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What to do if…
you have postpartum bleeding that seems heavier than expected and you feel lightheaded

Short answer

Treat this as urgent. Call 999 for an ambulance (or have someone call) if your postnatal bleeding is sudden and very heavy or you feel faint/dizzy/lightheaded.

Do not do these things

  • Do not drive yourself to hospital or “push through” the dizziness.
  • Do not stay alone if you feel lightheaded or as if you might faint.
  • Do not use tampons, menstrual cups, or anything internal right now.
  • Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory painkillers (like ibuprofen) unless your midwife/doctor has told you they’re safe for you right now. If you’ve been prescribed aspirin or any blood thinner, do not stop it suddenly—tell 999 and the clinicians what you take.
  • Do not assume it’s “normal after birth” if it’s getting heavier or you feel unwell.

What to do now

  1. Get to a safer position immediately. Lie down flat if you can. If you feel like you might faint, lie on your side. Keep your phone within reach.
  2. Call 999 now (or ask someone beside you to call). Say:
    • “I’ve recently given birth.”
    • “My bleeding is heavier than expected and I feel lightheaded/faint/dizzy.”
    • If relevant: “The bleeding is sudden and very heavy,” “I’m soaking pads quickly,” “I’m passing clots,” “my heart is racing/pounding.”
  3. Do not hold the baby while you feel faint. If the baby is with you, place them somewhere safe (cot/Moses basket/on the floor on a blanket) and keep them warm. If another adult is present, ask them to take over immediately.
  4. If you have a maternity contact, use it too — but don’t delay the emergency call. If someone else can do it while you’re waiting for the ambulance, ask them to phone your maternity triage / postnatal ward / community midwife contact number from your discharge paperwork.
  5. Use a pad (not internal products) and note what’s happening. Note roughly when the heavier bleeding started and how quickly pads are filling. If a pad has already been removed, don’t throw it away if that’s easy—clinicians may find it helpful to see (only if it doesn’t distract from getting help).
  6. Unlock the door and prepare for the ambulance. If you can do so safely, unlock the front door, put pets away, and lie/sit where you can be found easily. Gather: your discharge notes and a list of medications (if within reach) — but only if it doesn’t delay care.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out exactly “how much” you’ve lost.
  • You do not need to decide right now whether this is “normal lochia” or something else.
  • You do not need to phone multiple services for reassurance — 999 is the right first step when bleeding is heavy and you feel faint/dizzy.

Important reassurance

Feeling scared or shaky is a normal reaction when bleeding feels out of control. Getting urgent help quickly is the safest move — and it’s exactly what emergency services are there for.

Scope note

This is first-steps guidance for the next minutes to hour. Once you’re in care, clinicians may check your blood pressure/pulse, examine you, and treat the cause of bleeding — but you do not need to solve that part at home.

Important note

This guide is general information, not medical diagnosis or personalised advice. If bleeding is heavy or you feel faint/lightheaded after birth, treat it as urgent and seek immediate medical care.

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