Within a few weeks after the birth of the child, the woman restores the normal state of the uterus, the remnants of the dying endometrium are removed, and the surface of the wound at the site of the placenta heals. The successful recovery of a woman or the appearance of some complications can be judged by the nature of the discharge from the genitals. It is important to know how they should be normal. In this case, the duration and abundance of secretions, as well as their color, smell and consistency, matter. In case of trouble, you must see a doctor as early as possible.

Content:

What should be the lochia

The discharge that occurs in a woman after the birth of a child is called lochia. Their appearance is caused by damage to the mucous membrane and vessels of the uterus during childbirth, especially at the placenta attachment site. Discharge after childbirth is associated with the cleansing of the uterus from the remnants of the fetal bladder, exfoliated epithelium, blood clots. They also contain mucus produced in the cervical canal.

Lochia exist until the wound heals in the uterine cavity and it returns to its normal state (the size is restored, the epithelium is renewed). If the process of cleansing the uterine cavity takes place without complications, then the lochia stops after about 5-8 weeks.

How long the cleansing of the uterus continues and lochia is formed depends on the following factors:

• the ability of the uterus to contract (individual for each woman);
• the woman's age, the condition of the uterine tissues;
• blood clotting, the state of the hematopoietic system;
• physical activity of a woman;
• lactation.

In appearance, lochia in the first 3 days resembles menstruation. Their volume gradually decreases from 500 ml to 100 ml per day.

Video: What are postpartum discharge

Types of normal postpartum discharge

Bloody lochia. The first postpartum discharge is bright red and smells of fresh blood. They consist of blood clots and particles of dead tissue. The color is due to the high content of red blood cells.

Serous lochia. A lighter brownish pink discharge appears around day 4. The content of erythrocytes decreases, but the number of leukocytes increases. The discharge has a musty odor.

White lochia. The discharge becomes yellowish-white on the 10th day after delivery. They have a more liquid consistency. There is no smell. Gradually they become more and more meager, smearing. After 5-6 weeks, they already contain only mucus from the cervical canal of the cervix.

Contractions of the uterus, causing the removal of lochia from its cavity, lead to the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen in women in the first days after childbirth. Pains resemble labor pains. Moreover, the painful sensations are stronger after repeated childbirth.

Sometimes women develop black lochia after the 3rd week. If there are no painful symptoms and an unpleasant odor, then such discharge is not considered a pathology. They can appear as a result of hormonal processes occurring in the body and changes in the composition of mucus secreted by the glands of the cervical canal of the cervix.

Postpartum uterine bleeding and its causes

In the first 2 hours after childbirth, there is a risk of severe uterine bleeding (hypotonic), which can be caused by poor contraction of the muscles of the uterus after its relaxation during pregnancy. To prevent this from happening, the woman is injected with a drug to increase uterine contractility (oxytocin). In addition, the bladder is emptied through the catheter, a heating pad with ice is placed on the lower abdomen. During the contraction of the uterus, damaged blood vessels are pinched, dangerous blood loss is prevented, the signs of which are increasing weakness, dizziness, headache.

The reason for persistent bleeding in the first hours after the birth of a child can also be a rupture of the cervix, if they went unnoticed or were poorly sutured. In this case, local hemorrhages occur in the tissues of the vagina and perineum. In the presence of bleeding, the doctor, after a careful examination, detects and opens these hematomas, sutures the breaks again.

The consequence of uterine bleeding is anemia - a lack of hemoglobin, impaired oxygen supply to the tissues of the body. If a woman in this state is breastfeeding, then anemia will appear in him.

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage

Frequent emptying of the bladder contributes to the contraction of the uterus and a decrease in blood flow after childbirth.

It is important to breastfeed your baby. When the nipples are irritated, oxytocin is produced, a pituitary hormone that enhances the contraction of the uterus. During feeding, because of this, the woman develops pains in the lower abdomen, reminiscent of contractions. Moreover, the painful sensations are stronger in those women who have already given birth earlier.

If the bleeding continues, the lower abdomen is cooled with ice.

Danger of stagnation of secretions in the uterus

Medical help should be sought urgently, not only if the woman's bleeding is too severe, but also when the bleeding suddenly stops completely after a few days.

Lochia stagnation in the uterus is called a lochiometer. If not eliminated, it can cause endometrial inflammation (endometritis). The absence of lochia is a symptom of a serious postpartum complication. To achieve the restoration of bloody discharge, the woman is injected with oxytocin, which enhances contractions, and no-shpu is injected to relieve spasm of the cervix.

In order to avoid stagnation of discharge in the uterus, it is useful for a woman to lie on her stomach. Due to the weakening of the tone of the abdominal muscles after pregnancy and childbirth, the uterus deviates backward, while the outflow of blood is disturbed. When a woman lies on her stomach, the uterus assumes a position in which the outflow improves.

Pathological discharge with postpartum complications

Signs of complications during this period are:

1. Yellow color and strong unpleasant odor of discharge. They indicate either stagnation of lochia in the uterus and their suppuration, or an infectious infection of a woman during childbirth. An inflammatory process in the lining of the uterus (endometritis) is usually accompanied by fever and pain in the lower abdomen. If the visit to the doctor is postponed for a long time, then due to the appearance of pus in the discharge, they turn green.
2. Discharge of blood after childbirth increases instead of weakening. Sometimes they reappear. This happens even 2 months after the birth of the baby. It is possible that this is the first menstruation (the likelihood of an early arrival of menstruation is high in women who do not breastfeed). However, such discharge often indicates incomplete removal of the placenta from the uterus, due to which its contractions are difficult.
3. White cheesy discharge can appear if a woman takes antibiotics for health reasons, which provoke the occurrence of a deficiency of lactobacilli in the vagina and the appearance of thrush. The woman is worried about itching and burning in the external genitals and in the vagina.

Video: Thrush, treatment methods

Factors contributing to the onset of endometritis

During pregnancy and childbirth, a woman's immunity decreases sharply. This provokes the onset of an inflammatory process in the endometrium of the uterus after childbirth. The body's resistance to infections begins to increase by the end of the first week in women who gave birth in a natural way and on the 10th day after cesarean section.

The likelihood of endometritis increases if a woman has other serious diseases (endocrine glands, kidneys, respiratory tract). Obesity, anemia, vitamin deficiency, and smoking contribute to the development of endometritis. In addition, inflammation often occurs in women who have had many abortions or curettage for medical reasons.

Sometimes the cause of stagnation of lochia and the occurrence of an inflammatory process is the low location of the placenta in the uterus, when the exit to the cervical canal is blocked. If labor takes too long and the water has already departed, there is also an increased risk of endometritis.

Treatment of this disease is carried out only in a hospital. Antibiotics are used, enhancers of uterine contractions. Disinfecting solutions are introduced into the cavity. In some cases, vacuum aspiration or curettage of the uterus is performed in order to completely remove the endometrium.

Discharge after cesarean section

Bleeding lasts longer and complications are more common if a woman gives birth by caesarean section. The contractility of the uterus is difficult due to the superimposed suture, swelling of the surrounding tissues. The risk of infection during childbirth and the occurrence of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity increases.

However, despite the peculiarities of this method of delivery, spotting after childbirth should appear within 2 weeks, but no more. Just as with normal childbirth, the color of the discharge gradually changes from bright red to pale brown, and then turns white.

Your normal menstrual period after a cesarean section occurs at about the same time as after a natural baby is born. They occur later if the woman had postpartum complications (uterine bleeding, endometritis, blood poisoning) or there are diseases of the thyroid gland or liver.

Video: Features of discharge after cesarean section

Prevention of complications

In order to reduce the risk of complications after childbirth, a woman's condition should be monitored by a doctor from the very beginning of pregnancy. Regular examination allows you to monitor the composition of the blood, detect and treat gynecological and other diseases, and strengthen the immune system.

If, after the onset of labor, it turns out that the contractility of the uterus is insufficient, then drugs that enhance labor activity are used. They also help to accelerate the cleansing of the uterine cavity after the birth of a child.

In order to avoid stagnation of secretions in the uterus, a woman is recommended to start getting out of bed and walking after 4-5 hours after a normal birth. After a caesarean section, this can be done after 10 hours.

Before discharge from the hospital, an ultrasound scan is done to study the state of the uterine cavity and assess its size in order to track the recovery process. For several weeks, a woman is advised to rest more, avoid activities related to abdominal tension, lifting weights.

Of great importance is the observance of the rules of hygienic care of the body and genitals (frequent washing with warm water, daily bathing in the shower).

A warning: The woman should not take a bath for several weeks. Warming up the body, firstly, increases blood flow, and secondly, with such bathing, the likelihood of infection in the internal genital organs increases.

Douching during this period can be very harmful. It also contributes to the rapid spread of infection and the onset of endometritis.

On the first day, instead of sanitary napkins, it is recommended to use diapers to avoid leaks. In addition, it is easier to track the nature and volume of secretions this way. In the future, the gaskets must be changed at least after 2 hours.

It is strictly forbidden to use tampons during the entire period of existence of lochia. By blocking the exit from the uterus, they delay the outflow of secretions and the recovery process, creating a great threat to the occurrence of an inflammatory process.

With a sharp change in the nature of the discharge, increased pain in the lower abdomen, an increase in body temperature, dizziness, a woman needs urgent medical attention.

Every woman who has given birth at least once in her life knows that after the completion of childbirth, serious changes begin in the body. It is also accompanied by secretions of various kinds: bloody, brown, yellow, etc. New mothers are very scared when they see this discharge, they begin to worry that an infection has entered their body, bleeding has begun, etc. However, this is normal and cannot be avoided.

The main thing is to make sure that the discharge does not exceed the norm, and that there is no pain, otherwise you will need the help of a gynecologist.

How long does the discharge last after childbirth?

How long does the discharge last after childbirth? In general, postpartum discharge is scientifically called lochia. They begin to appear from the moment of rejection after the fetus and usually persist for 7-8 weeks. Over time, the lochia are allocated less and less, their color begins to become lighter and lighter, and then the discharge stops.

However, the question of how long the discharge lasts after the end of labor cannot be answered with accuracy, since it depends on several factors:

• The physiological characteristics of each woman are different, including the body's ability to quickly recover after childbirth.
• The course of the pregnancy itself.
• The intensity of uterine contraction.
• The presence of complications after childbirth.
• Breastfeeding a baby (if a woman is breastfeeding a baby, the uterus contracts and clears much faster).

But, on average, remember, the discharge lasts about 1.5 months. During this time, the body is gradually recovering after pregnancy and past childbirth. If the lochia is over in a couple of days or weeks after giving birth, you should seek the help of specialists, since your uterus is not contracting properly, and this is fraught with serious complications. The same applies to the situation when the discharge does not stop for a rather long amount of time, which may indicate bleeding, polyps in the uterus, an inflammatory process, etc.

Discharge one month after childbirth

Abundant discharge in the first month is quite desirable - thus, the uterine cavity is cleared. In addition, microbial flora is formed in lochia after childbirth, which can subsequently become the cause of all kinds of inflammatory processes inside the body.

At this time, personal hygiene must be carefully observed, because a bleeding wound can be infected. Therefore it follows:

• after using the toilet, thoroughly wash the genitals. It is necessary to wash it with warm water, and outside, not inside.
• bathing, taking a shower, or taking a bath after childbirth cannot be taken every day.
• in the first weeks, days after childbirth, use sterile diapers, not sanitary napkins.
• within a certain time after childbirth, change the pads 7-8 times a day.
• forget about using hygienic tampons.

Remember that after a month, the discharge should become a little lighter, because soon they should stop altogether. Continue to practice good hygiene and don't worry, everything is going according to plan.

If the discharge continues a month after childbirth and is abundant, has an unpleasant odor, mucous membranes, then urgently see a doctor! Do not over tighten, it may be hazardous to your health!

Bloody discharge after childbirth

A large amount of blood and mucus is secreted from a woman immediately after she has given birth to a baby, although it should be so. All this is due to the fact that the surface of the uterus is damaged, since there is now a wound from the attachment of the placenta. Therefore, bloody discharge will continue until the wound on the surface of the uterus heals.

It should be understood that spotting should not be more than the permissible rate. You can find out about this very easily - if there is excess discharge, the diaper or sheet will be all wet under you. It is also worth worrying if you feel any pain in the uterus or discharge jumps in time with your heartbeat, which indicates bleeding. In this case, seek medical advice immediately.

Lochia will gradually change. At first, it will be a discharge that looks like a discharge during menstruation, only much more, then it will acquire a brownish color, then yellowish-white, lighter and lighter.

Some women experience bleeding after childbirth, but they think at first that this is a safe bleeding. To avoid bleeding, you must:

1. Go to the toilet regularly - the bladder should not press on the uterus, thereby preventing it from contracting.
2. Constantly lie on your stomach (the uterine cavity will be cleared of the contents from the wound).
3. Put a heating pad with ice on the lower abdomen in the delivery room (in general, obstetricians should do this by default).
4. Avoid strenuous physical activity.

Brown discharge after childbirth

Brown discharge is especially frightening for most mums, especially if it creates an unpleasant odor. And if you read everything about medicine, and gynecology in particular, then you know that this is an irreversible process that should be waited out. At this time, dead particles, some blood cells, come out.

In the first hours after the end of labor, the discharge may already acquire a brown tint, along with large blood clots. But, in general, the first few days of lochia will be especially bloody.

If the recovery period for a woman passes without complications, on the 5-6th day the discharge will acquire a brownish color. An interesting fact is that brown discharge ends much earlier in those mothers who are breastfeeding. The reason for this is as follows - lactation favors the fastest contraction of the uterus.

At the same time, brown lochia last longer in those women who had to do it.

However, if there is a strong purulent odor with brown secretions, pay close attention to this. After all, the possible cause of this phenomenon is an infection brought into the body. Therefore, in this case, seek immediate medical attention.

Yellow discharge after childbirth

The discharge becomes yellowish about the tenth day after the birth has passed. The uterus is gradually being restored, and yellow discharge only confirms this fact. During this time, it is important to breastfeed and remember to empty the bladder on time. Thus, the yellow discharge will stop faster and the uterus will return to its original prenatal state.

However, if immediately after the birth of the baby you notice that you have discharge of a bright yellow color or with a green admixture, you should tell your doctor about it. After all, such lochia can be caused by inflammatory processes in the woman's body. In addition, discharge of this color is usually accompanied by a high fever and discomfort in the lower abdomen.

It is possible that suppuration has occurred in the uterine cavity, so it is worth seeking help from a gynecologist, who will refer you to an ultrasound scan.

Remember that yellow discharge caused by infection tends to have a pungent, purulent odor. To avoid such consequences, you must observe personal hygiene, as well as be under the supervision of a doctor.

But in general, yellow discharge is a common occurrence and they only confirm that everything is proceeding properly.

What do mucous membranes, green, purulent, or smelling like discharge after childbirth say?

It should be understood that abundant purulent discharge, green lochia are not the norm for a woman's body after childbirth. In most cases, such discharge is caused by endometritis disease, which occurs as a result of inflammatory processes inside the uterus.

The contraction of the uterus, in this case, occurs rather slowly due to the fact that there are lochia in it. Their stagnation inside the uterus and can lead to negative consequences.

Mucous discharge, if they do not exceed the norm, can be observed throughout the entire month or a month and a half after the end of labor. The nature of these secretions will change over time, but they will still, to one degree or another, appear until the inner lining of the uterus is fully restored. It is worth worrying only if the mucous lochia has acquired a purulent, unpleasant odor. If you experience these symptoms, you should contact your gynecologist.

Always remember that postpartum discharge will be mandatory. You should not raise the alarm about this. Although, your healthcare provider should be aware of your postpartum recovery period. Write down the number when the highlight started, then note when it changed color to brown or yellow. Record on paper how you feel while doing this, whether there is dizziness, fatigue, etc.

Discharge after childbirth

WHAT AND HOW MANY DAYS ARE DISCHARGE AFTER BIRTH

Serious changes in a woman's body start immediately after childbirth ... The hormones necessary for lactation - prolactin and oxytocin - begin to be produced in large quantities. With the release of the placenta, it decreases the level of hormones estrogen and progesterone.

In the early hours postpartum discharge are bloody. Doctors are faced with the task of preventing the onset of bleeding. Often at this point, a hot water bottle with ice is placed on the woman's stomach, and urine is removed by a catheter. Intravenous drugs are given that cause the uterus to contract. The volume of discharge cannot exceed 0.5 liters of blood. Sometimes bleeding worsens if the muscles contract poorly or if the birth canal is severely torn.

Discharge in a woman after past childbirth, which is called lochia last for another 5-6 weeks. They will end after the uterus returns to its usual size before pregnancy. Wounds that have formed at the site of the placenta should also heal. What kind of discharge after childbirth is manifested in women? At first, they are bloody, this happens in the first 2-3 days. The reason for the discharge after childbirth is called the healing process of the inner surface of the womb. In particular, in the place where the placenta was attached to the wall of the uterus.

How long in women the uterus contracts to its previous size before pregnancy depends on the woman's body, in which the self-cleaning process begins (it is freed from the remnants of the amniotic membrane, blood clots, mucus and other excess tissue elements). The process of shrinking the womb is called by specialists the involution of the uterus, or its restoration.

The release of the uterus from the rejected tissue in due time means that there are no complications in the woman who gave birth. It is very important to pay serious attention after giving birth, how long the lochia takes, and their color. Allocations are constantly changing their nature. ... At first, the lochia is similar to menstrual flow, but much more abundant. At this stage, this is a good sign, since the cavity of the womb is cleared of wound contents.

How many days do women have white lochia? They begin to stand out approximately from the tenth day after childbirth and last about 21 days. The discharge becomes white or yellowish-white, liquid, smearing, blood-free and odorless.

How long does the discharge go after childbirth in the form of serous lochia? This process is very individual, and is associated with the characteristics of the woman's body. They begin after childbirth on the fourth day. The discharge turns pale, becomes serous-bloody or pinkish-brown in color and contains a huge number of leukocytes. Blood clots or bright red discharge during this period shouldn't be. If suddenly they are available, this should seriously alert the woman to consult a doctor for advice. Timely contacting specialists will help to quickly resolve the detected problem.

New mothers are often worried about the question how long does the discharge last after childbirth... The norm for discharge is their duration of approximately 1.5 months. During this period, the mucous membrane is restored in the uterine cavity. After cesarean section, discharge last longer because the uterus that has been injured shrinks more slowly. So, at the end of the first week, the lochia will already be lighter, and the second week is characterized by their transformation into mucous membranes. Until the end of the first month after birth, lochiae may contain a small amount of blood.

How long the discharge will go depends on a large number of reasons:

the course of your pregnancy;

the course of childbirth;

method of delivery, in particular caesarean section after which the lochia lasts longer;

the intensity of the contraction of the uterus;

all kinds of postpartum complications, including infectious inflammation;

physiological characteristics of a woman's body and its ability to postpartum recovery;

breastfeeding: with frequent latching of the baby to the breast, the uterus is reduced and cleared more intensively.

CHARACTERISTIC OF DISCHARGE AFTER BIRTH (LATER A WEEK, AFTER A MONTH)

After giving birth for several weeks there is a process of restoration of the endometrium, the mucous membrane of the uterus. At this time, the woman who has given birth has discharge. ... To prevent postpartum hemorrhage, for prevention, immediately after childbirth, emptying the bladder with a catheter is done and ice is laid on the lower abdomen. Intravenously, at the same time, the woman is injected with drugs, methylegromethryl or oxytocin, which effectively contribute to the contraction of the uterus.

After childbirth, the discharge should be profuse, bloody and make up 0.5% of body weight. However, they should not exceed 400 ml and should not disturb the general condition of the woman.

Allocations in one week after childbirth is usually compared with ordinary menstruation. Sometimes women even mistake discharge for menstruation. ... It must be well remembered that the difference is that the discharge after childbirth is much more abundant than the discharge during menstruation, with blood clots. but the volume of discharge will decrease every day. Within 2 weeks they will be reduced. The discharge acquires a yellowish-white color a week after childbirth, but it may still be mixed with blood.

It will take 3 weeks, and the discharge will become more meager, but smearing. As before pregnancy, discharge becomes 2 months after childbirth. The cessation of discharge for each woman in labor is an individual process. In general, discharge of discharge is a month after childbirth.

Discharge after a woman's childbirth a month later become slimy. This is a sign that gradually the surface of the uterus acquires its normal structure, and the wounds are healing.

It should be noted that with a sharp increase in the volume of discharge, an urgent need to consult a doctor. There is a potential risk of late bleeding after childbirth, which includes bleeding that occurs two hours or more after childbirth.

It is bad if the discharge lasts for a long time ... Postpartum discharge should last 6-8 weeks. This amount of time will be required for the uterus to recover after childbirth. The total volume of discharge during this period will be 500-1500 ml.

Serious attention should be paid to the following points for discharge after childbirth:

- there should be no increase in the woman's temperature;

There should be no specific and sharp purulent odor from the discharge;

The amount of discharge should gradually decrease.

Of course, the discharge has some kind of smell. , but rather, it is rotten. This is due to the fact that blood secretions are retained for some time in the birth canal and uterus. Follow the rules of personal hygiene, and such a smell will not bother you.

When there is a need for urgent medical attention:

- if the discharge is excessively prolonged, or, conversely, ended very early after childbirth;

If the discharge is yellow and with an unpleasant odor;

If the duration of heavy discharge over two months after childbirth. Perhaps it is bleeding or some kind of problem in the uterus;

Yellowish-green lochia characterize the inflammatory process;

If 3-4 months have passed, and dark and purulent discharge continues.

VARIOUS DISCHARGE (BLOODY, MUCOSA, PURULENT WITH ODOR) AFTER BIRTH

Pregnancy is characterized by the absence of menstruation. However, after the birth of the child, lochia begins, bloody prolonged discharge after the past childbirth. They are bright red for the first 2-3 days. Bloody discharge from a woman who has given birth occur due to the fact that blood coagulation has not yet begun. The usual pad does not cope with them, therefore diapers or special postpartum pads are issued in the maternity hospital.

Bloody issues in breastfeeding mothers after childbirth, it ends much faster than in non-lactating mothers. Experts and doctors explain this situation by the fact that during feeding, the uterus contracts faster (involution).

After giving birth, the uterus with an inner surface weighs about 1 kilogram. In the future, it will gradually decrease in size. Bloody discharge, just, comes out of the uterus, cleansing it. After childbirth, for 1.5 months, women experience mucous discharge until the inner surface of the uterus recovers.

A very dangerous complication in the first week after childbirth is bleeding ... It can occur if remnants of the placenta remain in the uterine cavity attached to the endometrium. In this case, the myometrium does not have the ability to completely contract. This leads to severe bleeding. The doctor should carefully examine the placenta after separating it from both sides. This allows the problem to be identified before symptoms occur.

Many symptoms indicate that there are some disorders in the woman's body. It is especially necessary to be wary if the discharge began to increase in an unexpected way, profuse bleeding appeared, or the discharge began to have a sharp unpleasant odor, as well as if a woman found cheesy and purulent discharge.

Sometimes, against the background of prolonged discharge, inflammation after childbirth can begin. Mucus and blood are a beneficial environment for pathogenic bacteria. In the absence of personal hygiene and early onset of sexual activity after childbirth, a woman may be disturbed by odorless discharge. Dark, brown discharge is considered normal, however, if bacteria are present, they will become with a yellowish or greenish tinge. In addition, they will be more abundant and liquid, and in the lower abdomen, pain, chills and fever may appear in parallel. Such cases require urgent treatment, since endometritis in the long term leads to infertility.

Personal hygiene is the prevention of inflammation - you need to wash yourself more often using infusions of string and chamomile. Douching in this case is strictly prohibited. Potassium permanganate should also be excluded, since in a strong concentration it has an irritating effect on the mucous membrane.

Pungent and purulent odor indicates the presence of an infection, and maybe even an endometritis. Very often, this process can be accompanied by sharp pains and high fever.

Yeast colpitis is also a risk zone for discharge after childbirth. It can be identified by its characteristic cheesy discharge.

Usually the uterus reaches its normal size by 7-8 weeks. The lining of the uterus will look like a mucous lining. If a woman does not breastfeed after childbirth , the function of the ovaries is improving, and menstruation appears.

THE COLOR OF HIGHLIGHTS IN A PARENT WOMAN

After childbirth, the uterus begins its regenerative process, which may be accompanied by blood secretions - lochia. The process ends when the uterus is completely covered with new epithelium. The color of the discharge in the first 3-6 days is very bright, red. During this time, blood clots and remnants of the placenta can also be rejected.

The nature and amount of discharge after childbirth speaks about the degree of cleansing of the uterus and its healing.

Pink discharge are the result of small placental detachments ... After all, blood accumulates under them, then excreted outside. Sometimes such discharge can be accompanied by pulling pains in the lower abdomen, it can also hurt in the lumbar region.

The inflammatory process is characterized by yellow discharge after childbirth. Purulent discharge indicates the possible development of endometritis, an infectious disease of the uterine cavity. The reason for contacting a gynecologist for advice should be sharp-smelling, unpleasant green discharge, yellow discharge, yellow-green, greenish discharge... The disease is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, as well as unpleasant pain in the abdomen.

Strengthening of discharge after reduction of their volume or bloody prolonged discharge can be caused by a delay in the placenta in the uterus. This does not allow her to contract normally.

White discharge a cheesy character, redness of the genitals and itching in the vagina are signs of yeast colpitis and thrush. Often, thrush can develop while taking antibiotics.

Young mothers are very often scared after childbirth. brown discharge... Sometimes they come out with an unpleasant odor of blood clots. Under conditions of normal recovery after childbirth, which took place without complications, the discharge ceases in 4 weeks. By the fourth week, they are already insignificant, smearing. However, they can take up to 6 weeks. Note that breastfeeding women recover faster after childbirth. Their brown discharge is completed earlier than that of non-lactating mothers.

Some women are unable to distinguish between normal discharge from the womb from pathological leucorrhoea. Transparent selections and are normal. However, they are typical for a number of certain diseases. The main source of secretions is fluid seeping through the vaginal mucosa from the lymphatic and blood vessels. Such a liquid is transparent and is called a transudate. The glands of the lining of the uterus are another source of vaginal discharge. They are actively secreted in the second phase of menstruation and excrete mucus.

Discharge with gardnerellosis can also be transparent. ... They are watery, plentiful, with a fishy odor.

Abnormal white discharge is a symptom of an infectious disease. They result in burning, itching, increased humidity in the genital area.

As a rule, pathological leucorrhoea is caused in women by an inflamed vaginal mucosa. ... Such infections are called colpitis, vaginitis. The threat is that these diseases are sometimes combined with cervicitis. Cervicitis is an inflammation of the lining of the cervix.

The main symptom of inflammation of the fallopian tubes is tubal leucorrhoea in women. The cause of its occurrence is a purulent substance that accumulates in the fallopian tube.

Cervical leucorrhoea appears when the secretion of the glands of the cervix is ​​disturbed ... As a result, the secretion of mucus increases. Similar white discharge can be in women with general diseases (disruption of the endocrine system, tuberculosis) and gynecological (polyps, cervicitis, cicatricial changes that have occurred due to rupture of the uterus).

Uterine leucorrhoea are a consequence of pathologies of the uterus. They are also caused by neoplasms - myoma. , polyps, cancer.

Do not think that such complications in a woman who gave birth can pass by themselves. You should seek medical attention as early as possible. Sometimes even hospitalization is required. Women can go to an antenatal clinic or a maternity hospital, where they can come at any time of the day or night within 40 days from the date of birth.

WHEN WOMAN'S NORMAL DISCHARGE AFTER BIRTH

Normal discharge after childbirth may be bloody and profuse. Do not be alarmed, after a few weeks everything will return to normal. There may be further discomfort in the genitals. This process is natural, since the genitals are significantly stretched during childbirth. They will be able to acquire their normal form only after some time.

With sutures applied after childbirth, experts are not recommended to make sudden movements in the first days. Thus, you injure the sutured muscle tissue.

After childbirth, the placenta also departs, which indicates when the birth process ends. After the baby is born, the woman is given a drug to stimulate the exit of the placenta. After this, abundant discharge is possible. No pain is felt, but bleeding can lead to dizziness. ... Be sure to call your doctor if you experience severe spotting. Two hours after giving birth, no more than 0.5 liters of blood should be released. In this case, the child and mother are transferred to the ward.

Tips on the rate of various discharge after childbirth:

- Discharge after childbirth includes dying epithelium of the uterus, blood, plasma, ichor and mucus. They are amplified, as a rule, with pressure on the abdomen or movement ... Discharge lasts an average of a month, and with a cesarean section, this process takes a little longer. At the very beginning, they are similar to menstruation, however, over time, the discharge will lighten and end. This is the rate of such discharge after childbirth;

After a few days, the discharge will take on a dark color, and there will be less of them;

After the end of the second week, the discharge will turn brownish-yellow and become more mucous.

It is necessary to follow some recommendations for the prevention of emerging postpartum bleeding:

- breastfeeding the baby on demand. When breastfeeding contraction of the uterus occurs as irritation of the nipples of the breast leads to the release of oxytocin. It is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland, an endocrine gland found in the brain. Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract. At this time may feel cramping pains in the lower abdomen of a woman ... Moreover, those who gave birth again, they are much stronger. When feeding, the discharge is also stronger;

Timely emptying of the bladder. Immediately after childbirth, on the first day, you need to go to the toilet every three hours, even though there is no urge to urinate. If the bladder is full, it will be an obstacle to the normal contraction of the uterus;

Lying on your stomach. This position will prevent bleeding and delay discharge in the uterus. The tone of the uterus after childbirth is weakened. The uterus sometimes deviates backward, causing the discharge to drain. Lying on your stomach, you bring the uterus closer to the anterior abdominal wall ... At the same time, the angle between the cervix and its body is leveled, as a result of which the outflow of secretions improves;

Ice pack on the lower abdomen 3-4 times a day. This method will improve the contraction of the uterine vessels and uterine muscles.
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During the nine months of pregnancy, a woman has no menstrual period. And after childbirth, a recovery period begins for the female body, during which abundant spotting appears. What is it: a manifestation of menstruation or a consequence of the generic process?

Postpartum discharge: description, duration, composition

Immediately after childbirth, the woman's body begins the recovery process, an integral part of which is the release of lochia.

What is lochia

Lochia is a bloody discharge from a woman's vagina that begins immediately after delivery and continues until the damaged tissues of the uterus are completely restored.

After childbirth, the placenta, which is necessary for the intrauterine development of the baby, is no longer needed in the female body, so it begins to exfoliate. As a result of this process, a wound is formed on the surface of the uterus. It is during this period that the release of lochia begins, which helps to cleanse the uterus from excess substances accumulated during pregnancy.

Duration of discharge

The duration of postpartum discharge depends on the following factors:

• the weight of the child (large children contribute to a strong overstretching of the organ);
• the amount of amniotic fluid;
• number of births;
• blood clotting (low clotting implies a longer recovery process);
• the presence of complications in the form of chronic foci of infection;
• method of delivery;
• breastfeeding (with feeding, the recovery period is faster).

Obstetricians before discharge of a woman in labor should inform her about the duration of lochia, since it is this factor that shows how the recovery period passes. The norm is the cessation of discharge at 6-8 weeks after childbirth. The interval of cessation of discharge from 40 to 62 days is considered a minor deviation from the norm. In this case, the young mother must definitely monitor the nature of the discharge.

Lochia lasting less than 5 weeks or longer are considered a dangerous symptom. If the discharge stopped earlier than the norm, the woman requires a mandatory medical examination to exclude or confirm the accumulation of secretions in the body. Long-term lochia is even more dangerous. This phenomenon is often uterine bleeding or postpartum suture dehiscence.

Video: how much lochia should normally last

The composition and nature of the lochies

Just as a caring mother and wife keeps track of the composition of the family's food, so a woman should also monitor the composition of lochia.

The nature of the lochia vary depending on their duration. The following scenario is considered normal:

If a young mother noticed an admixture of pus in the discharge, she should immediately go to the hospital. Purulent discharge indicates the presence of endometrial inflammation.... As a rule, this process is accompanied by fever, sharp pain in the lumbar region and uterus, and lochiae have an unpleasant odor and a greenish-yellow tint.

Pathology is transparent, watery lochia. In this form, fluid comes out from the blood and lymph vessels, which seeps through the mucous membrane of the vagina. When the wound surface heals, part of the plasma and lymph enters the uterine cavity - this situation requires immediate medical attention.

Characteristics of a loch

In addition to the composition, postpartum discharge has other characteristics, by which it is possible to establish how the woman's recovery period is going and whether there are any complications. These characteristics include color, odor and amount of discharge.

Colour

A woman needs to track not only the composition of the lochies, but also their color. The hue of the discharge within three days after giving birth has a bright scarlet color, since the blood has not yet clotted. Further, for two weeks, there are red-brown lochia, in the subsequent time they become lighter and more transparent. By the end of the discharge, the lochia may be slightly unclear with a yellow tinge. Another color of lochia indicates a clear deviation from the norm and may be a symptom of postpartum complications and diseases.

Gradually, the color of the loch fades - from bright red in the first days after childbirth to pinkish and almost transparent by the 6th week

Postpartum discharge can be of the following colors:

• yellow - depending on the shade, it characterizes different processes in the female body:
  • pale yellow, not very abundant lochia, which began by the end of the second week after childbirth, is the norm and should not cause concern for a young mother;
  • bright yellow discharge with an admixture of green and a putrid odor that appears on the 4th or 5th day after the baby is born, may indicate inflammation of the uterine lining (endometritis);
  • bright yellow discharge with mucus, which began 2 weeks after childbirth, is usually a symptom of latent endometritis;
• green - always indicates the presence of a bacterial infection in the body. Especially common are diseases such as gardnerellosis, gonorrhea, chlamydia. The lesion can be the vagina, uterus, or fallopian tubes. Also, green discharge sometimes indicates advanced endometritis. Green lochia accompanied byburning and irritation in the vagina, indicate trichomoniasis. In order to prevent the spread of infection, when postpartum discharge of a green tint appears, treatment must be started immediately;
• white - indicates the presence of genitourinary infections, thrush or colpitis, if the discharge has a curdled consistency, an unpleasant sour smell and is accompanied by itching in the perineum or redness of the external genital organs. In this case, you must consult a doctor;
• black - it is normal, if the discharge does not have a strong unpleasant odor and is not accompanied by pain. Hormonal changes in the body after childbirth can sometimes manifest itself in this color of lochia.

Smell

Lochia contains many tissues of the epithelium and microbial flora, so they normally have a rotten smell. If pathogenic processes are present in the body, the smell of lochia changes. A purulent odor of discharge indicates the presence of infection or the beginning of tissue decomposition in the uterine cavity.

Number of secretions

The abundance of discharge is also an important criterion reflecting either the norm or pathology in the recovery of a woman's body after childbirth.

The norm is abundant discharge in the first week after childbirth. This process indicates that the body is cleared of all unnecessary: ​​blood vessels, obsolete endometrial cells, placenta remnants, intrauterine products of the fetus. Starting from the 2-3rd week, the discharge should be less and less.

By the abundance and duration of postpartum discharge, it is possible to identify deviations from the norm in time and consult a doctor in order to avoid unpleasant complications

If profuse lochia is allocated longer than the prescribed period, the woman must be examined by a gynecologist. The healing process is slowing down and the cause of the condition needs to be investigated.

A sharp decrease in the abundance of lochia indicates the possible formation of a lochiometer, which is an early postpartum complication.

Features of the selection process

During the recovery period after childbirth, a woman may face a break in discharge, their unstable nature after a cesarean section, and also with difficulties in distinguishing lochia from menstruation.

Break in discharge

In due time after childbirth, the lochia ceases, and the young mother again begins to lead her normal life. But suddenly the discharge starts again. Why? There are several explanations for this:

• scarlet lochia after emotional and physical exertion may be the result of seam rupture;
• discharge can be a manifestation of the rapid restoration of the menstrual cycle;
• mucous lochia of dark color with clots indicate the release of the remnants of the placenta and endometrium, which were previously prevented from leaving.

As a rule, such situations do not require medical attention. However, the female body is vulnerable after childbirth, therefore, if the nature of the discharge worries or scares you with something, you need to seek help from specialists.

Lochia after cesarean section

Recovery of the body after a cesarean section can be painful and lengthy. In this case, the postpartum discharge also lasts a little longer than usual. There are several reasons for this:

• the uterus contracts more slowly after surgery;
• there is not only cleansing of the uterine cavity and restoration of the mucous layer, but also the healing of the postoperative wound;
• lactation after caesarean section is often absent.

After a cesarean section, medical correction with drugs such as Oxytocin and Methyl ergometrine is imperative. If the surgical delivery took place without complications, and all the necessary manipulations were carried out in the postoperative period, then the lochia in composition, color and smell should not differ from the lochia after natural childbirth.

How to distinguish lochia from menstruation

The main difference between menstruation and lochia is the time of appearance. Lochia is only a postpartum discharge, and menstruation begins when the level of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for breastfeeding, drops in the blood.

The duration of menstruation is approximately 6-7 days, while lochiae can stand out for up to 9 weeks. The color of these secretions is also different. The first lochia after childbirth are scarlet, but gradually become brown, and then begin to turn pink and turn white. Menses are always red or brown.

After giving birth, a woman needs to take special care of her health. In particular, this applies to postpartum discharge. It is necessary to track their duration, color, smell and abundance. Each indicator is important for diagnosing possible deviations from the norm and identifying pathologies.

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

What is postpartum discharge and what is normal

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

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

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

Normally, changes occur in approximately the following order:

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

The decrease in the amount of discharge after childbirth occurs gradually

Certain conditions related to the norm

During breastfeeding, a reflex release of oxytocin, a hormone that enhances uterine contractions, occurs. Therefore, when breastfeeding, especially in the first week, the woman will feel discomfort in the lower abdomen, and the lochia will become larger. However, at the same time, the uterus is emptied faster, which means that the period of discharge in a nursing mother will end sooner (by about the 6th week).

Multiple pregnancies predispose to slow contraction of the uterus after delivery. Therefore, lochia in this case can go from 6 to 8 weeks, which is also a variant of the norm. After physical exertion, lifting weights (things significantly exceeding the weight of the child), the discharge may increase. But such situations, without other complaints about the color and smell of fucking, are not a reason for panic.

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

In the conditions of operative delivery, a suture remains on the uterus, which prevents it from contracting at full strength. Therefore, in women who have undergone a cesarean section, the discharge may initially be less abundant, but more prolonged. Most often, in hospitals, synthetic uterotonics (uterine contractors) are used to help a weakened body cleanse the uterus after surgery. Such lochia should also end by 8 weeks postpartum.

Read more about discharge after cesarean in the article -.

Video: doctor about discharge after childbirth

What abnormalities look like

The postpartum period is not always favorable. This can be caused by both external and internal factors. In this case, the state of the uterus will be characterized by changes in postpartum discharge: color, smell, volume, etc. Let's analyze them in more detail.

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

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

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

There are no minor complications in obstetrics. Therefore, a woman is obliged to tell the doctor about any problems.

When the discharge lasts more than 8 weeks, their amount does not decrease, but only grows - this is also a reason for urgently seeking help. Most likely, something prevents the uterus from contracting normally (blood clots, remnants of the placenta, pieces of membranes). It can also be a symptom of an inflammatory process in the uterus - endometritis.

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

Unpleasant odor of discharge: usually lochia have a neutral odor (in the first days after childbirth, rotten is allowed). Therefore, with the appearance of sharp putrid, sour notes, we can talk about the addition of an infectious process in one or more parts of a woman's reproductive system.

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

A white color and a curdled consistency with a sour odor is a sign of vaginal candidiasis (thrush). At this stage, treatment should be taken seriously (taking antifungal drugs) in order to protect against an ascending infection (the transition of inflammation to the cervix, into the uterine cavity and above).

Transparent as water, lochia can speak of gardnerellosis (bacterial vaginosis), which is most often followed by thrush. Such discharge is often accompanied by the smell of rotten fish.

Black color without any other symptoms is terrible only in appearance. This variant of the norm arises due to changes in hormonal levels in the process of restoration of the body. It is caused by a change in the composition of the cervical mucus.

Photo gallery: pathological lochia

Purulent discharge is a clear sign of the addition of a bacterial infection. Bright yellow lochia indicates an inflammatory process in the genital area.

What to do if pathological lochia occurs

In case of pathological discharge, it is necessary to consult a doctor, because each case is unique. Most often, additional procedures are performed (ultrasound of the small pelvis, examination of secretions). In conditions of detection of the remnants of the placenta or fetal membranes, instrumental methods of treatment will be needed. The lochiometer is amenable to conservative therapy.

Any inflammatory process is a rather dangerous complication in the postpartum period, requiring the appointment of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. To reduce the risk of adverse drug reactions in a child, drugs are selected that are used to treat newborns in maternity hospitals. You can also express your breasts about 15-30 minutes after the introduction of intravenous and intramuscular drugs and 1-1.5 hours after taking the drugs by enteral route.

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

Prevention of pathological postpartum discharge

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

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

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