Nobody really prepares you for the bleeding after a baby. You pack the hospital bag with tiny clothes, wipes and a going-home outfit, and then in the middle of the night you realize you have no idea what to wear for the next six weeks. If you are expecting, or a sister or friend is, this guide covers what to use, how many to buy and when to worry.
Why You Bleed After Delivery
After the baby and placenta come out, your uterus has to shrink back to its normal size and heal the area where the placenta was attached. The discharge that comes with this is called lochia. It happens after a normal delivery and after a C-section, though it can be a little lighter after a C-section.
Lochia is not like a regular period. It is much heavier at the start, and it changes colour and amount as the weeks pass. You cannot control it, and you should not try to. Your job is to manage it comfortably and keep the area clean while your body does its work.
What the Weeks Usually Look Like
Every woman is different, but this is a common pattern.
Days 1 to 4: This is the heaviest stage. The blood is bright or dark red, and small clots are normal. Expect to change your pad every two to three hours.
Days 4 to 10: The flow slows down and turns pinkish or brownish. You still need a strong pad, but you will change it less often.
Weeks 2 to 4: The discharge becomes light, yellowish or creamy. Many women switch to a thinner pad here.
Weeks 4 to 6: It tapers off to spotting and then stops. Some women stop sooner, and some see a little discharge for longer. A short return of red bleeding after a very busy day is common, and it usually means you did too much.
What to Use: Choose the Right Pad
For the first week, use a maternity pad or a large, thick, extra-long sanitary pad. Regular daytime pads will not cope. Here is what to look for.
Length and width. Go for XL or XXL. A longer pad protects you when you are lying down or feeding the baby in bed.
Softness. Your skin is sensitive after delivery, especially if you have stitches. Pick pads with a cotton-soft top layer that does not rub. Butterfly Mom’s Maternity Pads XXL are made for exactly this stage, with a super absorbent cotton feel.
High absorbency. A thick pad that locks liquid away from your skin keeps you dry and prevents leaks. For the heaviest days, a heavy flow long maxi thick pad is a good backup to your maternity pads, especially at night.
Wings. Pads with wings stay in place far better, especially when you walk between the bed and the bathroom a dozen times a day.
Unscented. Skip strongly perfumed pads. Fragrance can irritate stitches and the skin around them, and it can hide a smell that would otherwise warn you something is wrong.
Disposable pads are the practical choice for the first two weeks. For the heavier nights, some women also like a disposable overnight period panty, because it stays put while you sleep and is easy to throw away.
What to Avoid
Do not use tampons or menstrual cups while you have postpartum bleeding. They can introduce bacteria into a healing uterus and raise the risk of infection. Wait until your doctor checks you at your postnatal visit, usually around six weeks, and says it is fine.
How Many Pads Do You Need?
This is the question every mother asks, so here is a realistic way to count.
In the first four days, plan on 8 to 12 pads a day, roughly 35 to 45 pads. Do not panic if you use more. Changing often is better than stretching a pad too far.
For days 5 to 10, expect 5 to 8 pads a day, or about 30 to 45 pads.
For weeks 2 to 6, you will use fewer, perhaps 2 to 5 lighter pads a day, which is another 40 to 70 pads if the bleeding lasts the full six weeks.
Add it up and around 100 to 150 pads for the whole period is a fair estimate. That sounds like a lot, but it is spread over six weeks and several stages.
If you are shopping before the baby arrives, buy the heavy-flow packs first, since you need them straight away and in large numbers. Buy lighter pads later, once you see how your own recovery is going. A long maxi thick XXL pack or a 9-pack of maxi thick long pads can cover the middle stage. Keep one spare pack in the hospital bag, since hospitals do not always provide enough, and one extra pack at home so no one has to rush out to buy more.
Your count may be higher if you had twins, a long labour or a lot of blood loss, or lower if your bleeding is light. Use these numbers as a guide, not a rule.
Changing and Hygiene Tips
Change your pad every two to four hours, even if it does not look full, and always after using the toilet. Wash your hands before and after. Rinse with clean water from front to back and gently pat the area dry. If you have stitches, a small jug of warm water is easier than wiping.
A few more small things help a lot. Wear loose, breathable cotton underwear, and you can find comfortable options in our ladies undergarments collection. Keep spare pads and clean underwear where you can reach them. Rest as much as your family allows, because the more you are on your feet in the early weeks, the heavier the bleeding can get.
When the flow turns light in the last weeks, you can switch to thinner pads or breathable unscented panty liners for the final spotting days.
When to Call a Doctor
Most postpartum bleeding is normal, but some signs need medical attention right away. Contact your doctor or go to the hospital if:
- You soak through a pad in an hour, or you are bleeding heavily again after it had slowed down
- You pass clots larger than a golf ball
- The discharge smells foul
- You have a fever, chills or severe pain in your lower belly
- You feel dizzy, weak, faint or your heart is racing
Do not wait and see with these. Quick treatment makes a big difference.
A Final Word
The bleeding after delivery is exhausting in its own way, but the right pads make the first weeks much easier. Buy more than you think you need, choose soft, long, highly absorbent pads, and let your body take its time to heal.
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