Discharge after childbirth. What is lochia, how long does postpartum discharge last, what is the color and smell of Lochia after childbirth, how long does it last?

Lochia after childbirth, what is this phenomenon, how long do they last and when can we talk about pathology? Let's start with the fact that this term refers to the vaginal discharge of a woman who has experienced childbirth (natural or cesarean section).

It is known how long lochia lasts after childbirth, if there are no complications - this is a maximum of 2 months. In this case, the first week the discharge is quite abundant, more abundant than menstruation. A woman can rarely get by with ordinary sanitary pads, even with a large number of “droplets”. Immediately after childbirth, most maternity hospitals provide sterile gauze, folded several times. Afterwards, it is recommended to use special postpartum pads; they are highly absorbent and are sold in pharmacies.

After about 5-7 days, the blood stops being released and is replaced by a brown “smear”, but still quite abundant. During this period of time, it happens that lochia after childbirth ends and begins again - this indicates pathology, lochiometer. It is an accumulation of blood, mucus, and sometimes the remains of the placenta in the uterine cavity. This happens due to the anatomical features of the uterus, cervix, and a hematoma formed on it, which becomes a mechanical obstacle to the exit of blood from the uterus. This same delay can explain why after childbirth the discharge (lochia) smells unpleasant, the smell is putrid. Often such a symptom occurs when inflammation has already begun, because blood is a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.

Is treatment necessary? Yes, definitely. But diagnosis comes first. The doctor conducts an examination, which may reveal an enlarged uterus and an almost complete absence of lochia, or vice versa - bleeding (if there is no longer a mechanical barrier to the outflow of blood). Ultrasound examination will help to draw the correct conclusion. If remnants of the placenta are found in the uterus, their surgical removal (curettage procedure) will be recommended. If only accumulations of lochia are found in the uterus, then prophylactic antibiotics may be recommended, as well as drugs that contract the uterus, especially if the bleeding is heavy.

A woman should be concerned not only if lochia acquires an odor after childbirth, but also if pain appears in the abdomen or lower back, and body temperature rises. It should also be taken into account that the latter symptom is often present and is a variant of the norm during the so-called establishment of breastfeeding, when a woman experiences the first and strong flow of breast milk.

The cause of lochiometra may also be subinvolution of the uterus - its slow contraction. This may be due to various gynecological diseases, for example, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, infections. The risk of this pathology is increased in very young and “aged” postpartum women.

How to independently help the uterus contract faster, that is, reduce the duration of discharge (lochia) after childbirth:

do not refuse oxytocin injections in the maternity hospital and ice, which is placed on the uterus immediately after childbirth;
try to periodically lie on your stomach;
if the birth was natural - do not lie around, move more, low physical activity is one of the main reasons for the formation of lochiometra;
wear a postpartum bandage or wrap a diaper;
Breastfeeding the baby more often, on demand, this leads to the production of the hormone oxytocin in the body, which contracts the uterus.

And when the lochia ends after childbirth, it’s time to visit a gynecologist for an examination and discussion of a suitable method of contraception. Usually the discharge stops completely 1-2 months after birth. Moreover, for almost the entire postpartum period, with the exception of the first days, which the woman usually spends in the maternity hospital, brown discharge is observed, and then a very light and insignificant “daub”. Sometimes lochia smoothly “transitions” into menstruation, which can begin in some women as early as 4 weeks after birth.

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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. The more a woman is aware of their duration and nature, the less 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 odors, because a girl always wants to remain attractive, you 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 the 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. Mulsan Cosmetic remains the leader in natural cleansing cosmetics. The abundance of 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 reassure: despite the fact that doctors consider this a minor deviation from the norm, it is necessary to pay attention to their nature (quantity, color, thickness, smell, composition). These descriptions will tell you exactly whether everything is okay with the body or whether it is better to seek medical help.

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 testing 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. It seems to them that they “got off with 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 an inflammatory process.

Deviations from the norm can be acceptable and dangerous. But in any case, 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.

Fine:

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 young mothers, is normal 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 (endometrium), requiring immediate treatment, its cause is infectious complications, which are most often accompanied by elevated temperature, and lochia is distinguished by an unpleasant odor 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 that 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:

the first 2-3 days, normal discharge after childbirth is usually bright red (the blood has not yet coagulated);
after this, brown discharge occurs for 1-2 weeks, which indicates that there are no 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 may indicate 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 mixed with greenery and a putrid odor began already on the 4th or 5th day after the baby was born, this may indicate the onset of inflammation of the uterine mucosa, which is called endometritis;
if after 2 weeks there is a yellow discharge, a fairly bright shade 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 with antibiotics, and in severe cases, surgical removal of the damaged inflamed uterine epithelium is performed to cleanse the mucous membrane in order to give the upper layer of the uterine membrane the opportunity to recover faster.

Green slime

Endometritis can also be indicated by green discharge, which is much worse than yellow, because it means 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 genital and genitourinary infections, yeast colpitis or vaginal candidiasis (thrush). If you have such suspicious symptoms, you should definitely contact your gynecologist to take a vaginal smear 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 changes in the woman’s hormonal background or.

Helpful 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 the green color of lochia.

Red color

Lochia should normally be red only at the initial stage, in the first few days after the baby is born. During this period, the uterus is an open wound, the blood does not have time to clot, and the discharge takes on a blood-red, rather bright hue. 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: blood vessels that have done their job, 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 the norm.

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 must 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 identified through a 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 of 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 best decision in this case would be to consult a doctor, at least for a consultation.

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?

If scarlet, fresh bloody discharge begins 2 months after childbirth, this could be either (in some women the body is capable of such a rapid recovery, especially in the absence of lactation), or rupture of the stitches after heavy physical or emotional stress, or some other problem , which can only be identified and eliminated by a doctor.
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 the qualitative characteristics of the discharge 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 a natural birth: blood and dead endometrium come out with the discharge;
in this case, there is a greater risk of contracting an infection or inflammatory process, so you need to regularly carry out hygiene procedures with special attention;
in the first week after artificial birth, bloody discharge 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 the full restoration of the uterus after childbirth plays 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.

After the birth of a child, women are faced with various physiological problems that worry them and bring discomfort. However, they must know all the nuances to distinguish the natural state from pathology.

Question of the day: how long does the discharge last after childbirth, and what does it look like during normal postpartum recovery? Every new mom goes through this, which is why it's so important to know what to expect.

Girls will have lochia no matter how the child was born - naturally or with surgery. The reason for their occurrence lies in the restoration of the uterus and its cleansing of membranes. After the baby is born, a wound from the placenta remains on the surface of the organ. Until it heals and the mucous membrane returns to normal, you can observe wound contents coming out of the vagina. Visually, it may resemble menstruation, but it contains remnants of membranes, ichor, and mucus. After some time, their abundance and color will change.

If the process of cleansing and reduction takes place without complications, then the duration of lochia is 5-8 weeks.

Moreover, the abundant ones end within up to 3 weeks, after which they are not so strong. Of course, this happens individually, taking into account factors such as:

lactation;
age and physical activity;
blood clotting;
child's weight;
complications during pregnancy.

It is important to be able to diagnose what is normal and what is a sign of pathology, so always pay attention to these characteristics:

Composition (1-4 days - blood, clots; 2 weeks - clots and mucus; a month later - smears (possibly blood).
Color (1-4 - bright scarlet, 2-3 weeks - brownish, after a month - white or transparent).
Smell (in the first week - bloody, musty, beware of the rotten and pungent smell!).

Average duration

How many days does discharge last after childbirth? On average, about 42. At the same time, it is the period when they change their color and volume that is important, because you need to make sure that the body is cleansed correctly and on time.

How long it takes for lochia rubra to last is another important question. Immediately after the baby is born, the placenta separates very actively, and there is a lot of bloody secretion from the vagina.

This is not very convenient, but it is important so that the gynecologist can determine whether everything is fine. At this time, about 400-500 ml of liquid pours out of the girl.

Up to 3-4 days they appear scarlet in color, clots can be seen in them, but this is not a sign of pathology. During this period, a woman has to change a special pad every hour on average. In addition, the girl may smell a sweetish or musty odor - there is no need to be afraid, but if the odor is putrid, consult a doctor immediately.

How long does serous lochia last? They should last from 4 to 10 days. Their volume decreases, their color changes - now they are brown-pink or brown. The number of leukocytes increases, so there should be no more blood clots during this period. You can already use regular gaskets

After 10 days, white, spotting lochia appears. They are odorless and do not cause discomfort, and last about 20 days. This is the final stage of wound healing. After finishing.

Risk of uterine bleeding

In the first hours after the birth of the baby, there is a high risk of uterine bleeding if the uterus contracts poorly after relaxing during pregnancy. To prevent this, put ice on their stomach. During contractions of this organ, blood vessels are compressed, this prevents excessive blood loss and its consequences: anemia, dizziness, weakness.

It is important on the first day not to be ashamed of your secretions, show them to the doctor and keep him informed about your condition all the time. This will also affect how long you will have to spend in the hospital after giving birth.

Pathological conditions

We have already discussed the situation with natural healing, but there are various deviations, if you notice them in time you can maintain your health. Some of them indicate pathologies that require medical intervention.

Secretion occurs after 5 weeks or a little longer. If they last less or suddenly stop, visit your gynecologist. The reason for this may be insufficient contractility of the uterus, then the blood and placenta do not come out and form stagnation. It must be eliminated immediately. To avoid stagnation, girls are advised to get out of bed and walk more often.

If lochia comes out after childbirth for more than 2 months, you should be examined by a doctor immediately.

After all, after such a time, you must leave them in the past. The cause of blood can be menstruation if there are no clots, pus, or unpleasant odor in it. Rupture of seams can also affect its appearance. In any case, pay attention to the color, smell and consistency of what comes out of the vagina, and report to doctors.

Yellow or greenish secretions with a pungent aroma will tell you about endometritis, a dangerous inflammation. If your temperature also rises and your stomach hurts, call an ambulance. No matter how long the lochia comes out after the birth of a child, it can either be stagnation or an infectious infection - neither of which bodes well. Treatment of this disease takes place only in a hospital, with the help of antibiotics and a disinfectant solution, and

Lochia after caesarean section

Many girls are interested in how long the discharge should be after surgery. In such cases, they take longer because contractility is hampered due to the suture and swelling of the tissue. However, even under such circumstances, it is considered normal if the end is after 9 weeks. They can be red for up to 10 days, but not longer, then, as with the natural appearance of a baby, they change shade to brown, then to white.

Menstruation occurs after artificial ones, as with normal childbirth, if the woman did not have complications in the form of inflammation, infections, or bleeding. After all, the body of a girl who has undergone surgery is more unstable and weakened.

How long mothers will discharge after childbirth, regardless of the method of birth, is influenced by breastfeeding.

Lactation stimulates uterine contractions and fluid comes out better. So take note.

How long lochia lasts after childbirth depends on the new mother herself and her compliance with certain rules. Below you will find some important tips that are highly recommended.

To reduce the risk of complications after the birth of a child, a pregnant woman should be supervised by a doctor from the beginning. A woman should visit him regularly and take the medications prescribed by him. The gynecologist will assess her individual condition and tell her when the discharge should end after childbirth in her case.
Before leaving the hospital, you need to do an ultrasound, which will help assess the current state of the uterus. Over the course of several weeks while it actively heals, you should rest more, avoid heavy lifting, and avoid putting pressure on your abs.
Observe personal hygiene rules. While there is discharge, you need to wash yourself more often, after each trip to the toilet. and limit yourself to a warm shower.
Do not use tampons. They delay the flow and thereby increase the risk of inflammation.
Start walking 4-5 hours after the baby is born, so that there is no stagnation. If you have had a caesarean section, this should be done after 10 hours.
Feed your baby your milk.
Immediately inform doctors if the nature of the secretions changes, you feel a putrid odor, bleeding increases, and the temperature rises.
It is not recommended to have sex in this state. Intimate relationships are possible even when the discharge stops after the birth of the baby.

Conclusion

Let's summarize and figure out how long discharge lasts after childbirth, how long bloody lochia lasts and what it is. This process is natural, just like the birth of the baby itself. After his birth, the uterus throws out unnecessary tissue, placenta, mucus, ichor, and blood comes out. All this is similar to normal periods, except that they are more abundant.

In the first hours their volume reaches 500 ml. Such secretions last up to 4 days, then their color changes and there are fewer of them. After 2-3 weeks, they turn white or transparent and should be finished in 42 days. Be careful and, if you see signs of the pathologies described above, immediately inform your doctor.

As you know, after childbirth, a woman’s uterus is not cleansed and restored immediately. After the birth of the placenta, the remnants of mucus, membranes, dying epithelial cells, blood clots, and ichor continue to “come out.” Such postpartum discharge is commonly called lochia.

How long does it take for lochia to come out after childbirth?

The answer to the question of how long the discharge lasts after childbirth and when it ends for very specific reasons concerns every young mother. Generally speaking, the release of lochia continues for several weeks, usually 4–6. Over time, their color and consistency change, and finally they stop.

Immediately after the birth process, lochia resembles bleeding. And this is partly true. To reduce bleeding and prevent actual bleeding from starting, a cold heating pad (with ice) is placed on your stomach for several hours. Normally, when cold is applied, the uterus contracts faster, the blood vessels narrow, and thus the discharge becomes less intense. To “revive” these processes, appropriate drugs are also administered intravenously. When the bladder is full, urine is drained using a catheter.

As a rule (and this is considered the norm), the amount of discharge during this time does not exceed 0.3 liters.

If the muscles do not contract very well or there is a rupture of the birth canal, then the bleeding may be more severe.

After time spent with a heating pad on her stomach, the woman in labor is transferred to the postpartum ward. Here it is worth stocking up on pads, since the discharge will not be much less. However, their color will be slightly different - darker, with a brownish tint. You will observe this picture for several days (usually within 3 days).

Over the next few weeks, the nature of the lochia will change: the discharge after childbirth will begin to lighten, and its consistency will become more liquid. There will be less and less bloody particles every day and gradually, by the beginning of the fifth week, the lochia will become whitish or yellowish-white. Discharge of this color continues for 7–10 days, and its color is determined by a large number of leukocytes and decidual tissue (which previously served as a nutritious and protective layer for the fetus).

By the end of the sixth week, postpartum discharge should stop altogether.

If you are not breastfeeding, then literally a month after that you can expect your first period.

Return of menstruation after medical and spontaneous abortion

What should you pay attention to?

The first few weeks after the birth of the baby, when the birth canal is open and the uterine cavity has not yet fully recovered, the female body is very vulnerable and can easily be affected by any infection. Therefore, special attention must be paid to maintaining personal hygiene rules.

Also, during the period of lochia discharge after childbirth, it is recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse, including oral sex and so-called non-penetrative sex (caressing the genitals with hands). Despite popular belief, these types of sexual contacts are also fraught with the introduction of infections with the ensuing consequences. Sex during this period can also be quite traumatic, since the genitals are too sensitive at this stage. And this is another reason for abstinence.

During the period of discharge after childbirth, it is extremely undesirable (and most doctors simply prohibit their patients from doing this and, it must be said, they do the right thing) to use tampons. In this case, pads with increased absorbency are best suited. They should be changed as often as possible, and saving in this case is unacceptable and even dangerous (discharge is a very favorable environment for the growth of bacteria!).

In addition, a woman must ensure that the discharge does not emit an unpleasant odor and that there are no unpleasant sensations in the genital area (itching, burning, etc.).

If any of the above are noticed, you should immediately consult a doctor to rule out an infectious disease, avoid the risk of bleeding and prescribe appropriate treatment.

An unpleasant odor can be due to several reasons. This, in particular, is a decrease in the contractility of the uterus, the development of an inflammatory process in the genital tract and even the development of enometritis (inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus), the main signal for concern in this case is an increased body temperature, accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen.

Menstruation and pregnancy – let’s dot the i’s

You should know that an increase in temperature during the period of discharge after childbirth is possible. However, normally it is insignificant and can last for the first 3-4 days. If hyperthermia continues longer and at the same time the brown color of the lochia persists for a long time, this is considered a pathology and requires mandatory examination by a specialist.

You also need to consult a specialist if the change in the nature of the discharge deviates from the described standard course, which corresponds to the norm. Another important question is: how long does the discharge last after childbirth and what is its quality? If, for example, the discharge is bloody in nature longer than expected or continues for more than a month and a half, the discharge is profuse for quite a long time. You should be wary of the need to use more than 6 completely saturated pads throughout the day.

There are cases when discharge from the uterus stops too quickly after childbirth. This is also not good: your uterus is probably overstretched and cannot contract properly and push out the contents needed to be released. In this case, the mother is given drugs that stimulate contraction.

How to avoid bleeding?

In the first time after childbirth, it is best to limit active movements and lead a sedentary or recumbent lifestyle. At least for a week.

Make sure you empty your bladder on time. It should not be tolerated, since when filled, it, due to its physiological location, prevents normal contraction of the uterus and, accordingly, the excretion of lochia.

You can also continue the practice of applying an ice heating pad at first. However, you shouldn't get too carried away with this.

One of the best preventive measures to avoid bleeding is breastfeeding. When feeding a baby, a woman’s body releases a special hormone, oxytocin, which stimulates uterine contractions. When a baby sucks milk, many mothers feel blood clots coming out of them at this time, more actively and in larger quantities than usual.

Postpartum discharge, consisting of scraps of membranes, endometrium, blood clots and mucus, is called lochia. They are a consequence of the cleansing of the uterus and the beginning of its restoration. Blood accumulates in the uterus due to the separation of the baby's place. The placenta and endometrium were tightly “linked” together.

The capillary network that nourished the placenta “breaks” when it is separated. And the surface of the endometrium begins to bleed. The uterus, contracting, expels blood and unnecessary residues, indicating the recent presence of the child in the womb. Lochia after childbirth is normal. Pathology will be their absence or sudden cessation.

What lochia looks like and how long it should last after childbirth are not idle questions. The quality of the discharge indicates that the uterus is recovering well and quickly or that pathological processes have begun and urgent medical intervention is needed.

Immediately after the baby is born, the discharge is very abundant, scarlet, similar to menstrual discharge. Therefore, women confuse them with menstruation and so say “postpartum menstruation.” The color of lochia changes over time:

the first days the color is scarlet due to the predominance of blood in the discharge, and may be quite large;
then the discharge becomes less saturated or yellowish;
at the end the lochia are completely transparent and mucous.

The smell of the discharge also has a specific smell, usually compared to the aroma of rotten leaves. The appearance of a purulent or sour odor is a reason to consult a gynecologist.

How long do lochia last?

It is believed that a woman’s uterus is completely restored within six months after delivery. But this does not mean that abundant lochia occurs for the same amount of time. Most often, under normal circumstances, lochia is actively secreted within 20-21 days:

The first 4 days are abundant and red, with large.
Then, for about a week, serous discharge continues, it is less abundant and not so scarlet. Then they become bloody, that is, yellowish and no longer contain clots.
Then the discharge becomes transparent and does not cause discomfort. They may be smearable, but should not have a strong odor or contain blood clots. Such discharge can be observed for 20 days.

It is easy to calculate how long lochia emerges in total - approximately 4-6 weeks (30-40 days). After this, even the secretion of ichor and mucus stops.

Sometimes women notice that lochia is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and cramps that intensify when feeding the baby. This is due to the contractile activity of the uterus, and not to the discharge itself. If the uterus is actively contracting while the baby is feeding, this is a good sign.

If for some reason a woman was at rest for a long time, and then began to actively move, the lochia may intensify. Since movement stimulates the myometrium. And the uterus cleanses itself more actively.

Signs of pathology

Why is the question of how long postpartum discharge lasts so important? Because their earlier cessation may be evidence of a serious pathology. If blood remains in the uterine cavity, a hematometra begins to develop - this can even result in amputation of the uterus.

In addition, the remains of fetal membranes and blood are an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms. If the uterus stops cleaning itself, pathogens will not fail to take advantage of the situation. This can cause serious inflammatory processes in the endometrium and cervix.

The danger is a situation when the volume of lochia has decreased, the discharge has become sanguineous, and then again acquired a bright red color. This may indicate uterine bleeding and requires specialist intervention.

If a woman is bothered by constant and severe pain in the lower abdomen, the discharge has acquired an unpleasant odor or has become unbearably foul-smelling. An admixture of pus appeared in the mucus, and the discharge became yellow-green. This is a sign of the proliferation of pathogenic or conditionally pathogenic microflora.

It is imperative to consult a doctor, since inflammatory processes interfere with the restoration of the uterus and can cause serious complications.

Copious white discharge with a sour odor, accompanied by itching of the genitals - this is a sign of thrush or vaginal candidiasis. This problem should also be addressed to a gynecologist. Active reproduction of fungi of the genus Candida can seriously complicate the healing process of the mucous membrane of the uterus, its cervix and vagina, damaged during childbirth.

Prevention of postpartum disorders

Active breastfeeding can significantly increase the activity of the uterus. While the baby sucks, the myometrium reflexively contracts. This helps rid the uterus of unnecessary tissues accumulated in its cavity. During the first day, it is recommended to apply a heating pad with ice to the abdomen. This will cause a reflex vascular spasm and reduce bleeding. You need to urinate as often as possible.

Personal hygiene during this period must be approached with particular care. Gaskets should be changed at least every 2 hours. The blood that has accumulated on them is an excellent environment for bacteria to multiply. A long-term non-replaceable sanitary napkin turns from a hygiene product into a “breeding ground” for infection. Toilet of the external genitalia should be done every day. However, you should not use scented products. It is better to use baby soap.