Smirnova Olga (gynecologist, State Medical University, 2010)

Each woman experiences a certain amount of discharge after childbirth, which can signal the normal course of the recovery process or indicate the development of pathology. To assess the situation, you need to know their permissible duration, maximum quantity, as well as color and smell.

Causes of discharge after childbirth

When a doctor tells a woman in labor that she can notice traces of blood on the pad (lochia) for a certain period of time, some women panic, associating such secretion solely with damage to the genital organs. But this is a misconception. Why is there bleeding after childbirth and what is its role for the health of the body?

Lochia is the name given to the uterine discharge that follows the birth of a baby. This is the result of restoration of the surface of the uterus. The endometrium is rejected, which comes out through the genitals. It is noteworthy that lochia contains only 80% blood, and the rest is represented by the usual secretion of the uterine glands.

The secreted liquid contains:

• dead epithelial cells;
• blood;
• plasma;
• ichor;
• remnants of the placenta;
• traces of fetal activity;
• secret of the reproductive system.

Postpartum discharge must be present. If the lochia does not come out, there may be a violation and the woman urgently needs to go to the hospital.

After the birth of the baby, women need to use special ones. Mothers in labor most often use: , .

How long does postpartum discharge last?

The acceptable duration of lochia is considered to be a period of six to eight weeks, and this period has been established by gynecologists around the world. This time is enough to cleanse the uterus of the endometrium, which functioned during gestation. Patients mistakenly believe that they need to pay attention only to the deadline, but a very rapid cessation of vaginal secretion is also considered a relative pathology:

Five to nine weeks

The period is a minor deviation that requires taking into account the color, smell, volume and composition of the fluid secreted from the vagina. A timely visit to the doctor minimizes the likelihood of serious health problems.

Less than a month and more than nine weeks

This fact indicates existing problems in the body that require immediate examination. The doctor will conduct a diagnosis, study the test results, determine the presence or absence of serious inflammatory processes and decide on the advisability of hospitalization.

On average, vaginal discharge ends by 42 days after birth. In a shorter period of time, the endometrium cannot recover. Lochia will come out until the surface of the uterus is completely healed.

What affects the duration of discharge after delivery?

The duration of the presence of lochia depends on the following factors:

1. Individual characteristics of the course of physiological processes in the female body.
2. The rate of restoration of the reproductive system after the birth of a child.
3. Diseases (endometriosis, uterine fibroids, etc.).
4. The presence of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
5. Method of delivery: natural or artificial (by caesarean section).
6. Intensity of uterine contraction.
7. Breast-feeding.

A patient who successfully carried a baby to term and without complications, according to calculations, under the condition of breastfeeding, observes a more rapid contraction of the uterus and the process of restoration and cleansing of the body is more intense.

Duration of lochia discharge after repeated births

Doctors are of the opinion that the number of pregnancies also affects how long the discharge will last after childbirth. As a rule, their volume and duration are less after 2 or 3 births. Lochia may begin quite intensely, gradually decreasing over 4 weeks. By the end of the first month they are practically absent.

However, it is necessary to take into account the reaction of a particular woman’s body to the birth of a second or third child. It is possible that the body endured this process more easily the first time, and therefore the recovery was faster, but the next time a failure is possible.

Amount of secretion released

This indicator and its norm depend on a certain time:

1. The first few hours. Abundant, which should be 0.5% of the birthing woman’s weight, but not more than 400 ml.
2. Second and third days. In 3 days, on average, approximately 300 ml is released, and a special pad is filled in a couple of hours.
3. Home restoration. Over the following weeks, about 500–1500 ml are released, with high intensity occurring in the first 7–14 days.

Deviations in these numbers are possible, but it is important to prevent bleeding.

If the discharge is scanty or does not last long

As a rule, a small amount of discharge after childbirth or its rapid cessation is perceived positively by women. Women in labor mistakenly believe that the body has already recovered, but medical practice shows that a large percentage of such cases end in hospitalization.

There is a significant probability of endometrial remains being found inside the uterus and then an inflammatory process occurs. In the future, there may be an increase in temperature and a resumption of bleeding, but with the presence of clots, pus and an unpleasant odor.

If the number of lochia decreases, you should immediately make an appointment with a gynecologist, and if one of the listed signs occurs, call an ambulance.

Bloody discharge in women after giving birth

Intense bloody discharge is observed immediately after the baby is born. They are caused by damage to the surface of the uterus where the placenta was attached. This situation may persist for several days, and if the scarlet color of the discharge does not disappear by the end of the first and second weeks, you should consult a doctor for advice. It is important not to confuse lochia with bleeding, the appearance of which is easy to track: the sheet or diaper instantly becomes wet, and the secreted fluid is accompanied by uterine impulses in the rhythm of the heartbeat. The most common reason is rupture of seams.

How the color of secretion changes (photo)

An indicator such as the color of discharge after the birth of a child can also help a woman assess the course of the postpartum period (see photos selected based on the principle of similarity).

First days. There is a large amount of blood being released due to vascular damage. A woman observes red, scarlet marks on the gasket.

First week. The presence of blood clots is allowed, but not purulent ones. The secretion becomes darker or even brown.

Second week. There are practically no clots, and the consistency of the secretion becomes more liquid. Some patients experience pinkness after giving birth during this period. The appearance of mucous membranes is possible. But they should disappear on the 14th or 21st day.

The rest of the time. At first, the liquid gradually brightens, acquiring a yellow tint.

Brown postpartum discharge

Appearance at the end of the first week is a clear sign of the absence of complications. The secretion darkens faster in those women giving birth who are breastfeeding, and the reason lies in the hormone prolactin. They can last for a different period of time for each woman, but obstetricians note that brown lochia is observed for the longest time in women in labor who have undergone a cesarean section.

An unpleasant, smelly discharge, reminiscent of the acrid smell of pus, should alert you, which may indicate the development of an infection. In this case, the body temperature rises sharply, and the patient suffers from pain in the abdominal area. The right decision is to immediately visit the hospital.

But the musty smell, which is sometimes noted even during menstruation, does not indicate pathology.

Brown secretion can turn into serous lochs, caused by a drop in red blood cells against the background of an increase in white blood cells.

Yellow discharge after childbirth

First, the woman in labor notices a red-yellow discharge, which over time can become completely yellow or gray-yellow. Under normal circumstances, this process begins on the tenth day. Vaginal secretion of a yellowish tint signals to the woman that the uterine lining has almost healed. The presence of such a secretion immediately after childbirth with a putrid odor is an alarming sign that requires medical examination.

Black secretion

Nothing frightens a woman in labor more than the appearance of black clots on the pad. A similar phenomenon sometimes occurs 21 days after delivery. You should remain calm if the secretion does not smell or cause pain. The normal reason is hormonal changes and changes in the composition of vaginal secretions.

Green lochia

With a fishy odor and pus, they indicate the development of endometritis, which occurs against the background of inflammatory processes in the uterus. The danger is that the uterine muscles contract poorly, the secretion does not come out, and this further aggravates the situation. A woman should go for an ultrasound, get tested, and consult a gynecologist.

Discharge after childbirth with an unpleasant odor

Remember that discharge normally has virtually no odor; a sweetish or slightly musty aroma is acceptable, but no more. A rotten odor indicates a problem.

Reasons for the appearance of foreign odors:

• violation of vaginal microflora;
• colpitis;
• vaginosis;
• candidiasis;
• peritonitis;
• ulcer;
• endometritis;
• parametritis.

Lochia intermittently

The time interval between the secreted bloody substance can be several days or weeks. There are two reasons for this:

1. It is possible that the woman confused menstruation with postpartum lochia. If the woman in labor did not breastfeed the baby, then the next period occurs immediately after the restoration of the uterine mucosa. In breastfeeding women, menstruation can be practically eliminated for six months, and sometimes there are no periods for up to a year.
2. The second reason is related to the passivity of the uterine muscles. If the uterus does not contract, then lochia accumulates inside without coming out. So their interruption can significantly slow down the recovery of the body and cause various pathologies against the background of suppuration and inflammation.

Prevention of bleeding and stimulation of lochia discharge

1. Go to the toilet frequently. A large amount of urine in the bladder puts pressure on the uterus, preventing it from contracting.
2. Avoid intense physical activity. This is especially true for women after cesarean section. Read about it in the article at the link.
3. Lie on your stomach. In this position, the uterine cavity is quickly freed from the remains of the wound.
4. Hot water bottle with ice. A similar technique is used in the delivery room immediately after the baby is born. There is no need to carry out the procedure at home, as there is a possibility of hypothermia of the genital organs.

Postpartum discharge is a mandatory physiological process for a new mother. There is no need to be afraid of their appearance. To be sure that there are no pathologies, a woman in labor can keep a kind of diary, noting the approximate amount, color and smell of vaginal secretion. This approach will help you react immediately to the slightest changes, go to the hospital on time and easily explain the situation to your doctor.

During pregnancy, the female body requires certain internal changes.

To return to a normal state, a woman needs a certain period of time. To begin with, you should return the uterus to its original position - thanks to it, postpartum discharge occurs.

After the birth of a baby, a woman’s body is rebuilt to get rid of now unnecessary attributes: the placenta is rejected, and the vessels connecting it with the uterus are separated. It is then that the uterus begins to return to its original position and size.

Optimal Postpartum Discharge

In the very first two to three postpartum days, strong discharge of scarlet blood comes out of the woman’s body; special pads or diapers are used to protect against this kind of leakage. In the first days of labor, the risk of contracting an infection or inflammation is very high, so the pads should be changed as often as possible.

When discharge of this kind occurs, the girl is under the supervision of doctors in the maternity ward. It is closely monitored, so any violations and deviations are identified quickly.
After discharge, approximately on the fourth or fifth day after birth, the discharge stops being so strong and is much reduced. Their color changes from bright scarlet to darker, with a brownish tint. Very often they contain mucus or various types of clots. When a woman laughs, coughs, or performs various strength activities, the discharge intensifies.

After about one and a half to two postpartum weeks, the woman begins to experience brownish-yellow discharge, gradually fading and becoming almost white. The norm for continuing such discharge is no more than one month.

After a week, the thick discharge gives way to thinner discharge, it becomes less strong, and its color becomes pale from rich. Until the uterus returns to its original shape, the discharge may recur.

If postpartum discharge has a characteristic odor and specific color, and is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, you should consult a specialist for advice and diagnosis. In addition to these symptoms, chills, poor health, fever and itching may be added. These signs most often appear in cases where a woman has inflammation of the inner walls of the uterus. If the diagnosis is correct, you should make an appointment with a gynecologist.

Longevity of postpartum discharge

Pads and sheets cause discomfort and inconvenience to every woman. In the presence of postpartum discharge, it is extremely undesirable to have sexual intercourse, but proper recovery of a woman requires time and effort. Every woman in labor should carefully monitor the duration of the discharge, because any particularly noticeable deviation can serve as a signal of a serious problem.

Each woman’s uterus is individual, so it returns to its usual size depending on the characteristics of the woman’s body. Usually the process lasts about a month, but residual effects are observed for another five to six weeks.

If after a month the bulk of the discharge has not stopped, it is worth thinking about the presence of problems in the body: it is necessary to find out all the reasons for the long-lasting discharge and try to resolve them as soon as possible.

When blood loss from discharge continues for a long enough time, disruption of the body's functioning may occur. But a quick, abrupt cessation of discharge does not promise anything good and requires an urgent visit to the doctor: there is a high risk that blood accumulates right inside the uterus and is not able to get out.

Prevention of complications after childbirth

The duty of doctors delivering a woman’s birth is to make sure that the placenta is rejected correctly and is completed successfully. Hygiene for a woman in labor is very important - in the first postpartum days, her body is most susceptible to various types of infections and viruses. The girl needs to take a shower. Very often she is still too weak to perform the procedure on her own, so you should seek help from a nurse.

Lying on your stomach for a long time helps to “adjust” the uterus in a short time - doctors recommend that women in labor start doing this as early as possible.

When a girl returns home with a child, she should under no circumstances forget about herself and her own hygiene. Chamomile decoction effectively helps speed up the healing of the body.

The woman in labor must remember that physical activity is very harmful, so it should be limited. It is also necessary to abstain from sexual activity for a while, otherwise increased postpartum discharge may be provoked. As a result, the uterus will move away from its return to its original state.

Childbirth is a very important and complex process for a woman’s body. A woman’s entire body prepares for it for nine months. Naturally, after childbirth, the body also needs time to gradually recover. One of the most obvious signs of the postpartum period is lochia.

Lochia is blood discharge after childbirth. In this way, the uterus and birth canal are cleared of dead endometrial cells, placental remnants, fluid and blood. The stretched walls of the uterus gradually return to almost their original size. This process is called “involution”, which means restoration. And it is accompanied by bloody discharge after childbirth.

What should lochia look like after childbirth?

Every woman should monitor whether her lochia discharge is normal after childbirth. This is a guarantee that the body’s recovery process will proceed without complications.

So what kind of discharge after childbirth is considered normal? In fact, the color of lochia after childbirth differs depending on how much time has passed since childbirth. Regardless of the method of delivery - natural birth or cesarean section, lochia should be:

• Very heavy, bright red bleeding for the first few hours. They may contain dried blood clots. The first breastfeeding of the baby causes the uterus to contract and the discharge of lochia occurs more intensely.
• Bright red, possibly more transparent discharge, up to 250 ml in volume. per day for the first 2-3 days. With sudden movements, walking or when examined by a gynecologist, the discharge becomes more abundant.
• Brown discharge similar to menstrual discharge. Quite abundant, but ordinary pads can handle them quite well. Such discharge after childbirth lasts about 5-7 days.
• Brown, rarely red, sometimes almost transparent, slightly slimy, varying in intensity. Either they almost stop, then again they become a little more abundant. Lochia develops in this form after childbirth for 4-8 weeks.

Pulsating, sometimes slightly unpleasant, sensations in the uterus during breastfeeding are considered normal. In this case, the discharge may be more intense with an admixture of blood clots.

Duration of lochia discharge after childbirth

Young mothers often wonder how long the discharge lasts after childbirth. Everything is very individual. But after a natural birth, as a rule, the release of lochia after childbirth is less than after a cesarean section. Longer discharge of lochia can be observed if the birth was difficult, in mothers with many children, in women giving birth over 30 years old, in primiparas, weakened women.

The normal duration of lochia is 5-8 weeks. After two months, the discharge should stop completely. It is at this time that gynecologists advise you to come for a consultation and examination without fail.

What should a woman be wary of in discharge after childbirth?

If immediately after childbirth there is a lot of discharge, this is normal. You should suspect bleeding if special postpartum pads are completely filled with blood within one hour. You need to immediately inform your doctor about this.

If, almost immediately after childbirth, the discharge stops or its quantity noticeably decreases, this is also a reason to consult a doctor. When lochia accumulates in the uterus, infection occurs, and this is very dangerous. The inflammatory process may also be indicated by high body temperature, fever or chills, and abdominal pain.

You also need to pay attention to the smell of discharge after childbirth. It should be neutral and not harsh. In the first days, there may be a musty smell of lochia after childbirth - this is normal. A sharp, putrid odor is a sign of the development of pathogenic bacteria and inflammation.

Scarlet discharge more than two weeks after birth is also a reason to be wary. As an option, when the lochia turned brown and then red again.

If more than two pads are filled with discharge within an hour, emergency medical attention is required. It must be remembered that in case of uterine bleeding it can be life-threatening. It is urgent to call an ambulance.

When, against the background of a brownish smear, a week after birth, the appearance of scarlet discharge is observed, the lochia then stops, then again occurs quite intensely, one can suspect a pathology, namely, a lochiometer. This happens due to the anatomical features of the uterus, due to the formation of a hematoma, which interferes with the discharge of secretions. Because of this, there is an accumulation of mucus, bloody discharge and even the remains of the placenta. This creates an unpleasant odor in the discharge.

Discharge after childbirth - when urgent medical attention is needed

So, signs that a woman needs emergency medical consultation after childbirth are:

• increase in temperature;
• painful pulling sensations in the abdomen, possibly a burning sensation;
• unpleasant putrid odor of lochia;
• abruptly stopped discharge;
• sharply increased discharge.

The doctor must immediately conduct an examination for an enlarged uterus, conduct a diagnosis using ultrasound, and if the fears are confirmed, prescribe treatment. In some cases, antibiotics and drugs that promote uterine contraction are prescribed. But sometimes you have to resort to a scraping procedure.

If the signs are not obvious, but the woman in labor has concerns about the nature of the discharge and her well-being, you can always seek advice from the maternity hospital where the birth took place or any other. This is common practice.

Discharge after childbirth - prevention of complications after childbirth

In order to avoid problems and complications during recovery after childbirth, it is recommended:

• at the discretion of the doctor, immediately after childbirth, applying ice to the uterus and oxytocin injections to contract the uterus;
• lie down for the first 6-8 hours;
• periodically lie on your stomach, which improves the discharge of lochia;
• at first, do not lift anything heavy, do not make sudden movements, but also do not lie still, move little by little, especially if the birth took place naturally;
• breastfeeding on demand – frequent feeding leads to the natural production of the hormone oxytocin;
• A bandage or wrapping of sheets helps well in recovery after childbirth;
• water procedures must be carried out after each visit to the toilet using baby soap or even laundry soap; it is better to avoid gels for now;
• For the first time, it is better to choose postpartum pads; they are designed for the postpartum volume of discharge; change them more often - at least once every 4 hours. Later, you can switch to regular pads with a smooth surface and without fragrances to avoid irritation of the mucous membrane.

Under no circumstances should tampons be used during the postpartum period. They prevent the free flow of blood and can easily provoke inflammation.

Also, while lochia comes out after childbirth, sex, especially unprotected sex, is prohibited. This can both injure the unhealed uterus and cervix, and provoke the development of pathogenic bacteria. Only after the discharge has completely stopped can you begin sexual activity. This period is individual and is 6-8 weeks. And after the cessation of lochia, it is better to use bactericidal protection for the first time to protect the uterus from the penetration of bacteria.

The release of lochia is an integral part of the recovery period of the body of every woman who has undergone childbirth. This process includes an important physiological component - cleaning the uterus and birth canal. And in order for the recovery period to pass without complications, it is extremely important for a new mother to follow the recommendations of doctors and be attentive to her state of health.

As soon as the long-awaited baby is born, the mother tries to surround him with care from all sides, sometimes forgetting that her body also needs increased attention. At this time, hormonal levels, the tone of the uterus and abdominal wall are restored, and any deviations from the norm can become life-threatening. How to determine whether everything is fine in the body of a woman who has given birth to a child?

In the first months, a lot can be judged by the lochia. This is the name for postpartum discharge from the genital tract. How long does the discharge last after childbirth? What is considered normal? Is yellow discharge harmless after childbirth? How can you understand what problems need to be treated based on changes in the amount or duration of lochia?

Normal lochia

There are certain standards by which one can judge whether lochia is normal or whether it indicates the need for urgent medical intervention. The characteristics of the discharge must correspond to the period that has passed since birth.

In the first days, when the woman is still in the maternity hospital, the condition of lochia should be monitored by a doctor. But if he didn’t pay attention to something, it’s better to ask again than to leave the problem unnoticed. And after discharge, all responsibility for observing how postpartum discharge changes falls on the woman in labor herself. Therefore, she also needs to be able to distinguish between normal and pathological conditions, to know how long lochia should last and at what intervals their appearance will change.

Duration and quantity

To understand how long the discharge lasts after childbirth, you need to understand why it appears. First, the remnants of the placenta and waste products of the fetus are expelled, then blood and lymph are released from the damaged inner layer of the uterus. Its recovery takes approximately 40–50 days. Accordingly, lochia continues for the same amount of time - from 6 to 8 weeks - after childbirth.

The intensity of the discharge depends on how much time has passed after childbirth:

• The first two hours, when the woman in labor must still be in the maternity ward under the close supervision of a doctor, are especially dangerous. There is a lot of discharge; in relation to body weight, it is approximately 0.5%, but not more than 400 ml. Large losses will definitely affect the general condition.
• For another 2 or 3 days, lochia continues to be abundant - 300 ml in 3 days. At this time, it is better to use diaper pads rather than pads to make it easier for the doctor to assess the volume of lochia.
• The next week the amount of discharge is approximately the same as during menstruation. Every day their volume decreases little by little. For hygiene purposes, it is more convenient to use regular pads with a high degree of moisture absorption rather than diapers. But it is strictly contraindicated to use tampons.
• When the first month has passed after childbirth, lochia should still be observed, but it is already very scanty.
• After 8, or at most 9 weeks, the release of lochia should stop.

How long the discharge lasts after childbirth depends on the severity of the body’s ability to recover, the woman’s nutrition, and daily routine. They should not be too long (lasting more than 9 weeks) or too short (less than 5 weeks).

Color, smell and consistency

The appearance of the discharge also depends on how long the lochia lasts after childbirth and on its composition.

Norm of qualitative characteristics of postpartum discharge:

• The first few days they are liquid, bright red, with the smell of blood. This is due to the fact that they contain a large percentage of pure blood. Small blood clots and mucus may occur. Such lochia is considered normal only for a few days.
• By the middle of the first week, their color should change and turn brown. The smell of lochia at this time is similar to normal menstruation.
• When a month has passed after childbirth, the lochia becomes mucous, cloudy, and grayish in color. Over time, there are fewer of them, and the color approaches transparent.

By the end of the postpartum period, the discharge is very scanty and mucous, the same as that of any healthy woman before pregnancy.

Signs of pathology

Any deviation from the parameters described above may indicate the presence of serious problems. Throughout the postpartum period, there is a risk of bleeding, infection of the genital tract or uterine cavity. In order to prevent the development of severe complications, it is important to know how long lochia lasts normally, and to consult a doctor at the first suspicion of pathological changes.

Possible deviations from the norm:

1. Reducing or increasing the duration of lochia secretion.
2. Abrupt cessation or increase in volume.
3. The discharge stopped, and after a while it started again.
4. Change in color.
5. The appearance of an unpleasant odor.
6. Change in consistency.

You should consult a doctor in any case, even if only one characteristic has changed, for example, just the color has changed.

Quantitative changes

The most common complication of the early postpartum period is the development of bleeding. In this case, you feel that the diaper gets wet very quickly, and you may feel a little dizzy. There is no pain at all. This condition can be caused by blood diseases or too weak uterine contractions. In order for stronger contractions to begin, drug therapy (an injection of a dose of Oxytocin) is necessary.

Deviations from the norm in a later period:

• If for some reason the remains of the placenta are not completely expelled immediately after birth, bleeding may develop in a more distant period. Its sign will be a sharp increase in the volume of discharge.
• An abrupt cessation of lochia, especially if not even a month has passed after giving birth, may be a sign that something is preventing them from coming out. This could be a backward bend of the uterus, cervical spasm, or a neoplasm. In any case, this can lead to infection of the endometrium and the development of endometriosis.
• If the lochia has not stopped 8 or 9 weeks after birth, you need to undergo an examination to find out why the endometrium is not recovering at the required speed.

Often, women in labor are happy when the lochia ends quickly. But in fact, with normal recovery processes, healing of the uterine mucosa occurs after at least 40 days. If lochia stops earlier, this should be alarming, not pleasing.

Changes in color or odor

The color of lochia may suddenly change if some undesirable processes occur in the uterine cavity or cervix. Often, especially if yellow discharge appears after childbirth, an unpleasant odor is felt. No matter how harmless such deviations may seem, any of them is a bad sign and cannot go away without medical help.

Possible color changes:

• Bloody discharge after childbirth is considered normal only in the first few days. If a week has passed after childbirth, and they remain bright red, this is already a pathology, a sign of impaired epithelial healing or problems with hematopoiesis. If the lochia has already changed color, but then turns red again, there is a high probability that bleeding has occurred.
• Black color scares women in labor the most. But it is relatively harmless, since it speaks of changes in the composition of the blood caused by hormonal changes.
• Yellow discharge after childbirth occurs when bacteria enter the uterine cavity and endometriosis develops. A faint yellow tint to the discharge after 2 weeks is considered normal. Yellow discharge after childbirth is often accompanied by an unpleasant putrid odor.
• Green discharge after childbirth, mucous or purulent lochia is a sign that the infectious process is progressing, the inflammation is already advanced. In such a situation, there is a risk of developing sepsis. This is due to the fact that the infection can very easily enter the bloodstream through the endometrium, which has not yet recovered.
• The white color of lochia, especially if they have become cheesy, indicates infection with the fungus Candida. This discoloration may be accompanied by itching and burning in the genital area.
• Brown discharge after childbirth usually appears 3 or 4 days after delivery and stops when 3 weeks or at most a month have passed after delivery. If more than a month has passed and the brown discharge after childbirth has not become light, this may indicate slow regeneration of the endometrium.

Each of the above changes is dangerous to the health and even life of a woman, so you should immediately consult a doctor. Remember, the baby needs a healthy mother who monitors both his condition and her own.

Discharge after 2 months

When 2 months have passed after childbirth, there should be no postpartum discharge. At this time, the risk of bleeding is already very low, especially if the postpartum period went well and the discharge has long stopped. But what then does the discharge mean at this time?

After a woman gives birth to a child, her menstrual cycle quickly returns. If she breastfeeds, ovulation is suppressed. But when the child is bottle-fed from the very beginning, menstruation can resume after 2-3 months. Therefore, mucous bleeding 2 months after the birth of a child can be normal menstruation.

If a woman is breastfeeding, the discharge that has returned does not look like a period, or there is any other reason to doubt that there is no problem, it is best to contact your doctor. Such cooperation will help you successfully recover from pregnancy and happily raise your baby.

Pregnancy and childbirth lead to numerous changes not only in life, but also in a woman’s body.

After a certain time after childbirth, the body returns to its original state, but before this unusual phenomena are observed. One of them is postpartum discharge, which is called lochia.

Lochia occurs in all women after childbirth. Their cause is the rupture of blood vessels between the uterus and placenta when the child is born. The result of such a rupture is bleeding. Its occurrence is a natural process, since the uterus must be cleansed of the remains of the placenta, dead particles of the endometrium and traces of the vital activity of the fetus.

Some women who have given birth do not know about this phenomenon, so they are nervous when it occurs. But even with this information, young mothers need a detailed study of this process in order to understand when it is normal and when there are pathologies. This will help you avoid complications by seeking medical help on time.

How long does the discharge last after childbirth?

Each woman differs from others in the individual properties of her body. Therefore, pregnancy, childbirth and the duration of the recovery period after them are different for everyone. Therefore, it is impossible to determine in advance how many days the discharge lasts after childbirth. We can only name an approximate framework from which to build. Anything outside of them is considered a deviation.

Normally, the duration of the period when there is postpartum discharge is 6-8 weeks. Sometimes small deviations are allowed when lochia may stop a week earlier or later than the period established in gynecology. These deviations are considered normal, but only if there are no violations in other features. Therefore, when postpartum discharge lasts 5 or 9 weeks, doctors analyze indicators such as smell, color, thickness, quantity, composition, etc. Based on this, one can judge whether the recovery period is normal.

The danger is when lochia lasts less than 5 or more than 9 weeks. Therefore, a young mother needs to take into account the time when postpartum discharge stopped. Both completion too early and too late are considered deviations. This happens when there are disturbances in the functioning of the female body. Therefore, it is very important to consult a doctor in time to determine the causes. This will make it possible to prevent the development of complications.

Important! Women whose lochia lasted less than a month are usually happy about this fact. But when the discharge ends so quickly after childbirth, one should be wary, since the vast majority of such cases subsequently led to hospitalization. With a shortened period of postpartum discharge, the body fails to get rid of all pathological residues. After some time, these residues begin to decompose, which leads to the development of inflammation.

This means that any young mother needs to compare the duration of lochia discharge with normal values. Even if the deviations are acceptable, you need to consult a gynecologist to make sure there are no problems.

Composition of secretions

To understand whether postpartum recovery is proceeding normally, a young mother needs to take into account not only the duration of lochia, but also their composition. Sometimes the duration of discharge is within normal limits, but its composition indicates abnormalities in the functioning of the body.

Normal discharge levels after childbirth:

1. For the first 2-3 days, spotting is considered normal. During childbirth, blood vessels burst, leading to bleeding.
2. After this, the uterus heals and open bleeding should stop.
3. The first week is the stage of release of the remaining placenta and dead endometrium. Therefore, clots may be present.
4. After a week, the secretion of clots ends and the lochia becomes liquid.
5. The presence of mucous discharge is also normal - these are waste products of the fetus. They should also disappear within a week.
6. 5-6 weeks after birth, lochia becomes a spotting discharge. They are similar to those observed during menstruation.

The presence of bloody discharge after childbirth should not be alarming. Dangerous is the presence of pus in them - this is a sign of violations. You need to urgently go to a gynecologist in such cases as:

• The appearance of purulent discharge. This indicates the onset of an inflammatory process that occurs due to infection. The diagnosis confirms the presence of fever, pain in the lower abdomen, and an unpleasant odor of discharge.
• Discharge of mucus and clots a week after the birth of the baby.
• Transparency and wateriness of lochia is also a deviation. This may be caused by gardnerellosis (vaginal dysbiosis), in which there is copious discharge that smells like fish. Another reason for the appearance of this deviation is the release of fluid from the lymph nodes.

Knowledge of the characteristics inherent in normal lochia will allow the new mother to seek medical help in time.

Discharge color

After childbirth, an important characteristic of lochia is its color. It can also be used to judge how successfully the body of the woman who gave birth is recovering. The norm is:

1. Bright red color in the first 3 days. At this time, the blood has not yet coagulated.
2. For 2 weeks after this, the color should be brown. This indicates that the uterus is healing normally.
3. Shortly before the end of the lochia (in the last weeks) they should become transparent. Slight turbidity and a yellowish tint may be observed.

Any other shades of postpartum discharge are considered pathological.

Yellow discharge after childbirth

What kind of problems there are in the body can be judged by the shade of such discharge.

1. If pale yellow, light discharge appears at the end of the second week, there is no need to worry - this is one of the normal variants.
2. The appearance of bright yellow lochia with a greenish tint 4-5 days after birth (especially with the smell of rot) indicates endometritis.
3. The bright yellow color of the discharge when it contains mucus, detected after 2 weeks, indicates the development of latent endometritis.

Endometritis cannot be cured at home; for this it is necessary to take antibiotics or surgically remove the inflamed area of ​​the uterine epithelium.

Green discharge after childbirth

Green discharge is a more dangerous phenomenon. They appear when inflammation of the uterus is at an advanced stage. Therefore, you need to contact a specialist as soon as the first purulent impurities with a slight greenish tint are noticed.

This is another reason for concern and a visit to the gynecologist. Especially if white lochia is accompanied by the following manifestations:

• sour unpleasant smell,
• itching in the perineal area,
• curdled consistency of discharge,
• redness of the genitals.

These symptoms indicate the development of infectious diseases of the genitourinary tract (thrush or yeast colpitis).

If you have black discharge that is not complicated by additional symptoms such as pain or an unpleasant odor, there is no reason to worry. This is another type of normal, caused by changes in blood composition due to hormonal changes.

Bloody discharge after childbirth

With normal recovery of the body, red lochia can appear only a few days after the birth of the child. This is due to the presence of an open wound in the uterus, which is why bright red lochia is released. After a week, the color should turn brownish-brown, and then gray-yellow.

Number of allocations

Features of the course of the recovery period can be determined by the amount of discharge. The normal course of the process is indicated by the following:

1. The presence of abundant lochia during the first postpartum week. At this time, the removal of residues unnecessary for the body occurs.
2. The more time passes, the less discharge should become. A small number of them in 2-3 weeks is normal.

A young mother should tell her doctor if there is too little discharge in the first days after the baby is born. This happens when pipes and ducts become clogged, which interferes with the cleansing of the body.

If the amount of discharge does not decrease within 2-3 weeks, this indicates that the healing of the uterus is not progressing properly. For some reason, this process is delayed, so you need to undergo an examination.

The smell of discharge

After childbirth, the smell of lochia can also be used to judge how well the uterine restoration process is normal.

For the first days, a combination of the smells of fresh blood and dampness is considered normal. Then it should be replaced by such features as rottenness or mustiness.

Harshness of smell, sour notes or a hint of rot are considered abnormal. If the smell is accompanied by deviations related to the color, composition or number of lochia, you should immediately contact a gynecologist. Waiting for everything to go away on its own is unacceptable.

Discharge intermittently

Women who have given birth are very concerned about the situation when lochia stops, and after a week or several weeks it starts again. Such an incident is a reason to contact a specialist to find out the reasons. They may be different.

• The appearance of scarlet discharge after 2 months is sometimes the beginning of menstruation. For some young mothers, the body recovers very quickly. If a woman does not feed the baby with breast milk, then her periods will resume in a short time. Another reason for this phenomenon is rupture of seams. It can be caused by problems (for example, physical or emotional overload). To establish the exact reasons, an examination is needed.
• The return of lochia after 2-3 months requires a careful analysis of all other features. It happens that for some reason, postpartum waste partially remains in the body and comes out after a decent period of time. This may be normal if the discharge is dark in color and has a normal odor without purulent inclusions (mucus and clots may be present). If the listed symptoms are still observed, it is impossible without examination. Probably, the woman has developed an inflammatory process that can only be eliminated with the help of antibiotics or surgery.

Having such a break is not always dangerous. But if a young mother doubts the condition of her body, she should talk to a gynecologist. This will help you calm down and notice deviations in time.

Discharge after caesarean section

Artificial birth somewhat changes the duration and composition of lochia. Their main features:

• Recovery after a cesarean section is similar to that after a normal birth. Lochia is a mixture of blood and dead endometrium.
• In this case, you need to be especially careful about hygiene, since the risk of infection is higher.
• The first week is characterized by the presence of clots and mucus. The discharge at this time is abundant.
• The color of the lochia should be red at first, and after a few days they turn brown.
• After a cesarean section, the uterus contracts and heals more slowly, which leads to a longer presence of bloody discharge. But this period should not exceed 2 weeks.

There are few differences in this case, but they also need to be known and taken into account.

Hygiene during discharge

To avoid infection and inflammation, you need to follow good hygiene. Basic rules:

1. Washing the genitals after each visit to the toilet. You only need to wash the outside, the correct direction is from front to back.
2. Daily shower. A bath during this period is contraindicated, as is douching.
3. You should refrain from using pads on the first day, replacing them with sterile diapers.
4. Change pads at least 8 times a day. Tampons are prohibited.

Based on the characteristics of postpartum discharge, one can judge how well the healing is proceeding. A woman who has given birth needs to very carefully monitor their compliance with the norm and consult a doctor if there are any deviations.