Spotting While Breastfeeding
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I breast-feed. My baby is 7 months old. I did not resume a period until a month ago. I thought I was starting a period; I was cramping and when I wiped I got a little pinkish blood on the toilet tissue. This went on for about five days, I never even required a pad, only got a tiny bit of blood on the toilet tissue every time. It stopped for 2-3 days completely. Then I started what seemed to be an actual period, bled heavily and this lasted for about five days. I assume this was a period.
Then approximately 9-10 days after my period ended I have started getting a blood tinged mucous discharge. I have no idea what this is. I am assuming I may have ovulated this week, am not sure exactly. The last time I had intercourse was the week before the heavy bleeding began so I do not think I am pregnant. Can you tell me what this blood tinged mucous discharge is and if I actually could be pregnant ? It seems like I would not be pregnant after having a heavy period like I did. Can you please help with this.
ANSWER
I agree, I don't think you are pregnant. The mucous may be associated with your first ovulation, and/or you may have broken a capillary, which is not a problem.
-- Cynthia, CNM
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
