The birth of a baby is accompanied by the separation of the uterus, with the result that a large number of vessels rupture. That is why a woman after childbirth begins to disturb the discharge, in which, in addition to blood, there are residues of the placenta, dead remains of the endometrium.
This process is inevitable, it takes place in every woman in labor, and therefore a woman should know how long the discharge after birth is normal and with abnormalities, and how to avoid the risk of complications.
Types of postpartum discharge, time period
Postpartum discharge is called lochia. Despite the fact that this phenomenon is considered a natural process, you should pay attention to color, texture and smell. According to these parameters one can judge the presence of inflammatory processes and other postpartum complications.
What are the discharge after childbirth:
- Secretions that appear immediately after childbirth, are associated with labor, they contain a lot of blood, mucus is also present, thus leaving the remains of the placenta and fetal membrane. The volume of lohii should not be excessively abundant - no more than 500 milliliters.
- The first day after birth (from 5 to 7 days) lochia will be quite abundant, thick consistency with mucous lumps. Color - saturated, red with a burgundy shade. Wearing a postpartum bandage and lying on his stomach will speed up the cleansing of the uterus from clots.
- After a week, the nature of the discharge should change. The bleeding wound, which was formed due to the labor activity, is inhibited, so the volume of lochia should decrease, the mucus begins to thin, the color becomes not as saturated as it was before. There should not be an unpleasant smell.
- After a month, the discharge still continues to harass the woman. But they are decreasing in volume from week to week. The color of lohii during this period is sukrovichny.
- Postpartum discharge can last up to two months, but this is a conditional term. The duration of lohii is individual, in some cases they can be completed after 5 weeks. At the final stage, they become brownish or yellow, and then completely take the form of transparent mucus.
Normally, at any stage of discharge should not have a sharp unpleasant odor.
Deviations from the norm
A woman should be aware of what signs indicate the presence of a pathological process and how much discharge can last after childbirth with a deviation from the norm.
If the bleeding stopped prematurely, it is an alarming signal that indicates that there is some obstacle that prevents the mucus from escaping.
This obstacle can be adhesions, blockage of the cervical canal, neoplasms of different etiologies, weak contractile function of the uterus, and other reasons that should be urgently identified.
Abundant, not reducing in volume, lochia indicate trauma to the uterus, ruptures of the birth canal. This phenomenon can occur with poor blood clotting.
The admixture of cheesy whitish clots and sour smell indicates thrush. This disease is not dangerous, but requires appropriate treatment.
In the postpartum period, there is a high risk of developing inflammatory processes. By the nature of the discharge, it is possible to determine whether inflammation is present.
If the lochia has a cloudy hue, purulent elements are found in them, a sharp and unpleasant smell appears, this indicates a complication, the woman will need to consult a doctor immediately.
The situation becomes threatening if a woman begins to be disturbed by sharp pains in the lower abdomen. An alarming symptom is a rise in temperature, the appearance of weakness.
The most common inflammatory disease characteristic of the postpartum period is endometritis - inflammation of the uterus. Allocations at the same time are colored brown up to a greenish tint. Lochia get the smell of rotten meat. There is a general deterioration and a rise in temperature.
What affects the duration of discharge
Some factors may affect the duration of postpartum discharge. Extend the following factors:
- after cesarean section, the uterus contracts more weakly, the wounds heal longer, so the lochia can be longer in time;
- while the baby is feeding the woman begins to actively produce oxytocin, which increases the intensity of secretions;
- taking a bath, especially a hot one, increases the bleeding, therefore in the first month after the birth of the baby, it is better for the woman to take a shower rather than a bath;
- the use of tampons is excluded, it will lead to blood stagnation in the uterus and inflammatory processes;
- frequent sex in the postpartum period will increase the amount of discharge, sexual relations in the first month should be excluded.
Any deviations during this period should be taken into account and consult a doctor in a timely manner in order to prevent the development of serious complications.
For more information on postpartum discharge, see the following video.
