleeding and treat it. If postpartum bleeding or clotting becomes life-threatening, your provider may recommend a hysterectomy to remove the uterus.
Call the Raveco Medical office near you today to discuss your treatment options for unusual postpartum bleeding or clots. You can also use the online feature to book an evaluation.
