Brown discharge after childbirth after 2. If the discharge appears after three months. What does yellow discharge mean?

Brown discharge after childbirth is very frightening for new mothers, especially when it comes out as blood clots, giving off an unpleasant odor. Although there is no escape from this process, because after childbirth, in this simple way, lochia comes out - dead particles of the endometrium, blood cells, plasma, and also the placenta. Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether the child was born naturally or by cesarean section, the lochia will still come out. Externally, they look like discharge like during menstruation, only in large volumes and with blood clots.

The first few hours after birth there is a risk of hypotonic bleeding from the uterus, so the woman who gave birth is under close supervision of medical staff. Bleeding is characterized by copious discharge of scarlet blood, which should be reported to obstetricians immediately. This period is no less dangerous for bleeding from torn tissues, which may not have been noticed and not sutured immediately after childbirth. There is a danger of hematomas when the doctor does not completely suture the rupture. A woman will definitely feel a nagging pain and discomfort in the perineum.

The first 2-3 days after childbirth, lochia has a red-brown color and comes out so abundantly that it is difficult to get by with a regular pad; doctors advise using special postpartum pads. They should be changed at least every 2 hours, regardless of the amount of filling.

Restoration of the uterus and its contractions lead to the fact that 4 - 5 days after birth, instead of black-brown, brown discharge begins to appear after childbirth. Moreover, the volume of discharge is also reduced, and you can already use regular pads. For more intense contractions of the uterus, women in labor can be injected with Oxytocin. Already on days 8-9 after birth, lochia becomes yellow-transparent, mucous, and only occasionally streaked with blood.

If postpartum recovery took place without complications, then it should stop within 4 weeks. Already by the fourth week they are barely “smeared”, only sometimes this process can drag on for up to 6 weeks, like menstrual flow before childbirth. Moreover, interestingly, in nursing mothers, brown discharge after childbirth ends much earlier than in non-breastfeeding women. This is due to the fact that intensive lactation promotes rapid contraction of the uterus. And in women after cesarean section, on the contrary, the process of lochia release is delayed due to damage to the uterus during surgery.

Caring for the healing area helps to quickly restore the uterus, and therefore quickly stop discharge; lochia carries various microbial flora that can cause inflammation. You need to use padding diapers, as well as pads, but not tampons, because the main thing during this period is for the lochia to come out of the uterus as quickly as possible. Washing with warm water several times a day will help maintain proper hygiene. Douching is prohibited to avoid infections.

A purulent and pungent odor from the vagina indicates that an infection has settled in the perineum, possibly. Often this process is accompanied by fever and sharp pain. There is also a risk of yeast colpitis, which a woman can identify by cheesy vaginal discharge. Only careful attention and care of the healing area will help the process of discharge after childbirth go through quickly and painlessly.

Discharge in women after childbirth is a normal process of healing and restoration of the endometrium of the uterus after the separation and delivery of the placenta. The birth of a child leads to the formation of a bleeding wound in the uterine cavity, which provokes a long period of vaginal discharge. Dying epithelium, mucus and plasma come out with the blood, and all together this is called lochia.

Gradually, the woman’s body is cleansed and the nature of the discharge after childbirth changes, as the wound heals and the mucous membrane is restored. It is very important to be attentive to your health during the postpartum period, since any sudden change in the process of cleansing the uterus can mean complications in the form of inflammation, infection, etc. It is very important to know how the type and composition of discharge after childbirth changes over time in order to control this process.

Discharge a week after birth

7 days after giving birth, the woman is already at home, so the doctor must explain to her how to care for the intimate area and in what cases you should worry about your health. The first days after the baby is born, the discharge should be red and profuse. They may be accompanied by cramps as the uterus actively contracts to return to its prenatal size.

To discharge after childbirth intensified, the gynecologist palpates the abdomen, massaging the female organs, and also encourages active breastfeeding. Thanks to this, within a week the uterus is actively cleansing and healing. If a cesarean section was performed, then recovery takes longer and the first weeks may be accompanied by heavy bleeding after childbirth.

It is important to do an ultrasound while still in the maternity hospital to exclude the possibility of placenta residues in the uterine cavity, which can lead to stagnation of the exfoliated endometrium and inflammation. Often this is what causes heavy bleeding, severe pain and fever in a new mother some time after returning home.

During the first month, a woman should use diapers instead of pads to detect clotted discharge after childbirth. This is normal, but it is important to monitor changes in color and consistency of anything found on the diaper being changed. During the postpartum period, it is very important to observe the strictest intimate hygiene and maximize the release of the uterus from lochia. To do this you should:

Breastfeed your baby. During this process, hormones are produced that stimulate contractions of the uterus, which leads to increased and accelerated release of secretions;
Periodically lie on your stomach. When you lie on your back, the uterus falls back and lochia cannot flow freely, so it is very useful to set aside time every day to lie on your stomach. It is also better to do this without underwear, putting a diaper underneath;
Refuse sex. For the first 2 months after childbirth, you should refrain from intimate relations with your husband in order to avoid infection, because the uterus is open, and the escaping blood will only contribute to the proliferation of bacteria;
Regular intimate hygiene. This should also be done in order to avoid infectious complications. Every 2-3 hours it is necessary to change the diaper and thoroughly wash the genitals. Even if you have normal discharge after childbirth, douching is strictly contraindicated - the uterus will cleanse itself. Tampons are also contraindicated, even when the lochia becomes scanty. A hygiene product must be chosen carefully, preferably on the advice of an obstetrician-gynecologist, since even a simply scented intimate gel can lead to irritation of the genital organs. In the first 2 months after giving birth, you cannot take a bath, only shower.

Discharge after childbirth lasts at least 1 month, after which it becomes very scanty and mucous, which means complete healing of the uterus and reproduction of the mucous membrane.

Discharge after childbirth one month

A month after the birth of your baby, the red discharge after childbirth is already replaced by spotting brown ones. This means that the uterus has almost recovered - no new blood comes out, but only old blood comes out. Also, dark brown discharge after childbirth can be complemented by white-yellow discharge, which is similar in consistency to mucus. This is further evidence that the endometrium in the uterine cavity is completing its recovery.

In terms of quantity, these discharges are insignificant and no longer cause the discomfort that was in the first days of the postpartum period. Before the release of lochia is completed, the uterus must reach its normal size, and its inner layer must be completely covered with mucous membrane. It is quite normal if, a month after giving birth, the discharge still contains blood, the main thing is that there is not much of it and this is not accompanied by any symptoms of ill health.

Discharge after childbirth 2 months

If there is discharge for a long time after childbirth, this may mean that the uterus contracts weakly and healing occurs rather slowly. In any case, the blood impurities should have disappeared by now. White-yellow discharge means the final stage of healing of the uterus, so there is no need to worry. If lochia has replaced clear mucous discharge, then this is a normal phenomenon 2 months after birth.

In any case, the obstetrician-gynecologist strongly recommends that you contact the maternity hospital with any questions within 8 weeks of the postpartum period, since it is he who is responsible for how the separation of the placenta and cleansing of the uterus went. If during this period nothing bothered you, then a routine examination by a gynecologist should be done after 2 months and already in the clinic.

After 8 weeks of uterine recovery, the color of the discharge after childbirth should become transparent and the amount minimal. They should not cause any discomfort. This means that the uterus has recovered, returned to its normal size, and the cervix has closed. The young mother can again visit public bathing places, take a bath and enjoy her intimate life.

Discharge 3 months after birth

The duration of discharge after childbirth should not exceed 8 weeks. If, 3 months after the birth of the baby, vaginal discharge occurs, then this can be either menstruation or a manifestation of the inflammatory process. It is important to pay attention to the nature of the discharge and the accompanying symptoms.

White mucous discharge after childbirth may be due to thrush. If they are insignificant and transparent, then there is nothing to worry about - a natural liquid, like saliva or sweat. Stretchy discharge after childbirth that is colorless and odorless is also normal and often accompanies ovulation.

If a woman does not breastfeed, it is quite possible that her menstrual cycle will resume 3 months after giving birth. This will lead to the arrival of menstruation with all the accompanying symptoms, such as pain in the lower back and lower abdomen, and increased breast sensitivity. If it is heavy bleeding after childbirth, accompanied by high body temperature and general malaise, then you need to call an ambulance, since in this case only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

3 months after birth, only colorless, odorless, and non-discomfortable discharge is considered normal. In all other cases, it is better to get tested, do an ultrasound and be aware of the condition of your body.

When does the discharge end after childbirth?

With normal recovery of the female body, discharge after childbirth lasts no more than 8 weeks. This period is quite enough for the uterine cavity to shrink and for the placenta to become covered with healthy endometrium. Afterwards, the menstrual cycle begins to recover, which resumes depending on the regularity of breastfeeding.

If a woman breastfeeds, this leads to increased contractions of the uterus, which speeds up the process of lochia release. Also, the production of prolactin delays the functioning of the ovaries, which stops the resumption of menstruation. So the cycle can be restored six months after birth or more. However, this process is individual for all women.

If the discharge suddenly stops after childbirth, you should immediately consult a doctor, as this can have very adverse consequences. The accumulation of lochia in the uterine cavity occurs for various reasons:

Overstretching of the uterine cavity, which leads to its bending back. To prevent this, you need to lie on your stomach more often and massage it. It is also important to maintain water balance in the body and breastfeeding;
Untimely emptying of the intestines and bladder, which begins to put pressure on the uterus. At the first urge you need to go to the toilet to prevent complications.

If you do not react in time to stop the release of lochia during the postpartum period, then you will have to treat endometritis - inflammation of the uterine mucosa. Blood is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, so it must be drained in a timely manner to avoid infection.

If you know how long the discharge lasts after childbirth, and it suddenly stops, then call your doctor. Treatment consists of eliminating cervical spasm by taking No-shpa, after which Oxytocin is prescribed, which promotes uterine contractions.

Bloody discharge after childbirth

Bloody and pink discharge after childbirth is normal, as the uterus is intensively cleansed at first. However, you should be wary if the number of lochia has increased sharply. It is possible that parts of the placenta remained in the uterus, which led to severe bleeding. Disturbances in the blood clotting system may also be the cause.

If parts of the placenta remain in the uterine cavity, this can be diagnosed by ultrasound or during a gynecological examination. They are removed under general anesthesia, after which intravenous antibiotic therapy is administered to eliminate the risk of infectious complications. If you do not clean the uterine cavity in a timely manner, this will certainly lead to severe inflammation and life-threatening consequences.

If sudden heavy discharge after childbirth provokes blood clotting disorders, then appropriate treatment is carried out. A woman, while pregnant, should tell her doctor about such health problems so that postpartum hemorrhage can be prevented.

Often, an increase in discharge is due to the fact that the uterus is not contracting enough. Such bleeding is called hypotonic. They are quite abundant, but nothing hurts and there are no other symptoms of danger. However, it is worth considering that any bleeding, if not stopped in a timely manner, can lead to critical consequences.

Heavy discharge after childbirth is normal only if it occurs in the first week and the doctor is notified about it. Otherwise, you need to call an ambulance. To stop bleeding, reducing medications will be administered and infusion therapy will be performed to replenish blood loss. In some cases, surgical intervention is not possible, so it is very important to seek help in a timely manner.

Brown discharge after childbirth

2-3 weeks after birth, the discharge becomes darker than initially, as the wound in the uterus heals and hardly bleeds. However, old blood is still in its cavity, it gradually becomes brown and also comes out as part of the lochia. Dark discharge after childbirth is nothing more than old blood that did not empty the uterus in a timely manner.

The appearance of dark lochia begins in the middle of the first caruncle after childbirth and can last 4-6 weeks. It is important that the discharge is not abundant and does not increase sharply. If this happens, you should definitely consult a doctor, since timely and complete cleansing of the uterus is the key to your women’s health.

Yellow discharge after childbirth

Such discharge is normal at the final stage of lochia release. They can also signal the resumption of the menstrual cycle. If, 4 months after birth, the discharge changes from colorless to yellow, without a distinct odor, then this indicates ovulation.

It is worth considering the situations in which you will definitely need to see a doctor:

Yellow discharge after childbirth is accompanied by an unpleasant odor. Particularly dangerous is a sharp putrid odor, which indicates the spread of infection;
In addition to the discharge, itching and burning of the genitals are disturbing. This is also a sign of infection, which can enter the uterus and cause inflammation;
Thick discharge after childbirth, accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen. It is especially dangerous if they radiate to the lower parts of the spine;
Bright yellow or greenish lochia is a sign of infection of the genital tract or even the uterus. To avoid serious consequences, it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner;
Purulent discharge after childbirth is especially dangerous, since it is a sign not only of infection, but also of the presence of a source of inflammation, which must be immediately eliminated in order to prevent a threat to the woman’s life;
An increase in body temperature along with copious bright yellow discharge indicates an active process of inflammation in the uterus, the causes of which must be determined by a doctor

Most of these situations occur with endometritis - inflammation of the uterine lining. It is provoked by weak cleansing of its cavity, which leads to the accumulation of lochia. If you smell discharge after childbirth, you should definitely see an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Mucous discharge after childbirth

Transparent discharge after childbirth appears after the lochia has completely exited the uterine cavity. In most cases, this is nothing more than the secret of the functioning of the pelvic organs. They can also precede and accompany ovulation or be released after sex. This is also how the hormonal changes in the body that occur after childbirth manifest themselves.

If you are concerned about discharge after childbirth that looks like clots of clear mucus, then get tested to make sure that they are normal. You should be alerted if any other symptoms appear, such as fever, itching, or smell. Such discharge may be a manifestation of cervical erosion, so it may be worth undergoing a colposcopy.

Green discharge after childbirth

Green lochia is a clear sign of inflammation in the uterine cavity. As a rule, they are accompanied by fever and pain in the lower abdomen. Bleeding may also suddenly begin, as green discharge may be caused by parts of the placenta remaining in the uterus. Another reason may be delayed lochia or poorly healing tears and cracks in the birth canal.

In addition, green discharge with an odor after childbirth is often caused by infections, so it is necessary to follow special rules of intimate hygiene during this period and abstain from sex. Also, to prevent such complications after childbirth, you need to avoid abortions, STDs and strengthen your immune system.

If you have green discharge, then you need to see a doctor, take a smear for flora and undergo an ultrasound. In such cases, they are treated with antibiotics and physiotherapeutic procedures. Sometimes it is necessary to scrape out the scarred endometrium. It is also very important to strengthen your body in general.

White discharge after childbirth

White discharge is not always thrush, as many women think. Thrush can be easily diagnosed by the cheesy consistency of the discharge, sour odor, dryness and itching in the vagina. Also, a regular smear will help make a diagnosis, and curing colpitis is not difficult.

However, white discharge may be a natural secretion of your reproductive system. If some have a uniform consistency and there are no other unpleasant symptoms, then there is no need to worry. However, it is worth knowing that white discharge can signal:

Inflammation of the fallopian tubes;
Pathologies of the uterus;
Inflammation of the vaginal mucosa;
Violation of the secretion of the cervical glands.

To prevent these problems, you need to undergo a timely examination by a gynecologist and take tests. It is also important to avoid douching, chemical contraceptives, poor intimate hygiene and a sedentary lifestyle. This is especially important in the postpartum period.

After childbirth, a woman must be very attentive to her health and fully control the process of cleansing the uterus. She also needs to be able to distinguish dangerous situations from normal ones, for which she should discuss all this with her doctor in advance. Normal discharge after childbirth last about 2 months, gradually decreasing and not accompanied by pain.

The time after discharge from the maternity hospital is responsible and exciting for a woman. And it’s not just that she’s worried about her baby. The woman is also thinking about restoring her health. Is everything okay with him? Did you see everything on the ultrasound, and were there any pathologies?

This time is very important for a woman’s body. He begins to rebuild in a new way and return to his normal state. The discharge is evidence of this. This indicates that the woman’s body is restoring endometrial cells. After all, the entire pregnancy the uterine mucosa was in the capillaries of the placenta.

Brown discharge after childbirth in 1-2-3 months and how to take care of yourself

Recovery of the body will occur individually for each woman. If it goes well, then after a month all discharge should disappear. Already in the fourth week, the lochia is mostly “smeared”. It is also possible that this process will drag on for several more weeks. Much depends on whether a woman is breastfeeding. If so, then their brown discharge goes away faster.
And all because when breastfeeding, the uterus contracts more intensely. But mothers who have undergone a caesarean section or whose baby is bottle-fed note that this process takes longer.
If a woman takes good care of her intimate area, the uterus will also recover more quickly. This means that brown discharge will go away faster. Since lochia contains many harmful microbes that can cause inflammation, you need to use pads. Tampons are not allowed categorically, because it is necessary for the lochia to come out faster. It is advisable to wash your face several times a day. Do not use douching under any circumstances. This may cause infection.
If you notice a strong or purulent odor, this could be endometrial inflammation and infection. It is often accompanied by fever and sharp pain in the abdominal area.
Curdled discharge may indicate yeast colpitis.

I would like to say that brown discharge, especially in the first few months after childbirth, is normal. If this process occurs naturally, the discharge is normal in color and without a strong odor, then there is nothing to worry about. But if something according to your feelings is happening wrong, there is no need to delay, but it is better to contact a gynecologist. Only with careful attention and care can you prevent complications.

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Some women experience brown discharge after childbirth. They frighten new mothers, especially if they come out as blood clots. Such secretions are called lochia and consist of dead particles of the endometrium, plasma, blood and placental cells. Lochia comes out both after natural birth and after cesarean section. The discharge is similar in appearance to menstrual discharge, but only more abundant and with clots.

Immediately after giving birth, a woman begins to bleed. If the blood discharge is too abundant and it is scarlet in color, there is a risk of hypotonic uterine bleeding. This must be reported to your doctor. In addition, bleeding can come from ruptured wounds that may not have been noticed or treated by a doctor. In this case, there is a risk of hematomas. In this case, there may be a nagging pain and discomfort in the perineum. This is also a reason to seek medical help.

The first few days after the birth of a child, lochia comes out very abundantly and is distinguished by a red-brown color. The uterus continues to contract, and after 5 days, the color of the lochia changes, and the discharge becomes significantly less. On days 8-9, brown discharge becomes yellow with the presence of mucus and blood streaks.

With normal recovery of the mother's body, discharge from the uterus after childbirth should stop after 4 weeks. Normally, by the fourth week only spotting may appear. In rare cases, this process can take up to 6 weeks. For nursing mothers, it usually ends sooner, since lactation leads to faster contractions of the uterus. In women who give birth by cesarean section, on the contrary, the birth is delayed due to damage to the uterus during surgery.

The process of slow contraction of the uterus is diagnosed using ultrasound. It may be caused by the following reasons:

inflammatory processes in the uterus;
presence of fibrous nodes;
uterine infantilism;
bending of the organ posteriorly;
decreased blood clotting, etc.

Excessive dark brown discharge after childbirth may indicate incomplete delivery of the placenta. In this case, it is necessary to clean the uterus in a hospital setting. A dangerous symptom may be an unpleasant smell of discharge. This indicates infections and the course of inflammatory processes in the body. Postpartum hemorrhage is a good breeding ground for pathogens, the proliferation of which causes an unpleasant odor.

How to prevent the appearance of brown discharge in women who have given birth?

To prevent dark discharge after childbirth, you must follow the rules of personal hygiene and consult a doctor to find out the cause of this discharge. Careful care of the healing area contributes to a woman’s speedy recovery after childbirth.

A woman should wash herself with warm water several times a day, this will help maintain the necessary hygiene. Douching is prohibited during this period, as it can become a source of infections. If a woman has dark discharge from the uterus, she needs to use pads and diapers, but in no case tampons, since tampons trap painful discharge inside and thereby contribute to the spread of infections.

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 causes 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.