When do you consider it your “period”

So apparently I have a really long period. My last one was 9 days. I didn’t count the first day or two I saw light pink, I just called that spotting. When it’s about time for it, are you supposed to count the days that are very faint? Do you ladies who only bleed a few days have slow spotting at first?

I am only off birth control for two months now, so I’m gathering data before I worry myself at the doctor. Never knew my period was so long compared to most women before I started tracking it on here. On birth control I’d spot right at two weeks, but it was so heavy and would last so long I often only had a day or two clean before the real thing. At least I only have one a month now!!