During the first few weeks after giving birth, a woman continues to shed lochia - spotting. Lochia after childbirth consists of pieces of mucus, plasma, ichor and dying epithelium. The color and amount of discharge changes - this process depends on the degree of restoration of the uterine mucosa and should correspond to the days postpartum period. Now the woman’s body is weakened, the birth canal is open and through it it can enter the body. various types an infection that will certainly affect the amount and color of discharge.

Blood discharge after childbirth requires constant monitoring on the part of the woman, and in case of any suspicious deviations from the norm, you should immediately run to the gynecologist.

How long does discharge last after childbirth? In the first few hours after delivery, the discharge is clearly bloody. The main goal during this period is to prevent bleeding from starting. To prevent it, a woman is often given a heating pad with ice on her stomach (this is necessary to speed up uterine contractions), urine is removed using a catheter, and drugs that promote uterine contractions are administered intravenously. The amount of discharge should not be more than half a liter of blood. Bleeding may increase if the muscle contracts poorly or is severely torn. birth canal.

If the amount of discharge from the birth canal does not normally cause concern, the woman is transferred to the postpartum ward. Next few days the number of lochia will become slightly smaller, and the color will acquire a darker brownish tint.
The duration of discharge after childbirth is about one and a half months: The uterine mucosa will actively regenerate and the surface of the uterus will heal. They become insignificant, with a rare admixture of blood. By the end of the fourth week the discharge becomes white or yellow-white. The use of tampons is not recommended during the entire postpartum period. Highly absorbent pads will be the most the best option in this situation. Now the likelihood of bleeding is low, but still present.

Prevention of bleeding

1. During the first few days after giving birth, stay on your feet as little as possible.
2. Breastfeeding the baby. When breastfeeding, oxytocin is released, which promotes contraction. muscle mass uterus. When the newborn suckles, they may secrete blood clots slightly more than usual.
3. Timely emptying of the bladder. Full bladder prevents the uterus from contracting and, accordingly, can provoke the onset of bleeding.
4. Periodically place a container of ice or ice water. With pressure on the walls abdominal cavity the vessels are pressed down, and the uterus begins to actively contract.

Symptoms and signs that indicate complications and are a reason to contact a gynecologist:

With careful personal hygiene of the body, sufficient rest and following all instructions, the risk of bleeding will be minimized.

Every young mother is always worried about what they should be discharge after childbirth, is this process happening normally for her? Doctors who observe patients after the birth of babies also pay special attention to the nature of the discharge. In context normal development During the postpartum process, a very important question is how long such discharge lasts. It is no less important to control their smell, quantity and other characteristics. About how much days go by blood after and about other features of such secretions we'll talk in this article.

How is the postpartum period going?

So, the postpartum period begins at the moment when birth occurs placenta . In medicine, it is customary to distinguish two stages after childbirth:

• early stage lasting for two hours;
• late stage , lasting from 6 to 8 weeks.

In the postpartum period, the placenta, which has separated from the wall of the uterus, is released. At the place where it separated, a wound surface with gaping vessels is formed in the mucous membrane of the uterus, from which blood is released.

How long does it take for the uterus to contract after childbirth? This process begins immediately, and as long as the uterus contracts, its walls become tense and the torn vessels are compressed. During the first 2 hours after birth, moderate, bright red, bloody discharge appears. The normal discharge rate after childbirth in the first stage is no more than 0.4 liters.

If blood loss increases, then it is necessary to exclude hypotensive bleeding . Next, the doctor must make sure that there is no undetected rupture in the perineum, cervix, or vaginal walls of the woman in labor.

After labor and delivery of the placenta have occurred, the weight of the uterus is about 1 kg. But after a certain number of days, when the postpartum period ends, it returns to what is considered normal size, weighing approximately 70 g. To achieve this state, the uterus contracts, but these seductions are not as intense and painful as with contractions . How long the uterus contracts after childbirth also depends on the characteristics of the body. In this case, the woman feels only mild spasms, which manifest themselves mainly when the newborn sucks the breast. The fact is that when the nipples are stimulated, the production of a hormone is activated, which stimulates uterine contractions.

Postpartum uterine involution – a process that occurs gradually, 6-8 weeks. after childbirth. During this time, the wound surface heals, the size of the uterus returns to its original size. On the first day after the baby is born, the edge of the woman’s uterus is palpated at approximately the level of the navel. Already on the fourth day, its bottom is located in the middle between the navel and the womb. On the 9th day, the fundus of the uterus is located 1-2 cm above the womb. That is, every day after the birth of the child, the uterus decreases by about 1 cm.

How bleeding occurs after childbirth, how long this process lasts, the doctor will tell you in detail before the woman is discharged from the hospital. maternity hospital. Depending on how much there is bleeding After childbirth, the smell, amount and color of the discharge are determined by the doctor, whether the postpartum period is going normally.

Such selections are called “ lochia " At its core, lochia is the secretion of a birth wound, which contains bloody cells, mucus, decidua, plasma, and lymph. It is very important for expectant mothers to know exactly how long lochia lasts after childbirth. What lochia is and what lochia looks like is usually explained by the doctor before discharge from the hospital. Women should be sure to note how long lochia lasts after childbirth, because this is an indicator of whether the body’s recovery process is developing normally in a young mother.

The nature of the discharge in different times is like this:

• When the first two hours after childbirth are over, reddish or brownish discharge occurs, its character is moderate. The duration of such discharge is from 5 to 7 days.
• In the first 3 days, the volume of discharge is approximately 300 ml, so the padding diaper should be changed approximately every 2 hours. Blood clots are likely to appear in the lochia, which is normal.
• From about 6-7 days the color of the lochia changes - they become yellowish or have a whitish tint. Their color depends on the quantity involved in the healing of postpartum wounds.
• At 9-10 days, watery lochia begins to appear, in which a lot of mucus can be seen. They have light shade, gradually become more and more scarce, and by 3-4 weeks. disappear completely. That is, after a month, lochia usually stops.

Despite the fact that the exact answer to how long bleeding lasts after childbirth is always individual, normally it lasts on average from 6 to 8 weeks. Regardless of how many days after birth the discharge occurs, it is important that over time it becomes more and more scanty.

How long discharge lasts after childbirth depends on many things, so not everyone has the same amount of time. How long the discharge continues depends on the physiology of the body, the intensity of uterine contractions, the characteristics of delivery and a number of other points. Also how long do they last? postpartum discharge, depends on whether the woman practices. At the same time, how long the discharge with blood stains lasts after childbirth is an indicator of whether the young mother’s body is recovering normally.

The actual question is how long the discharge lasts after. It should be understood that this surgery, and the body’s recovery after it lasts a longer period. Accordingly, the duration of lochia after cesarean section may be longer. However, how long does the discharge last after caesarean section, largely depends on how successfully the operation went and whether complications develop after it. As a rule, such discharge should last about 8 weeks.

A woman should be wary of smelly discharge after a caesarean section, as this may indicate the development of an inflammatory process. You also need to track how long the discharge lasts so as not to miss the symptoms of pathology. If you have any suspicions, it is better to consult a doctor.

Subinvolution of the uterus after childbirth

How exactly the period after childbirth proceeds from a physiological point of view is determined by the process of uterine contraction. Important correct process separation of the mucous membrane and release of blood clots from the uterine cavity.

Involution of the uterus, that is, its reverse development, is very important physiological process for a woman, as her reproductive and menstrual functions. If the uterus contracts poorly, then there is a threat of developing purulent-septic complications.

Therefore, a woman should visit a doctor 10 days after she was discharged from the maternity hospital. The specialist conducts a general examination, as well as a gynecological examination.

Sometimes it can be diagnosed subinvolution of the uterus , when the return to previous parameters occurs very slowly. The doctor makes this diagnosis if during this period a very soft and loose uterus of large size is palpated, and its contraction does not occur at hand.

To confirm postpartum subinvolution, the specialist must prescribe ultrasound examination small pelvis. Such a study will make it possible to find the cause that is an obstacle to uterine contraction. As a rule, we're talking about about the balances membranes or placenta.

Factors that predispose to the manifestation of uterine subinvolution:

• multiple pregnancy ;
• polyhydramnios ;
• rapid labor or protracted ;

The doctor decides individually whether there is a need to hospitalize a woman. If a young mother does not complain about her health, her condition is generally satisfactory, and there are no remains of membranes or placenta in the uterus, the doctor prescribes the use of uterotonic drugs. Typically this is oxytocin , water pepper tincture, methylergometrine .

If foreign contents are detected in the uterus, they are removed using vacuum suction. Diffuse lavage of the uterus is also sometimes practiced, for which solutions or antiseptics are used.

For prevention, the patient is also prescribed a short-term dose - they should be used for 2-3 days.

Lochiometra

This condition is also a complication after childbirth. During development lochiometers lochia lingers in the uterus. In most cases, this condition appears 7-9 days after the baby is born. This complication can be caused by the following reasons:

• blockage of the cervical canal of a mechanical nature;
• insufficiently active uterine contraction;
• the presence of a mechanical obstruction in the cervical canal (blood clots, remnants of membranes, decidua);
• the uterus is bent forward too much.

If during pregnancy there is overdistension of the fetal sac, and this occurs with multiple pregnancy, large sizes fetus, polyhydramnios, the ability of the uterus to contract weakens. This also happens during prolonged or rapid labor, incoordination labor activity, cervical spasms, caesarean section.

If lochiometra is diagnosed on time, then the woman does not have time to worsen general health, her pulse and body temperature do not change. In this case, the only sign pathological condition– this is very scanty discharge during the period when they should be abundant, or they stop completely.

In this case, lochiometra treatment is carried out after childbirth, and the woman’s condition gradually improves.

If the lochiometer is missed, if the doctor palpates the uterus, pain is noted, and he also notes that the size of the uterus has increased compared to the previous day. If the lochiometer was missed, the woman may subsequently develop.

Therefore, it is important to know what the normal discharge rate should be after childbirth, and to promptly consult a doctor if certain violations occur. Therapy consists, first of all, of ensuring the outflow of lochia from the uterus. Initially, the doctor prescribes conservative treatment:

• parenteral use or ;
• uterotonics ( oxytocin ), applying cold to the lower abdomen.

If a woman is diagnosed with a uterine flexion, the specialist performs bimanual palpation to return it to its normal position.

If clogged cervical canal, the specialist carefully expands it with a finger. Sometimes used for this purpose special devices— Hegar expanders.

Provided that all the measures described above did not lead to the elimination of the pathological condition in 2-3 days, curettage is performed - emptying the uterine cavity with the help of instruments. Vacuum aspiration can also be used. To prevent inflammatory processes, women are prescribed antibiotics.

How long the lochia lasts after curettage depends on the period when the procedure was performed.

Postpartum endometritis

Another complication that is more dangerous to health compared to a lochiometer is endometritis or inflammation of the uterus. In a pregnant woman weakened, as this is necessary to prevent rejection of the fertilized egg, which the body considers foreign body. Restoration of immunological protection occurs approximately 5-6 days after the birth of the child or 10 days after it occurred abdominal delivery . That is why all young mothers have an increased risk of developing inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs.

Currently, certain factors are identified that predispose to the development of endometritis after childbirth. They are indicated in the table below.

During pregnancy	manifestation of late (after 20 weeks); multiple births; anemia; very large fruit; malposition; polyhydramnios; inflammation of the cervix, vagina; surgical intervention for isthmic-cervical insufficiency; infectious diseases during pregnancy; exacerbation chronic illnesses during pregnancy; low placentation, presentation; the presence of a threat of interruption, especially permanent; sexually transmitted infections before childbirth; placental abruption.
During childbirth	prolonged, premature labor; narrow pelvis; weakness, incoordination - anomalies of generic forces; obstetric benefits during childbirth; C-section; manual control of the uterine cavity; long (from 12 hours) period without water; frequent (from three) vaginal examinations to determine the obstetric situation.
General	age of the woman in labor (up to 18 and over 30 years); endocrine pathology; a history of gynecological diseases - inflammation, fibroids, etc.; eating disorders; bad habits; history of caesarean section; extragenital diseases in chronic form; poor living conditions.

Signs of acute endometritis

• The onset of endometritis is acute, it develops from 3-4 days after birth.
• The discharge becomes brown and cloudy.
• Celebrated a little later purulent discharge having a greenish tint.
• A characteristic symptom is the appearance of discharge with an odor after childbirth, while the unpleasant odor of postpartum discharge usually resembles rotten meat.
• Getting worse general condition– the temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, weakness is noted, increased heart rate, malaise.
• The results of peripheral blood tests indicate an inflammatory process (leukocytes increase, ).

Signs of endometritis in subacute form

This condition usually manifests itself after the woman has been discharged from the maternity hospital.

• In this case, it is important to note how much bleeding after childbirth - the bleeding remains until 10-12 days.
• The temperature rises - sometimes to febrile levels, sometimes slightly.
• If a woman ignores warning signs, the discharge becomes purulent and acquires bad smell.

Postpartum in any form is a reason for hospitalization. In a hospital setting, the patient undergoes a hysteroscopy to exclude the presence of remnants of membranes, placenta, and blood clots or to detect their presence. If any are found, they are removed by vacuum aspiration or curettage.

Diffuse lavage of the uterine cavity is also carried out, for which antibiotics and antiseptics are used. At least three such procedures are carried out.

What should you pay attention to?

Thus, it is important to pay attention to what bleeding after childbirth is like and how long this phenomenon lasts. If we talk about the norms for how long bleeding occurs after childbirth, then lochia should stop after about 3-4 weeks.

If a woman does not practice natural feeding, then monthly cycle she is recovering - this becomes noticeable by the nature of the discharge. If in about 1-2 months. after childbirth, leucorrhoea becomes profuse, resembling the white of an egg, this means that what is happening ovulation . Sometimes a woman notices that after giving birth, her periods last a little longer than before. How long your period lasts depends on the characteristics of the body, but such changes are normal.

At this time, it is very important to take care of postpartum contraception , which you should definitely talk about with your doctor. In this case, the guide to action should not be the advice of friends or a forum - optimal choice A specialist will help you make contraceptives.

If practiced breastfeeding, then when the baby is one month old, the discharge takes on the character of mucus and does not have an unpleasant odor. And throughout the entire period natural feeding they don't change their character.

However, a woman should be wary if yellow discharge suddenly appears 2 months after childbirth, when lochia has long been completed. Particular attention should be paid if the leucorrhoea has a bad odor, and discomfort and itching are felt in the genitals. In this case, you should immediately go to see a doctor.

The doctor will help you find out why pathological discharge appears, for which he will take a smear to determine vaginal microflora , after which he will prescribe treatment.

If there is no fever, this most likely means that the discharge is a sign. But if a woman is also worried about temperature, pain in the lower abdomen, then this may be a sign of inflammation in the appendages or uterus. Therefore, in this case, you cannot hesitate to contact a specialist.

Hygiene in the postpartum period

So that the uterus contracts actively and it returns to normal sizes, hygiene in the postpartum period is very important:

• It is recommended to sleep on your stomach so that pressure on the uterus promotes its active contraction and stimulation of the outflow of lochia.
• You should immediately visit the toilet as soon as the woman feels the first urge, since a full bladder and a full rectum worsen uterine contractions.
• It is important to change the pad every two hours, as lochia is a suitable breeding ground pathogenic bacteria which subsequently leads to infection.
• You should absolutely not use tampons at this time.
• Every day you need to wash yourself at least twice using boiled water or a weak solution potassium permanganate .
• It is worth practicing free feeding, putting the baby to the breast on demand, since when the nipples are stimulated, synthesis occurs oxytocin .

The inevitable lochia after childbirth is a wound discharge from the uterus. After pregnancy female body is restored, and the injured walls of the uterus heal. As a result, the organ begins to recover and becomes the same size as before pregnancy. His top surface heals, and the area where the vaginal wall attaches to the placenta tightens. Thus, the cause of lochia that appears after childbirth is:

• restoration of the uterine cavity;
• cleansing of membranes.

The uterus shrinks and throws out tissues it does not need, which have become toxic. The discharge is similar to menstrual discharge, but consists of different substances. These are fragments of the lining of the uterine cavity, ichor, remnants of the placenta, mucus from the cervical canal, and blood.

Lochia consult hygiene products
menstrual cycle Resumption
Development Complex degree of consequences

Immediately after delivery, the entire surface of the uterus is covered big wound. Therefore, blood clots and blood may be released. There is no need to worry, because in this way the body cleanses itself and restores itself.

If lochia differs from those that should be normal, this indicates postpartum complications. Yes, the first few days after giving birth a woman is in the hospital, so doctors monitor the duration of lochia. But then she is discharged home, so she will have to independently monitor the nature of the discharge.

Normally, postpartum lochia lasts 6-8 weeks. Permissible deviations are 5-9 weeks. Otherwise, you need to consult a doctor. You can look at photos of lochia to know what they look like after childbirth.

Duration of uterine recovery

We found out how long lochia lasts on average after childbirth, but they come in several varieties. Their duration also depends on this.

They appear during the healing process inner surface uterus

The active phase lasts about three weeks. During this time, several types of discharge are observed.

1. Reds. It takes about 3-4 days after the baby is born. They cause discomfort to a woman because they are very abundant. The color of the discharge is bright scarlet, since the remains of non-viable tissue contain large number erythrocytes - red blood cells. Clots of brown blood may also be released. The discharge should end on day 4. In this case, a woman changes one pad per hour. If you have to change it more often, you need to call your doctor. After childbirth, the gynecologist usually advises the woman about how long the lochia lasts, so to the expectant mother not difficult to navigate.
2. Serous. Lasts from 4 to 10 days and is not as abundant as red ones. The color of the discharge is pinkish-brown or brown, since a large number of leukocytes are present in the discharged substances. Usually, red clots no longer appear, and only bloody-serous discharge is observed.
3. White. They do not cause discomfort to the woman and last for 20 days. Normally, discharge should be without bloody clots, strong smell. They are yellowish or whitish in color, almost transparent, of a smearing nature.

If after giving birth you know how long it will take for the lochia to come out, you will immediately understand when you need to contact a specialist for help. The volume of discharge begins to decrease over time, and already at week 3 it does not cause discomfort, therefore it is almost unnoticeable and very small in volume. Usually, by the 6th week, glassy mucus with bloody patches is released from the cervix, at which point the body completes its restoration. At the same time, the duration of the discharge does not depend on whether it is your first pregnancy or your second.

In case of complications, you should consult a doctor

When to see a doctor

If you know exactly when the lochia discharge should end after childbirth, track possible violations it will be easier. You need to make an appointment with a doctor in the following cases.

1. The discharge lasts too long or its amount has become quite large. Such bleeding is possible due to the fact that parts of the placenta remain in the uterus, so it cannot contract normally. In this case, the woman will have to remove the remaining placenta in the hospital. The procedure is painless due to intravenous anesthesia.
2. The bleeding has stopped, although you know exactly how many days after the last birth the lochia should go. Stopping discharge indicates a possible accumulation of lochia in the uterine cavity. If they are not removed, there is a risk of developing endometritis.

Endometritis develops if, after childbirth, lochia is excreted with pus and has an unpleasant, pungent odor. A woman notices a deterioration in her health:

• lower abdomen hurts;
• the temperature rises.

In this case, you need to urgently call a specialist or call ambulance. Sometimes they appear from the vagina curdled discharge. This may indicate the appearance of candidiasis. If it is not treated, there is a risk of developing a severe infection.

It doesn’t matter how long lochia lasts after the first or second birth. If it occurs heavy bleeding, you should immediately call an ambulance. In this case, the woman is indicated for hospitalization.

Only attentive attitude to your health, monitoring your discharge and promptly responding to its changes will help you avoid serious complications. It is better to play it safe and consult a doctor once again than to subsequently be treated for unpleasant sores.

Do not ignore the rules of hygiene, which are especially important for the successful completion of the postpartum period.

If there is a relapse

Sometimes it happens that after childbirth the lochia first ends and then starts again. If, after 2 months, scarlet discharge from the vagina is observed, the cause may be:

• restoration of the menstrual cycle;
• rupture of seams after strong emotional or physical activity.

When you know how long lochia can last after a childbirth, but suddenly they return after 2-3 months, you need to look at their character. Sometimes the remnants of the placenta or endometrium are released in this way. If the discharge is dark in color with clots, but without pus and a sharp putrid odor, everything should end without complications.

In addition, when the discharge goes away and then comes again, there is a risk of developing an inflammatory process in the uterus. Only a doctor can help you here. He will conduct an examination and find out the cause of the incident. You may be experiencing a new menstrual cycle. But in the worst case scenario, medical intervention will be required.

After the baby is born, the placenta separates from the uterus, which provokes the rupture of numerous vessels that connect them to each other. This results in bleeding, along with which the remnants of the placenta, already dead particles of the endometrium and some other traces of the intrauterine life of the fetus come out.

Such discharge after childbirth is medically called lochia. None of the newly made mothers will be able to avoid them. However, there are a number of questions that they raise. How more woman will be aware of their duration and nature, the less the risk of avoiding complications that often arise against the background of such postpartum “menstruation”.

During this period, special attention should be paid to personal hygiene. To avoid possible infections and unpleasant odor, because a girl always wants to remain attractive, she should be very careful and attentive to the cleaning cosmetics that you use.

You should always be more careful when choosing hygiene products and do not neglect to read the ingredients. After childbirth, your body goes through a period of adaptation and recovery, and therefore many chemicals can only aggravate the condition and prolong recovery period. Avoid cosmetics that contain silicones and parabens, as well as sodium laureth sulfate. Such components clog the body, penetrating into the blood through the pores. It is especially dangerous to use such products during breastfeeding.

To be calm about your own health and the health of your child, and also to always remain beautiful and attractive, use washing cosmetics only from natural ingredients, without dyes and harmful additives. Leader in natural detergents cosmetics remains Mulsan Cosmetic. Abundance natural ingredients, development based on plant extracts and vitamins, without the addition of dyes and sodium sulfate - makes this cosmetic brand most suitable for the period of breastfeeding and postpartum adaptation. You can find out more on the website mulsan.ru

Each female body is very individual, and the time frame for its recovery after the birth of a child is also different for everyone. Therefore, there cannot be a clear answer to the question of how long discharge lasts after childbirth. However, there are limits that are considered the norm, and everything that goes beyond them is a deviation. These are exactly what every young mother should focus on.

• Norm

The norm for postpartum discharge established in gynecology is from 6 to 8 weeks.

• Permissible deviations

Range from 5 to 9 weeks. But such a duration of discharge after childbirth should not be reassuring: despite the fact that doctors consider this a minor deviation from the norm, it is necessary to pay attention to its nature (quantity, color, thickness, smell, composition). These descriptions will definitely tell you whether everything is okay with the body or whether it is better to seek help. medical care.

• Dangerous deviations

Lochia that lasts less than 5 weeks or longer than 9 should be alerted. It is imperative to detect when the postpartum discharge ends. It's equally bad when it happens too early or too late. The indicated periods indicate serious disorders in the body of a young woman that require immediate laboratory research and treatment. The sooner you consult a doctor, the less dangerous the consequences of such prolonged or, conversely, short-term discharge will be.

You need to know this! Many young mothers are happy when their postpartum discharge ends within a month. They feel like they got away little blood"and can return to the usual rhythm of life. According to statistics, in 98% of such cases, after some time, everything ends in hospitalization, because the body was not able to cleanse itself completely, and the remnants of postpartum activity caused inflammatory process.

Deviations from the norm can be acceptable and dangerous. But anyway they can have serious consequences for the health of the young mother in the future. Therefore, every woman should monitor how long the discharge lasts after childbirth, comparing its duration with the norm established in gynecology. If in doubt, it is better to consult a doctor in a timely manner for advice. Much depends not only on how many days they last, but also on other, qualitative characteristics.

Composition of lochia

To understand whether everything is in order with the restoration of the body after childbirth, a woman should pay attention not only to the duration of lochia. Sometimes it fits within the norm, but their composition leaves much to be desired and may indicate serious problems.

Normal:

• the first 2-3 days after birth there is bleeding due to burst blood vessels;
• then the uterus will begin to heal, and there will be no more open bleeding;
• usually in the first week you can observe discharge with clots - this is how dead endometrium and the remains of the placenta come out;
• after a week there will be no more clots, the lochia will become more liquid;
• there is no need to be alarmed if you observe mucous discharge after childbirth - these are the products of intrauterine vital activity of the fetus;
• mucus should also disappear within a week;
• 5-6 weeks after the birth of the baby, lochia becomes similar to ordinary smears that occur during menstruation, but with coagulated blood.

So bleeding after childbirth, which frightens many new mothers, is the norm and should not be a cause for alarm. It is much worse if pus begins to mix with them, which is a serious deviation. It is worth consulting a doctor if the composition of lochia differs in the following characteristics:

• purulent discharge after childbirth indicates the onset of inflammation (of the endometrium), requiring immediate treatment, its cause is infectious complications, which are most often accompanied by elevated temperature, and lochia differs unpleasant smell and greenish-yellow color;
• if mucus and clots continue to flow longer than a week after childbirth;
• watery, transparent lochia is also not considered normal, because it can be a symptom of several diseases at once: it is fluid from the blood and lymphatic vessels, which seeps through the vaginal mucosa (it is called transudate), or it is gardnerellosis - vaginal dysbiosis, which is characterized by an abundance of discharge with an unpleasant fishy odor.

If a woman knows which discharge after childbirth is considered normal depending on its composition, and which indicates abnormalities, she will be able to promptly seek advice and medical help from a gynecologist. After testing (usually a smear, blood and urine), a diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is prescribed. The color of lochia will also help you understand that not everything is in order with the body.

Color of postpartum menstruation

In addition to the composition of the lochia, you definitely need to pay attention to what color they are. Their shade can tell a lot:

• first 2-3 days normal discharge after childbirth they are usually bright red (the blood has not yet coagulated);
• after that they go for 1-2 weeks brown discharge, which indicate what is happening without deviations;
• In the last weeks, the lochia should be transparent, slight cloudiness with a slight yellowish tint is allowed.

All other colors of lochia are deviations from the norm and may indicate various complications and diseases.

Yellow lochia

Depending on the shade yellow discharge can talk about the following processes occurring in the body:

• pale yellow, not very abundant lochia may begin by the end of the second week after birth - this is normal and should not cause concern for a young mother;
• If bright yellow discharge with an admixture of greenery and a putrid odor began already on the 4th or 5th day after the birth of the baby, this may indicate the onset of inflammation of the uterine mucosa, which is called endometritis;
• if after 2 weeks there is discharge yellow, quite bright in color and with mucus, this is also most likely a symptom of endometritis, but it is not so obvious, but hidden.

It is useless to treat endometritis on your own, at home: it requires serious treatment antibiotics, and in severe cases it is carried out surgical removal damaged inflamed epithelium of the uterus to cleanse the mucous membrane in order to give the upper layer of the uterus the opportunity to recover faster.

Green slime

Endometritis may also be indicated green discharge, which are much worse than yellow ones, because they mean an already advanced inflammatory process - endometritis. As soon as the first droplets of pus appear, even if only slightly greenish, you should immediately consult a doctor.

White discharge

You should start to worry if after childbirth white lochia appears, accompanied by symptoms such as:

• unpleasant odor with sourness;
• curdled consistency;
• itching in the perineum;
• redness of the external genitalia.

All this indicates sexual and genitourinary infections, yeast colpitis or vaginal candidiasis (thrush). If you have such suspicious symptoms, you should definitely contact a gynecologist so that he can take a smear from the vagina or bacterial culture. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

Black bleeding

If during the postpartum or lactation period there is black discharge, but without any additional symptoms in the form of an unpleasant, pungent odor or pain, they are considered normal and are dictated by changes in the composition of the blood due to restructuring hormonal levels women or .

Useful information . According to statistics, women turn to gynecologists after childbirth mainly with complaints about black discharge, which frightens them the most. Although in fact the most serious danger is green lochia.

Red

Lochia should normally be red only on initial stage, in the first few days after the baby is born. The uterus during this period is open wound, the blood does not have time to coagulate, and the discharge becomes blood-red, quite bright in color. However, after a week it will change to a brownish-brown color, which will also indicate that healing is occurring without deviations. Usually, a month after birth, the discharge becomes cloudy-gray-yellow, closer to transparent.

Every young woman who has become a mother should clearly and clearly understand what color the discharge should be normally after childbirth, and what shade of lochia will give her a signal that she needs to see a doctor. This knowledge will help you avoid many dangerous complications. Another characteristic of postpartum menstruation may be alarming during this period - its abundance or scarcity.

Number of allocations

The quantitative nature of the discharge after childbirth can also be different and indicate either normal restoration of the uterus, or some deviations from the norm. From this point of view, there are no problems if:

• in the first week there is heavy discharge after childbirth: the body is thus cleansed of everything unnecessary: ​​and those who have done their job blood vessels, and obsolete endometrial cells, and remnants of the placenta, and products of intrauterine vital activity of the fetus;
• Over time, they become less and less: scanty discharge, starting from 2-3 weeks after birth, is also considered normal.

A woman should be wary if there is too little discharge immediately after childbirth: in this case, the ducts and pipes could become clogged, or some kind of blood clot could form, which prevents the body from getting rid of postpartum waste. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor and undergo an appropriate examination.

It’s even worse if the abundant lochia does not end for too long and continues for 2-3 weeks, or even more. This suggests that the healing process is being delayed and the uterus cannot recover to its full potential for some reason. They can only be discovered through medical examination and then eliminated through treatment.

The smell is bad

Women know that any discharge from the body has a specific odor, which can only be eliminated by observing hygiene rules. In the postpartum period, this characteristic of lochia can serve a good purpose and promptly report problems in the body. Pay attention to how the discharge smells after childbirth.

• In the first days they should smell like fresh blood and dampness; after this time, a hint of mustiness and rottenness may be observed - in this case this is considered the norm.
• If there is postpartum discharge with an unpleasant odor (it can be putrid, sour, pungent), this should alert you. Together with other deviations from the norm (color, abundance) this symptom may indicate inflammation or infection of the uterus.

If you think that postpartum discharge smells very bad, you should not hope that it is temporary, will go away soon, or is the norm. To avoid complications, the most the right decision in this case, you will need to consult a doctor at least for advice.

Break in discharge

It often happens that the discharge after childbirth ends and starts again a week or even a month later. In most cases, this causes panic among young mothers. However, such a break does not always indicate deviations from the norm. What could it be?

1. If scarlet, fresh bloody discharge starts 2 months after childbirth, it can be either (in some women the body is capable of this fast recovery, especially in the absence of lactation), or rupture of sutures after heavy physical or emotional stress, or some other problems that only a doctor can identify and eliminate.
2. If lochia has already stopped, and then suddenly returned after 2 months (for some, this is possible even after 3 months), you need to look at quality characteristics secretions to understand what is happening to the body. Most often, this is how remnants of the endometrium or placenta come out, which something prevented from coming out immediately after childbirth. If the lochia is dark, with mucus and clots, but without the characteristic putrid, pungent odor and in the absence of pus, most likely everything will end without any complications. However, if these symptoms are present, we may be talking about an inflammatory process, which can be treated either with antibiotics or through curettage.

Since a break in postpartum discharge may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the uterine area, you should not delay visiting a doctor. After the examination, he will determine for sure whether this is a new menstrual cycle or a deviation from the norm requiring medical intervention. Separately, it is worth paying attention to lochia after.

Lochia after caesarean section

Those who have had a cesarean section should understand that the nature of the discharge after an artificial birth will be somewhat different. Although this will only concern their duration and composition. Here are their features:

• the body recovers after a cesarean section in the same way as after natural birth: blood and dead endometrium come out with secretions;
• in this case, there is a greater risk of contracting an infection or inflammatory process, so you need to special attention carry out hygiene procedures regularly;
• in the first week after artificial birth, bleeding occurs profusely, containing mucous clots;
• Normally, the color of lochia in the first days should be scarlet, bright red, and then change to brown;
• the duration of discharge after artificial childbirth is usually prolonged, since the uterus in this case does not contract so quickly and the healing process takes a long time;
• It should be taken into account that bleeding after a caesarean section should not flow for more than 2 weeks.

Every young mother should understand how important role The full restoration of the uterus after childbirth plays a role in her health. You can understand how it goes through the lochia. It is necessary to monitor their duration, the timing when the discharge stops and starts again, and their qualitative characteristics. There can be no accidents here: color, smell, quantity - each symptom can become a timely signal to consult a doctor, identify the problem and undergo appropriate treatment.

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

What is postpartum discharge and which is considered normal?

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

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

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

Normally, changes occur approximately in this order:

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

The decrease in the amount of discharge after childbirth occurs gradually

Certain conditions related to the norm

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

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

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

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

Read more about discharge after cesarean in the article -.

Video: doctor about discharge after childbirth

What do deviations from the norm look like?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo gallery: pathological lochia

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

What to do if pathological lochia occurs

At pathological discharge It is necessary to consult a doctor, because each case is unique. Most often, additional procedures are performed (pelvic ultrasound, examination of discharge). If traces of placenta or membranes are detected, you will need instrumental methods treatment. Lochiometra is amenable to conservative therapy.

Any inflammatory process is quite dangerous complication in the postpartum period, requiring the prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. To reduce the risk adverse reactions for medications in a child, they select drugs that are used to treat newborns in maternity hospitals. You can also express your breasts approximately 15 to 30 minutes after IV and intramuscular drugs and 1–1.5 hours after administration medicines enterally.

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

Prevention of pathological postpartum discharge

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

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

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