Discharge after childbirth, lemon-colored mucus. Postpartum discharge: normal or pathological

A woman needs to monitor the nature of the discharge after childbirth in order to suspect a pathological process in time and avoid consequences.

Discharge after childbirth is called lochia. At first they present as heavy menstruation. Lochia stops after about one to two months (4 to 8 weeks). Everything is purely individual. During the postpartum period, lochia repeatedly changes color and consistency. Very often, mucus appears in them a week after birth.

Mucous, snot-like discharge in women within normal limits after childbirth indicates:

1. That the uterus has shrunk and fully recovered. The wound surfaces have healed;
2. About the phase of the cycle. At the moment of ovulation, mucus is discharged.

It is best to take care in advance about choosing the most suitable contraception, after consulting with a gynecologist. You should not assume that the absence of menstruation is a guaranteed method of birth control. Doctors do not consider breastfeeding a method of contraception at all.

Physiological etiology

The so-called “white” lochia begins 7-10 days after birth. They are transparent or white, stretchy. Also, many women compare them to snot. There should be no unpleasant odor and especially high temperature!

The main cause of mucous discharge is fluid that passes through the blood vessels and lymph nodes:

• Uterine cells are capable of secreting transudate;
• During ovulation, mucus leaves the cervical canal;
• The cervix has the ability to secrete.

It is noted that the cells are especially active in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, at the time of ovulation and a few days before it. This happens under the influence of hormones. This ensures better lubrication and the environment in the vagina becomes less aggressive for sperm. The mucus that clogged the cervical canal and cervix in the first half of the cycle begins to move away and is released. All these are necessary conditions provided by nature for fertilization.

It is possible that the mucus that appeared in the discharge may either remain there or disappear when the postpartum period ends. The processes occurring in the body of each woman are individual.

It was also revealed that the nature of the discharge depends on whether the woman is breastfeeding her newborn baby. Breastfeeding (without complementary foods) inhibits the processes in the brain responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. Therefore, it is difficult to predict whether mucous discharge will stop or whether menstruation will begin.

Pathological causes

Gynecologists say that during inflammatory changes, the cervix is ​​capable of producing mucus. Then the mucous discharge is compared to the white of a raw egg; it contains whitish streaks.

They can also be white in color. This character indicates erosion of the cervix or inflammation of its canal.

How to determine: ovulation or an inflammatory process in the uterine cavity? Still, some women note an elevated body temperature in the range of 37-37.5 degrees. This may indicate ovulation. In this case, there may also be pain in the lower abdomen at the time the egg is released. In this case, menstrual bleeding should begin within a couple of weeks.

No matter how much you would like to do without seeking help from a doctor, this cannot be avoided. It is dangerous to wait until your period starts when your body temperature is elevated.

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When should you see a doctor?

Usually, mucous discharge (it is quite thick and stretchy, transparent or slightly milky in color) is considered to be a variant of the norm, because in a woman it can take on a different character depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle.

If you ignore this symptom and do not consult a specialist in time, you may miss the onset of the development of any pathology:

• Cervical erosions;
• Sexually transmitted infections;
• Cervical oncology;
• Inflammation of the appendages (fallopian tubes, ovaries);
• Infertility or difficulty conceiving.

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All complications can be avoided if you seek help in time. A visit to the gynecologist should not be postponed. If cervical erosion develops or genital infections appear, then it is necessary to be examined as early as possible. Only if the disease is detected in a timely manner is effective treatment possible.

In the postpartum period, it is very important to observe the rules of personal hygiene. The open wound surface of the uterus, and in some cases the sutures on the cervix or perineum, is an excellent breeding ground for the life of various microorganisms; it is humid and warm there. Inflammatory processes in the uterus or vagina develop very quickly. This is why it is so important for women to keep their external genitalia clean.

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 elevated 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.

After childbirth they occur quite often. For many women, this raises a lot of questions: is this normal or should you see a doctor? Read more about this in our article.

Week and their color

For young mothers, especially those who have given birth for the first time, everything seems strange and incomprehensible. Not only do you have to master a new role - being a mother, learning to breastfeed, but you also need to take care of your body. For example, yellow discharge after childbirth frightens women who have recently given birth. It is worth knowing the physiological side of their appearance.

When a woman gives birth to a baby, her body begins to change rapidly. There is no longer a need to carry a child in the womb, and therefore everything returns to its pre-pregnancy state.

They last quite a long time: from two weeks to one and a half months. The reason for such a long process is the release of the placenta, which is firmly attached to the wall of the uterus. Now a wound will form in it, which will heal. This is what causes postpartum bleeding. As a rule, the discharge is bright red. However, the shades of each individual woman can vary: from dark brown to light pink.

Their color depends on whether they continue. At the very beginning they are brighter, burgundy, and after a couple of weeks they are already lighter.

The secretion changes its consistency. Any deviations, such as the color and amount of discharge, alarm every new mother.

Yellow discharge: normal or not?

It is believed that a woman who breastfeeds her baby goes through the stage of postpartum discharge much faster. The uterus contracts more intensely, and therefore returns to its postpartum state more quickly. However, during this period, girls need to be as careful as possible in terms of their hygiene. Yellow discharge may appear precisely when this rule is not followed. In addition, doctors strictly prohibit the use of anything other than pads. For example, tampons. They delay the normal process of cleansing the uterine cavity. During normal menstruation, this is not critical, but immediately after the birth process, blood should flow freely.

In most cases, yellow discharge is normal. Especially during the period when lochia ends. The blood mixes with the secretion, sometimes acquiring a yellowish tint. If there is no smell, pain or itching, then most likely there is no need to worry.

It happens that even at the final stage of postpartum discharge, a woman notices streaks of blood on the pad. This is also normal because the uterus needs quite a long time to heal.

Duration

Every inexperienced woman in labor is interested in how many days the discharge lasts after childbirth. Uninformed women panic when they last longer than their normal period. This comes from ignorance of the physiology of this process. The purpose of menstruation is to release the “unused” egg. Lochia cleanses the uterine cavity, promoting its rapid contraction. Therefore, their duration is much longer. Normally it is from three to eight weeks. For some girls, especially young ones, this process may go faster. If the discharge lasts longer than expected, you should consult a doctor. It is possible that this process was complicated by bleeding.

There are cases when a woman gives birth with internal ruptures. At the same time, she should not actively move or even sit to avoid damage to the seams. However, not everyone manages to follow such a strict rule. In this case, the stitches break and begin to bleed.

The closer to completion the process of lochia secretion, the lighter they become. Pain in the abdomen disappears, secretion becomes less abundant. If a month after giving birth the discharge is yellow, you should not be alarmed. This is a normal phenomenon that predicts the imminent end of lochia.

Pathology

Yellow discharge in some situations can signal diseases of the genitourinary system. The body of a woman in labor is more vulnerable to various infections. You should be wary if some of the following signs are added to such discharge:

• Stomach ache. Especially cutting ones. At the very beginning, this is normal as the uterus contracts. But, for example, after a month this phenomenon is most likely a pathology.
• Unpleasant smell. This may indicate an infectious disease.
• Greenish-yellow discharge after childbirth mixed with pus indicates that the girl urgently needs to see a doctor. Inflammation is likely occurring.
• Itching and severe burning.
• Excessively long (more than two weeks) discharge that is yellow in color.
• Body temperature is more than 37.

See a doctor immediately!

If a woman is attentive to her health, then an infection that could get into the vagina will be cured quickly enough. However, if this process is started, the consequences can be disastrous. The most harmless disease is cervical erosion in the initial stage. But if it is not diagnosed and treated in time, it can turn into a malignant form.

Reduced immunity of a young mother can lead to thrush or colpitis. In this case, the discharge will not just be yellow, but also have a cheesy consistency.

Endometritis

The presence of pathologically prolonged yellow discharge may indicate endometritis. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane covering the uterine cavity. Anyone who has experienced endometritis knows how difficult it is to get rid of it.

In addition to unusual discharge, the woman complains of pain in the lower abdomen, which can radiate to the back. If you notice such symptoms, be sure to consult a doctor.

To ensure that none of the women encounters troubles associated with discharge after childbirth, experts recommend strictly following hygiene rules. The uterus is completely cleansed of the waste products of the baby in the womb, and therefore the blood that comes out is not at all similar to menstrual blood. For this reason, precautions should be taken more carefully after the baby is born.

1. Only pads should be used, tampons are prohibited. Today, pharmacies sell special postpartum hygiene bags. They allow the skin to breathe and can absorb quite a lot of blood.
2. Hygiene products should be changed as often as possible. It is best to do this once every three hours or, if necessary, earlier.
3. Be sure to wash yourself several times a day. If there are external breaks, you can use a weak solution of potassium permanganate or chamomile decoction.
4. Underwear should be as comfortable and natural as possible.
5. Yellow discharge after childbirth is usually normal only if it doesn't last long. Therefore, to avoid infection in the vagina, take a shower rather than a bath.
6. You should abstain from sex. An open wound in the uterus during sexual intercourse can become very painful and begin to bleed more profusely.
7. Be vigilant if lochia ends after a month and a half and suddenly returns again. Perhaps this is no longer postpartum discharge, but bleeding that has begun.

Conclusion

Information about how many days the discharge lasts after childbirth, information about its nature and physiology is extremely necessary for first-time women. If you notice that you have yellow lochia for too long, a burning sensation appears in the vagina, and your health has worsened, consult a doctor immediately. This probably indicates the onset of an infectious disease.

If no accompanying symptoms are observed, there is no need to be alarmed. Yellow discharge in most cases is the most common variant of the norm and does not in any way affect the health of the young mother.

The period of pregnancy and childbirth does not pass unnoticed for the female body: various changes occur in it. Therefore, it is not surprising that recovery after childbirth takes some time. It takes a particularly long time for the uterus to return to its original state. Discharge after childbirth is one of the stages of recovery of the female body, which must be paid attention to. Which discharges are considered normal and which are not? We will talk about this further.

Immediately after giving birth, women begin to have discharge, which rids the body of unnecessary consequences of pregnancy. First the placenta comes out. The process is accompanied by rupture of the vessels connecting the placenta and uterus. The uterus then contracts to its original size and eliminates excess fluid.

Naturally, the entire course of involution is accompanied by discharge, which is called “lochia.” The nature of discharge after childbirth is variable, so in order to know which lochia is considered normal and which is not, you should know all the necessary information about them.

In the first 2-3 days, vaginal discharge after childbirth is similar to menstrual discharge: blood comes out of the genital tract of the woman in labor. Moreover, regardless of how the birth took place - artificial or natural, the nature of the discharge after it does not change. Since during this period there is a high risk of inflammatory diseases, the girl must carefully observe hygiene and change pads as often as possible. Further, the nature of the lochia changes.

Discharge after childbirth: normal

In general, it is quite difficult to put the dynamics of allocations within a time frame. But average stages exist. We have already written about the first of them - bloody discharge. The second stage begins 4-6 days after birth, usually at the time of discharge. It is characterized by more scanty bloody discharge, which often contains mucus and clots.

About two weeks after birth, the discharge becomes very small and turns brownish-yellowish in color. Over time, the lochia becomes lighter, almost white.

It is normal if the discharge after childbirth lasts about 4 weeks.

In this case, the mucous discharge is replaced by watery discharge a week after birth. They remain in this consistency until the end of the uterine recovery period.

Copious clear discharge after childbirth

Strong transparent discharge after childbirth can occur in mothers who are not breastfeeding, a month to a month and a half after the birth of the child. If a girl’s menstrual cycle has resumed, this type of discharge may mean that she has begun ovulation. That is, you should resort to contraception if the partners do not plan to conceive another child.

If your discharge increases after childbirth, there is no need to immediately panic. The intensity and nature of lochia is influenced by a large number of factors. The duration of the discharge may also vary. The reason for concern is drastic changes. For example, the appearance of an unpleasant odor or strange color in the discharge, pain in the lower abdomen, chills, apathy and weakness. These symptoms may indicate the development of complications.

Unpleasant smell of discharge after childbirth

If the discharge after childbirth smells unpleasant, this may indicate that inflammation is developing in the uterus. Usually the reason to consult a doctor is the repulsive smell of lochia. While the intensity and even color of the discharge can be considered normal in different cases, an unpleasant odor is almost always a sign of inflammation. The most common inflammation that occurs during the postpartum period is endometritis. During it, lochia has a putrid odor and is green or yellow-brown in color. The woman in labor also experiences an increase in temperature. If you do not consult a doctor promptly, this disease can lead to death.

Speaking about what kind of discharge occurs after childbirth, it can be noted that the unpleasant smell of lochia is not always a sign of endometritis. It can also occur due to stagnation of secretions in the uterus. In this case, the girl undergoes curettage, which prevents the development of more serious inflammations.

Expectant mothers should know that the unpleasant odor of lochia also occurs due to the development of infections in the body. For example, gardnerellosis or chlamydia.

Mucous discharge after childbirth

Mucous discharge begins 4-5 days after birth. At first, due to the predominance of leukocytes, they have a yellow color and continue for a week. About two to three weeks after birth, clear mucous discharge begins, which may also be white. They say that the uterus has recovered completely and returned to its original size. Gradually the number of lochia decreases.

Purulent discharge after childbirth

If a few days after the birth of the baby, the discharge from the woman in labor has acquired a green-yellow tint, this indicates the presence of pus. Such lochia occurs due to postpartum complications in the form of infection and is accompanied by various symptoms. For example, high fever and pain in the lower abdomen. If purulent lochia appears, you should immediately consult a doctor. After diagnosis, he will prescribe the correct treatment that will help avoid complications.

After giving birth, new mothers notice discharge from the genitals for several weeks. They are usually bloody, brownish, or watery. The appearance of blood on underwear can be frightening and raise fears about the presence of uterine bleeding after childbirth. Should a mother who notices unusual vaginal discharge after the birth of her baby be concerned? Let's consider under what circumstances such a phenomenon is recognized by doctors as the norm, and how long the discharge lasts after childbirth.

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.

Color and other characteristics of normal discharge

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What should normal discharge be like immediately after childbirth? The shade should gradually change from blood red to whitish and transparent:

1. Immediately after birth, the discharge is bloody (see also:). This is due to the fact that the blood vessels damaged during the separation of the placenta did not have time to heal, and almost pure blood is released from the woman’s vagina after childbirth, so if there is bleeding, this is a normal phenomenon. You need to stock up in advance on pads intended for heavy periods or for urological patients. Doctors prohibit the use of tampons and menstrual cups.
2. Within a week after the baby is born, the postpartum scarlet lochia turns brown or brown. Lumps of blood may be mixed with the discharge even after 5-6 days after pregnancy.
3. At the end of the week, the postpartum discharge becomes yellowish in color. The liquid resembles ichor oozing from small wounds during healing. This color of lochia is due to the content of lymphocytes and leukocytes in them, which contribute to the restoration of torn vessels inside the uterus.
4. Gradually, the discharge acquires a mucous consistency or becomes transparent. This is a sign that the regeneration of the inner lining of the uterus was successful, and lochia after childbirth was replaced by vaginal discharge.

Initially, postpartum bleeding smells like blood. Over time, the smell of metal gives way to dampness or delicacy - this is what clotted or stagnant blood smells like, there is nothing wrong with that.

How long can the discharge last normally?

Doctors divide the postpartum period into the following stages:

• early - the first 2-3 hours after birth;
• late - lasts up to 8 weeks.

At the beginning of the postpartum period, the mother who gave birth is still in the delivery room. During this period, the most active bleeding is observed. How much blood does a woman lose? Approximately 400 ml. The midwife closely monitors the woman in labor in order to promptly notice after childbirth pathological bleeding, which is a symptom of hypotension, injuries, and ruptures.

How long does lochia last after childbirth? The duration depends on the reduction in the size of the uterus, which, by contracting, helps heal the wounds. The uterus decreases by approximately 1 cm per day. On the day the baby is born, the bottom of the organ can be felt at the level of the middle of the abdomen; after 3-4 days it is located in the middle between the navel and vagina. By day 9-10, the uterus is at a height of 1-2 cm from the vagina. If in the last days of pregnancy the organ weighs about 1 kg, then by the end of the postpartum period it returns to its original weight of 70 g.

How long does it take to bleed? Lochia is most intensely secreted in the first 3 days. Their volume is approximately 300 ml, and the woman has to change the pad frequently.

On the 9-10th day, when the uterus has almost returned to its original state, the discharge becomes scanty and does not cause much discomfort. After childbirth, lochia may completely stop within a month.

How long does lochia last after childbirth as a result of surgery? After a cesarean section, lochia, as a rule, lasts longer than during a natural birth (more details in the article:). Any surgical intervention is stressful for the human body, and rehabilitation after it is more difficult. How long does it take after giving birth for all this to stop? About 8 weeks. In the first month after birth, lochia is usually more abundant.

Does the duration of discharge depend on the type of feeding?

How long does this symptom last after the birth of the newborn if the mother is breastfeeding? When breastfeeding, discharge passes faster than if a woman who has given birth feeds her baby with formula.

Milk appears in a woman’s mammary glands under the influence of oxytocin. It is produced due to the sucking movements of the baby - the brain receives a signal, and the pituitary gland begins to produce a hormone that causes contraction of myoepithelial cells and pushes milk to the nipple.

Oxytocin has a similar effect on the uterus. Under the influence of this hormone, the uterine muscles contract more strongly, which means involution, and with it healing, occurs faster. If a mother wants to quickly undergo rehabilitation after childbirth, she should feed her newborn with milk. How long should lochia last while breastfeeding, and how quickly does it end? This is an individual process, but some women notice a cessation after the end of the month.

Pathological discharge and accompanying symptoms

What should I do if, a month after giving birth, bleeding starts again, or the lochia does not stop even after 3 months? This indicates the presence of abnormalities in uterine involution. How to determine that rehabilitation after childbirth is not going well? First of all, you need to pay attention to the nature of the discharge, its color and smell.

How to determine the presence of the disease by the color of lochia is shown in the table:

Color	Other symptoms	Possible diseases
Red, bloody or brown 1-2 months after baby is born	Pulling, aching sensations in the lower abdomen.	Endometriosis is the growth of the endometrium outside the uterus. Myoma is a benign tumor of the myometrium. Polyps are pedunculated growths that can penetrate the vagina through the cervical canal and sometimes degenerate into cancerous tumors. However, the reason may be the onset of menstruation; in women who refuse breastfeeding, the menstrual cycle may begin immediately after childbirth.
Light red or pink	Sharp pain in the lower abdomen.	Injuries during childbirth, suture dehiscence, cervical ectopia, polyps.
Bright yellow	Itching, bad odor, increased body temperature.	Endometritis is an inflammatory process in the uterine endometrium.
Green	Itching, burning, unpleasant odor, foamy discharge.	Infection of the uterus, vagina, or fallopian tubes. Bacterial vaginosis - due to hormonal fluctuations, a change in the pH of the vagina occurs, which causes inhibition of beneficial bacteria and the growth of pathogenic microflora. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sexually transmitted diseases.
White	Itching, burning, sour smell, flaky consistency.	Thrush is an infection caused by Candida fungi. They are constantly present in the vagina and begin to multiply when hormones fluctuate or immunity is reduced.

Regardless of the stage at which they appeared, purulent discharge is a reason to immediately make an appointment with a gynecologist. Most often they are accompanied by lethargy, headache, fatigue, and increased body temperature. Pus may be a symptom of salpingoophoritis. This is an inflammation of the appendages, which develops due to the entry of staphylococci, streptococci, and gonococci into the fallopian tubes and ovaries. You can see what pathological discharge looks like in the photo.

Mucous discharge is normal, especially at 3-4 weeks. They indicate pathology if they come on too profusely or appear at a time when there should still be bleeding.

What to do if lochia suddenly ends prematurely? This indicates the presence of a lochiometer. With this disease, lochia cannot leave the uterus for the following reasons:

• blockage of the cervical canal;
• inflection of the uterus;
• weak contraction of the organ.

Any deviation from normal indicators in color, smell, consistency is a reason to consult a doctor. Do not neglect warning signs; they can be symptoms of dangerous diseases.

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.