I recently slowed down nursing after 10 months and finally started having a period (which I know is normal) but after 3 weeks my period was not stopping and it was heavy with lots of clots, and it didn't taper down and get any lighter the entire 3 weeks. So I started on some birth control (the nuva ring) and that stopped my period and everything was fine. I took out the nuva ring (in order to have a period) and I am bleeding just like I did before, very heavy and with lots of large clots (that I actually feel coming down). I don't think this one will taper down until after I start the ring again. I have always had normal periods until now, is this just a reaction to not having one for so long (because of being prenant and then nursing) or is there something wrong? Will using the ring for a few more months start to regulate things?

It is normal to bleed for 3 - 4 weeks after having a baby or when you stop nursing.

If you are actually feeling clots it is time to go to your doctor. Using the "ring" to stop periods is VERY dangerous. Your body needs to shed the uterine lining and by purposely stopping your periods your body is not shedding naturally.

You need to make an appointment with your doctor to find out exactly why this is happening to you.

Have you heard of this happening before? (period's not stopping and being REALLY heavy) what are possibilities of an answer to this problem?

As I said above, it could be due to you "stopping" the period without the period being over by itself. It could be that you were pregnant and are having a spontaneous miscarriage.

It is never a good idea to use the ring or any form of birth control to stop a period.

You really need to contact your doctor before something serious happens, i.e. loss of too much blood causing anemia. It is possible that you may need a D&C.

Hi Krankdog,
I myself am not exactly sure what could be causing your excessively heavy periods, but the clotting may well be due to excessively high levels of estrogen. Progesterone would have been the dominant hormone during most of your pregnancy, though has likely dropped off considerably by now. It is likely your body is not maintaining an adequate balance between these two hormones, of which the Nuva Ring contains both. How lower levels of progesterone would affect your periods, I'm not entirely sure. High estrogen though can be a significant factor in clotting, although there are multiple other hemotological factors. I do agree a doctor visit would be prudent. Take care.