Liquid discharge after childbirth. Mucous discharge in women after childbirth - normal or pathological? What should the discharge be like after childbirth?

Duration of discharge Composition of lochia Color of postpartum menstruation Number of discharge Odor of lochia Break in discharge Lochia after cesarean section

After the baby is born, the placenta separates from the uterus, which provokes the rupture of numerous vessels that connect them to each other. This causes bleeding, along with which the remnants of the placenta, already dead particles of the endometrium and some other traces of the intrauterine life of the fetus come out.

Such discharge after childbirth is medically called lochia. None of the newly made mothers will be able to avoid them. However, there are a number of questions that they raise. The more a woman is aware of their duration and nature, the less risk of avoiding complications that often arise against the background of such postpartum “menstruation”.

During this period, special attention should be paid to personal hygiene. To avoid possible infections and unpleasant odors, because a girl always wants to remain attractive, you should be very careful and attentive to the cleaning cosmetics that you use.

You should always be more careful when choosing hygiene products and do not neglect to read the ingredients. After childbirth, your body goes through a period of adaptation and recovery, and therefore many chemicals can only aggravate the condition and prolong the recovery period. Avoid cosmetics that contain silicones and parabens, as well as sodium laureth sulfate. Such components clog the body, penetrating into the blood through the pores. It is especially dangerous to use such products during breastfeeding.

To be calm about your own health and the health of your child, and also to always remain beautiful and attractive, use washing cosmetics only from natural ingredients, without dyes and harmful additives. Mulsan Cosmetic remains the leader in natural cleansing cosmetics. The abundance of natural ingredients, development based on plant extracts and vitamins, without the addition of dyes and sodium sulfate - makes this cosmetic brand most suitable for the period of breastfeeding and postpartum adaptation. You can find out more on the website mulsan.ru

Duration of discharge

Each female body is very individual, and the time frame for its recovery after the birth of a child is also different for everyone. Therefore, there cannot be a clear answer to the question of how long discharge lasts after childbirth. However, there are limits that are considered the norm, and everything that goes beyond them is a deviation. These are exactly what every young mother should focus on.

Norm

The norm for postpartum discharge established in gynecology is from 6 to 8 weeks.

Permissible deviations

Range from 5 to 9 weeks. But such a duration of discharge after childbirth should not reassure: despite the fact that doctors consider this a minor deviation from the norm, it is necessary to pay attention to their nature (quantity, color, thickness, smell, composition). These descriptions will tell you exactly whether everything is okay with the body or whether it is better to seek medical help.

Dangerous deviations

Lochia that lasts less than 5 weeks or longer than 9 should be alerted. It is imperative to detect when the postpartum discharge ends. It's equally bad when it happens too early or too late. The indicated periods indicate serious disorders in the body of a young woman that require immediate laboratory testing and treatment. The sooner you consult a doctor, the less dangerous the consequences of such prolonged or, conversely, short-term discharge will be.

You need to know this! Many young mothers are happy when their postpartum discharge ends within a month. It seems to them that they “got off with little blood” and can return to the usual rhythm of life. According to statistics, in 98% of such cases, after some time, everything ends in hospitalization, because the body was not able to cleanse itself completely, and the remnants of postpartum activity caused an inflammatory process.

Deviations from the norm can be acceptable and dangerous. But in any case, they can have serious consequences for the health of the young mother in the future. Therefore, every woman should monitor how long the discharge lasts after childbirth, comparing its duration with the norm established in gynecology. If in doubt, it is better to consult a doctor in a timely manner for advice. Much depends not only on how many days they last, but also on other, qualitative characteristics.

Composition of lochia

To understand whether everything is in order with the restoration of the body after childbirth, a woman should pay attention not only to the duration of lochia. Sometimes it fits within the norm, but their composition leaves much to be desired and may indicate serious problems.

Fine:

the first 2-3 days after birth there is bleeding due to burst blood vessels; then the uterus will begin to heal, and there will be no more open bleeding; usually in the first week you can observe discharge with clots - this is how dead endometrium and the remains of the placenta come out; after a week there will be no more clots, the lochia will become more liquid; there is no need to be alarmed if you observe mucous discharge after childbirth - these are the products of intrauterine vital activity of the fetus; mucus should also disappear within a week; 5-6 weeks after the birth of the baby, lochia becomes similar to ordinary smears that occur during menstruation, but with coagulated blood.

So bleeding after childbirth, which frightens many young mothers, is normal and should not be a cause for alarm. It is much worse if pus begins to mix with them, which is a serious deviation. It is worth consulting a doctor if the composition of lochia differs in the following characteristics:

purulent discharge after childbirth indicates the onset of inflammation (endometrium), requiring immediate treatment, its cause is infectious complications, which are most often accompanied by fever, pain in the lower abdomen, and lochia is distinguished by an unpleasant odor and greenish-yellow color; if mucus and clots continue to flow longer than a week after childbirth; watery, transparent lochia is also not considered normal, because it can be a symptom of several diseases at once: it is fluid from the blood and lymphatic vessels that seeps through the vaginal mucosa (it is called transudate), or it is gardnerellosis - vaginal dysbiosis, which is characterized by an abundance of discharge with an unpleasant fishy odor.

If a woman knows which discharge after childbirth is considered normal depending on its composition, and which indicates abnormalities, she will be able to promptly seek advice and medical help from a gynecologist. After testing (usually a smear, blood and urine), a diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is prescribed. The color of lochia will also help you understand that not everything is in order with the body.

Color of postpartum menstruation

In addition to the composition of the lochia, you definitely need to pay attention to what color they are. Their shade can tell a lot:

the first 2-3 days, normal discharge after childbirth is usually bright red (the blood has not yet coagulated); after this, brown discharge occurs for 1-2 weeks, which indicates that postpartum restoration of the uterus occurs without deviations; In the last weeks, the lochia should be transparent, slight cloudiness with a slight yellowish tint is allowed.

All other colors of lochia are deviations from the norm and may indicate various complications and diseases.

Yellow lochia

Depending on the shade, yellow discharge may indicate the following processes occurring in the body:

pale yellow, not very abundant lochia may begin by the end of the second week after birth - this is normal and should not cause concern for a young mother; if bright yellow discharge mixed with greenery and a putrid odor began already on the 4th or 5th day after the baby was born, this may indicate the onset of inflammation of the uterine mucosa, which is called endometritis; if after 2 weeks there is a yellow discharge, a fairly bright shade and with mucus, this is also most likely a symptom of endometritis, but it is not so obvious, but hidden.

It is useless to treat endometritis on your own, at home: it requires serious treatment with antibiotics, and in severe cases, surgical removal of the damaged inflamed uterine epithelium is performed to cleanse the mucous membrane in order to give the upper layer of the uterine membrane the opportunity to recover faster.

Green slime

Endometritis can also be indicated by green discharge, which is much worse than yellow, because it means an already advanced inflammatory process - endometritis. As soon as the first droplets of pus appear, even if only slightly greenish, you should immediately consult a doctor.

White discharge

You should start to worry if after childbirth white lochia appears, accompanied by symptoms such as:

unpleasant odor with sourness; curdled consistency; itching in the perineum; redness of the external genitalia.

All this indicates genital and genitourinary infections, yeast colpitis or vaginal candidiasis (thrush). If you have such suspicious symptoms, you should definitely contact your gynecologist to take a vaginal smear or bacterial culture. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

Black bleeding

If during the postpartum or lactation period there is black discharge, but without any additional symptoms in the form of an unpleasant, pungent odor or pain, they are considered normal and are dictated by changes in the composition of the blood due to changes in the woman’s hormonal background or hormonal imbalance.

Helpful information. According to statistics, women turn to gynecologists after childbirth mainly with complaints about black discharge, which frightens them the most. Although in fact the most serious danger is the green color of lochia.

Red color

Lochia should normally be red only at the initial stage, in the first few days after the baby is born. During this period, the uterus is an open wound, the blood does not have time to clot, and the discharge takes on a blood-red, rather bright hue. However, after a week it will change to a brownish-brown color, which will also indicate that healing is occurring without deviations. Usually, a month after birth, the discharge becomes cloudy gray-yellow, closer to transparent.

Every young woman who has become a mother should clearly and clearly understand what color the discharge should be normally after childbirth, and what shade of lochia will give her a signal that she needs to see a doctor. This knowledge will help you avoid many dangerous complications. Another characteristic of postpartum menstruation may be alarming during this period - its abundance or scarcity.

Number of allocations

The quantitative nature of the discharge after childbirth can also be different and indicate either normal restoration of the uterus, or some deviations from the norm. From this point of view, there are no problems if:

in the first week there is heavy discharge after childbirth: the body is thus cleansed of everything unnecessary: blood vessels that have done their job, and obsolete endometrial cells, and remnants of the placenta, and products of intrauterine vital activity of the fetus; over time, they become less and less: scanty discharge, starting from 2-3 weeks after birth, is also considered the norm.

A woman should be wary if there is too little discharge immediately after childbirth: in this case, the ducts and pipes could become clogged, or some kind of blood clot could form, which prevents the body from getting rid of postpartum waste. In this case, you must consult a doctor and undergo an appropriate examination.

It’s even worse if the abundant lochia does not end for too long and continues for 2-3 weeks, or even more. This suggests that the healing process is being delayed and the uterus cannot recover to its full potential for some reason. They can only be identified through a medical examination and then eliminated through treatment.

The smell is bad

Women know that any discharge from the body has a specific odor, which can only be eliminated by observing hygiene rules. In the postpartum period, this characteristic of lochia can serve a good purpose and promptly report problems in the body. Pay attention to how the discharge smells after childbirth.

In the first days they should smell of fresh blood and dampness; after this time, a hint of mustiness and rottenness may be observed - in this case this is considered the norm. If there is postpartum discharge with an unpleasant odor (it can be putrid, sour, pungent), this should alert you. Together with other deviations from the norm (color, abundance), this symptom may indicate inflammation or infection of the uterus.

If you think that postpartum discharge smells very bad, you should not hope that it is temporary, will go away soon, or is the norm. To avoid complications, the best decision in this case would be to consult a doctor, at least for a consultation.

Break in discharge

It often happens that the discharge after childbirth ends and starts again a week or even a month later. In most cases, this causes panic among young mothers. However, such a break does not always indicate deviations from the norm. What could it be?

If scarlet, fresh bloody discharge begins 2 months after childbirth, this may be either the restoration of the menstrual cycle (in some women the body is capable of such a rapid recovery, especially in the absence of lactation), or rupture of the sutures after heavy physical or emotional stress, or some other then other problems that only a doctor can identify and eliminate. If lochia has already stopped, and then suddenly returned after 2 months (for some, this is possible even after 3 months), you need to look at the qualitative characteristics of the discharge to understand what is happening to the body. Most often, this is how remnants of the endometrium or placenta come out, which something prevented from coming out immediately after childbirth. If the lochia is dark, with mucus and clots, but without the characteristic putrid, pungent odor and in the absence of pus, most likely everything will end without any complications. However, if these symptoms are present, we may be talking about an inflammatory process, which can be treated either with antibiotics or through curettage.

Since a break in postpartum discharge may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the uterine area, you should not delay visiting a doctor. After the examination, he will determine for sure whether this is a new menstrual cycle or a deviation from the norm requiring medical intervention. Separately, it is worth paying attention to lochia after artificial birth.

Lochia after caesarean section

Those who have had a cesarean section should understand that the nature of the discharge after an artificial birth will be somewhat different. Although this will only concern their duration and composition. Here are their features:

the body recovers after a cesarean section in the same way as after a natural birth: blood and dead endometrium come out with the discharge; in this case, there is a greater risk of contracting an infection or inflammatory process, so you need to regularly carry out hygiene procedures with special attention; in the first week after artificial birth, bloody discharge occurs profusely, containing mucous clots; Normally, the color of lochia in the first days should be scarlet, bright red, and then change to brown; the duration of discharge after artificial childbirth is usually prolonged, since the uterus in this case does not contract so quickly and the healing process takes a long time; It should be taken into account that bleeding after a caesarean section should not flow for more than 2 weeks.

Every young mother should understand how important the full restoration of the uterus after childbirth plays in her health. You can understand how it goes through the lochia. It is necessary to monitor their duration, the timing when the discharge stops and starts again, and their qualitative characteristics. There can be no accidents here: color, smell, quantity - each symptom can become a timely signal to consult a doctor, identify the problem and undergo appropriate treatment.

WHAT AND HOW MANY DAYS DOES THE DISCHARGES LAST AFTER BIRTH?

Serious changes in a woman’s body begin immediately after childbirth. The hormones necessary for lactation - prolactin and oxytocin - begin to be produced in large quantities. With the release of the placenta, the level of the hormones estrogen and progesterone decreases. In the first hours postpartum discharge are bloody in nature. Doctors are faced with the task of preventing bleeding from starting. Often at this point, a heating pad with ice is placed on the woman’s stomach, and the urine is drained with a catheter. Drugs are given intravenously that cause uterine contractions. The volume of discharge cannot exceed 0.5 liters of blood. Sometimes bleeding increases if the muscles contract poorly, as well as with a serious rupture of the birth canal. Discharge in a woman after childbirth,

which are called lochia, last another 5-6 weeks. They will end after the uterus returns to its normal size before pregnancy. The wounds that formed at the site of the placenta should also heal. What kind of discharge does women experience after childbirth? At first, they are bloody in nature, this happens in the first 2-3 days. The cause of discharge after childbirth is called the healing process of the inner surface of the womb. Specifically, in the place where the placenta was attached to the wall of the uterus.

How long in women the uterus contracts to its previous size before pregnancy depends on the woman’s body, in which the process of self-cleaning begins (freed from the remnants of the amniotic membrane, blood clots, mucus and other excess tissue elements). The process of reducing the womb is called by specialists the involution of the uterus, or its restoration. The release of the uterus in due time from rejected tissue means that the woman who has given birth has no complications. It is very important to pay serious attention after childbirth to how long the lochia lasts and to its color.

The discharge constantly changes its character. At first, lochia is similar to menstrual discharge, but much heavier. At this stage, this is a good sign, since the uterine cavity is cleared of wound contents. How many days does white lochia last in women? They begin to appear approximately from the tenth day after birth and last for about 21 days. The discharge becomes white or yellowish-white, liquid, spotting, without blood and odorless. How long does the discharge last after childbirth in the form of serous lochia? This process is very individual, and is associated with the characteristics of the woman’s body. They begin after birth on the fourth day. The discharge turns pale, acquires a serous-sucrose or pinkish-brown color and contains a huge number of leukocytes. There should be no blood clots or bright red discharge during this period. If suddenly they are present, this should seriously alert the woman to consult a doctor for advice. A timely contact with specialists will help to quickly resolve the detected problem. New mothers are often concerned about the question of How long does discharge last after childbirth?. The normal discharge duration is approximately 1.5 months. During this period, the mucous membrane in the uterine cavity is restored. After a caesarean section, the discharge lasts longer because the uterus, which has been injured, shrinks more slowly. So, at the end of the first week, the lochia will be lighter, and the second week is characterized by their transformation into mucous. Until the end of the first month after birth, lochia may contain a small amount of blood. How long the discharge will last depends on a large number of reasons: the course of your pregnancy; the course of labor; the method of delivery, in particular cesarean section, after which lochia lasts longer; the intensity of uterine contractions; all kinds of postpartum complications, including infectious inflammation; the physiological characteristics of the woman’s body and its ability to recover postpartum; breastfeeding: with frequent breastfeeding bringing the baby to the breast, the uterus shrinks and cleanses more intensively. CHARACTERISTICS OF DISCHARGE AFTER BIRTH (AFTER A WEEK, AFTER A MONTH)A few weeks after giving birth the process of restoration of the endometrium, the mucous membrane of the uterus, occurs. At this time, the woman who has given birth begins to discharge. To prevent postpartum hemorrhage, immediately after childbirth, empty the bladder using a catheter and put ice on the lower abdomen. At the same time, the woman is given intravenous medications, methylegrometril or oxytocin, which effectively promote uterine contraction. After childbirth, the discharge should be copious, bloody and amount to 0.5% of body weight. However, they should not exceed 400 ml and not disturb the general condition of the woman. Discharge in one week after childbirth is usually compared to ordinary menstruation. Sometimes women even mistake the discharge for menstruation. It is necessary to remember well that the difference is that the discharge after childbirth is much more abundant than the discharge during menstruation, with blood clots. However, the volume of discharge will decrease every day. After just 2 weeks they will shrink. A week after birth, the discharge becomes yellowish-white in color, but may still be mixed with blood. 3 weeks will pass, and the discharge will become more scanty, but spotting. As before pregnancy, discharge becomes 2 months after birth. Stopping discharge for each woman in labor is an individual process. In general, the discharge of discharge is a month after childbirth. Discharge after childbirth by a woman a month later become slimy. This is a sign that the surface of the uterus is gradually acquiring its normal structure, and the wounds are healing. It should be noted that if there is a sharp increase in the volume of discharge, you should urgently consult a doctor. There is a potential danger of late bleeding after childbirth, which includes bleeding that occurs two hours or more after childbirth. It is bad if the discharge continues for a long time. Postpartum discharge should last 6-8 weeks. This amount of time will be required to restore the uterus after childbirth. The total volume of discharge during this period will be 500-1500 ml. When dealing with discharge after childbirth, serious attention should be paid to the following points:- there should be no increase in the woman’s temperature; - the discharge should not have a specific and sharp purulent smell; - the volume of discharge should gradually decrease. Of course, the discharge has some kind of smell, but, rather, it is musty. This is explained by the fact that blood discharge is retained for some time in the birth canal and uterus. Follow the rules of personal hygiene, and such a smell will not bother you. When there is an urgent need to see a doctor:- if the discharge is excessively long, or, conversely, ends very early after childbirth; - if the discharge is yellow and has an unpleasant odor; - if the duration of heavy discharge is more than two months after childbirth. Perhaps this is bleeding or some kind of problem in the uterus; - yellowish-green lochia characterizes the inflammatory process; - if 3-4 months have passed, and dark and purulent discharge continues.
VARIOUS DISCHARGES (BLOODY, MUCOUS, PURUS WITH SMELL) AFTER BIRTH Pregnancy is characterized by the absence of menstruation. However, after the birth of a child, lochia begins, a continuous bloody discharge after childbirth. They are bright red for the first 2-3 days. Bloody discharge in a woman who has given birth occurs due to the fact that blood clotting has not yet begun. An ordinary pad cannot cope with them, so the maternity hospital provides diapers or special postpartum pads. Bloody issues breastfeeding mothers end much faster after childbirth than those who are not breastfeeding. Experts and doctors explain this situation by the fact that during feeding the uterus contracts faster (involution). After childbirth, the uterus with its inner surface weighs approximately 1 kilogram. In the future, it will gradually shrink in size. Bloody discharge just comes out of the uterus, cleansing it. After childbirth, women experience mucous discharge for 1.5 months until the inner surface of the uterus is restored. A very dangerous complication in the first week after childbirth is bleeding. It can occur if remnants of the placenta remain in the uterine cavity, attached to the endometrium. In this case, the myometrium is not able to fully contract. This leads to severe bleeding. The doctor should carefully examine the placenta after its separation on both sides. This allows you to identify the problem before symptoms occur. Many symptoms indicate that there is some kind of disturbance in the woman’s body. It is especially necessary to be wary if the discharge unexpectedly began to intensify, heavy bleeding appeared, or the discharge began to have a strong unpleasant odor, as well as if a woman discovered curdled and purulent discharge. Sometimes, against the background of prolonged discharge, inflammation may begin after childbirth. Mucus and blood are a beneficial environment for pathogenic bacteria. In the absence of personal hygiene and early onset of sexual activity after childbirth, a woman may be bothered by odor-bearing discharge. Dark, brown discharge is considered normal, however, if there are bacteria, it will have a yellowish or greenish tint. In addition, they will be more abundant and liquid, and in parallel, pain, chills and fever may appear in the lower abdomen. Such cases require emergency treatment, since endometritis eventually leads to infertility. Inflammation can be prevented by personal hygiene - you need to wash yourself more often using infusions of string and chamomile. In this case, douching is strictly prohibited. Potassium permanganate should also be excluded, since in strong concentration it has an irritating effect on the mucous membrane. Pungent and purulent odor indicates the presence of infection, and maybe even endometritis. Very often this process can be accompanied by sharp pain and high fever. Yeast colpitis is also included in the risk zone for discharge after childbirth. It can be identified by the characteristic cheesy discharge. Usually the uterus reaches its normal size by 7-8 weeks. The inner layer of the uterus will look like a mucous lining. If a woman does not breastfeed after childbirth, ovarian function improves and menstruation appears. COLOR OF DISCHARGE IN A WOMAN GIVING BIRTH After childbirth, the uterus begins its regenerative process, which may be accompanied by blood discharge - lochia. The process is completed when the uterus is completely covered with new epithelium. The color of the discharge in the first 3-6 days is very bright, red. At this time, blood clots and remnants of the placenta may also be rejected. The nature and amount of discharge after childbirth indicates the degree of cleansing of the uterus and its healing. Pink discharge are a consequence of small placental abruptions. After all, blood accumulates under them, then released out. Sometimes such discharge may be accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen; pain may also occur in the lumbar region. The inflammatory process is characterized by yellow discharge after childbirth. Purulent discharge indicates the possible development of endometritis, an infectious disease of the uterine cavity. The reason for contacting a gynecologist for advice should be sharp-smelling, unpleasant green discharge, yellow discharge, yellow-green discharge, greenish discharge. The disease is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, as well as unpleasant abdominal pain. Increased discharge after a reduction in its volume or bloody prolonged discharge may be caused by retention of the placenta in the uterus. This prevents it from contracting normally.

White discharge curdled nature, redness of the genitals and itching in the vagina are signs of yeast colpitis and thrush. Often, thrush can develop while taking antibiotics. Young mothers are often frightened after childbirth brown discharge. Sometimes they come out as blood clots with an unpleasant odor. Under conditions of normal recovery after childbirth, which took place without complications, the discharge stops within 4 weeks. By the fourth week they are already insignificant and spotting. However, they can take up to 6 weeks. Note that breastfeeding women recover faster after childbirth. Their brown discharge ends earlier than that of non-breastfeeding mothers. Some women are not able to distinguish normal discharge from the womb from pathological leucorrhoea. Transparent selections and are normal. However, they are also characteristic of a number of certain diseases. The main source of discharge is fluid seeping through the vaginal mucosa from the lymphatic and blood vessels. This fluid is clear and is called transudate. The glands of the uterine cavity are another source of vaginal discharge. They actively secrete in the second phase of menstruation and secrete mucus. Discharge with gardnerellosis can also be transparent. They are watery, profuse, with a fishy, unpleasant odor. Pathological white discharge is a symptom of an infectious disease. Their consequences are burning, itching, and increased moisture in the genital area. As a rule, pathological leucorrhoea is caused in women by the inflamed vaginal mucosa. Such infections are called colpitis, vaginitis. The threat is that these diseases are sometimes combined with cervicitis. Cervicitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cervix. The main sign of inflammation of the fallopian tubes is tubal leucorrhoea in women. The cause of its occurrence is a purulent substance that accumulates in the fallopian tube. Cervical leucorrhoea appears when the secretion of the glands of the cervix is disrupted. As a result, mucus secretion increases. Women may have similar white discharge with general diseases (endocrine system dysfunction, tuberculosis) and gynecological diseases (polyps, cervicitis, cicatricial changes that occurred due to uterine rupture). Uterine leucorrhoea are a consequence of uterine pathologies. They are also caused by neoplasms - fibroids, polyps, cancer. You should not think that such complications in a woman who has given birth can go away on their own. You should seek medical help as soon as possible. Sometimes hospitalization is even required. Women can contact an antenatal clinic or a maternity hospital, where they can arrive at any time of the day or night within 40 days from the date of birth. WHEN DOES A WOMAN'S NORMAL DISCHARGE END AFTER CHILDREN? Normal discharge after childbirth may be bloody and heavy. Don't be alarmed, after a few weeks everything will return to normal. Unpleasant sensations in the genitals may occur in the future. This process is natural, since the genitals significantly stretch during childbirth. They will be able to acquire their normal shape only after some time. If sutures are applied after childbirth, experts do not recommend making sudden movements in the first days. Thus, you injure the sutured muscle tissue. After childbirth, the placenta also leaves, which indicates when the birth process ends. After the baby is born, the woman is given a drug to stimulate the delivery of the placenta. After this, heavy discharge is possible. There is no pain, but bleeding may cause dizziness. Be sure to call your doctor if you experience heavy bleeding. Within two hours after birth, no more than 0.5 liters of blood should come out. In this case, the child and mother are transferred to the ward. Tips on the norm of various discharges after childbirth:- discharge after childbirth includes dying epithelium of the uterus, blood, plasma, ichor and mucus. They intensify, as a rule, with pressure on the abdomen or movement. The discharge lasts on average for a month, and with a caesarean section this process takes a little longer. At the very beginning, they look like menstruation, however, over time, the discharge will lighten and end. This is the norm for such discharge after childbirth; - after a few days, the discharge will become darker in color and there will be less of it; - after the end of the second week, the discharge will become brownish-yellow and become more mucoid.

It is necessary to follow some recommendations for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage:- breastfeeding the baby on demand. When breastfeeding, the uterus contracts as irritation of the nipples causes the release of oxytocin. It is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, an endocrine gland located in the brain. Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract. At this time, cramping pain may be felt in the woman’s lower abdomen. Moreover, for those who have given birth again, they are much stronger. When feeding, the discharge is also stronger; - timely emptying of the bladder. Immediately after giving birth, on the first day you need to go to the toilet every three hours, even though there is no urge to urinate. If the bladder is full, then this will be an obstacle to normal contraction of the uterus; - lying on the stomach. This position will prevent bleeding and delay discharge in the uterus. The tone of the uterus after childbirth is weakened. The uterus sometimes tilts back, causing secretions to drain. Lying on your stomach brings your uterus closer to the anterior abdominal wall. At the same time, the angle between the cervix and its body is leveled, as a result of which the outflow of secretions improves; - an ice pack on the lower abdomen 3-4 times a day. This method will improve the contraction of the uterine vessels and muscles of the uterus.
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INTERESTING FOR WOMEN:

First week after childbirthSecond week after childbirthThird week after childbirth

Typically, books on child care describe in great detail how to behave with a newborn, and give almost no advice to the mother about recovery after childbirth. New guidance for children from birth to 6 months fills this gap. We talk about the sensations that a woman may experience in the first three weeks after giving birth, and answer popular questions: how many days after birth will the discharge stop, the stitches heal, the stomach will tighten and it will be possible to do simple gymnastics.

First week after birth

Bleeding After childbirth, this is normal, and it will be heavier than during normal periods. Use sanitary pads rather than tampons to minimize the risk of infection. If you notice a clot on the pad that is larger than 3 cm in diameter, tell your nurse - this may mean that part of the placenta remains in the uterus.

The so-called postpartum blues (mild manifestations postpartum depression) affects about 80% of women, so be prepared to feel like crying around the fifth day. This should go away when the sudden changes in hormones stop. Lack of sleep can make this condition worse, so if you can take a nap during the day, it will help a lot.

A temperature above 38ºC may indicate an infection, although some women feel chills and their temperature rises when milk replaces colostrum around the third day. If you have a high temperature, talk to your nurse to find out if you are okay.

When will the milk come(usually between the third and fifth day), your breasts may become firm. Frequent feeding of the baby to the breast will bring relief. Wrapping yourself in a warm cloth and taking a warm bath will also help milk flow freely and make your breasts softer.

You may also experience a painful spontaneous milk release when, for example, your baby cries. For some women, this causes a sharp burning sensation in the chest, but it goes away quickly and after the fifth week it will stop appearing altogether.

If you had C-section, a small amount of liquid may leak from the seam. This is nothing to worry about, but if the discharge continues for more than a day, tell your nurse because the stitches can sometimes come apart.

If they did to you episiotomy(a surgical incision to enlarge the vagina for childbirth) or you have had tissue ruptured, your stitches will likely be sore for the rest of the week and you may need pain relief. Paracetamol is safe for nursing mothers. If you need something stronger, try paracetamol with codeine (which is also safe), although it may cause constipation. The pain can be relieved by sitting on an ice pack, or try special rubber rings made for women in labor. Such rings can be bought in pharmacies.

Hemorrhoids that appear during childbirth can also be very painful, and if a woman has had hemorrhoids, emorrhoids and before childbirth, then from pushing it only increased. The good news is that even large lumps will go away on their own within a few months of giving birth. In the meantime, avoid constipation and don't stand for too long, as this will only make your condition worse. Ask the pharmacy for some cream that will help reduce bleeding and relieve pain. Sometimes sutures can make it difficult for blood to flow freely, which will increase your discomfort. Try doing pelvic floor exercises and tightening your anus. And be sure to see a doctor if you really feel unwell.

You may feel cramping in your uterus while breastfeeding because hormones stimulate your uterus to contract so it returns to its normal size. If the pain is very severe, you can also take paracetamol.

Urination, will probably cause a burning sensation for a couple of days. Try running warm water over yourself while you pee, or you can try peeing while sitting in a warm bath. If discomfort continues for more than two days, talk to your nurse to rule out a urinary tract infection.

First bowel movement It can be painful after birth, especially if you have stitches. But the best advice is to just deal with it: it's actually not as bad as you think, and the stitches won't come apart. If you have not gone to the toilet in four days after giving birth, drink plenty of water and prune broth.

Second week after birth

There is a possibility that you may wet yourself unexpectedly. Don't worry: this happens to many women and should go away by the sixth week. Urinary incontinence coughing or laughing is also common, but can last up to a year.

Childbirth weakens the pelvic floor muscles that control the bladder, so it is important to do special exercises. Squeeze your muscles as if you were trying to stop urinating, hold them tight for a few seconds and do 10 repetitions. Do this every time you feed your baby to ensure you are getting exercise throughout the day. At first you won't feel any changes, but continue anyway and your muscles will soon become stronger.

If you had a C-section, you still need to do these types of exercises because your muscles have stretched and weakened while carrying your baby, supporting the baby's weight, and from pregnancy hormones.

You're still big stomach, but now it doesn’t look tight, like it’s about to burst. It's more like jelly, which probably makes you feel unattractive. But you shouldn’t be too upset - remember that your waist becomes thinner day by day, because excess fluid leaves the body (after pregnancy you can lose up to eight liters of fluid).

This week the stitches will heal and you won't need to remove them because they will dissolve on their own.

If you are breastfeeding, you may have milk leaking. This will stop over the next few weeks, but for now it may cause some trouble. Use bra pads, and since milk can leak at night, you will have to sleep in it too. To stop untimely milk release, apply pressure to your nipples with your palms, but do not do this too often as this may reduce milk production.

Third week after birth

If you still have discharge, then this week they should be insignificant. If this is not the case, talk to your doctor.

You may have had pelvic pain because the space between your joints has widened during pregnancy and childbirth. If the pain persists and is bothering you, talk to your doctor or midwife - they may refer you to a physiotherapist.

If you are breastfeeding, you may clogged milk duct. This will appear as a red spot on the chest. Check to see if your bra is too tight and make sure your baby empties the problem breast completely before you give him another. A warm bath, wrapping yourself in a flannel cloth and massaging the painful area will help relieve the problem.

Your baby's sucking will also help, so stick to your breast even if it's uncomfortable. Pumping is also useful. You can try another position during feeding, for example, “from the armpit”: place the baby under your arm, so that his head looks out from under your armpit, just at your breast.

Oh, how I don’t like remembering the first month after a cesarean section. If it weren’t for the doctor, who after an examination advised me to wear shapewear instead of a bandage, I would probably still be suffering. Of course, I had to look for something suitable, even look in Switzerland) I found, of course, smart shapewear with bamboo fibers) But in general, the main thing I took away from the situation with a caesarean section is that you should never sit and say “oh, maybe it will get easier.” You should always go to the doctor and ask if everything is okay

Very often, after the birth of a child, women give all their time and attention only to him, forgetting to monitor their own health. And in vain, because the period of postpartum recovery is fraught with many potential dangers. The main symptoms of possible diseases at this time are discharge after childbirth, the features of which we will learn more about in this article.

The nature of postpartum discharge

During intrauterine development, the child receives all the substances necessary for life through the placenta, which is firmly attached to the wall of the uterus. The uterus itself is very stretched at this time, and the capillaries in its walls are dilated.

After the baby is born, the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus, and all the vessels connecting them are torn. At the same time, at the place of its attachment there remains, in fact, an open wound, which at first bleeds very intensely.

Nature has arranged it in such a way that the body cleanses itself of blood clots, as well as pieces of the placenta and amniotic tissue remaining in the uterus. All of them are excreted for some time after childbirth, and such secretions are called lochia.

As the uterus contracts, the vessels are gradually compressed, bleeding becomes more scanty and stops over time.

The individual characteristics of the female body, the course of pregnancy and childbirth affect how long the discharge usually lasts after childbirth. According to medical statistics, in women with normal blood clotting, good contractility of the uterus, and in the absence of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, discharge after childbirth stops after about 5–6 weeks. Women should constantly monitor their intensity, color and smell in order to recognize the development of an internal disease in time.

It should be?

In order for women to be able to control their condition during the recovery period, they need to know which discharge after childbirth is considered normal and which should cause concern for the new mother.

Heavy bleeding after childbirth lasts about 2-3 days, while a large number of vessels bleed in the uterus.
Mucous discharge after childbirth can be observed during the first 5–7 days. In this way, the body is cleansed of the products of the baby’s intrauterine activity. The first lochia may be accompanied by clots with remnants of the placenta or endometrium.
The normal odor for lochias these days is a hint of dampness, blood, and depravity. Over time, the smell becomes less and less noticeable.
Brown discharge after childbirth gives way to bright red after about 3-5 days and normally lasts another 1-2 weeks.
A week after giving birth, the lochia becomes thinner, scantier, darker, and may resemble menstrual smears.
Within a month, the color of the lochia acquires a brown-gray-yellow tint, becoming more transparent and less intense. The amount of discharge may increase due to physical activity and laughter.
Discharge after childbirth may be black. Although this scares many women, it is considered the norm if there is no unpleasant odor or mucus inclusions. This color is associated with changes in blood composition caused by hormonal changes in the body.

Allergies during pregnancy: treatment without harm to the baby

What should you be wary of?

Typically, postpartum lochia lasts approximately 5-7 weeks.

Deviations from the norm are allowed, but they should not exceed 5–10 days.

Stopping discharge too early can lead to the fact that the uterine cavity, due to physiological reasons (clogged tubes or ducts), is not properly cleaned, and this can lead to the development of an inflammatory process. Lochia that lasts too long indicates insufficient contraction of the uterus, which also requires medical monitoring and treatment, or problems with blood clotting. In addition, prolonged blood loss can cause anemia, which will affect not only maternal health, but also affect the condition of the child through breast milk.

The intensity of discharge after childbirth should gradually decrease. If lochia suddenly becomes more abundant than before, the woman should immediately consult a doctor. In this situation, it is important not to confuse increased lochia with the onset of menstruation. In the first case, the cause of increased bleeding may be rupture of the sutures due to physical exertion. Sometimes premature sex can cause increased bleeding. Therefore, until the tears and stitches are completely healed, doctors recommend that women abstain from sex.

If mucous impurities or clots are observed for more than a week, the woman should be examined by a doctor.

A woman should be alerted to a change in the color of the lochia. If they turn green, yellow, white or transparent, then something in the body is not as it should be. If pus appears in the lochia, this may be a sign of incipient inflammation. If brown discharge after childbirth changes its color to greenish, then there may be an internal infectious disease - acute endometritis.

Lochia with a tinge of yellow color, also accompanied by mucus and an unpleasant odor, is a sure sign of latent endometritis.

In both cases, urgent medical intervention is required, as this disease can cause very serious complications. Transparent or white lochia is also a deviation from the norm. They may indicate fungal infections of the genitourinary system, vaginal dysbiosis, especially if accompanied by cheesy clots and an unpleasant odor.

Doctors say that sex is undesirable for a woman in labor until her postpartum discharge stops. In addition to injury to tissues that have not yet healed, during sex an infection can be introduced into the cavity of the internal genital organs, which is very dangerous for a nursing mother during this period. And, of course, when resuming sex after a long break, partners should not forget about contraception.

Sometimes women get scared when they see how long their periods are after giving birth. They last several days longer than usual, especially if the cycle returns early. However, you should not worry about this, since over time their duration returns to normal.

Discharge after childbirth is an important indicator of the condition of the female body. By controlling their color, smell, intensity, a new mother can promptly notice the initial manifestations of the disease, which is much easier and more effective to treat in the early stages.

Every new mother worries not only about the health of her baby, but also about her own well-being. One of the most common questions that maternity ward workers hear is: “How long does the discharge last after childbirth?” This is exactly what will be discussed further. You will find out how long after childbirth there is spotting. Also find out what color they acquire later. It is definitely worth considering several options for the process.

How long does discharge last after childbirth? Answer from gynecologists and obstetricians

If you consult a doctor with this question, you will find out the following information. Discharge after delivery continues for just over one month. Doctors usually call the time period 42 days. However, every woman’s body is individual. Some mothers recover faster. For others, the rehabilitation process is delayed. Discharge has a completely different duration in the event of the development of a pathological process or complication.

Lochia is the contents of the reproductive organ, which comes out after the separation of the child's place. This includes blood from the wound surface, mucus from the walls of the uterus, remnants of decidual tissue and membranes that did not come out during the expulsion of the placenta.

The color of normal lochia is an important indicator

How long does discharge last after childbirth, you found out. However, this is not all the information you need to know. The consistency and color of the mucus plays a big role. It is by this indicator that one can suspect a pathological process that developed as a result of delivery. Quite often, in maternity hospitals, midwives regularly examine the discharge of new mothers. If a pathology is suspected, information is provided to the doctor. Such women are prescribed additional tests in the form of ultrasound, blood tests and gynecological examination.

First five days

How long does bleeding last after childbirth? A little less than one week. It is this gap that doctors report. While the mother is in labor within the walls of the maternity ward, the mucus that comes out has a rich red color. It may also contain admixtures of clots and lumps.

Often such discharge acquires an unpleasant odor. This is the absolute norm. Indeed, during this period, what was in the cavity of the reproductive organ for the long nine months of gestation is separated. However, if after five days the mucus (consistency and color) has not changed, then we are talking about a complication.

Two weeks after birth

How long does the discharge last after childbirth (after heavy bleeding has stopped)? When the remaining tissue and blood come out, we can say that the wound surface has almost recovered. Now the discharge has a pinkish-red tint. It is worth noting that they should not contain clots. Unpleasant odor is also eliminated.

Such discharge continues for about two weeks. During this period they are no longer so abundant. This allows a woman to refuse postpartum pads and use regular hygiene products.

After a month

You already know how long after childbirth there is bleeding. This period is approximately three weeks. By the end of the first month, the discharge acquires a mucous consistency and an orange color. They look more like ichor. This mucus indicates that the internal cavity of the reproductive organ continues to rapidly recover.

This mucous ichor can normally be secreted for about one week. Remember that all deadlines are very conditional. So, for some women, by the end of the first month, the discharge ends completely.

Fifth week after birth

How long does the discharge last after childbirth, and what color should it be? Normally, by the fifth week after the baby is born, the lochia becomes white. They got their unusual name because of the mucous consistency of the transparent discharge. A new mother can observe this phenomenon for about another week or two.

During this period, a woman no longer requires sanitary pads for menstruation. She could very well benefit from daily protective inserts. The amount of such mucus is very small. Up to 5-10 milliliters can be released per day. For clarity, one teaspoon contains 5 ml.

When does lochia end? What does this depend on?

How long the discharge lasts after childbirth and the smell of this fluid are very important indicators. Usually lochia ends one and a half months after the birth of the child. This deadline is the deadline. If after the specified time the lochia is still present, then there is a possibility of pathology developing. Early termination of discharge also does not mean anything good. What determines how long the discharge lasts after childbirth?

Reviews from doctors say that the weight of the baby and the course of pregnancy play a big role. when a mother gives birth to a large child (more than 4 kilograms) or has polyhydramnios, the reproductive organ is greatly stretched. Because of this, the recovery process takes longer. Often, to speed up the contraction of the uterus, such women in labor are prescribed oxytocin after the baby is born. This drug helps mucus leave the cavity of the reproductive organ faster.

How long does the discharge last after childbirth (caesarean section)? In the case when the baby is born with the help of surgeons who cut through the woman’s abdominal wall, lochia may be of a slightly different nature. In this case, the duration of bleeding may increase to two weeks. This is due to the fact that in addition to the wound surface from the placenta, there is also a scar in the uterus. It is worth noting that with this method of delivery there is a high risk of developing infections and complications.

Possible pathologies

Sometimes after the birth of a baby, a woman faces problems. Statistics show that approximately every fifth new mother is sent by doctors for gynecological curettage. In what cases is it really necessary?

If after giving birth the discharge has not become less abundant after a week, but still contains lumps, we may be talking about incomplete separation of the placenta. After expulsion of the child's place, obstetricians should carefully examine it for damage. If they are present, then manual cleaning is carried out directly on the birth table. If pathology is detected late, curettage is performed using anesthesia. How long does the discharge last after childbirth (after cleaning)? With this combination of circumstances, lochia ends somewhat faster. All due to the fact that an artificial separation of mucus and areas and tissues remaining in the uterus was performed.

Also quite often, women in labor encounter inflammatory diseases. In this case, the infection can be acquired long before birth. However, after such a complex process, which is accompanied by the formation of a wound surface, pathological microorganisms begin to actively multiply. In this case, the discharge may have not only an unusual character, but also a strange consistency. Simultaneously with the lochia, pus is released. The blood takes on a brownish-green color and a fishy odor. Treatment must be carried out using antibacterial agents.

Lochia or postpartum discharge may end in less than a month. In this case, blood comes out in small volumes. This is explained by the fact that the cervical canal closes very early. Pieces of tissue and mucus simply cannot penetrate through the small hole. Quite often, women who give birth by caesarean section encounter this phenomenon. In this case, the fairer sex undergoes the same gynecological curettage.

In order for lochia to come out as it should after childbirth, a woman must follow certain rules. The following tips will help your postpartum discharge to be emptied in a timely and complete manner.

Immediately after giving birth, you should use an ice compress on the abdominal area.
When you are transferred to the room, assume a prone position. This will allow the uterus not to bend and release its contents.
Breastfeed your baby. Sucking provokes the production of oxytocin, which enhances the contractility of the reproductive organ.
Follow your doctor's recommendations and take prescribed medications.

Summing up the article

You now know how long discharge lasts after childbirth. You also found out what color they should be. If you have recently become a mother, then after one month you should definitely visit a gynecologist. The doctor will examine and evaluate your discharge. By then they should already be light and slimy. If you suddenly notice increased bleeding or the addition of an unpleasant odor and foam, then you should visit a medical facility as soon as possible. You may need some medication adjustment. Remember that during this period you cannot swim in open water and be exposed to heat. Good health to you and a speedy recovery!

Within a few weeks after the birth of the child, the woman’s uterus is restored to normal, the remains of the dying endometrium are removed, and the surface of the wound at the site of the placenta heals. A woman’s successful recovery or the appearance of any complications can be judged by the nature of the discharge from the genitals. It is important to know what they should be normally. In this case, the duration and abundance of discharge, as well as its color, smell and consistency, matter. In case of trouble, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Content:

What should lochia be like?

The discharge that occurs in a woman after giving birth is called lochia. Their appearance is caused by the fact that during childbirth, damage occurs to the mucous membrane and vessels of the uterus, especially at the site of attachment of the placenta. Discharge after childbirth is associated with the cleansing of the uterus from the remnants of the fetal bladder, exfoliated epithelium, and blood clots. They also contain mucus produced in the cervical canal.

Lochia exists until the wound in the uterine cavity heals and it returns to its normal state (the size is restored, the epithelium is renewed). If the process of cleansing the uterine cavity goes without complications, then lochia stops after about 5-8 weeks.

How long the cleansing of the uterus continues and lochia forms depends on the following factors:

the ability of the uterus to contract (individual for each woman);
woman’s age, condition of uterine tissue;
blood clotting, state of the hematopoietic system;
physical activity of a woman;
lactation.

In appearance, lochia in the first 3 days resembles menstruation. Their volume gradually decreases from 500 ml to 100 ml per day.

Video: What is discharge like during the postpartum period?

Types of normal postpartum discharge

Bloody lochia. The first postpartum discharge is bright red and smells like fresh blood. Consist of blood clots and particles of dead tissue. The color is due to the high content of red blood cells.

Serous lochia. Lighter brownish-pink discharge appears around day 4. The content of red blood cells decreases, but the number of leukocytes increases. The discharge has a musty smell.

White lochia. The discharge becomes yellowish-white on the 10th day after birth. They have a more liquid consistency. There is no smell. Gradually they become more and more scanty and smearing. After 5-6 weeks, they already contain only mucus from the cervical canal of the cervix.

Contractions of the uterus, causing the removal of lochia from its cavity, lead to the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen in women in the first days after childbirth. The pain resembles contractions. Moreover, the pain is more severe after repeated births.

Sometimes women develop black lochia after the 3rd week. If there are no painful symptoms or unpleasant odor, then such discharge is not considered a pathology. They can appear as a result of hormonal processes occurring in the body and changes in the composition of mucus secreted by the glands of the cervical canal of the cervix.

Postpartum uterine bleeding and its causes

In the first 2 hours after birth, there is a risk of severe uterine bleeding (hypotonic), which can be caused by poor contraction of the uterine muscles after it relaxes during pregnancy. To prevent this from happening, the woman is given a drug to increase uterine contractility (oxytocin). In addition, the bladder is emptied through the catheter and a heating pad with ice is placed on the lower abdomen. During contraction of the uterus, damaged blood vessels are compressed, dangerous blood loss is prevented, the signs of which are increasing weakness, dizziness, and headache.

The cause of continuous bleeding in the first hours after the birth of the child can also be cervical ruptures if they went unnoticed or were poorly sutured. In this case, local hemorrhages occur in the tissues of the vagina and perineum. If there is bleeding, the doctor, after a careful examination, discovers and opens these hematomas, and re-sutures the tears.

The consequence of uterine bleeding is anemia - a lack of hemoglobin, a violation of the oxygen supply to the body tissues. If a woman in this condition breastfeeds her child, then he will also develop anemia.

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage

The contraction of the uterus and the reduction of blood discharge after childbirth is facilitated by frequent emptying of the bladder.

It is important to breastfeed your baby. When the nipples are irritated, oxytocin is produced, a pituitary hormone that increases uterine contractions. During feeding, this causes the woman to experience pain in the lower abdomen, reminiscent of contractions. Moreover, the pain is stronger in those women who have already given birth before.

If bleeding persists, cool the lower abdomen with ice.

The danger of stagnation of secretions in the uterus

Medical help should be sought urgently not only if a woman is bleeding too heavily, but also if the bleeding suddenly stops completely after a few days.

Stagnation of lochia in the uterus is called lochiometra. If it is not eliminated, inflammation of the endometrium (endometritis) may occur. The absence of lochia is a symptom of a serious postpartum complication. To achieve restoration of bleeding, the woman is injected with oxytocin, which enhances contractions, and no-shpa is administered to relieve cervical spasm.

In order to avoid stagnation of secretions in the uterus, it is useful for a woman to lie on her stomach. Due to weakening of the abdominal muscle tone after pregnancy and childbirth, the uterus tilts back, and the outflow of blood is disrupted. When a woman lies on her stomach, the uterus takes a position in which the outflow improves.

Pathological discharge during postpartum complications

Signs of complications during this period are:

Yellow color and strong unpleasant odor of discharge. They indicate either stagnation of lochia in the uterus and their suppuration, or an infectious infection of the woman during childbirth. The inflammatory process in the uterine mucosa (endometritis) is usually accompanied by fever and pain in the lower abdomen. If you postpone a visit to the doctor for a long time, then due to the appearance of pus in the discharge, it turns green.
After childbirth, bleeding increases instead of decreasing. Sometimes they reappear. This happens even 2 months after the birth of the child. It is possible that this is the first menstruation (the likelihood of early menstruation is high in women who do not breastfeed). However, often such discharge indicates incomplete removal of the placenta from the uterus, due to which its contractions are difficult.
White, cheesy discharge may appear if a woman takes antibiotics for health reasons, which provoke a deficiency of lactobacilli in the vagina and the appearance of thrush. A woman is bothered by itching and burning in the external genitalia and vagina.

Video: Thrush, treatment methods

Factors contributing to the occurrence of endometritis

During pregnancy and childbirth, a woman's immunity sharply decreases. This provokes the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the endometrium of the uterus after childbirth. The body's resistance to infections begins to increase by the end of the first week in women who gave birth naturally and on the 10th day after cesarean section.

The likelihood of endometritis increases if a woman has other serious diseases (endocrine glands, kidneys, respiratory tract). The occurrence of endometritis is promoted by obesity, anemia, vitamin deficiency, and smoking. In addition, inflammation often occurs in women who have had many abortions or had curettage for medical reasons.

Sometimes the cause of stagnation of lochia and the occurrence of an inflammatory process is the low location of the placenta in the uterus, when the exit to the cervical canal is blocked. If labor continues too long after your water has broken, there is also an increased risk of endometritis.

Treatment of this disease is carried out only in a hospital. Antibiotics and uterine contraction enhancers are used. Disinfecting solutions are injected into the cavity. In some cases, vacuum aspiration or curettage of the uterus is performed to completely remove the endometrium.

Discharge after caesarean section

Bleeding lasts longer and complications occur more often if a woman gives birth by Caesarean section. Contractility of the uterus is hampered due to the suture and swelling of the surrounding tissues. The risk of infection during childbirth and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity increases.

However, despite the peculiarities of this method of delivery, spotting after childbirth should appear within 2 weeks, but no more. Just like during normal childbirth, the color of the discharge gradually changes from bright red to pale brown, and then turns white.

Normal menstruation after a cesarean section occurs at about the same time as after the birth of a child naturally. They occur later if the woman has had postpartum complications (uterine bleeding, endometritis, blood poisoning) or has diseases of the thyroid gland or liver.

Video: Features of discharge after cesarean section

Prevention of complications

In order to reduce the risk of complications after childbirth, a woman’s condition should be monitored by a doctor from the very beginning of pregnancy. Regular examination allows you to monitor your blood composition, detect and treat gynecological and other diseases, and strengthen your immune system.

If after the onset of labor it turns out that uterine contractility is insufficient, then drugs that enhance labor are used. They also help speed up the cleansing of the uterine cavity after the birth of a child.

In order to avoid stagnation of secretions in the uterus, a woman is recommended to begin getting out of bed and walking within 4-5 hours after a normal birth. After a caesarean section, this can be done after 10 hours.

Before discharge from the hospital, an ultrasound is performed to study the condition of the uterine cavity and assess its size in order to monitor the recovery process. For several weeks, the woman is recommended to rest more and avoid activities related to abdominal tension and heavy lifting.

Compliance with the rules of hygienic care of the body and genitals (frequent washing with warm water, daily bathing in the shower) is of great importance.

Warning: The woman should not take a bath for several weeks. Warming up the body, firstly, increases blood flow, and secondly, with such bathing, the likelihood of infection in the internal genital organs increases.

Douching during this period can cause great harm. It also contributes to the rapid spread of infection and the occurrence of endometritis.

On the first day, it is recommended to use diapers instead of sanitary pads to avoid leakage. In addition, it is easier to monitor the nature and volume of discharge. In the future, the gaskets must be changed at least every 2 hours.

The use of tampons is strictly prohibited during the entire period of lochia's existence. By blocking the exit from the uterus, they delay the outflow of secretions and the recovery process, creating a greater threat of an inflammatory process.

If there is a sudden change in the nature of the discharge, increased pain in the lower abdomen, increased body temperature, or dizziness, the woman requires urgent medical attention.

The postpartum period is characterized by the appearance of lactation and abdominal pain. At the same time, it is very important to monitor the discharge after childbirth, namely its nature, quantity, color. This will help avoid complications in the postpartum period.

What is the reason for discharge after childbirth?

During childbirth, the uterus contracts strongly and pushes the baby out. After the baby is born, the afterbirth or placenta comes out. A large number of gaping vessels remain at the site of its attachment. The uterus contracts as much as possible in the first hours after the birth of the baby, but remains enlarged for several more weeks.

The presence of open vessels provokes vaginal discharge. After the baby is born, they are called lochia. At first they are abundant, and then decrease in quantity and change their color.

To increase the intensity of contractions of the uterine organ, immediately after childbirth, a catheter is placed in the urethra to empty the bladder. This is done to relieve pressure on the uterus.

In the first hours after the baby is born, there is a very high risk of developing uterine bleeding. The woman in labor is left for another 2 hours in the delivery room to monitor her condition. Such measures make it possible to provide timely assistance and stop bleeding. If there are no complications, the woman’s condition is satisfactory; after 2 hours she is transferred with the baby to the postpartum ward.

What kind of discharge should a healthy woman have after childbirth?

Lochia contains blood, plasma, clots formed from the inner lining of the uterine organ, and mucous formations. The volume of blood lost immediately after birth should not exceed 1.5 liters.

Next, the uterus contracts, which leads to a decrease in the amount of discharge. In the first days, the discharge is bloody. Patients are actively bleeding, blood clots formed from particles of the mucous membrane of the uterine organ, fetal membranes.

After a few days, the spotting is replaced by a darker discharge that resembles menstrual bleeding. The volume of lochia is greater than during menstruation. This nature of the discharge indicates good contractility of the uterus and its cleansing of remnants of the mucous membrane and placenta.

Normal uterine contractions ensure good removal of the remaining placenta.

After a week, the discharge becomes light yellow. They are no longer so abundant. They contain mucus. The yellowish color of the discharge may change to brownish. This is the norm. Discharge indicates good blood clotting and contractile activity of the uterine organ. Brown and light yellowish discharge persists for a week.

At 3 weeks after birth, the discharge becomes light yellow or yellowish-white. Blood impurities are allowed, which persist up to 30-40 days after the birth of the child.

The discharge does not have an unpleasant odor. In the first week they smell like blood. After several days, the discharge acquires a musty smell.

How long do they go?

Discharge appears immediately after childbirth and lasts for 6 weeks. There may be a slight decrease or increase in the period of lochia discharge. The intensity and duration of discharge depends on the following factors:

Features of the body, namely the speed of recovery.
Courses of pregnancy.
Features of childbirth.
The presence or absence of complications in the postpartum period.
Type of delivery: after a cesarean section, the period of lochia discharge is longer than during natural childbirth.
Breastfeeding. The more often the patient feeds the baby, the more intense the uterus contracts.

When the duration of discharge is less than a month or more than 6 weeks, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will conduct an examination, prescribe therapy or refer you to a hospital.

How to prevent bleeding

The risk of large blood loss in the first days remains. If the volume of discharge has increased significantly, immediately contact a doctor.

There are a number of measures that prevent blood loss:

Empty the bladder every 2-3 hours, even in the absence of the urge to urinate, since a pressing bladder reduces the contractile activity of the uterine organ.
Take a prone position, which stimulates the removal of uterine contents.
Apply a container of ice to the lower abdomen to constrict blood vessels if the uterus contracts poorly.
Do not lift anything heavy, as loads lead to an increase in the volume of discharge.

Another important activity is breastfeeding. When a baby is latched to the breast, the hormone oxytocin is released. Under its action, the uterus contracts intensively, removing clots and blood. During feeding, the patient feels pain in the abdomen, which is accompanied by blood coming out of the vagina.

Prevention of infections

Blood is a breeding ground for the proliferation of bacteria, so rules are followed to prevent infection of a wound in the uterine cavity.

Wash after each emptying of the bladder and rectum. Carry out hygiene of the external genitalia from front to back. Do not wash in the vaginal cavity.
Take a shower every day. Avoid taking a bath.
Do not douche, as this increases the likelihood of an ascending infection.
On the first day, use only sterile diapers, which are provided in the maternity hospital.
Use sanitary pads from the second day. Change them at least 8 times a day.
Use cotton underwear.
Do not use tampons, as they make it difficult for the discharge to drain and increase the likelihood of bacterial growth.

These measures will help you endure the early postpartum period well and prevent ascending infection.

Pathological postpartum discharge

Normally, vaginal discharge after the birth of a baby is bloody. It is replaced by yellowish, brownish or yellowish-white discharge. A discrepancy between the timing and color of the discharge and the norm indicates pathology.

Types of pathological discharge in women, causes of appearance:

Bright yellowish. They arise due to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the uterine organ, namely endometritis, inflamed ruptures of the cervix and vagina. Celebrated for 4-5 days.
Green. It is detected during the development of endomethitis, which is caused by poor contractility of the uterine organ. When green discharge occurs, patients report abdominal pain, fever, and an unpleasant odor.
Brownish. If discharge is observed for more than 10 days, this indicates endometritis, uterine fibroids, bending of the uterine organ, and poor blood clotting ability. When a patient has a copious discharge with a brown tint, this indicates incomplete placental abruption.
Mucous early. Occurs at 2-3 weeks in a healthy woman. Early mucous discharge hides damage to the uterine organ and vagina. When the uterus is perforated, copious discharge of mucous discharge is noted.
Bloody, pinkish, long-lasting, more than 3-4 weeks. Identified in patients with atony and hyperextension of the uterine organ, pathology of the coagulation system, early sexual intercourse, and heavy physical work. Also, pinkish and bloody discharge after a month or more indicates the first menstruation.
White, curdled. Occurs due to fungal infection of the genital tract.

If pathological lochia appears, you need to see a doctor. The doctor will determine the cause, prescribe examination and treatment.

What to do in case of pathological discharge

If pathological discharge appears, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor. You cannot hesitate, as some of them lead to serious consequences. If a woman’s discharge changes in the nature of her discharge in the maternity hospital, she should immediately tell the midwife or doctor on duty about it.

When the bleeding becomes much more abundant, it is recommended to immediately call the gynecologist on duty or your attending physician. This is the first sign of bleeding. If severe blood loss occurs after discharge from the maternity hospital, call an ambulance at home.

If yellowish, greenish or brownish discharge appears, contact your local gynecologist. The doctor will conduct an examination, examination, and prescribe treatment on an outpatient basis. If there is a risk of blood poisoning, endometritis or other pelvic inflammatory diseases, as well as the detection of placental remains in the uterine cavity, hospitalization is carried out with subsequent treatment. In some cases, surgery is required.

Knowing the nature of postpartum discharge is of great importance. Due to this, inflammatory diseases, bleeding, blood clotting diseases and other conditions are promptly identified and treated.