Overflowing [TMI!]

[SPC]

I have a mooncup, and I recently sized up to the postnatal one due to leaking. Leaking is still a huge problem, and it seems to be due to overflowing. About three times today I've had leaking and now I'm a bit concerned. I'm emptying it regularly, it's day 3 of my period and there's a heck of a lot of bright red loss. It's making me really sad, because I don't want to have to go back to tampons. Is there a solution? I was n the pill for 17 years prior to having Esme, so I just don't know what 'normal' is and as I'm still breastfeeding there's no much that can be done to fix it, I don't think. :hissy:

[Tam-I-Am]

Empty it more regularly, I would think :)

There is SO much variance on normal. Use it for a few cycles and you'll know what's normal FOR YOU.

:)

[SPC]

Thanks! 15ml i 2 hours seems like a lot, but I was on the pill for so long I wonder if I have an unreasonable baseline. My mum had a hysterectomy at 40, and I'm beginning to see why!

[LeeJ]

What is the mooncup capacity hun?

I have the lunette and the large Meluna, I had a very heavy flow for the first 2 days, I empty 3-4 times, and it's full each of those times.

I then have an exceptionally light bit of spotting for a few days.

'Normal' flow is 15-80ml, considering the 2 cups I have hold around 30ml, mine is quite a bit heavier. A maxi tampon holds around 15ml.

I would check the capacity of the mooncup, and change to a bigger one if need be.

DOn't know if i'm much help :s

[SPC]

Aha, the moon cup I have has a marker at 15ml nearish the top. I guess I've emptied it about 8 times today. Maybe a different brand would be better. I had no problems before Esme and I had a caesar, and have no muscle issues.

[LeeJ]

Mine went ridiculous after J, crazy amount of loss.

Have a look at femininewear . uk, something along those lines, i got my meluna from there including post for $25!!!

[Tam-I-Am]

http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/help_yourself/articles/very_heavy_menstrual_flow

[SPC]

Thanks Tam! That's quite scary - average is 30ml for the whole period. I think I've had that in the last 4 hours. And it's useful to know ibuprofen helps reduce the loss. Odd that they connect heavy loss with high oestrogen as I should have low oestrogen due to the breastfeeding. But the progesterone only pill might be a solution if this carries on. I'm sat here freezing cold in front of the heater, and I've been jittery all day.

[Tam-I-Am]

What I took from that article is that there's a HUGE range of variance. The best that they've been able to do is ESTIMATE the 'average' blood loss to date - not many women use menstrual devices that allow for measuring it.

I personally would be seeing a naturopath who specialises in women's health issues, before going on hormonal contraceptives.

[SPC]

I fret about herbs and breastfeeding - I'm a little scientist at heart and there often aren't big enough studies for me to be willing to risk it. I have PCOS and the only thing that helped was the pill and metformin; I did try the herbalist route but it wasn't effective. My GP is very alternative, and has all sorts of allied health there, so I guess that's one route to investigate. I suspect giving up breastfeeding and going back on Yasmin will be my Gyaes opinion! Not exactly progressive.

[Tam-I-Am]

Erm, no.

I suspect that herbal treatments are far more safe than many chemical treatments though - given that they're traditional, and have been used for many years and centuries, whereas medical chemical treatments have been used for a handful of decades only.

The reason that there are a dearth of studies about herbal treatments is because they're not lucrative for drug companies.

kellymom.com is always a good resource for what's safe for breastfeeding and not, as is Dr Thomas Hale's forum. http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/lact/medicationforumspage.html

:)