What should postpartum discharge be like?

What type of discharge occurs after childbirth?

Lochia consists of blood cells, ichor, plasma, scraps of the lining of the uterus (dying epithelium) and mucus from the cervical canal, so you will notice mucus and clots in them, especially in the first days after childbirth. When pressing on the abdomen, as well as during movement, the discharge of wound contents may increase. Keep this in mind, if you want to get out of bed, you will immediately gush. Therefore, we recommend that you first place a diaper under your feet.

Lochia will constantly change its character. At first they resemble menstrual discharge, only much more abundant. This is good because the uterine cavity is being cleansed of wound contents. After just a few days, the lochia will become slightly darker in color and less in number. In the second week, the discharge will be brownish-yellow and acquire a mucous consistency, and after the third week it will be yellowish-white. But blood impurities can be observed for a whole month after childbirth - this is normal.

Causes of discharge in women after childbirth

Bleeding after childbirth is called “lochia.” Discharge after the birth of a baby occurs not only in women who give birth naturally, but also in those who have undergone a cesarean section.

Why does postpartum discharge appear? To answer this question, you need to understand what happens to the uterus after the baby is born.

Despite the fact that the child is already in the hands of the midwife, the process, which is called postpartum, continues for the woman. The afterbirth comes out of the uterus.

The placenta consists of several layers, the first is formed from the endometrium of the uterus and is called the basal decidua. It is permeated with blood vessels and includes depressions filled with maternal blood. Due to the fact that the arteries and capillaries of the mother and fetus enter the placenta, diffusion occurs between the two bloodstreams, and the baby receives the nutrients it needs.

When the placenta breaks away from the wall of the uterus and comes out, the surface of the organ resembles an open wound. Blood flows from gaping vessels, especially intensely in the first minutes after birth.

After some time, the organ begins to shrink, decreasing and reaching its original size. This phenomenon is called involution. By contracting, the muscles compress the blood vessels, helping to stop postpartum bleeding, heal wounds and stop lochia. Individual factors influence how quickly the uterus shrinks to its original size.

To avoid bleeding?

Even after the mother has been transferred to the postpartum ward, the likelihood of bleeding still remains high. If the amount of discharge increases sharply, call a doctor immediately. To prevent bleeding, do the following:

• Turn over on your stomach regularly: this will help empty the uterine cavity of wound contents. Better yet, lie more on your stomach rather than on your back or side.
• Go to the toilet as often as possible, even if you don't feel the urge. Optimally every 2-3 hours, since a full bladder puts pressure on the uterus and prevents its contraction.
• Place a heating pad with ice on your lower abdomen several times a day: the blood vessels will contract, which also prevents bleeding.
• Do not lift anything heavy - the amount of discharge may increase with physical activity.

In addition, in nursing mothers, lochia ends much faster. Therefore, breastfeed your baby on demand - during sucking, the mother’s body produces oxytocin, which provokes contraction of the uterine muscles. At the same time, the woman feels cramping pain, and the discharge itself intensifies.

Last update: 10/02/2019

How long does the discharge last after childbirth?

Every young mother is interested in how long discharge lasts after childbirth, how long does it last, and in what situation can excessive duration of lochia be a sign of disorders in the body? Of course, each case is individual, but usually women’s discharge after childbirth stops by day 42—that’s how long the postpartum period lasts.

Duration of discharge after childbirth

Signs of pathology

The presence of yellow discharge after childbirth after 3 months or 4 months should already alert you. At this stage, there should be no lochia (and other secrets). If you discover this, you should immediately contact an experienced doctor.

The girl will need urgent hospitalization if:

1. Body temperature rose sharply.
2. I started feeling dizzy.
3. There is nausea and even vomiting.
4. The heat and chills bother me.
5. The secretion has a rotten or other unpleasant odor (sour, musty, musty, pungent).
6. Vagina itches and burns.
7. The woman feels weakness and loss of strength.
8. There is a green tint to the discharge.
9. Uterine bleeding began.

Read also: The cervix before and after childbirth: what it looks like, what it should be like

Such symptoms indicate complex complications, in the form of an inflammatory process or a gynecological disease (fibroids, endometritis, increased levels of leukocytes in the urine, etc.).

Yellow-green discharge after childbirth is a very dangerous signal that indicates the presence of an inflammatory process.

Discharges that may be a sign of pathology

If you have little discharge after childbirth or it suddenly stops, this may be a clear sign of pathology - lochiometers. The reason for the reduction or complete cessation of lochia may be a spasm of the cervix, which simply “does not release” the discharge out. This especially applies to the first days after the baby is born. This deviation from the norm is characterized by retention of lochia in the uterine cavity, due to which the organ is stretched. In this case, the woman feels heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen, the uterus increases in size, and fever begins with an increase in temperature to 38-40 degrees. If you do not consult a doctor in time, inflammation of the uterus (endometritis) may develop. For treatment, lochiometers usually prescribe antispasmodic and contractile drugs, and less commonly, antibiotics. Sometimes eliminating accumulations of lochia is possible only by emptying the uterine cavity.

Woman after childbirth

Another reason to see a doctor urgently is heavy, strong discharge after childbirth. This symptom may be a sign of disturbances in the process of uterine contraction, and also signal a blood clotting disorder. Both conditions pose a threat to a woman’s life and therefore require immediate action.

Also, sometimes in the first few hours after birth, bleeding occurs from sutures placed on tears in the birth canal. This usually happens if the requirements for ensuring maximum rest of these areas are not met - exclusion of physical activity, sexual rest, control of straining and the nature of stool, no pressure on the sutures. If this situation occurs, it is important to consult a doctor immediately.

Other signs of pathology in the nature and amount of discharge

Additional signs that should alert you in the postpartum period

In addition to a sharp change in the nature and intensity of the discharge, a woman should be alerted to other unpleasant symptoms. The first of them is pain in the lower abdomen. Of course, in the first days the uterus contracts intensely, which causes paroxysmal discomfort in the lower abdomen, especially intensifying during breastfeeding. However, increased pain and the occurrence of sharp spasms should be the reason for an urgent visit to the gynecologist.

Temperature increase

Another sure sign of problems in the body is an increase in body temperature. Here it is only necessary to exclude the appearance of stagnation of milk in the breast - lactostasis, which causes a sharp and strong increase in body temperature. If there is no pain or “heaviness” in the chest, and the body temperature is above 37 degrees, then you should schedule a visit to the doctor. Perhaps this is how an infection that has entered the uterine cavity manifests itself. Additional symptoms of infectious complications include general malaise, headaches, dizziness, body and joint aches.

If the volume of discharge increases

You should consult a doctor if the amount of discharge increases after childbirth, since there is a possibility of late postpartum bleeding, which may occur 2 hours or more after the baby is born. Reasons for increased discharge include:

• the appearance of hypotonic bleeding;
• the appearance of bleeding associated with retained parts of the placenta;
• the appearance of bleeding associated with blood diseases in which there is a violation of blood clotting.

Menstruation and discharge after childbirth

As mentioned above, the onset of the menstrual cycle in the postpartum period depends on the nature of the baby’s feeding. If he is fully breastfed, there will usually be no periods during the entire feeding period. In the case of mixed feeding, the return of menstruation occurs after 4-5 months. Well, if for some reason the mother does not breastfeed the child (for example, in the absence of milk), the restoration of the cycle occurs within a couple of months.

In any case, whenever a woman resumes menstruation, young mothers often note the appearance of acyclic discharge after childbirth, cycle instability, and delays in the onset of the first menstruation. If you experience any of these symptoms, don't worry, but for your own peace of mind, be sure to tell your doctor.

Yellow discharge after childbirth

The discharge acquires a yellowish tint approximately ten days after childbirth. The uterus is gradually recovering, and the yellow discharge only confirms this fact. During this time, it is important to breastfeed your baby and also remember to empty your bladder on time. Thus, the yellow discharge will stop faster, and the uterus will return to its original prenatal state.

However, if immediately after the birth of your baby you notice that you have discharge of a bright yellow color or with a green admixture, you should tell your doctor about it. After all, such lochia can be caused by inflammatory processes occurring in a woman’s body. In addition, discharge of this color is usually accompanied by high fever and unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen.

It is possible that suppuration has occurred in the uterine cavity, so you should seek help from a gynecologist who will refer you for an ultrasound.

Remember that yellow discharge caused by infection usually has a strong, purulent odor. To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to maintain personal hygiene and also be under the supervision of a doctor.

But in general, yellow discharge is a common occurrence and it only confirms that everything is proceeding as expected.

Recovery in the postpartum period

Every woman in the postpartum period should know that breastfeeding is an excellent prevention of all kinds of complications. After all, when a baby is applied to the breast, there is an immediate release of the hormone oxytocin, which also causes contractions of the uterus. After feeding, a woman may observe a visible increase in discharge, which is associated precisely with contraction of the muscles of the uterus and should not cause concern.

To speed up uterine contractions, you should empty your bladder in a timely manner. During the postpartum period, it is advisable to do this every three hours, even if the woman does not have a pronounced feeling of bladder fullness, and to avoid constipation.

For 1-2 months after giving birth, discharge cannot be absorbed with tampons, precisely because they do not remove lochia, but simply absorb them. This can lead to the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms. It is recommended to use pads or diapers instead of tampons. Choose unscented products, as you need to control not only the color and number of lochia, but also their smell.

It is extremely important to maintain good personal hygiene. You should especially carefully monitor the hygiene of the genital organs one to two weeks after childbirth, when the discharge is still bloody. During this time, it is forbidden to take a bath, limiting yourself to showering only. The stream of water from the shower should not be very strong and should be directed from front to back - and only from the outside. To safely clean the external genitalia and vaginal mucosa, it is recommended to use special products - for example, washing gels for intimate hygiene Ginocomfort. These products were developed by specialists from the pharmaceutical company VERTEX, are characterized by a safe composition, including natural active ingredients, and also have all the necessary certificates, certificates and other necessary documents.

Sexual rest continues up to 42 days, and intimate relationships are resumed only after a control ultrasound of the pelvic organs, examination by an obstetrician-gynecologist and an adequate selection of a contraceptive method.

Exercising after childbirth Sources:

1. EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND PREVENTION OF SUBINVOLUTION OF THE POSTPARTUM UTERUS. Naumkin N.N., Ivanyan A.N., Smirnova T.I. // Bulletin of new medical technologies. – 2008. – No. 2. – pp. 46-48.
2. CYTOLOGY OF UTERINE LOCIA IN ENDOMETRITIS AFTER BIRTH. Kupert M.A., Kupert A.F., Solodun P.V. // Acta Biomedica Scientifica. – 2004. – No. 2. – pp. 172-175.
3. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0401/p442.html
4. https://www.pubfacts.com/detail/19674353/Early-postpartum-discharge-and-breastfeeding-an-observation.
5. https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/lochia-normal-bleeding-and-discharge-after-pregnancy/

Restoring a woman's body after childbirth takes time. This is especially true for the main reproductive organ – the uterus. Gradually it shrinks, takes on its previous size, and the endometrial layer that lines it from the inside is restored.

After delivery, a blood-colored fluid, lochia, is released for some time. They gradually darken and disappear in 6–8 weeks. What happens after this and what should female discharge normally look like a couple of months after delivery? It depends on the characteristics of the mother’s body.

Features of hygiene in the postpartum period

The doctor who managed the pregnancy and delivered the baby while the woman in labor is still in the hospital will tell you about hygiene rules during the rehabilitation period after childbirth. A few recommendations on how to properly keep the vulva and perineum clean to avoid infection:

1. During lochia it is necessary to use pads. Tampons and menstrual cups contribute to the proliferation of pathogenic microflora and stagnation of discharge. You can buy postpartum pads in pharmacies, but if the discharge is heavy, you can use diapers with an absorbent layer. For scanty lochia, regular menstrual products will do.
2. You need to wash yourself at least twice a day. You don't need to use soap too often. You need to wash in the shower, not in the bath. You cannot lie in hot water for a long time; this can negatively affect the restoration of the integrity of blood vessels and cause heavy bleeding. When washing, you need to make movements from front to back, from the vagina to the anus. If you do the opposite, intestinal microflora may enter the vagina, which will cause inflammation.
3. If a woman has had stitches, they need to be treated regularly. Antiseptic drugs are suitable for this - a solution of potassium permanganate or Furacilin.

If you adhere to the rules of hygiene and monitor the nature of the discharge, the risk of infection can be minimized. Any disease is easier to treat in the initial stages than in an advanced state.

Postpartum discharge: what should it be normal?

Before being discharged from the maternity hospital, the woman undergoes a control ultrasound to find out whether there are any blood clots or placenta particles left in the uterus (we recommend reading: what to do if there are blood clots left in the uterus after childbirth?). When they are detected, scraping is done. Otherwise, the mother is discharged home. After childbirth, spotting is observed for 4–7 weeks. These are lochia, which consist of mucous exudate, blood and fragments of the decidua that have lost its viability.

When delivering by cesarean section, uterine recovery takes longer, bleeding can last more than 2 months (we recommend reading: when does the first period come after a cesarean section?). This is due to the fact that the uterus is injured and a suture is placed on it, which reduces its contractile activity. It is important to keep a diary and record the amount and nature of discharge daily. After 4–6 days, they should change color from scarlet to brown and shrink in volume. A natural help in this is breastfeeding, which stimulates the contractile activity of the uterus.

Types of normal discharge in the postpartum period:

1. Bloody. Lochia initially has a scarlet color and the smell of blood, which is due to the presence of a large number of red blood cells.
2. Serous. Appear by the end of the first week. They have a musty odor and contain many leukocytes.
3. Yellowish-white. Observed from 1.5 weeks after birth, they have a liquid consistency and do not smell. At the 6th week they practically disappear, become colorless and contain only mucus.

Discharge after childbirth - types and duration

Heavy bleeding after childbirth (lochia) is a normal physiological process. At first, postpartum bleeding brings a lot of inconvenience to a woman.

But the presence of lochia is more of a benefit than a harm to the female body. Thanks to lochia, the uterine cavity is cleansed. Let's figure out what postpartum discharge should be like normally, and what may indicate pathology.

We will also answer the question: how long does discharge last after childbirth?

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What is lochia

Where does such a large amount of blood come from after childbirth? How much do you bleed after childbirth? The fact is that at the place where the placenta is attached to the uterus, after the placenta comes out, an open wound forms.

The blood vessels that connected the uterus and placenta are torn away and come out under the influence of uterine contractions.

Postpartum discharge consists of blood, blood clots, plasma and cervical mucus.

During the first two hours after the birth of the baby, bleeding is very heavy. Therefore, the woman in labor is under the supervision of medical personnel. Immediately after childbirth, a woman loses 400-500 ml of blood.

During this time, nurses monitor the woman’s condition and ask her to empty her bladder on her own or with the help of a catheter. Because a full bladder prevents effective contraction of the uterus.

Find out:

Source: https://zen.yandex.ru/media/vseposlerodov/vydeleniia-posle-rodov-vidy-i-prodoljitelnost-5a1ed34a581669e90fa89339

How long do lochia last?

The duration of lochia is affected by:

• woman's blood clotting;
• features of gestation and the course of delivery (natural, cesarean section);
• size and weight of the fetus (after a multiple pregnancy, the reproductive organ takes longer to recover);
• method of feeding (fuckers stop faster if a woman breastfeeds her baby).

The more actively the uterus contracts, the sooner the lochia will end (we recommend reading: what to do if the uterus contracts poorly after a cesarean section?). On average, they stop within 6 weeks; after a cesarean section, the period can drag on for another 3 weeks (more details in the article: how long do lochia last after a cesarean section?). After three months, the uterus should be completely clean. Continuous, profuse discharge of scarlet color should alert you. The complete absence of lochia is also a sign of pathology (hematomas). In this case, the discharge accumulates in the uterus and has no outlet. It is important to seek immediate medical attention.

How long does discharge last after childbirth?

How long does discharge last after childbirth? In general, postpartum discharge has the scientific name of lochia. They begin to appear from the moment of postnatal rejection and usually persist for 7-8 weeks. Over time, the lochia secretes less and less, their color begins to become lighter and lighter, and then the discharge stops.

However, it is impossible to answer the question of how long the discharge lasts after the end of labor, since it depends on several factors:

• The physiological characteristics of each woman are different, including the body’s ability to quickly recover after childbirth.
• The course of pregnancy itself.
• The process of childbirth.
• Intensity of uterine contraction.
• Presence of complications after childbirth.
• Breastfeeding a child (if a woman breastfeeds her baby, the uterus contracts and cleanses much faster).

But, on average, remember, discharge lasts about 1.5 months. During this time, the body gradually recovers from pregnancy and childbirth. If the lochia ends a couple of days or weeks after giving birth, you should seek help from specialists, since your uterus is not contracting properly, and this is fraught with serious complications. The same applies to situations where the discharge does not stop for quite a long time, which may indicate bleeding, polyps in the uterus, an inflammatory process, etc.

How does breastfeeding affect lochia?

Breastfeeding produces oxytocin, a hormone that has a positive effect on the contractile activity of the uterus. It promotes rapid contraction of the muscle organ and a return to its original size. The volume of lochia becomes smaller every day. To quickly reduce the amount of discharge, you need to put your baby to the breast as often as possible.

As soon as the uterus has recovered (usually three months after birth), menstruation may begin. However, it happens that the cycle is restored earlier. The first cycle is usually anovulatory, but it also happens that an egg ready for fertilization is released. For this reason, pregnancy cannot be ruled out during breastfeeding.

Normal or pathological?

Signs of complications in the postpartum period are:

• Yellow discharge with an unpleasant odor. Evidence of suppuration and the onset of endometritis or stagnation of lochia in the uterus. Pathologies indirectly confirm pain in the lower abdomen and an increase in body temperature.
• Increased discharge, sudden uterine bleeding two months after birth. Sometimes it can be mistaken for the first menstruation. In contrast, bleeding continues for more than 10 days, accompanied by the release of blood clots.
• Curdled discharge may occur while taking antibiotics. They can provoke a deficiency of lactobacilli in the vagina, which is accompanied by thrush, an unpleasant burning sensation and itching.

Bloody discharge after 2–4 months

Bloody discharge after the end of lochia can be spotting, appear in the form of spots or be abundant. They can be provoked by a gynecological examination, sexual intercourse, increased physical activity, or heavy lifting.

Each case is individual, so you cannot do without consulting a gynecologist. It is possible that your first period has arrived since giving birth. In this case, it is also important to visit a doctor who will examine the woman and select a contraceptive method.

Brown discharge after 2–4 months

Brown discharge after childbirth is not uncommon (see also: bloody discharge after childbirth). This color indicates the presence of coagulated blood in them. The appearance of such discharge 3 months after birth is evidence of the beginning of the restoration of the cycle. They may arrive at intervals of 21–34 days. After a couple of similar periods, the discharge will turn red.

When brown discharge continues for more than a month, it does not look like menstruation. Most likely, there is a hormonal imbalance that should be corrected. For this purpose, ultrasound and tests are indicated, based on which the doctor selects treatment. Often such discharge is observed with endometritis, cervical erosion, which also requires attention and correction.

Bright red discharge after a month or later

If bright red discharge was observed a month after childbirth and disappeared within four days, we can talk about the resumption of menstruation (for more details, see the article: menstruation after childbirth and cesarean section while breastfeeding). This happens to mothers who do not breastfeed. At the same time, one should not exclude pathological processes in the pelvic organs, especially if blood flows or smears for 2 weeks or more. Such an early onset of menstruation is a reason to consult a gynecologist. After examination, he will be able to accurately name the cause of the bright red discharge.

Scarlet color may indicate the following anomalies:

• cervical wounds;
• clotting problems;
• rupture of the inner part of the uterine muscle.

Bloody discharge after 2–4 months

Bloody discharge after 2–4 months is one of the normal variants. Many women complain that such discharge either disappears or appears again. There is no pain, fever or other alarming symptoms. To reassure yourself, it is better to consult a doctor who will assess postpartum changes in the body and allow intimacy.

Nature of the discharge

When determining what discharge after childbirth is normal and abnormal, a woman must pay attention to the duration and amount of discharge. Mandatory assessment of the nature of postpartum discharge should include determination of color and odor.

Color

The appearance of a yellow or greenish tint in discharge with an unpleasant odor after childbirth may be a sign of inflammation of the uterine mucosa. Green color indicates a purulent process in the uterus: if droplets of pus appear, you should immediately contact a gynecologist. Abdominal pain and high fever are often added.

Mucus that lasts longer than a week after birth, watery and transparent lochia should also be alarming: in the latter case, this type of discharge may be a sign of excessive formation of blood transudate, plasma and lymph leaking into the uterine cavity during healing, or bacterial vaginosis may occur. Vaginosis is characterized by copious discharge with a fishy odor. The most common causes of bacterial vaginosis in women are violations of personal hygiene rules, leading to colonization of the vaginal epithelium by Gardnerella and other opportunistic microorganisms.

Smell

If a woman begins to have a cheesy discharge with a sour odor, such symptoms may be due to the addition of a candidal infection. Symptoms may include: itching in the perineum, swelling and redness of the genitals. Fungal pathology is associated with:

• decreased immunity;
• taking antibiotics, hormones, immunosuppressants;
• installation of a pessary;
• failure to comply with personal hygiene rules and other factors.

Thrush can be eliminated by taking antifungal medications, strengthening the immune system, and establishing a diet with sufficient protein and vitamins.

How to distinguish pathological discharge from the onset of menstruation?

If there is severe blood loss, when one night pad fills up in 1-3 hours and this continues for more than a day, you need to urgently go to the doctor. This phenomenon threatens a rapid loss of strength and a decrease in hemoglobin to a critical level (60 g/l). In this case, not only cleaning will be indicated, but also taking iron supplements and plasma transfusion.

Pathological bleeding is possible with endometritis, polyps, adenomyosis, uterine suture dehiscence, fibroids, and inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs. They differ from regular periods in duration, abundance, and may have an unpleasant odor or an unusual color.

Postpartum discharge that causes discomfort and differs from the norm should be the reason for an unscheduled visit to the gynecologist. Modern diagnostic methods will allow you to quickly find the cause of complications and stop the discharge, begin treatment of the pathology that caused it.