Help on Tele2, tariffs, questions

Lochia after childbirth, what is this phenomenon, how long do they last and when can we talk about pathology? Let's start with the fact that this term refers to the vaginal discharge of a woman who has experienced childbirth (natural or cesarean section).

It is known how long lochia lasts after childbirth, if there are no complications - this is a maximum of 2 months. In this case, the first week the discharge is quite abundant, more abundant than menstruation. A woman can rarely get by with ordinary sanitary pads, even with a large number of “droplets”. Immediately after childbirth, most maternity hospitals provide sterile gauze, folded several times. Afterwards, it is recommended to use special postpartum pads; they are highly absorbent and are sold in pharmacies.

After about 5-7 days, the blood stops being released and is replaced by a brown “smear”, but still quite abundant. During this period of time, it happens that lochia after childbirth ends and begins again - this indicates pathology, lochiometer. It is an accumulation of blood, mucus, and sometimes the remains of the placenta in the uterine cavity. This happens due to the anatomical features of the uterus, cervix, and a hematoma formed on it, which becomes a mechanical obstacle to the exit of blood from the uterus. This same delay can explain why after childbirth the discharge (lochia) smells unpleasant, the smell is putrid. Often such a symptom occurs when inflammation has already begun, because blood is a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.

Is treatment necessary? Yes, definitely. But diagnosis comes first. The doctor conducts an examination, which may reveal an enlarged uterus and an almost complete absence of lochia, or vice versa - bleeding (if there is no longer a mechanical barrier to the outflow of blood). Ultrasound examination will help to draw the correct conclusion. If remnants of the placenta are found in the uterus, their surgical removal (curettage procedure) will be recommended. If only accumulations of lochia are found in the uterus, then prophylactic antibiotics may be recommended, as well as drugs that contract the uterus, especially if the bleeding is heavy.

A woman should be concerned not only if lochia acquires an odor after childbirth, but also if pain appears in the abdomen or lower back, and body temperature rises. It should also be taken into account that the latter symptom is often present and is a variant of the norm during the so-called establishment of breastfeeding, when a woman experiences the first and strong flow of breast milk.

The cause of lochiometra may also be subinvolution of the uterus - its slow contraction. This may be due to various gynecological diseases, for example, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, infections. The risk of this pathology is increased in very young and “aged” postpartum women.

How to independently help the uterus contract faster, that is, reduce the duration of discharge (lochia) after childbirth:

• do not refuse oxytocin injections in the maternity hospital and ice, which is placed on the uterus immediately after childbirth;
• try to periodically lie on your stomach;
• if the birth was natural - do not lie around, move more, low physical activity is one of the main reasons for the formation of lochiometra;
• wear a postpartum bandage or wrap a diaper;
• Breastfeeding the baby more often, on demand, this leads to the production of the hormone oxytocin in the body, which contracts the uterus.

And when the lochia ends after childbirth, it’s time to visit a gynecologist for an examination and discussion of a suitable method of contraception. Usually the discharge stops completely 1-2 months after birth. Moreover, for almost the entire postpartum period, with the exception of the first days, which the woman usually spends in the maternity hospital, brown discharge is observed, and then a very light and insignificant “daub”. Sometimes lochia smoothly “transitions” into menstruation, which can begin in some women as early as 4 weeks after birth.

13.01.2020 18:40:00 How many kilograms can you lose in 3 months and how to do it? Losing as much weight as possible in a short period of time is the goal of many people. But this doesn't make any sense because weight loss is often hampered by the yo-yo effect. Personal trainer Jim White explains how many pounds you can lose without harming your health and how to achieve it.

13.01.2020 16:54:00 These tips will help you reduce your belly fat. After the holidays, it's time to start improving yourself and your life. For example, start the fight against extra pounds - especially on the stomach. But is it possible to lose weight specifically in one part of the body?

12.01.2020 11:33:00 7 Best Detox Foods After the holiday binge, it's time to detoxify your body. With these 7 foods, you can naturally decompress your body and get ready for spring.

As you know, after childbirth, a woman’s uterus is not cleansed and restored immediately. After the birth of the placenta, the remnants of mucus, membranes, dying epithelial cells, blood clots, and ichor continue to “come out.” Such postpartum discharge is commonly called lochia.

How long does it take for lochia to come out after childbirth?

The answer to the question of how long the discharge lasts after childbirth and when it ends for very specific reasons concerns every young mother. Generally speaking, the release of lochia continues for several weeks, usually 4–6. Over time, their color and consistency change, and finally they stop.

Immediately after the birth process, lochia resembles bleeding. And this is partly true. To reduce bleeding and prevent actual bleeding from starting, a cold heating pad (with ice) is placed on your stomach for several hours. Normally, when cold is applied, the uterus contracts faster, the blood vessels narrow, and thus the discharge becomes less intense. To “revive” these processes, appropriate drugs are also administered intravenously. When the bladder is full, urine is drained using a catheter.

As a rule (and this is considered the norm), the amount of discharge during this time does not exceed 0.3 liters.

If the muscles do not contract very well or there is a rupture of the birth canal, then the bleeding may be more severe.

After time spent with a heating pad on her stomach, the woman in labor is transferred to the postpartum ward. Here it is worth stocking up on pads, since the discharge will not be much less. However, their color will be slightly different - darker, with a brownish tint. You will observe this picture for several days (usually within 3 days).

Over the next few weeks, the nature of the lochia will change: the discharge after childbirth will begin to lighten, and its consistency will become more liquid. There will be less and less bloody particles every day and gradually, by the beginning of the fifth week, the lochia will become whitish or yellowish-white. Discharge of this color continues for 7–10 days, and its color is determined by a large number of leukocytes and decidual tissue (which previously served as a nutritious and protective layer for the fetus).

By the end of the sixth week, postpartum discharge should stop altogether.

If you are not breastfeeding, then literally a month after that you can expect your first period.

Return of menstruation after medical and spontaneous abortion

What should you pay attention to?

The first few weeks after the birth of the baby, when the birth canal is open and the uterine cavity has not yet fully recovered, the female body is very vulnerable and can easily be affected by any infection. Therefore, special attention must be paid to maintaining personal hygiene rules.

Also, during the period of lochia discharge after childbirth, it is recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse, including oral sex and so-called non-penetrative sex (caressing the genitals with hands). Despite popular belief, these types of sexual contacts are also fraught with the introduction of infections with the ensuing consequences. Sex during this period can also be quite traumatic, since the genitals are too sensitive at this stage. And this is another reason for abstinence.

During the period of discharge after childbirth, it is extremely undesirable (and most doctors simply prohibit their patients from doing this and, it must be said, they do the right thing) to use tampons. In this case, pads with increased absorbency are best suited. They should be changed as often as possible, and saving in this case is unacceptable and even dangerous (discharge is a very favorable environment for the growth of bacteria!).

In addition, a woman must ensure that the discharge does not emit an unpleasant odor and that there are no unpleasant sensations in the genital area (itching, burning, etc.).

If any of the above are noticed, you should immediately consult a doctor to rule out an infectious disease, avoid the risk of bleeding and prescribe appropriate treatment.

An unpleasant odor can be due to several reasons. This, in particular, is a decrease in the contractility of the uterus, the development of an inflammatory process in the genital tract and even the development of enometritis (inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus), the main signal for concern in this case is an increased body temperature, accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen.

Menstruation and pregnancy – let’s dot the i’s

You should know that an increase in temperature during the period of discharge after childbirth is possible. However, normally it is insignificant and can last for the first 3-4 days. If hyperthermia continues longer and at the same time the brown color of the lochia persists for a long time, this is considered a pathology and requires mandatory examination by a specialist.

You also need to consult a specialist if the change in the nature of the discharge deviates from the described standard course, which corresponds to the norm. Another important question is: how long does the discharge last after childbirth and what is its quality? If, for example, the discharge is bloody in nature longer than expected or continues for more than a month and a half, the discharge is profuse for quite a long time. You should be wary of the need to use more than 6 completely saturated pads throughout the day.

There are cases when discharge from the uterus stops too quickly after childbirth. This is also not good: your uterus is probably overstretched and cannot contract properly and push out the contents needed to be released. In this case, the mother is given drugs that stimulate contraction.

How to avoid bleeding?

In the first time after childbirth, it is best to limit active movements and lead a sedentary or recumbent lifestyle. At least for a week.

Make sure you empty your bladder on time. It should not be tolerated, since when filled, it, due to its physiological location, prevents normal contraction of the uterus and, accordingly, the excretion of lochia.

You can also continue the practice of applying an ice heating pad at first. However, you shouldn't get too carried away with this.

One of the best preventive measures to avoid bleeding is breastfeeding. When feeding a baby, a woman’s body releases a special hormone, oxytocin, which stimulates uterine contractions. When a baby sucks milk, many mothers feel blood clots coming out of them at this time, more actively and in larger quantities than usual.

For some reason, it is not customary for us to talk about such “shameful” topics, and often a young mother is left alone with a bunch of questions that relate to changes in her body after childbirth. It is not surprising that the issue of lochia remains a “closed topic” for many. Should you be embarrassed to ask? The most professional answer to your questions will be from a specialist - your gynecologist. But it’s good if you have a trusting relationship with the women’s doctor, but what if not? What if, although he is a good doctor, he is not an expert at explaining what’s what? Then we will try to give answers to all your questions about discharge after childbirth.

What is lochia after childbirth?

The female body is truly unique. He can adapt very easily to new conditions, and he also quickly recovers from such severe conditions as, for example, childbirth. Within just a couple of months, a woman’s body transforms and returns to almost pre-pregnancy forms. And this applies not only to the body, the internal organs, which were displaced during the growth of the baby inside, gradually return to their places, and the uterus decreases in size and weight. In addition, you need to remember that the uterus not only had to “work hard”, but also endure a rather painful injury, such as placental rejection, during which many blood vessels are damaged, which leads to bleeding of the organ for a certain time after the completion of the birth process .

An indicator that the uterus is recovering normally is precisely the postpartum discharge - lochia. For each woman, they differ both in the abundance of discharge (for example, in young mothers who underwent obstetrics through cesarean section, the abundance of discharge is usually less), and in color, smell and duration of flow. But at the same time, there are some nuances by which the gynecologist can judge whether the restoration of the main organ of the reproductive system - the uterus - is proceeding normally.

Lochia at an early stage immediately after childbirth

Immediately after the birth of the baby, the lochia have a bright scarlet color due to the large number of red blood cells in them. In the discharge you can see cervical mucus, pieces of tissue, particles of the child's place, blood clots... Everything is exactly as it should be, as it indicates the correct restoration of the reproductive organ. Over time, the picture will change. So, during the first 2-3 days after birth, lochia is more voluminous (up to 400 ml of discharge per day can be released). If the amount of discharge is less or more, this indicates a problem. Therefore, do not be surprised when the obstetrician-gynecologist in the maternity hospital asks you to show the pad: this way he can diagnose the disease at an early stage. If the discharge is more than normal, this may indicate the presence of uterine bleeding. Is there too little lochia being produced? This indicates a lochiometra - an accumulation of secretions in the uterine cavity. Most often, women face this problem after a cesarean section and it is dangerous due to the development of inflammatory processes.

What kind of discharge should there be after childbirth?

About 1 week after birth, the color and nature of the discharge changes: the lochia becomes more viscous, there are not so many blood clots, and the color transforms from scarlet to brownish. This suggests that healing of blood vessels is taking place in the uterus and its inner layer is gradually being restored.

In the second and third weeks, the discharge becomes even less. Their color turns brownish. The consistency of the lochia also changes - they are already thick. There may be a musty smell.

The closer to the end of the lochia period, the scarcer the discharge becomes. Normally, they should be transparent or yellowish, and by 40-42 days after the birth of the baby, they should completely stop.

How long does lochia last?

How much discharge occurs after childbirth depends on many factors related to women’s health and body recovery. As we wrote above, discharge after childbirth usually lasts approximately 6-8 weeks. But here everything is individual, because the duration of the lochia period can change for several reasons:

• The rate of blood clotting in a woman.
• Size, weight and number of babies that the young mother gave birth to. The larger the baby, the more time the uterus needs to recover. The same story applies to multiple pregnancies.
• Method of delivery: natural birth or caesarean section.
• Number of births: it has been proven that in primiparous women, discharge lasts longer than in those who go through this stage in the second and third round.
• Individual characteristics, the presence of inflammatory foci, chronic or infectious diseases in a woman.
• Method of feeding the baby: for mothers who breastfeed, the process of cleansing the uterus occurs faster due to frequent contractions of the organ.

On average, for the entire period of lochia, the amount of discharge is 0.5-1.5 liters. It's not that much.

When does lochia after childbirth “speak” about problems in the body?

When discharged from the maternity hospital, the obstetrician-gynecologist always reminds the young mother that she must visit her gynecologist in a month to rule out possible pathologies. He also advises not to put off visiting a doctor if:

• The color of the discharge a week after giving birth does not change color from scarlet to brown, and then to brown. This suggests that the young mother has too weak blood clotting.
• The amount of lochia in the initial postpartum period is too scarce. This indicates lochiometer - stagnation of lochia.
• There is an unpleasant smell in the discharge, there is pain in the lower abdomen, body temperature has increased, and there is constant weakness. Such symptoms indicate an inflammatory process occurring in the uterus.
• The lochia stopped prematurely, and then the discharge of bright red blood clots began again. This may indicate that bleeding has begun due to the presence of remnants of the fetal place or placenta in the uterine cavity.

In this article:

Postpartum bleeding is a normal process, which results in the natural cleansing of the uterine cavity from lochia and retained remnants of placental tissue. The severity of bleeding depends on its nature, total blood loss and duration. How long does blood bleed after childbirth is a question that concerns every young mother.

For many women, bleeding as a result of childbirth is not a cause for alarm and does not pose any threat. Abundant in the first days, it gradually decreases and disappears within a few weeks. Severe bleeding, which occurs with painful contractions and nagging pain, pronounced odor and putrefactive discharge, is not normal and requires urgent medical intervention.

Causes of bleeding after childbirth

Severe bleeding in the first hours after the birth of a newborn can be caused by:

• Poor indicators of blood clotting, individual for a woman in labor, as a result of which blood flows out of the genital tract in liquid streams without any symptoms of incipient thrombosis (thickened lumps, darkening of the color of the blood). It is not difficult to prevent such bleeding if, on the eve of giving birth, a woman undergoes an appropriate blood test for coagulation.
• , resulting in injury to the birth canal.
• Incremental tissue of the placenta, as a result of which blood will flow, since the uterus cannot fully .
• Unsatisfactory ability of the reproductive organ to contract due to overstretching of its tissues caused by, and.
• Gynecological problems associated with changes in the structure of the reproductive organ - uterine fibroids or fibroids.

Late bleeding may develop 2 hours after delivery and over the next 6 weeks.

Why does there bleed after childbirth in this case:

• particles of placental tissue are retained in the uterus;
• a bloody clot or several clots cannot leave the uterus as a result of its spasm in the cervical area;
• The recovery time of the uterus is delayed due to the inflammatory process in the pelvic area; this condition is characterized by an increase in general body temperature and prolonged bleeding.

How long does bleeding last after childbirth?

Every woman who cares about her health always asks her doctor about how and how many days the blood flows after childbirth. Normally, postpartum discharge lasts up to 6 weeks, but for many young mothers it ends a little earlier.

During this period of time, the mucous layer of the uterus is restored, and the organ takes on its prenatal form. bleeding continues longer because the muscles and walls of the uterus were injured during surgery, and it takes longer for it to return to its original state.

How much blood will flow after childbirth directly depends on the following factors:

• features of the course of pregnancy and labor;
• way of delivery - or;
• natural contractile activity of the uterus;
• , for example, inflammatory phenomena in the pelvic organs;
• features of a woman’s physiological status, health status;
• features of lactation - regular application of the baby to the breast, on demand, reduces the number of lochia and enhances the contractile activity of the uterus, as a result of which the organ begins to cleanse itself more effectively.

To reduce the duration of postpartum bleeding and avoid possible complications, it is recommended to follow the following rules:

• regularly empty the bladder and intestines so that overfilled organs do not create excess pressure on the uterus and do not interfere with its contractility;
• carefully observe hygiene rules to prevent infection of the birth canal;
• exclude physical activity and intimate relationships for 6 weeks after the birth of the child;
• sleep on your stomach, as in this position the uterus cleanses more intensively;
• establish breastfeeding as much as possible.

Despite the fact that bleeding after childbirth is a natural process, this condition requires attention from the woman and the doctor.

Normal bleeding

How long after childbirth bleeding normally occurs was stated above - about 6 weeks. Postpartum hemorrhage is divided into several stages, which differ from each other by specific features: coloring and intensity of discharge.

On the first day after birth, the amount of discharge will be greater than during normal menstruation. The blood will flow bright scarlet. On the first day, blood is removed from the vessels that attached the placental membranes to the wall of the uterus, so there will be a lot of it. Such bleeding is considered normal from the first to the fourth day after delivery.

Over the next 10-14 days, the amount of discharge decreases significantly. The scarlet tint of the discharge, which is accepted immediately after childbirth, at this time changes to faint pink, brownish or yellow. The uterus continues to contract, and after 2 weeks bleeding is minimized to a small amount of discharge per day.

Less commonly, bleeding continues longer, and until the 6th week of the postpartum period, a woman is bothered by uterine discharge with scarlet blood. If they are not abundant and inconsistent, there is nothing wrong with that. Most often, their appearance is preceded by physical exertion, nervous shock and other unfavorable factors.

Pathological bleeding

We described above how long postpartum bleeding will last normally and what it depends on. But pathological conditions do occur.

The need for medical attention arises if postpartum discharge is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• they last more than 6 weeks;
• slight bloody discharge suddenly changes to bright scarlet blood;
• the woman’s well-being and general condition worsens;
• discharge is accompanied by significant pain in the lower abdomen;
• clinical manifestations of intoxication develop - body temperature rises, dizziness, general weakness, nausea, etc. appear;
• bloody discharge instead of physiological shades acquires yellow-green and dark brown colors, complemented by a repulsive odor.

Regardless of how much blood flows after childbirth, if the discharge becomes more intense and acquires a scarlet color and a liquid structure, you should urgently contact the ambulance service. Painful sensations, increased body temperature, changes in the nature and color of uterine discharge always become evidence of developed postpartum complications, for example, endometriosis, inflammatory process in the pelvis and other pathological conditions. In such cases, the correct course of action will be timely, thorough diagnosis and treatment.

How many days after delivery a young mother will have discharge is a controversial question. Postpartum bleeding normally lasts no more than 6 weeks, but this can be influenced by many factors, including the physiological characteristics of the woman.

During the postpartum period, the mother should monitor the nature of the bleeding, any changes and accompanying symptoms of this condition. If everything is normal, and the body recovers without complications after the birth of the child, then after 6 weeks any uterine discharge should stop.

Helpful video about postpartum bleeding

Immediately after giving birth, a woman may notice vaginal discharge (lochia). Are they menstrual periods? Or are these complications after childbirth? The article will help you understand such a sensitive topic.

What is this?

First of all, it is worth deciding what lochia is after childbirth and why this phenomenon occurs. Immediately after delivery, the placenta begins to be rejected from the female body, since it is no longer needed. This process is quite painful and causes some blood to appear due to the bursting of capillaries on the wall of the uterus.

How long does lochia last after childbirth? Bleeding does not take several days, but rather weeks, at least one month. It is quite difficult to confuse lochia with menstruation, since normally this type of discharge occurs continuously and is not accompanied by abdominal pain.

During this special period, the young mother must ensure the cleanliness of her body. Lochia is often accompanied by an unpleasant odor. If you do not maintain hygiene for a long time, there is a possibility of contracting some kind of infection.

Duration

Most women are interested in specifics: how long do lochia last after childbirth? After all, such discharge after childbirth provides a lot of inconvenience and discomfort. However, there is no exact answer; the duration of this process depends on the individual characteristics of the female body.

Normally, everything lasts from one and a half to two months. The value may be slightly lower or higher (from five to nine weeks). In this case, it is imperative to monitor the nature of the discharge so that, if necessary, immediately contact medical professionals for help and advice.

Important! If the duration of lochia is abnormally short or long (less than five and more than nine weeks), a visit to the doctor is necessary, most likely some pathologies are occurring in the body. Don’t think that if the bleeding stops in less than a month, then this is just a feature of the body. No, it’s just that the uterus may not have cleared completely, this will cause inflammation in the future.

Composition, smell and color

Lochia after the first or subsequent births, even in the same woman, can vary in consistency, composition, smell or color. It is imperative to observe what is released in order to recognize pathological processes in time.

In the first three days there is bleeding due to burst capillaries, as mentioned above. But later there is no open bleeding, the organ begins to heal and recover. Blood clots appear - the endometrium and the remains of the placenta. However, the clots disappear after a week; at the end, the discharge after childbirth becomes mucous (due to the remains of the fetus) and completely liquid.

It is worth noting that pus is a serious deviation, with acute pain felt in the lower abdomen, the lochia is yellow-green, and the smell is reminiscent of rotten fish. If mucous formations and clots are secreted for more than a week, then you should also be wary. Almost transparent discharge after childbirth is also not the norm.

In the first days after delivery, the blood has not yet coagulated, so the shade of the discharge should be bright red, purple. Further, the lochia will be brown, this is an absolutely normal phenomenon, because the organ is healing. And only in the last days can lochia be pale pink, transparent, or yellowish.

Important! Yellow discharge indicates pathology inside the female body. For example, a symptom of endometritis (inflammatory process of the inner walls of the uterus) is yellow-green lochia that appears during the first week after the birth of the baby. White curdled discharge accompanied by itching is thrush. But the black color of lochia is not at all as dangerous as it seems, if it is not accompanied by a strong bad odor.

Smell also plays a big role. In the first days, the discharge smells of blood and dampness, later of mustiness. But a sharp, sour, putrid, rotten smell is not at all an indicator of normal healing of the female organ. If an unpleasant odor brings discomfort to a woman in labor, it is better to visit a doctor.

Number of allocations

The peak of bleeding occurs in the first week, then over time, the normal discharge should be less and less until it ends completely. Scanty lochia appears approximately in the third week after labor. If initially there is little blood, then this should alert the young mother - a blood clot could form, which prevents the uterus from cleaning and recovering. If the amount of blood does not decrease, then you will definitely need to visit a specialist, because for some reason the organ may not heal at all.

After cesarean

In women who have undergone a cesarean section, lochia occurs somewhat differently. What is the difference?

1. High likelihood of developing an infectious disease. Take special care to maintain hygiene.
2. Already in the first week, the mother may develop blood and mucous clots, this is within normal limits.
3. The process of restoration of the uterus takes longer, therefore the duration of such discharge increases by one or several weeks.
4. Bleeding after a cesarean section does not bleed for a couple of days, but up to two weeks; this is a normal phenomenon.

When to see a doctor?

What should alert a woman during lochia so that she consults a gynecologist?

1. Heat.
2. Pain in the lower abdomen (in the area of ​​the uterus), burning sensation.
3. The smell of rot.
4. Abrupt cessation of discharge.
5. A sharp increase in the amount of blood.

Important! A woman should know how many days lochia should normally last in order to monitor this process and, if necessary, visit a doctor. As mentioned above, consultation is needed if the discharge after childbirth ends very quickly (within a month) or continues for more than two months.

The doctor can prescribe not only antibiotics, but also advise medications that will promote proper contraction of the uterus. The gynecologist will conduct all the necessary examinations, prescribe tests and additional examinations to clarify the diagnosis.

In order for discharge after childbirth to pass without complications, you need to adhere to the following rules:

1. Make sure midwives apply ice to the uterine area immediately after birth.
2. Lie down for the first eight hours.
3. Give preference to pads designed specifically for lochia. This will result in significant savings, because they absorb a much larger amount of secretions compared to regular ones, but you must not forget to change the pad every four hours.
4. Avoid intimate hygiene gels. The best cosmetic product now is baby soap. They need to wash themselves every time after using the toilet.
5. Lie on your stomach more often, so the lochia goes away easier and better.
6. Wear a postpartum bandage.
7. Observe activity. You can’t play sports yet, but lying down all day without moving doesn’t help speed up the recovery of the uterus.
8. Breastfeed your baby.
9. Do not use tampons, they provoke an inflammatory process.
10. Sex is prohibited for the first two months, even if it is protected. During such a period, it is easy to injure the uterus.
In order for lochia to leave the body faster, you should spend more time lying on your stomach

Lochia is a postpartum discharge that continues for one and a half to two months in every woman after the birth of her baby, regardless of whether she gave birth naturally or by cesarean section. Lochia varies in consistency, composition and color. The nature of the discharge must be carefully monitored in order to contact a specialist in time if inflammatory processes or other diseases are suspected.