2 weeks after delivery, the discharge stopped. Discharge after childbirth: how long does it last, what can be

After childbirth, pregnancy is replaced by a new period - postpartum, perhaps no less, and sometimes even more difficult than pregnancy. Many women caring for a newborn child do not pay attention to their own problems, considering them to be something insignificant. This negligence can subsequently lead to serious health complications. But they can be prevented.

What is the postpartum period?

The postpartum period begins immediately after the birth of the placenta and lasts approximately 6-8 weeks. During this time, the woman's physical condition is still far from normal. The uterus, which weighs about 1 kg after delivery, is an almost continuous wound.

In an effort to return to its normal state, the uterus will constantly contract, as a result of which its size will gradually decrease. In addition, the uterus seeks to cleanse itself, this happens through postpartum discharge, which is called lochia.

In the postpartum period, the discharge lasts about 6-8 weeks, during which time the uterus returns to its normal size. If a woman does not breastfeed, her body continues to function, that is, she begins to menstruate. In the postpartum period, discharge can be very painful. To avoid complications, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for discharge so that the uterus contracts freely, and the lochia stands out freely. If something interferes with this process, the likelihood of bleeding and infection of the uterus increases, and these are already complications that have to be treated in a hospital.

What contributes to the contraction of the uterus? Mainly, of course, breastfeeding. At first, when the baby begins to suckle, the mother feels something similar to labor pains, accompanied by throbbing pain in the lower abdomen. Discharge begins to intensify, blood clots appear - these are completely normal phenomena.

The second factor contributing to a faster contraction of the uterus is the timely emptying of the bladder and intestines. The first few days after giving birth, it is advisable for a woman to lie on her stomach more often - this contributes to the outflow of lochia.

If in the postpartum period the bleeding ends by the 8th week and does not bring discomfort to the woman, then everything is happening as expected. Usually by the seventh day, the discharge becomes more scarce, the blood content in them decreases, they become light pink, and then completely whitish, slimy - and so on until they completely disappear.

It has been proven that in those women who are breastfeeding, bleeding in the postpartum period ends faster. If the child was born by cesarean section, on the contrary, everything happens more slowly.

When should I see a doctor?

You should immediately contact a specialist if the discharge has become purulent, has an unpleasant odor, and after pink, bloody discharge, bright red again began. All these signs indicate complications that will not disappear on their own, but will bring a lot of trouble if you do not seek help from a doctor.

Bleeding in the early postpartum period that lasts more than 15 days should be of concern.

What else should you be afraid of?

It is imperative to adhere to strict rules of personal hygiene: wash thoroughly after each visit to the toilet, especially if there are postpartum sutures. Many doctors recommend using baby soap for these purposes, and even better, oddly enough it sounds, household soap, the most common brown one. It is this soap that will help dry the skin well without causing an allergic reaction.

In addition, after each visit, you need to change the pad - at least every 4 hours. These measures will allow you to protect yourself by 90% from various complications.

Throughout the postpartum period, you can not douche, and also use vaginal tampons. This is a very serious warning - this is the easiest way to get an infection! The gynecologist, who prohibits sexual activity during the postpartum period, also seeks to protect you from infections. Sexual contact is one of the shortest ways to catch an infection.

In general, you should be extremely careful when initiating intercourse after childbirth. The fact is that a woman's mucous membranes remain vulnerable and overly sensitive for a long time, and intercourse may not give her the most pleasant sensations. At first, it is imperative to use a condom, preferably with a lubricant - it will help moisturize the vagina, thereby reducing the woman's pain, and in addition, it will protect the woman from various infections that, in a normal, “prenatal” state, would not cause the slightest concern.

Postpartum problems

All the difficulties that lie in wait for a woman after childbirth can be divided into serious problems and "little things". However, serious complications usually require hospital treatment. However, it is a mistake to think that you can ignore the "little things". If you do not "deal" with them immediately, they can bring a lot of grief in the future.

Factors that can contribute to the development of PPH:

- Excessively stretched uterus - as a result of multiple pregnancies or large fetuses.
- Difficult long labor.
- Polyhydramnios.
- Non-contracting uterus - this happens due to long labor pains.
- Too fast separation of the child seat.
- Ruptured uterus.
- Prolapse of the uterus.
- Vaginal tears.
- Remains of the placenta in the uterus.
- Violation of blood clotting in the mother. This may be a congenital anomaly or may result from taking certain medications, such as aspirin.

Postpartum bleeding: prevention

In order to prevent complications associated with postpartum hemorrhage, if possible, it is necessary to carry out qualified preventive measures. That is why, during pregnancy, a woman has to take many different blood tests. Doctors examine the number of leukocytes, platelets and erythrocytes, bleeding time, blood coagulation time, hemoglobin level ... If any pathology is identified, the doctor prescribes a number of special preventive measures for a pregnant woman.

Such expectant mothers are at an increased risk of bleeding during childbirth or in the postpartum period. The ideal option is if the woman in labor is admitted to a special maternity hospital specializing in medical care for women with blood diseases. If the doctor deems it appropriate, the woman is given a transfusion of her own blood taken from her in advance.

In addition, immediately after childbirth, women are injected with a special drug, which should accelerate the contraction of the uterus, and therefore, reduce the time of postpartum bleeding.

Lochiae are physiological secretions from the postpartum uterus and are composed primarily of blood and necrotic tissue. How long does lochia last after childbirth? This question interests many women who gave birth to their first child.

Lochia composition

How many lochia go after childbirth, what is their composition, why do they have this color? Lochiae consist of blood that flows from the area on the wall of the uterus to which the placenta was attached during pregnancy, areas of the endometrium that have changed and thickened during pregnancy, blood, mucus from the cervix, and dead tissue.

Blood in the lochia comes mainly from a large area of ​​the altered site, which remained after the placenta was separated. Bleeding from this area is controlled by the contractions of the muscles in the uterus. The healing and repair process of the endometrium takes about 2 weeks.

That is why bleeding is maximal at the beginning, and then gradually decreases. All postpartum discharge occurs within 1.5 months after delivery.

Lochiae are sterile for 2-3 days, but after that they become colonized by bacteria, exuding a typical odor, which is normal. If you have a postpartum infection, do not confuse the smell from normal lochia and the smell of discharge.

How long does lochia last after childbirth, especially premature birth? The amount of discharge may be scanty after such births, but more than usual after pregnancy with twins or other conditions in which the uterus enlarges more than in a normal pregnancy.

Lochia species

Depending on the color, lochia can be of three types:

1. Red lochia after childbirth. How long does such a discharge last? They last the first 4-5 days after childbirth and have a red color - hence the term. They consist mainly of blood, pieces of membranes, decidual tissue, meconium, and cervical mucosa.

2. After red lochia serous appear. The primary discharge gradually changes color to brown and then turns yellow within about a week. Serous lochiae contain fewer red blood cells, but more leukocytes separated from the developing endometrium, mucus from the cervix.

3. Lochia alba, or white lochia, is a whitish, cloudy fluid that drains from the vagina over a period of about 1–2 weeks. These secretions mainly consist of decidual cells, mucus, leukocytes and epithelial cells, cholesterol, and fat.

How long does lochia go after childbirth? The duration of this period can be from 4 to 8 weeks, but on average it is most often 42 days.

The number of lochia can vary. In some women, the painful contraction of the uterus can lead to heavy bleeding with clots, which slows down the healing process.

Breastfeeding stimulates the contraction of the uterus, which leads to an increase in the number of secreted lochia. It is the irritation of the nipples and areolae that promotes the release of internal oxytocin, which is necessary for contraction of the myometrium and involution of the uterus (restoration of its prenatal size).

Sometimes a sudden change in the position of a woman, for example, when standing up suddenly or bending over, can lead to the release of a large amount of blood from the genital tract - this is simply a drainage of collected blood into the vagina, and it should not be a cause for concern.

However, it should be remembered that the endometrium, to which the placental tissue was attached, as well as some parts of the uterine mucosa, are open for a long time, and bacteria can easily get onto this wound surface from the vagina. Therefore, use of tampons should be avoided. Sanitary pads are the best option for women after childbirth.

For the same reason, one should not have sex in the postpartum period in order to avoid the appearance of an infection, which is very dangerous for both the mother and the baby.

Swimming in public pools is also best avoided until the flow of lochia has completely stopped.

The use of a shower is recommended in the postpartum period. This will prevent the infection from entering the uterus from the vagina and will also promote better healing of stitches after an episiotomy, if any.

Pathological lochia

How long does lochia go after childbirth? What should be their intensity? What are the symptoms of the pathological process? Lochiae may be abnormal if infection occurs during this time. An infection can be suspected if:

Lochias continue to remain bright red even after a week;

The discharge suddenly turns bright red. This happens while they have already become pale;

An unpleasant odor is observed;

All this is accompanied by a fever with chills;

Lower abdominal pain increases significantly over time.

There is abnormally heavy bleeding that causes the pad to get wet for 1 hour or less, or there are a lot of clots. This is a sign of secondary postpartum haemorrhage and needs emergency treatment.

Lochia after surgical delivery

Many women believe that the flow of lochia is much less after a woman has undergone a cesarean section, since the uterine cavity is cleared during the operation by the doctor after the child has been removed. It is not true. The flow of lochia does not depend on the type of delivery - normal physiological or caesarean section. The amount and duration of the discharge are the same in both cases.

In the postpartum period, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. Rest as much as possible.

2. Avoid excessive walking or prolonged standing, as this increases blood flow.

3. Do not use vaginal tampons after childbirth, because they can promote the growth and penetration of bacteria and infection on the wound surface of the uterine cavity.

4. Avoid sexual intercourse for 42 days.

How long does lochia last after childbirth

The most abundant discharge is on the first day. Try not to panic if the bleeding seems to increase when you walk home. Just walking or running for long periods of time can increase the flow of blood. If the pad is completely wet within an hour, you need to lie down and rest. If bleeding continues at the same rate for an hour or more, or if you see larger clots, then it is extremely important to urgently consult a gynecologist, and if there is heavy bleeding, call an ambulance.

How long does lochia last after the second birth, should they really be less? Based on the observations and reviews of mothers, after the second or subsequent births, the amount and duration of discharge does not change.

Other signs that require medical attention:

Discharge remains red for more than 7 days after birth;

There is an unpleasant putrid smell;

You have symptoms of fever or chills.

Late postpartum hemorrhage

How long does lochia after childbirth last? Reviews of many young mothers confirm that this process takes no more than 1.5 months. Usually, vaginal discharge is pale pink or brown in the second week after giving birth. Don't be alarmed if you find bright red discharge that appears from time to time during the first 6-8 weeks. Exercise or increased activity can cause this phenomenon. To stop bleeding and reduce spasms, you need to lie down for a couple of hours. If this does not help, you need to contact the antenatal clinic.

How long does lochia take after childbirth? How not to confuse them with bleeding? Postpartum hemorrhage is the most dangerous. If you lose no more than 600-700 ml of blood after surgical delivery or more than 300-400 ml after vaginal delivery, this is classified as normal blood loss. However, in 1 in 10 of all pregnancies, there is a complication such as postpartum hemorrhage. It usually begins within 24 hours of delivery (early postpartum haemorrhage), but it can occur any time within 6 weeks - late bleeding. After delivery, the most common cause is the inability of the uterus to contract properly, leading to uncontrolled bleeding from the place where the placenta was attached. Sometimes it can be the result of unsealed tears in the vagina or cervix. Late postpartum hemorrhage may result from incomplete detachment of placental fragments in the uterus or from infection. Both of these types of bleeding are dangerous and can lead to the death of the mother.

How long lochia lasts after childbirth should be known to every woman preparing to become a mother. And here are the characteristic signs of late postpartum hemorrhage:

One pad is missing for 1 hour;

Lochia does not change for more than 7 days in color and intensity;

There are large blood clots of various sizes — the size of a golf ball or a lemon;

Pain or swelling in the abdomen during the first days after giving birth;

Bleeding can cause fainting, shortness of breath, dizziness, or increased heart rate.

Treatment and prevention

After giving birth, the midwife carefully examines the afterbirth and all membranes to make sure that they are intact and that no part is left inside you. After the placenta is separated and released, doctors prevent bleeding by giving intravenous oxytocin or methylergometrine. These drugs stimulate the contraction of the myometrium to reduce bleeding. An external massage of the uterus is also needed for the same purpose. Breastfeeding (if planned) will also stimulate natural contractions. Therefore, it is now widely used early attachment to the breast immediately after the baby is born.

In the early postpartum period, in some cases, a fist massage of the uterus is required. If the bleeding does not stop, a procedure called curettage will be needed to examine the uterus and remove pieces of the placenta that were not removed on our own. If the uterus is damaged, that is, there is a rupture of the wall of the fetus, laparotomy and hysterectomy may be necessary to stop the bleeding.

The process should be monitored, how much lochia is released after childbirth, how long it lasts. Sometimes, with intense bleeding, in rare cases, it becomes necessary to transfuse components or even whole blood.

Risks

How long do lochia go after childbirth, is their duration always the same when doctors assume a lot of blood loss? The risk of developing PPH is significantly higher in the following cases:

Multiple births;

Polyhydramnios (excessive amount of amniotic fluid);

Placenta previa;

Induced labor;

The birth of a large baby;

Myoma of the uterus, which does not allow the uterine fibers to contract symmetrically;

The mother is weakened from anemia during pregnancy, preeclampsia, or difficult, prolonged labor;

The mother takes herbs or drugs that prevent blood clotting, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or other similar drugs.

When does your period start?

How many days do lochia go after giving birth? How to distinguish lochia from menstruation? When is the first period? If you are not breastfeeding, your first period may take 1 or 2 months. But sometimes the waiting period is extended to 12 weeks. If you are breastfeeding, your period may take several weeks, although many mothers who breastfeed note that periods may not occur until the baby is weaned. When your first period appears, it may differ from previous prenatal regular bleeding. It can be heavier or longer than normal. Or it may stop suddenly and then start with clots. There may also be profuse spotting. You need to monitor your periods and the amount of blood you are bleeding. If you need to change your pad more often than every hour and this continues for several hours, call your doctor.

In order to suspect a pathological process in time and avoid consequences.

A woman needs to monitor her character in order to suspect a pathological process in time and avoid consequences.

Discharge after childbirth is called lochia. At first they are profuse menstruation. Lochia stops after about one to two months (4 to 8 weeks). Everything is purely individual. During the postpartum period, lochiae repeatedly change color and texture. Very often, mucus appears in them a week after childbirth.

Mucous membranes, like snot, within the normal range after childbirth indicate:

1. That the uterus contracted and fully recovered. The wound surfaces have healed;
2. About the phase of the cycle. At the time of ovulation, mucus discharge is characteristic.

It is best to take care in advance of choosing the most suitable contraception, having previously consulted with a gynecologist. Do not assume that the absence of menstruation is a guaranteed method of contraception. Doctors do not consider breastfeeding a method of contraception at all.

Physiological etiology

The so-called "white" lochia begins 7-10 days after childbirth. They are transparent or white, stretching. Also, many women compare them to snot. There should not be any unpleasant odor and especially high temperature!

The main cause of mucous secretions is fluid that travels through the blood vessels and lymph nodes:

• The cells of the uterus are able to secrete transudate;
• During ovulation, mucus leaves the cervical canal;
• The cervix is ​​capable of secretion.

It is noted that cells are especially active in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, at the time of ovulation and a few days before it. This happens under the influence of hormones. This ensures better lubrication and the environment in the vagina becomes less aggressive to the sperm. The mucus that blocked the cervical canal and cervix in the first half of the cycle begins to come off and is released. All these are the necessary conditions provided by nature for fertilization.

It is possible that the mucus that appears in the discharge may either remain in it or disappear when the postpartum period ends. The processes occurring in the body of each woman are individual.

It also revealed the dependence of the nature of the discharge on whether a woman is breastfeeding a born baby. Breastfeeding (without complementary foods) inhibits the processes in the brain that are responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. Therefore, it is difficult to predict whether the mucous discharge will stop, whether menstruation will begin.

Pathological causes

Gynecologists say that with inflammatory changes, the cervix is ​​capable of producing mucus. Then the mucous discharge is compared with the protein of a raw egg, whitish streaks are present in them.

They can also be white in color. This character indicates erosion of the cervix or inflammation of its canal.

How to determine: ovulation or inflammation in the uterine cavity? Nevertheless, some women note an increased body temperature in the range of 37-37.5 degrees. This may indicate ovulation. In this case, pain in the lower abdomen is also possible at the time of the release of the egg. In this case, menstrual bleeding should begin in a couple of weeks.

No matter how much you want to do without seeking help from a doctor, this cannot be avoided. It is dangerous to wait for the onset of menstruation at elevated body temperature.

When should you see a doctor?

Usually, mucous discharge (they are quite thick and stretch, transparent or slightly milky) is considered to be a variant of the norm, because in a woman, depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, they can acquire a different character.

If you ignore this symptom and do not seek the advice of a specialist in time, you can skip the beginning of the development of any pathology:

• Erosion of the cervix;
• Sexually transmitted infections;
• Oncology of the cervix;
• Inflammation of the appendages (fallopian tubes, ovaries);
• Infertility or difficulty conceiving.

All complications can be avoided if you seek help in time. A visit to a gynecologist should not be postponed. If erosion of the cervix develops or genital infections appear, then it is necessary to be examined as soon as possible. Only in the case of early detection of the disease is effective treatment possible.

In the postpartum period, it is very important to follow the rules of personal hygiene. The open wound surface of the uterus, and in some cases the sutures on the cervix or perineum, are an excellent breeding ground for the life of various microorganisms, it is humid and warm there. Inflammatory processes in the uterus or vagina develop very quickly. That is why it is so important for women to keep their external genitals clean.

Childbirth is an ordeal for the female body. After them, several weeks must pass before the uterus can recover. During such a period, there is an appearance, which are usually called lochia. By their number and characteristics, they judge the health of the mother. Each girl needs to remember how much discharge goes after childbirth, what shade and aroma they will have.

What is postpartum discharge?

Lochia is usually called spotting after childbirth. In the initial couple of days, they will be plentiful. The sanitary towels will need to be changed hourly. Subsequently, their intensity decreases. If there are clots and mucus in the fluid being separated, this is natural.

On the first day after delivery, small vessels located in the uterine cavity remain ruptured. This leads to massive bleeding. The uterus is freed from particles of the placenta and epithelium. In this she is helped by intense contractions. This process helps to restore normal menstrual periods and the functioning of the reproductive system. How long it will take is determined based on the woman's condition.

The entire period while there is bloody discharge, a woman should be under the supervision of a doctor. This will make it possible to detect pathologies in a timely manner and begin therapy. If there is too little or no secretion to be separated, this indicates the development of postpartum complications. In such a situation, drug treatment is used. Sometimes it does not bring the desired result, you will have to carry out artificial cleaning of the uterus.

Stages of postpartum recovery of the uterus

If, after pregnancy and the birth of a baby, no pathological changes have occurred in the female body, then the picture of the discharge will be as follows:

• The day after delivery, the separation of the bloody secretion begins.
• After a week, clots and mucus particles appear in the secretions.
• After 3 weeks, the volume of the secret begins to decrease. Their color fades.
• In the fifth to sixth week, the secreted secretion resembles a daub on the last day of menstruation.

The total duration of discharge after childbirth should not exceed nine weeks. After an artificial birth, this process may take longer. Everything is determined by the individual characteristics of the body of a young mother.

Continuous breastfeeding will shorten the duration of postpartum discharge. At the moment the baby is applied to the nipple, an intense contraction of the uterine muscles occurs, which accelerates its cleansing.

Natural hair color after childbirth

According to the characteristics of the discharge after childbirth, the state of the woman's genitourinary system is judged. If the delivery went well, then the suckers will have the following shade:

• Bright red. Such a secret smells like fresh blood. The presence of clots and epithelial particles in it is allowed. In this case, the content of erythrocytes is responsible for the brightness of the shade.
• Pink brown. They are observed on the 4th day after delivery. The concentration of erythrocytes in the secreted secretion decreases, the content of leukocytes increases. A musty aroma is felt.
• Yellow - white. The separation of such lochia is observed 10 days after the last delivery. The secret is quite liquid and does not smell. After five weeks, the blood impurities disappear, only mucus remains. After that, the suckers will stop.

Postpartum discharge occurs against the background of pain in the lower abdomen. The attacks are like labor pains. If the girl has a second childbirth, then the pains are quite strong.

Before the discharge is over, do not start sex. This can provoke the development of serious complications.

In what cases is it necessary to urgently see a doctor?

Normal discharge after childbirth is not a cause for concern. After seven to eight weeks, they should pass without causing any harm. You should immediately contact your doctor in the following situations:

• Complete absence of discharge. This happens with a spasm of the cervical pharynx or after the cervical canal is blocked by large particles of the placenta. If the suckers did not go the next day after giving birth, consult a doctor.
• On the 12th day after childbirth, the secret remains blood-red, an increase in body temperature is noted, chills torment, the pulse increases to 100 beats per minute. This condition lasts for about a week. Endometritis is accompanied by similar symptoms.
• Allocations in women pass against the background of an increase in body temperature up to 39 degrees. The general condition remains satisfactory. With such symptoms, we can talk about the development of metroendometritis - an inflammatory process localized on the mucous surface of the uterus.
• On the third day after the appearance of the baby, the color of the released liquid becomes brown. Severe headaches appear, sleep is disturbed, heart rate increases, temperature rises. On palpation, there is an increase in the size of the uterus. Such signs characterize the complicated course of endometritis.
• Natural discharge after childbirth has a scent of blood. If liquids with a repulsive pungent aroma are released, this indicates the development of an infectious process.

Only a specialist can judge the norm and deviation during discharge after childbirth. Therefore, after the appearance of the baby, the woman should be observed by a doctor for several months. After the discharge ends, the girl can return to a full life.

The color and features of the discharge that are alarming

By what kind of discharge after childbirth is observed in a woman, a preliminary diagnosis can be made. The shared secret can be as follows:

• Yellow. Natural suckers turn yellowish-white 6-7 weeks after delivery. They do not smell or cause any particular discomfort. If the yellow secret began to stand out significantly in the fourth week or even earlier, it has a pungent odor and is accompanied by itching and burning, this indicates the development of an infectious process. The sooner treatment is started in such a situation, the more chances you have to maintain the health of the reproductive system.
• Green. Sometimes such discharge appears 2 weeks after delivery. They indicate the presence of a bacterial infection in the fallopian tubes or vagina. In the absence of proper therapy, endometritis develops. Gonococci, chlamydia, gardenella, Trichomonas can stain the released fluid green. Other symptoms of the problem are pain in the suprapubic area, itching and burning in the genitals.
• Brown. Normally, lochia in the initial few days after the birth of the baby should be blood-red. After artificial childbirth, secretion separation is noted a little longer, since the process of involution of the postoperative suture proceeds. If the released fluid acquires a rich brown tint, this indicates the development of pathology. Clotted blood has a dark shade. The reason for this often lies in hormonal imbalance, endometriosis or uterine myoma. The inflammatory process in such a situation is not accompanied by painful sensations. Brown lochia after natural childbirth may indicate the appearance of a tumor or polyps in the uterus, endometrial hyperplasia.
• White. Leucorrhoea after childbirth often speaks of the presence of thrush. The reason for its appearance is a sharp decrease in the protective functions of the body. The secret of a curdled consistency is highlighted. By itself, such a disease does not cause much harm to health, but it can give rise to the development of severe inflammation and the addition of a bacterial infection.
• Pink. If two weeks after giving birth, the suckers turn pink, you can judge the presence of erosion, trauma to the genital tract or polyps in the uterus. After a cesarean section, it can be a sign of a discrepancy in the postoperative stitches.
• Black. If the discharge after childbirth ended on time, but at the same time it was too dark, almost black, this is normal. This condition becomes a consequence of serious hormonal changes in the body.
• Slimy. A week after childbirth, there is a bloody discharge with a large content of mucus. They are considered normal. If the mucous discharge lasts longer than the prescribed period and acquires a repulsive odor, we can talk about the presence of an infectious disease.

How long the discharge after childbirth lasts will depend on the characteristics of the organism, as well as some other factors. For example, in girls who are breastfeeding a baby, the secretion ends earlier due to the active contraction of the uterus. If there is discharge of an unnatural color or there is none at all, this is a reason to immediately consult a doctor. Any diseases detected in the initial ten days are easier to treat.

Postpartum hemorrhage

Abundant lochia in the first two to three hours after childbirth speaks of the appearance of uterine bleeding. The reason for this phenomenon is a weak contraction of the muscles of the organ after its strong relaxation in the process of delivery. In such a situation, the patient is shown the administration of Oxytocin. This drug increases muscle contractility and prevents bleeding. At the same time, the woman's bladder is emptied using a catheter.

Another reason for the bleeding after childbirth is the rupture of the cervix. Sometimes the doctor skips such an injury or puts the wrong suture, which easily diverges. Bleeding can go on for a long time and threaten the health and even the life of a woman. Therefore, you need to take adequate measures as early as possible.

What factors contribute to the appearance of unnatural discharge after childbirth?

The following factors can influence the development of postpartum complications, and, consequently, change the nature of the discharge:

• Violation of the principles of proper nutrition, abuse of harmful products.
• Smoking and drinking by a woman during the period of carrying a baby.
• Obesity.
• Anemia.
• A state of acute immunodeficiency.
• Gestosis during pregnancy.
• Polyhydramnios.
• Isthmico-cervical insufficiency, in which sutures were applied to the cervix.
• Prolonged wearing of an intrauterine device before pregnancy.
• Many transferred instrumental interventions or abortions.
• Inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system.

If childbirth lasts longer than 12 hours and is accompanied by weak labor activity, this also negatively affects the woman's health. Manual intervention in the uterine cavity is also dangerous.

Preventive actions

How long the discharge lasts after childbirth will depend on the woman's personality. This process brings a lot of inconvenience, but it is necessary to restore the normal functioning of the reproductive system. Compliance with the rules of prevention will help to alleviate the condition on such days and prevent the development of complications:

• Empty your bladder as often as possible. On the first day after giving birth, you need to go to the toilet as soon as there is the slightest urge. On average, you will have to visit it at least once every three hours. A full bladder interferes with the normal contraction of the uterus.
• Breastfeed your baby. During the feeding process, an active release of oxytocin occurs. This hormone acts on the brain, which leads to an intense contraction of the uterine muscles. Thanks to this, it is more likely to be freed from the remnants of the placenta and the discharge is more likely to pass.
• Spend more time lying on your stomach. This position prevents stagnation of secretions in the uterus and becomes an excellent prevention of bleeding. After the birth of the baby, the uterus deviates closer to the posterior abdominal wall, which interferes with the full discharge of the secretion. Lying on your stomach, you return the uterus to its normal position.
• In the first two weeks after the birth of the baby, apply a cold compress to the uterus area three times a day. It contributes to muscle contraction and normalization of the state of blood vessels. Make sure that the procedures do not last longer than five minutes. Otherwise hypothermia will occur.
• If the baby was too large or there were several of them, then the uterus is stretched too much. In such a situation, it will be problematic to restore its normal state without the use of medications. More often, doctors use Oxytocin. It is administered intramuscularly for three days.
• The entire period while the secretion continues, it is necessary to carefully monitor the hygiene of the genitals. You should wash yourself after each visit to the toilet. For these purposes, specialized detergents are used. They should contain as few dyes and flavors as possible. Compliance with hygiene standards will help to avoid infection.
• Until the suckers have stopped, it is forbidden to take a bath. This often provokes the development of inflammation and makes it easier for the infection to enter the uterus.
• Replace postpartum pads often. The first 3 weeks they are updated very often. You cannot save on such hygiene items. A dirty pad becomes a favorable environment for the activation of pathogenic microflora. The use of tampons during this period is prohibited. They become the cause of the development of endometriosis.
• In cold weather, dress as warmly as possible. Hypothermia at such moments is fraught with serious complications.
• Lifting weights is strictly prohibited.

Strict adherence to prevention standards will affect how many days after birth the secretion will be separated. If lochia ate on time and have a natural shade, then there is nothing to worry about. If any deviations are found, you should immediately consult a specialist. Only timely treatment of pathologies will help maintain health.

Pregnancy and childbirth require a number of serious changes and expenditure of internal resources from the body. Therefore, it is not surprising that the return to the normal state takes some time. The first priority is to return the uterus to its original state. It is with the recovery mechanisms that the discharge after childbirth is associated.

What is the nature of discharge after childbirth

Almost immediately after childbirth, processes begin in the mother's body aimed at getting rid of the already unnecessary attributes of pregnancy. First of all, there is a rejection of the placenta, accompanied by rupture of the vessels that connected it to the uterus. Further, in the course of involution, the uterus will have to contract to its previous size, expelling excess fluids.

In order to avoid the possible development of inflammatory and other unfavorable processes of the postnatal period, as well as notice their first manifestations in time, it is important to understand what normal discharge after childbirth is. In the first 2-3 days, there is a particularly abundant release of scarlet blood from the genital tract. This happens regardless of the way the woman was born. With such volumes, simple pads usually cannot cope - you have to use special diapers or postpartum pads. However, they should also be changed as often as possible, since during this period there is a very high risk of developing inflammatory processes and the penetration of pathogens - this is facilitated by damaged tissues, open blood vessels and a weakened state of the mother's body. In the following days and weeks, the nature of the discharge changes.

What should be the discharge after childbirth

The dynamics of postpartum discharge is difficult to put into any specific framework of norms or to display in a graph. But conditionally, they can be tracked by averaged stages:

• 2-3 days after childbirth - very abundant light red discharge. During this period, the woman is under the supervision of specialists from the maternity hospital;
• On the 4-6th day, by the time of discharge, the bloody discharge after childbirth becomes noticeably less abundant and acquires a brownish tint, often containing clots and mucus. They can increase with heavy lifting, physical exertion, contractions of the abdominal muscles (while laughing, coughing, sneezing);
• After 1.5-2 weeks, yellow discharge after childbirth appears - at first, brown-yellow, which over time becomes lighter, approaching white. Normally, they can continue for another month.

Not only the color and abundance changes, but also the consistency of fluids - for example, mucous discharge after childbirth replaces watery one after a week. Such they can be up to the final completion of the involution of the uterus.

More drastic changes are cause for concern, such as odorless discharge after childbirth, with a specific color (bright yellow, greenish), cheesy (like with thrush), accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, as well as itching, chills, fever, deterioration in well-being. Such symptoms, individually or in combination, indicate complications - most likely, inflammation of the walls of the uterus. In this case, you need to seek help from a gynecologist.

Duration of discharge after childbirth

Of course, every woman wants to quickly get rid of pads and constant discomfort. Yes, and the lack of sex life in recent months needs to be made up, and in the presence of even insignificant secretions, such activity is extremely undesirable and not very pleasant. But everything has its time, especially such important processes as the recovery of a woman in labor, and this period also requires attention. It is very important to keep track of how much discharge goes after childbirth - significant deviations from the norm may indicate a problem. The timing of the involution of the uterus is very individual and depends on a number of characteristics of the female body and the course of labor. On average, everything "heals" in about a month, but residual manifestations can be observed even 5-6 weeks after the birth of a baby.

If by this time the discharge has not stopped, you should contact a specialist, because such a protracted recovery process has reasons that should be clarified. Long-term blood loss in itself does not bode well. A sudden increase in the intensity of bleeding is an extremely dangerous symptom - in this case, you must immediately call a doctor. On the other hand, too fast and sudden cessation of discharge after childbirth also requires a visit to a specialist. Most likely, the body simply recovered very quickly, but there is a small chance that the blood simply accumulates in the uterus, not being able to go outside for some reason.

Prevention of postpartum complications

A great responsibility rests with the physicians taking part in childbirth - after the placenta has been rejected, it is important to make sure that this process is completed successfully. Within two hours after giving birth, a woman should be given the opportunity to rest, recover. But already having gone to the postpartum ward, it is important not to neglect hygiene. It is highly advisable to take a shower on the same day, despite the weakness, with which a nurse or nurse can help. Lying on your stomach creates optimal pressure, "pushing" the uterus - it is recommended to adopt this technique as early as possible. 4.5 out of 5 (135 votes)