3 weeks after birth the discharge stopped. How long does bleeding last after childbirth?

It is known that during 9 months of pregnancy the uterus increases in size by more than 500 times. However, after the birth of the child and the delivery of the placenta, it does not need such dimensions. The body independently strives to restore the uterus to its original form in order to subsequently be ready for a new pregnancy. The recovery process is accompanied by some kind of side effects in the form of discharge from the genital tract - lochia.

What is postpartum discharge and which is considered normal?

During pregnancy, the fetus is connected to the wall of the uterus through the placenta (baby place). During childbirth, it is rejected, and a large bleeding wound remains at the former attachment site. Immediately after the birth of a child, the uterus begins to rapidly contract, pushing out unnecessary tissue remnants, blood clots, drops of amniotic fluid and everything that prevents it from becoming the same size as before pregnancy. These secretions are called lochia.

Lochia should be present in any young mother, regardless of whether the birth was natural or a caesarean section. Every woman is obliged to monitor the nature of the discharge: color, smell, degree of abundance.

The postpartum period lasts 6–8 weeks (42–56 days). It is believed that this time is enough for the female body to fully recover.

Normally, changes occur approximately in this order:

During the first 5 days, the uterus contracts most intensely, the lochia is bright scarlet due to blood clots (hence the smell of iron), it is abundant - a woman can change pads every hour.
On days 6–10, the discharge becomes dark brown, brown or pink-brown, without clots, and not as abundant as in previous days.
By the end of the second week, the lochia acquire a yellowish tint, and their number decreases.
After the 15th day, the discharge becomes spotting, mucous, almost transparent, without a strong odor and continues until the end of the postpartum period.

The decrease in the amount of discharge after childbirth occurs gradually

Certain conditions related to the norm

During breastfeeding, a reflex release of oxytocin occurs, a hormone that increases uterine contractions. Therefore, when breastfeeding, especially in the first week, a woman will feel discomfort in the lower abdomen, and there will be more lochia. However, in this case, the uterus empties faster, which means that the period of discharge for a nursing mother will end sooner (by about the 6th week).

Multiple pregnancies predispose to slow contractions of the uterus after childbirth. Therefore, lochia in this case can last from 6 to 8 weeks, which is also a variant of the norm. After physical activity, lifting heavy objects (things significantly exceeding the child’s weight), the discharge may become larger. But such situations without other complaints about the color and smell of lochia are not a reason to panic.

Any intervention in natural childbirth in the form of so-called cleansing, examination of the uterus for the presence of residual placenta or membranes “dulls” uterine contractions, and therefore can increase the period of lochia. Such things are carried out strictly according to indications, and the postpartum period in such cases also lasts 6–8 weeks.

In conditions of surgical delivery, a suture remains on the uterus, which prevents it from contracting at full strength. Therefore, in women who have had a cesarean section, the discharge may initially be less abundant, but longer lasting. Most often, hospitals use synthetic uterotonics (uterine contractions) to help the weakened body cleanse the uterus after surgery. Such lochia should also end by the 8th week after birth.

Read more about discharge after cesarean in the article -.

Video: doctor about discharge after childbirth

What do deviations from the norm look like?

The postpartum period is not always favorable. This may be due to both external and internal factors. The condition of the uterus will be characterized by changes in postpartum discharge: color, smell, volume, etc. Let's look at them in more detail.

Too short a period of discharge from the genital tract (up to 6 weeks) should alert a woman, especially if the lochia ends abruptly. There are many reasons for this situation:

blockage of the cervical canal (exit from the uterus) with blood clots, mucus and tissue debris;
excessive tilt of the uterus forward, which creates a mechanical obstacle to the outflow of lochia (anatomical feature);
spasm of the internal pharynx (this, in fact, is the exit from the uterus);
weak contractility of the uterus due to overstretching (noted with polyhydramnios and multiple pregnancies) or complicated labor (long labor, cesarean section, etc.).

In any of the described cases, lochia accumulates in the uterine cavity. A condition occurs, which in medicine is called lochiometra. In addition to the absence of discharge, pain in the lower abdomen and increased body temperature are added. At this stage, it is better to immediately consult a doctor to find out the reason for the disappearance of discharge and eliminate it.

There are no minor complications in obstetrics. Therefore, a woman must tell her doctor about any problems.

When the discharge continues for more than 8 weeks, its quantity does not decrease, but only increases - this is also a reason for urgently seeking help. Most likely, something is preventing the uterus from contracting normally (blood clots, remnants of placenta, pieces of membranes). This may also be a symptom of an inflammatory process in the uterus - endometritis.

Excessively abundant lochia (more than one obstetric pad per hour is lost in the first 4–5 days) or its sharp increase indicates bleeding. The same reason applies to the return of brown and then scarlet discharge 2–3 weeks after birth. This is a direct indication for urgent hospitalization.

Unpleasant odor of discharge: lochia usually has a neutral odor (in the first days after birth, a musty odor is allowed). Therefore, when sharp putrefactive, sour notes appear, we can talk about the addition of an infectious process in one or more parts of the woman’s reproductive system.

Bright yellow and green discharge is a sign of inflammation, and the process can concern exclusively the uterus or affect the fallopian tubes and ovaries. To the changed color of lochia will be added a putrid odor, increased temperature (up to fever), constant aching pain in the lower abdomen and general weakness.

White color and cheesy consistency with a sour odor are a sign of vaginal candidiasis (thrush). At this stage, you should take treatment seriously (taking antifungal drugs) to protect yourself from an ascending infection (transition of inflammation to the cervix, into the uterine cavity and higher).

Lochia that is clear as water may indicate gardnerellosis (bacterial vaginosis), which is most often followed by thrush. Such discharge is often accompanied by the smell of rotten fish.

Black color without any other symptoms is scary only in appearance. This variant of the norm occurs due to changes in hormonal levels during the process of recovery of the body. Caused by a change in the composition of cervical mucus.

Photo gallery: pathological lochia

Purulent discharge is a clear sign of a bacterial infection. Bright yellow lochia indicates an inflammatory process in the genital area. With lochia, the curdled discharge of thrush is mixed with mucus. Bacterial vaginosis is accompanied by the smell of rotten fish.

What to do if pathological lochia occurs

In case of pathological discharge, you must consult a doctor, because each case is unique. Most often, additional procedures are performed (pelvic ultrasound, examination of discharge). If remnants of placenta or membranes are detected, instrumental treatment methods will be needed. Lochiometra is amenable to conservative therapy.

Any inflammatory process is a rather dangerous complication in the postpartum period, requiring the prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. To reduce the risk of adverse reactions to medications in a child, medications are selected that are used to treat newborns in maternity hospitals. You can also express your breasts approximately 15–30 minutes after administering intravenous and intramuscular medications and 1–1.5 hours after taking medications via the enteral route.

A nursing mother should not be afraid to take antibiotics and antifungal drugs, as her future condition depends on this. After all, after childbirth, a woman’s body is so weak that it is often unable to cope with the infection on its own.

Prevention of pathological postpartum discharge

To avoid complications after childbirth, a young mother needs to follow the following rules:

maintain a hygienic regime: change the pad every 3-4 hours, take a shower daily, wash your face in the morning, evening and after each visit to the toilet;
exclude taking a bath for the entire postpartum period in order to prevent bleeding;
for the first 2–3 days, urinate once every 3 hours;
if there are sutures on the abdomen (after cesarean section) or perineum (after ruptures during natural childbirth), treat them 2 times a day;
lie on your stomach for at least 20 minutes a day;
wear a bandage;
follow doctor's orders.

Lochia is only an indicator of changes in the reproductive system, reflecting the woman’s health status. Normal postpartum discharge lasts 6–8 weeks, does not have a strong odor, gradually decreases in quantity, and changes color from bright scarlet to almost transparent pale yellow. Any deviation from this norm indicates a pathological course of the postpartum period and requires a more in-depth study. A woman at this time should be especially attentive to herself, since now she is responsible for two lives.

Pregnancy is a wonderful period in the life of every woman. And it ends with the birth of a newborn baby, who requires a lot of attention. However, a woman should not forget about herself, because the recovery period can present many unexpected “surprises”. After delivery, the female body begins to recover and, unfortunately, this process does not always occur safely, as vaginal discharge can indicate. Particular attention should be paid to this, since a change in their nature is the first signal of the occurrence of postpartum complications that require an immediate visit to the doctor.

Why does bleeding occur after childbirth?

Bloody discharge that appears in women after delivery is called lochia. Their occurrence is due to the fact that after the birth of a child, the placenta separates from the uterus, as a result of which a huge number of vessels that connect the organ with the child's place are damaged. Against this background, the uterus begins to actively contract in order to completely remove placental particles, dead epithelium and other traces of intrauterine vital activity of the fetus.

It is for this reason that during the first few days, women often notice various clots and inclusions in their postpartum discharge, which is absolutely normal. However, in certain cases, the cleansing process is delayed, and some complications arise; they cannot be ignored.

What should the discharge be like?

Having heavy periods after childbirth is normal. They may contain blood clots and mucus, which is also not a deviation. Depending on how the delivery took place (natural or artificial), the blood released from the vagina has a bright scarlet or deep red hue.

As a rule, in the first few days, blood is released in the amount of 250 - 300 ml per day, which requires frequent replacement of sanitary pads (more than once every 3 hours). Then the amount of discharge decreases and it acquires a uniform consistency, as during normal menstruation.

In this case, the process of cleansing the uterus is often accompanied by mild cramping pain in the abdomen, which is caused by the occurrence of uterine spasms. And the general clinical picture is complemented by an increase in temperature to 37.4 degrees, but this phenomenon should not be observed after natural childbirth for more than 2 days, and during artificial delivery - 4 days (caesarean section is traumatic for the female body, and therefore after it the increased temperature remains much longer).

After some time, the spasms in the uterus stop, and the amount of bleeding decreases significantly. They are replaced by brown discharge, which signals the successful completion of restoration processes in the organs of the reproductive system. In this case, the brown daub may be liquid at first, and then become thick.

But! There are certain frameworks that indicate the normal course of the postpartum period:

The discharge should not smell rotten or rotten.
After 3–5 days, abdominal pain completely disappears (the exception is artificial childbirth, in which a suture is placed on the uterus and abdomen).
Elevated temperature should not be observed for more than 2 to 4 days.
The last mucous clot comes out of the vagina on the 5th – 6th day, no later.

If the woman’s condition meets all these parameters, she is discharged from the maternity hospital and goes home. But vaginal discharge doesn’t end there. And given the fact that complications can develop even a month after delivery, every woman should know exactly how long the discharge is, when it ends, and what characteristics should be paid the most attention to.

How long does it take?

It is difficult to accurately answer the question of how much profuse bleeding is observed after childbirth, because it all depends on:

The speed of recovery of the body.
Method of delivery.

After artificial birth

When performing a caesarean section, the integrity of the uterus is violated - it is cut open and then stitched, resulting in a wound appearing on it, due to which the uterus begins to bleed heavily. The duration of heavy bleeding in this case is from 2 to 3 weeks. Then the volume of blood released decreases, but brown discharge, indicating successful healing of the uterus, appears only 8 to 9 weeks after the operation.

After natural childbirth

During natural delivery, the lining of the uterus is also damaged, but not as much as during a cesarean section. Therefore, discharge is observed for about 6 - 7 weeks.

In this case, blood can come out profusely only for the first 6–10 days, then its amount decreases. At about 5-6 weeks, the woman begins to smear brown, and then white discharge (leucorrhoea) appears, which indicates the end of the recovery period.

When should you see a doctor?

In gynecology and obstetrics, postpartum complications are not uncommon. Moreover, in this case, it does not matter at all how exactly the woman gave birth - on her own or with the help of surgeons. The only thing is that in the latter case there remains a high risk of rupture of the internal suture, which often causes uterine bleeding.

However, blood secretion may also increase in a woman who has given birth naturally. In this case, bleeding occurs for the following reasons:

Inflammation of the uterus.
Incomplete cleansing of the organ cavity from placental elements.
Infection.
Lifting weights.

Important! Uterine bleeding is very dangerous and requires emergency medical care, which involves the intravenous administration of a hemostatic drug. If not stopped promptly, it can be fatal. With extensive blood loss in the body, the level of hemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen to cells, decreases. As a result of its deficiency, cells begin to starve, which provokes their death. And this can lead to various abnormalities in the functioning of internal organs, including the brain.

Early cessation of excessive bleeding is also a reason to go to the doctor. This may be due to several reasons:

Cervical stenosis.
Polyp formation.
The appearance of a plug in the cervical canal (blood clot).

All these conditions cause the passage of the cervix to narrow significantly and blood cannot flow normally through it, which provokes the occurrence of congestion in the uterus, fraught with the development of severe inflammation and purulent processes.

And this can also lead to serious consequences. Therefore, if a woman notices scanty discharge of a bloody nature or a brown spot earlier than expected, this should alert her and force her to go to the doctor. In most cases, all these pathologies are treated surgically.

An equally dangerous condition is the occurrence of discharge with an unpleasant odor, which may be yellowish or green. Their occurrence indicates the development of a bacterial infection, which also needs to be treated urgently.

Treatment of a bacterial infection involves taking antibiotics. And during this period, it is highly not recommended to continue breastfeeding, since all the active components of the drugs penetrate into the milk and can provoke various serious conditions in the child.

Signs of a bacterial infection are not only discharge that smells bad, but also:

Increase in temperature.
Painful sensations in the abdomen.
Weakness.

In addition, if during the recovery period a woman begins to feel a strong tug in her lower abdomen, with bloody clots and pus in the discharge, this may indicate incomplete cleansing of the uterus from placental particles and elements of the umbilical cord (the organ begins to fester). This pathology, as a rule, is detected in the maternity hospital and in order to get rid of it, the uterine cavity is curetted (obstetric abrasion), after which the woman in labor must remain under the supervision of doctors for several days.

If a woman should have stopped spotting by now, but instead she notices a slight discharge of blood from the vagina, then she will also need to be examined by a gynecologist. The reasons for this phenomenon are:

Erosion formed on the cervical canal.
Hematoma in the uterine cavity.
Myoma.

With the development of these pathological conditions, women may also experience symptoms such as:

Aching pain in the abdomen.
Periodic increase and decrease in the volume of blood released from the vagina.
Weakness.

It is imperative to treat these diseases. Hematoma and uterine fibroids can be eliminated only by surgery, and erosion by cauterization. The danger of these conditions is that the hematoma can burst at any time and provoke internal hemorrhage, and fibroids and erosion cause the development of cancer. These conditions pose a serious threat to a woman's life. And if the last birth was successful, then subsequent ones may be accompanied by severe complications.

The appearance of smelly, watery or foamy discharge also indicates the development of pathological conditions. Only in this case we are talking about STDs. The main reason for their development is infection of the uterine cavity and vagina. In this case, the culprits may be the doctors themselves, who used poorly sterilized instruments during childbirth, or the woman who began to have an intimate life prematurely. Infection that occurs due to the negligence of doctors appears two to three days after delivery, and due to the fault of the mother - after several weeks and even a month.

The main signs of the development of STDs are:

Itching and burning in the intimate area.
The appearance of light pink or transparent foamy discharge that produces an unpleasant odor.
Psychological disorders (due to constant discomfort in the intimate area, a woman’s sleep is disturbed, she becomes irritable and hot-tempered).

No less dangerous is the appearance of dark brown (almost black) or burgundy discharge, indicating the development of cancer in the uterine cavity or in the cervical canal. After childbirth, its occurrence may be associated with the presence of erosion, polyps and fibroids in a woman before pregnancy.

Important! With the development of this disease, the patient may periodically feel sick, she experiences a sharp decrease in body weight, there is no appetite at all, her stomach begins to hurt severely, her urine turns dark and her appearance deteriorates. Remember, cancer can lead to the death of a woman in a matter of months, and therefore, when its primary signs appear, you should immediately go to the doctor!

If the duration of postpartum bleeding exceeds the established limits, then this is also a bad signal. And in this matter, hormonal disorders that lead to disruption of the menstrual cycle and ovulation, or pathologies of the reproductive organs that arise after childbirth (for example, cervicitis, endometritis, etc.) can play a role.

There are many reasons why women may bleed profusely after childbirth or suddenly stop earlier than expected. And often their role is played by serious pathologies, the untreated of which leads to various irreversible consequences. And to prevent their occurrence, a woman needs to carry out prevention, which includes:

No intense loads.
Refusal of sexual activity until complete recovery.
Gynecological examinations every 2 weeks.
Balanced diet.

If a woman follows these simple rules, she has every chance of avoiding serious postpartum complications. Well, if they do arise, you should under no circumstances delay their treatment, as this will lead to dire consequences.

They appear regardless of how the woman gave birth to the child - independently or via caesarean section. Discharge begins after the release of the placenta, which was firmly secured in the uterus by blood vessels. Common vessels connecting the placenta and the surface of the uterus form a wound surface from which blood oozes. Uterine contractions compress the ruptured vessels and the rupture closes over time. But this does not happen immediately, and sometimes problems arise during wound healing. That is why you should listen to your feelings and consult a doctor in time.

To determine the condition of a woman in labor after childbirth, the main diagnostic criterion for the attending physician is the smell and duration of postpartum discharge. Their consistency and density, character and time when they become scanty and transparent are also assessed.

The postpartum period begins not after the birth of the child, but after the placenta is separated. In obstetrics, there is an early postpartum period, lasting 2 hours, and a late period, which is individual in nature, the duration of which can be from 6 to 8 weeks.

How long the late postpartum period will last depends on several interacting factors, and the time required can only be roughly predicted. The norm in medicine is a relative concept, derived from average statistical indicators, and each patient can experience it differently, and not only in relation to others. Even for one woman, after each pregnancy and childbirth, postpartum discharge may occur differently.

Postpartum recovery of the body

The first two hours, in the early postpartum period, which begins immediately after the separation of the placenta, a bright scarlet, moderately abundant substance will be released. Normally, this can last about 2 hours, and the bloody nature of the discharge is explained by the outflow of blood from the uterine vessels on which the wound surface has formed. The uterus, whose vessels are damaged by the separation of the placenta, begins to naturally contract so that the vessels stop bleeding.

It is believed that the normal level of blood loss is half a percent of the total weight of the postpartum woman. In some obstetric schools, a figure not exceeding a quarter of a liter will be considered normal.

The difference in the duration of the late postpartum period is due to several factors, the main ones:

uterine contraction and its speed;
no complications;
normal state of the blood coagulation system;
physiological birth process;
natural postpartum restoration of the female reproductive system.

If all these conditions are met, postpartum discharge usually tends to end one and a half months (6 weeks) after the birth of the baby. If they continue to go on much longer than expected or have stopped earlier, you need to consult with your local gynecologist and be sure to go to see him, even if there are no external signs of complications. Long-term release of an apparently harmless substance that is watery in nature may indicate an incomplete process of restoration of the uterus; bloody - lead to the development of anemia, especially detrimental to a woman during breastfeeding; purulent - signal the onset of an inflammatory process.

Normal discharge after childbirth

In the maternity hospital, the patient is under the constant attention of doctors. Under favorable circumstances, she is discharged home already on the 5-6th day. A copious flow of discharge can normally last 2-3 days, and all this time the body’s condition is closely monitored. Proper supervision is due to the enormous burden that a woman endures during childbirth.

The process, which lasts the first 2-3 days, is due to the presence of a wound surface on the walls of the uterus, and its intensity can increase or decrease under the influence of physical activity or breastfeeding. The fluids released at this time are called lochia by gynecologists, and their normal release is considered:

bloody color in the first 2-3 days;
less intensity and brown or meaty, not so bright color on day 5-6;
starting from 6-7 days - a white or yellow tint, normally quite light;
from 9-10 days they should look like an almost transparent substrate, of a meager nature.

Normally, the indicators, intensity and color of the discharge may take on a liquid appearance, but it is possible that they will be slightly stretchy. The appearance of blood clots, pain, and a longer period of uterine contraction is acceptable. These are the main diagnostic indicators by which one can judge how successfully the process of involution or reverse development of the uterus is proceeding. The restoration of the physiological state of a woman in labor takes longer if the contractility of this organ is weakened, but it can pass quite quickly if the woman’s body is healthy and the birth took place without complications.

Pathological postpartum discharge

Subinvolution, or delayed return of the uterus to its normal state, is an indicator that occurs under the influence of certain factors, not always pathological. It is dangerous if the process of uterine contraction lasts longer than normal. Normally, the uterus is small in volume, and its non-contraction can lead to the development of purulent-inflammatory processes.

First, the doctor palpates and feels the uterus and evaluates the rate of its contraction. If its size has changed little, although by now it should be small, he will insist on hardware and laboratory examination. Otherwise, delayed recovery can lead to pathological consequences.

The causes of subinvolution can be called natural processes, surgical intervention, or pathological complications:

multiple births;
rapid labor;
oncological neoplasms (uterine fibroids);
polyhydramnios;
gestosis;
long labor;
remnants of membranes or placenta.

A pathological condition may be indicated by a rotten smell of discharge that lasts more than a week beyond the prescribed period. Discharge that is bloody or white, in which the uterus continues to hurt, as well as normal-looking discharge that lasts for a month or more, should also cause concern. The main indicators to immediately send for examination are palpation and the nature of the discharge.

As for a caesarean section, the uterus contracts more slowly and weakly after it. The cesarean method involves longer healing and lochia after it is observed longer and more intense than after physiological childbirth.

Causes of pathological discharge

If deviations from the relative norm are accompanied by alarming symptoms (fever, general malaise, prolonged or early stopping lochia, sharp or dull pain), then there is a reason to immediately consult a doctor.

Mucus, cheesy clots and a sour smell indicate a developed thrush.

Heavy bleeding and clots resembling meat, an unpleasant odor, a gradual transition from the meat-colored stage to discharge resembling slop may indicate acute endometritis. This is an inflammation caused by remnants of membranes or blood clots, in which the mucous membrane needs to be scraped, removal of pathological debris and disinfection. Otherwise, the most unpredictable consequences are possible.

What to remember after childbirth

There is no absolute standard in medicine, and how many women had to see this from their own example when they gave birth for the second and third time. After all, each recovery period proceeds in its own way, with different durations and abundance. Therefore, it is worth focusing on the approximate normal range.

The mucous nature of the discharge can occur with both normal and pathological changes in the process of restoration of the uterus to its previous state. White substance - appears after breastfeeding, or as a result of poor hygiene. Normal lochia can be shorter or longer, depending on the condition of the body, the course of labor, and the contractility of the uterus.

Any actions should be started only after a medical examination, consultation with a specialist, laboratory tests, and any medications should be taken with the knowledge and approval of the doctor. This will help you recover quickly after childbirth.

Lochia is a physiological secretion of the postpartum uterus and consists mainly of blood and necrotic tissue. How long does lochia last after childbirth? This question interests many women who have given birth to their first child.

Composition of lochia

How long do lochia last after childbirth, what is their composition, why do they have this color? Lochia consists of blood that oozes from the area on the uterine wall to which the placenta was attached during pregnancy, areas of the endometrium that have changed and thickened during pregnancy, blood, mucus from the cervix and dead tissue.

Blood enters the lochia mainly from a large area of the changed area that remains after the placenta separates. Bleeding from this area is controlled by contractions of the uterine muscles. The healing and restoration process of the endometrium takes about 2 weeks.

This is why the bleeding is maximum at first and then gradually decreases. All postpartum discharge occurs within 1.5 months after delivery.

Lochia is sterile for 2-3 days, but after that it is colonized by bacteria, emitting a typical odor, which is normal. The smell from normal lochia should not be confused with the smell of discharge if there is a postpartum infection.

How long do lochia last after childbirth, especially premature birth? The amount of discharge may be light after such a birth, but more than usual after a twin pregnancy or other conditions in which the uterus grows larger than in a normal pregnancy.

Lochia species

Depending on the color, lochia can be of three types:

1. Red lochia after childbirth. How long does this type of discharge last? They last for the first 4-5 days after birth and are red in color - hence the term. They consist mainly of blood, pieces of membranes, decidua, meconium and cervical mucosa.

2. After red lochia, serous ones appear. The initial discharge gradually changes color to brown and then turns yellow over about a week. Serous lochia contains fewer red blood cells, but more leukocytes, separated from the developing endometrium and mucus from the cervix.

3. Lochia alba, or white lochia, is a whitish, cloudy fluid that is discharged from the vagina for about 1-2 weeks. These secretions mainly consist of decidual cells, mucus, leukocytes and epithelial cells, cholesterol, and fat.

How long does lochia last after childbirth? The duration of this period can be from 4 to 8 weeks, but on average it is most often 42 days.

The number of lochia may vary. For some women, painful contractions of the uterus can lead to heavy bleeding with clots, which reduces the healing process.

Breastfeeding stimulates uterine contractions, which leads to an increase in the amount of lochia released. It is the irritation of the nipples and areola that promotes the release of internal oxytocin, which is necessary for contraction of the myometrium and involution of the uterus (restoration of its prenatal size).

Sometimes a sudden change in a woman's position, such as suddenly standing up or bending over, can lead to large amounts of blood being released from the genital tract - this is simply drainage of the collected blood into the vagina and should not be a cause for concern.

However, it should be remembered that the endometrium, to which the placental tissue was attached, as well as some areas of the uterine mucosa, are open for a long time, and bacteria can easily enter this wound surface from the vagina. Therefore, you should avoid using tampons. Sanitary pads are the best option for women after childbirth.

For the same reason, you should not have sex during the postpartum period to avoid infection, which is very dangerous for both mother and child.

It is also best to avoid swimming in public pools until the lochia discharge has completely stopped.

In the postpartum period, the use of a shower is recommended. This will prevent infection from entering the uterus from the vagina, and will also promote better healing of the sutures after the episiotomy, if any.

Pathological lochia

How long does lochia last after childbirth? What should their intensity be? What are the symptoms of the pathological process? Lochia may be abnormal if infection occurs during this time. An infection may be suspected if:

Lochia continues to remain bright red even after a week;

The discharge suddenly turns bright red. This happens while they have already become pale;

There is an unpleasant odor;

All this is accompanied by fever with chills;

Pain in the lower abdomen increases significantly over time.

There is abnormally heavy bleeding that causes the pad to become wet in 1 hour or less, or there are a large number of clots. This is a sign of secondary postpartum hemorrhage and requires immediate attention.

Lochia after surgical delivery

Many women find that the flow of lochia is significantly less after a woman has undergone a cesarean section, since the uterine cavity is cleaned during the operation by the doctor after the baby is removed. This is not true. The flow of lochia does not depend on the type of birth - normal physiological or cesarean section. The amount and duration of discharge are the same in both cases.

In the postpartum period, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. Rest as much as possible.

2. Avoid excessive walking or standing for long periods of time as this increases blood flow.

3. Do not use vaginal tampons after childbirth, because they can promote the proliferation and penetration of bacteria and infection onto the wound surface of the uterine cavity.

4. Avoid sexual intercourse for 42 days.

How long do lochia last after childbirth?

The heaviest discharge occurs on the first day. Try not to panic if the bleeding seems to increase when you go home. Simply walking or running for a long time can increase blood flow. If the pad becomes completely wet within an hour, you should lie down and rest. If bleeding continues at the same rate for an hour or more, or if you observe larger clots, then it is extremely important to immediately consult a gynecologist, and if there is heavy bleeding, call an ambulance.

How long do lochia last after the second birth, should it really be shorter? Based on observations and reviews from mothers, after the second or subsequent births, the amount and duration of discharge does not change.

Other signs requiring medical attention:

The discharge remains red for more than 7 days after birth;

There is an unpleasant putrid odor;

You have symptoms of fever or chills.

Late postpartum bleeding

How long does lochia last after childbirth? Reviews from many young mothers confirm that this process takes no more than 1.5 months. Typically, vaginal discharge is pale pink or brown in color in the second week after birth. Don't be alarmed if you notice bright red discharge that appears occasionally during the first 6-8 weeks. Exercise or increased activity can cause this phenomenon. To stop bleeding and reduce spasms, you need to lie down for a couple of hours. If this does not help, you need to contact an antenatal clinic.

How long does lochia last after childbirth? How not to confuse them with bleeding? Postpartum hemorrhage is the most dangerous. If you lose no more than 600-700 ml of blood after an operative delivery or more than 300-400 ml after a vaginal birth, this is classified as normal blood loss. However, in 1 out of 10 cases out of the total number of all pregnancies there is a complication such as postpartum hemorrhage. It usually starts within 24 hours of delivery (early postpartum hemorrhage), but it can occur at any time within 6 weeks - late postpartum hemorrhage. After childbirth, the most common cause is the inability of the uterus to contract properly, leading to uncontrolled bleeding from the place where the placenta was attached. Sometimes it can be the result of unsutured tears in the vagina or cervix. Late postpartum bleeding can occur as a result of incomplete detachment of placental fragments in the uterus or due to infection. Both of these types of bleeding are dangerous and can lead to the death of the mother.

Every woman preparing to become a mother needs to know how long lochia lasts after childbirth. Here are the characteristic signs of late postpartum hemorrhage:

One pad is not enough for 1 hour;

Lochia does not change in color and intensity for more than 7 days;

There are large blood clots of various sizes - the size of a golf ball or a lemon;

Pain or swelling in the abdomen during the first days after birth;

Bleeding may cause loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or rapid heartbeat.

Treatment and prevention

After delivery, the midwife carefully examines the placenta and all membranes to ensure that they are intact and that no parts are left inside you. After the placenta is separated and released, doctors prevent bleeding by administering oxytocin or methylergometrine intravenously. These drugs stimulate myometrial contraction to reduce bleeding. External massage of the uterus is also necessary for the same purpose. Breastfeeding (if planned) will also stimulate natural contractions. Therefore, early breastfeeding immediately after the baby is born is now widely used.

In the early postpartum period, in some cases, massage of the uterus with a fist is required. If the bleeding does not stop, a procedure called curettage will be needed to examine the uterus and remove any pieces of placenta that were not removed on your own. If the uterus is damaged, that is, there is a rupture in the wall of the fetal sac, laparotomy and hysterectomy may be the necessary method to stop the bleeding.

You should monitor the process, how much lochia is released after childbirth, and how long it lasts. Sometimes, with intense bleeding, in rare cases, there is a need for transfusion of components or even whole blood.

Risks

How long does lochia last after childbirth, is its duration always the same when doctors expect large blood loss? The risk of developing postpartum hemorrhage is significantly higher in the following cases:

Multiple births;

Polyhydramnios (excessive amount of amniotic fluid);

Placenta previa;

Induced labor;

The birth of a large baby;

Uterine fibroids, which does not allow uterine fibers to contract symmetrically;

The mother is weakened due to anemia during pregnancy, preeclampsia, or a difficult, prolonged labor;

The mother is taking herbs or drugs that prevent blood clotting, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or other similar drugs.

When does your period start?

How many days does lochia last after childbirth? How to distinguish lochia from menstruation? When does your first period come? If you are not breastfeeding, your first period may take 1 or 2 months to arrive. But sometimes the waiting period extends to 12 weeks. If you're breastfeeding, your period may take a few weeks to arrive, although many breastfeeding moms note that your period may not come until your baby is weaned. When your first period appears, it may differ from previous prenatal regular bleeding. It may be heavier or longer than normal ones. Or it may stop suddenly and then start with clots. There may also be profuse bleeding. It is necessary to monitor your periods and the amount of blood released. If you need to change your pad more often than every hour and this continues for several hours, call your doctor.

Postpartum recovery is a special state of a woman, when organs and systems return to their normal, “non-pregnant” state. Normally, it should take place without medical assistance, but under the scrupulous supervision of the woman. The main indicator of health is postpartum discharge, which varies depending on the condition of the uterus. It is important to know what their duration, appearance, color, intensity, smell should be at each moment of time.

Discharge after childbirth (lochia) is caused by healing and cleansing of the uterus. The process goes through several stages and is natural. It is popularly believed that a woman “cleanses” for 40 days. Official medicine tends to agree, and calls the average period 42 days. More “blurred” boundaries from 5 to 9 weeks. Anything that lasts less or longer than the specified periods is pathology.

The woman’s task is to carefully monitor the lochia. Any deviation from the norm is a signal of trouble and is a reason for an immediate visit to the gynecologist.

You should sound the alarm if discharge after childbirth:

Finished in less than a month
Lasts longer than 2 months
Let's go green
Became cheesy white
Have purulent inclusions
Acquired an unpleasant odor (putrid, sour)
Sharply increased in volume
Blood appeared again

An indicator of a woman’s health in the postpartum period is normal (up to 37) body temperature. If it is elevated or you think that there is “something wrong” with your discharge, go to the gynecologist. It’s better to worry unnecessarily than to miss the problem.

Uterine healing process

The healing process of the wound cavity of the uterus is conventionally divided into 3 stages:

from 1 to 7 days after birth - red discharge
2-3 weeks after birth – brown discharge
Final stage – white lochia

The established dates are approximate, since they depend on the body, the complexity of childbirth, the method of delivery, and breastfeeding. Only your gynecologist can give an individual consultation when studying your medical history.

The first lochia

Cleansing the uterus begins immediately after the birth of the child - this is the expulsion of the placenta on the birth table. The obstetrician carefully examines its integrity. If breaks are found, then suspicion arises of incomplete separation of the placenta. The uterine cavity is cleaned to remove the remaining placenta.

For the first two hours after giving birth, the woman is monitored in the delivery room. Its purpose is to prevent bleeding. To do this, uterine contractions are stimulated by injection, and ice is placed on the abdomen. The discharge is copious, mostly blood.

How long does bleeding last after childbirth? Intense lochia of a bright red color ends in 3-4 days. At this time, the blood still does not clot well, and the wound surface remains extensive. By day 4, the lochia darken, acquiring a brownish color.

Clots in the first week (especially after sleep) are considered normal, as is the pungent smell of blood. Large clots larger in volume than a chicken egg should cause caution. Lochia comes after childbirth so abundantly that the pad is changed once an hour.

Second stage

The second stage of uterine cleansing lasts up to 3 weeks. The discharge consists of ichor, mucus, remains of dead cells with a small admixture of blood. The volume is comparable to normal menstruation or less. Color – brown. The smell is similar to musty, but not putrid or sour.

End of the recovery period

After the third week, before stopping, the lochia lightens to a white-transparent or yellowish color. Consist of mucus. In terms of quantity they are characterized as spotting. During this period, a woman can switch to panty liners.

Lochia after cesarean

Recovery after a cesarean section goes through the same stages, but more slowly. With this type of delivery, a scar is added to the wound in the uterine cavity on its wall, which delays healing. Discharge lasts longer after childbirth.

Pathological conditions

Discharge after childbirth ended early

Discharge after childbirth stops earlier if the woman was cleansed in the maternity hospital. With this intervention, the uterine cavity is artificially cleansed of the remains of the placenta, dead endometrium, and waste products of the child. This may speed up healing somewhat.

In other cases, the disappearance of lochia before the 35th day does not indicate a strong, quickly recovered body, but an early closure of the cervical canal. With this pathology, the discharge is deprived of its natural outlet and accumulates in the uterine cavity.

It should be understood that lochia consists of dead tissue. If gynecological cleansing is not carried out, the contents of the uterus will begin to decompose. This leads to infection or even sepsis.

Inflammatory diseases and fungus

The inflammatory process in a woman who has given birth can develop for various reasons: chronic infections, colds, insufficient hygiene, decreased immunity. The discharge acquires a characteristic “fishy” smell, greenish color, and changes consistency. After a while, high fever and pain in the lower abdomen are added. Without proper treatment, inflammatory processes in the uterus can lead to infertility.

The appearance of thrush is indicated by itching, a sour smell from the discharge, and a change in the consistency of the lochia to a curd-white consistency.

Bleeding

The appearance of blood in the lochia after the first week always indicates pathology. If you are in a maternity hospital, inform the doctors about this. If you notice blood at home, call an ambulance immediately.

Prevention of complications

Preventive measures in the postpartum period are reduced to:

Compliance with medical orders
Following hygiene requirements
Sufficient physical activity
Abstinence from sexual intercourse

A natural “reducer” is breastfeeding. With frequent latching of a baby, a woman's uterus receives powerful oxytocin stimulation.

And remember! A woman’s attentive and responsible attitude to her health is the key to a happy life for her children.