Discharge after natural childbirth. Discharge with mucus after childbirth. What does purulent discharge after childbirth mean?

After childbirth, any woman has specific discharge from the genital tract. They occur regardless of the method of delivery - naturally or through surgery. They can last for a different time, have a different color, character or smell. You need to know how long the discharge lasts after childbirth, what character they have at different times after the birth of the baby, how to recognize signs of abnormalities. Any doubt should be a reason for consultation with a gynecologist.

Postpartum discharge from the genital tract is a natural process. At the final stage of the birth process, the placenta departs from the uterine wall, which was previously closely connected with the inner surface of the organ and is permeated with blood vessels that carry blood to the fetal body. Under it is an open wound surface, which begins to bleed. This becomes the source of lochia. Gradually, the vessels of the former placental site become empty, contract, and become covered with a new layer of endometrium. Normally, the discharge continues for 6 weeks, a maximum of 2 months.

Lochia

Lochia have a different origin than menstruation, and differ from them in color, volume and duration. In it is necessary to pay attention to the color and consistency of the discharge, as well as the absence or presence of an unpleasant odor. A timely appeal to the doctor with any questions about this can not only save health, but also save the life of the mother.

Lochia appear as a result of the fact that after the separation of the placenta, the vessels connecting it and the wall of the uterus remain open and blood is released from them. It enters from the uterine cavity through the open cervix into the vagina.

Postpartum lochia consists of the following components:

exfoliated endometrium (inner uterine lining), which thickens significantly during pregnancy;
blood and ichor from the uterine wall, to which the placenta was attached;
dead and necrotic tissue;
mucus and blood released from the healing cervix;
parts of the fetal membranes and epithelium of the fetus.

Lochia is not menstruation and is not controlled by hormonal changes. After childbirth, it will take some time before the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, ovaries begin their regular activity and the normal cycle is restored. For breastfeeding mothers, the first menstruation occurs about six months after childbirth. If the child is bottle-fed, menstruation can resume after 6 weeks (read more about the timing of recovery of menstruation after childbirth).

In rare cases, menstrual-like weak bleeding occurs within a month after the birth of a newborn. They are easily confused with ending lochia, but at this time a woman can already become pregnant.

Less intense postpartum lochia is observed in preterm birth, and stronger than normal - in multiple pregnancies and after surgery.

The first hours after

As soon as the placenta is born, a gradual contraction () of the uterus begins. This effect is enhanced by the attachment of the newborn to the breast. Often, an ice pack is placed on the stomach of a woman in labor, this is necessary to prevent severe bleeding.

The volume of blood loss in the first hours should not exceed 500 ml. At this time, there is a bloody nature of postpartum discharge mixed with clots and mucus. This removes the remains of the placenta and amniotic membranes from the uterus.

In the first hours, the patient may feel an unpleasant odor of the released blood. This is largely due to the influence of the hormonal background. In the blood, the level of oxytocin and prolactin increases, which increase the sensitivity of olfactory receptors. In the normal course of the early postpartum period, the woman is transferred to the department in 2-3 hours.

First days

At first, there is an intensive release of lochia. The neck is not yet completely closed, and the uterine wall is still a wound surface. This creates prerequisites for the development of postpartum endometritis. To prevent infection, all hygiene rules must be observed. If the nature of the discharge changes, you must immediately inform the gynecologist about this.

What should be the normal discharge after childbirth:

In the first 4 days, lochia is a mixture of blood clots, parts of the membranes, meconium, decidua, and discharge from the cervical canal. Painful abdominal cramps, reminiscent of menstrual pain, caused by intense uterine contractions, may be felt.
During the 1st week, the lochia are colored in a rich dark red color, they are quite thick, they have an admixture of mucus, there may be lumps or clots. During the application of the child to the breast, the intensity of their release increases. This is a normal process of cleansing the birth canal.
A woman should be prepared for the fact that when getting out of bed, a large amount of blood can be released at once. Therefore, it is recommended to stock up on a large number of special hygiene products, as well as oilcloth for the bed.

The duration of bloody discharge is normally up to 7 days. If they last more than a week, or uterine bleeding opens, or large blood clots depart, these may be signs of retaining part of the placenta in the uterus. This condition often leads to the development of an infection and requires immediate medical attention.

To speed up the separation of lochia, the prone position is recommended, as well as the use of a postpartum bandage. It supports the internal organs, preventing the uterus from taking an incorrect position that contributes to blood retention in it, for example, bending to the side or backwards.

First month

After 7 days, the wound surface begins to become covered by the endometrium. The uterus has already contracted quite well, although it is still above the womb. During the 2nd week, the number of lochia gradually decreases. Discharge from the genital tract changes color from red to darker, brown, an unpleasant odor is normally absent.

If in the first days of the postpartum period, a woman had to change her sanitary pad every 2 hours, now one pad can be used for 4-5 hours. Washing with warm water and soap is recommended before each change of hygiene product.

After 10 days, the discharge acquires a yellowish tint. It contains fewer red blood cells and more white blood cells, cervical mucus, serous fluid.

How long do these discharges last?

This stage lasts about 3-4 weeks.

Allocations a month after childbirth are observed in most women. However, their intensity is reduced so much that a woman can use daily pads. Their character is slimy, without foreign inclusions and smell. If the lochia lasts more than 6 weeks, you should consult a doctor.

The uterus at this time is already returning to normal size, so abdominal pain or increased discharge during feeding of the child are not observed. At the end of the month, the cervical canal is completely closed, which blocks the path of a possible infection.

Every woman goes through the postpartum period differently. It is considered normal if the discharge persists for 6-8 weeks. They can end earlier - by the end of 4-5 weeks.

For caesarean section

The operation is accompanied by additional damage to the uterine vessels, so the bloody discharge after such childbirth during the first 7 days is more intense. Its color and consistency correspond to the norm. In the future, the process of cleansing the uterus goes in accordance with physiological indicators. After a maximum of 2 months, any vaginal discharge should stop.

Changes in the amount of discharge

The most common reasons for this are the retention of parts of the placenta inside the uterus or the attachment of an infectious process. In this case, such deviations from the norm are possible:

A small amount or premature termination may be associated with a mechanical obstruction to the outflow of intrauterine discharge. This is usually a large blood clot that blocks the internal os of the cervical canal. Blood can accumulate in the uterus and when it is in the wrong position as a result of subinvolution. The likelihood of such a complication increases with abnormalities in the structure of the uterus, various neoplasms (cysts, tumors).
Abundant outflow of mucous fluid may be a sign of perforation (perforation) of the uterine wall, for example, with the failure of postoperative sutures. Abundant lochia are also observed in violations of blood coagulation. Such a sign can be a symptom of life-threatening conditions and requires immediate medical attention.

Any pathological changes should be eliminated as soon as possible. Some of them require medical treatment, while others require curettage or surgery.

Changes in the nature of the discharge

Postpartum recovery takes place individually, but there are common signs that are characteristic of the normal course of the postpartum period or for pathological abnormalities.

Light yellow discharge

Characteristic of the final period, it replaces brown spots and gradually brightens to a completely colorless mucus. Saturated yellow discharge may signal the onset of an inflammatory process in the uterus. They appear as early as 4-5 days and are accompanied by soreness in the lower abdomen, and also have an unpleasant putrefactive odor. The cause of this condition is endometritis, trauma to the wall or cervix. The yellow color of lochia can also appear when the cervical canal is blocked, when blood cannot be released from the uterus, and the putrefactive process begins. Another reason is ruptures of the cervix and vagina, complicated by inflammation.

Greenish discharge

Normally not observed. They indicate inflammation of the inner wall of the uterus -. Its cause is often a bacterial infection, which is caused by poor contractility of this organ. As a result, lochia lingers in the uterine cavity, an inflammatory process begins with the formation of greenish pus. Purulent discharge is a reason for immediate consultation with a doctor. The disease is often accompanied by fever, abdominal pain, weakness, and an unpleasant smell of discharge from the genital tract. Left untreated, it can cause infertility or blood poisoning.

brown discharge

Normally, they appear at week 2, replacing bright red, and at the end of the second week they gradually brighten. If the brown color persists for more than a month, the cause of this may be an inflammatory process (endometritis), fibroids, bending of the uterus, reduced blood clotting. Abundant dark brown discharge in the early postpartum period indicates incomplete separation of the placenta and requires urgent medical intervention - curettage of the uterine cavity.

Mucous discharge

They begin at the 3rd week and gradually move into the usual for a healthy non-pregnant woman. Earlier appearance of mucus may be a sign of internal damage to the cervix, vagina. Abundant flow of mucus is an important sign. This condition requires urgent medical attention.

Prolonged bloody or pink discharge

They are a sign of hypotension of the uterus associated with its excessive stretching or weakness of the wall. Another reason for prolonged weak bleeding is the presence of placental remnants in the uterine cavity. Pink fluid may appear as a result of a bleeding disorder, excessive physical activity and early sexual intercourse. Sometimes on the 21-28th day, the first menstruation appears this way.

White discharge

Most often caused, while they have a sour smell, and small light clots are determined in them. Candidiasis is not life-threatening, but causes a lot of discomfort, such as itching in the perineum. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor and choose an antifungal therapy that is safe during breastfeeding.

Hygiene

Lochia is a physiological phenomenon, they are necessary for the cleansing of the uterus and its healing. During them, it is important to observe hygiene rules:

Stock up on sanitary pads and change them regularly. In the early days, you will need products with high absorbency.
Tampons and menstrual cups should be avoided as they increase the risk of infection.
It is recommended to avoid sexual contact during the first 6 weeks.
At this time, physical exercises and significant loads should be abandoned.
In the first month, you can not swim in the pool or pond.
It should be regularly washed with warm water and soap, while the movements should be directed from front to back. It is not recommended to use perfumed products for intimate hygiene, baby soap is best.
It is recommended to urinate regularly, even in the absence of pronounced urges. This will help prevent the spread of infection from the urinary tract.

Stop using blood thinners like aspirin and increase your iron intake at the same time.

The period of pregnancy and childbirth does not pass without a trace for the female body: various changes occur in it. Therefore, it is not surprising that recovery after childbirth takes some time. The uterus returns to its original state especially for a long time. Discharge after childbirth is one of the stages in the restoration of the female body, which must be paid attention to. What discharge is considered normal and what is not? We will talk about this further.

Immediately after childbirth, women begin to discharge, which relieve the body of the unnecessary consequences of pregnancy. The placenta comes out first. The process is accompanied by a rupture of the vessels connecting the placenta and uterus. Then the uterus contracts to its original size and eliminates excess fluid.

Naturally, the entire course of involution is accompanied by secretions, which are called "lochia". The nature of the discharge after childbirth is changeable, therefore, in order to know which lochia are considered normal and which are not, you should know all the necessary information about them.

In the first 2-3 days, vaginal discharge after childbirth is similar to menstrual discharge: blood comes out of the genital tract of the woman in labor. At the same time, regardless of whether the birth was artificial or natural, the nature of the discharge after them does not change. Since during this period there is a high risk of inflammatory diseases, the girl must carefully observe hygiene and change pads as often as possible. Further, the character of lochia changes.

Discharge after childbirth: the norm

In general, it is rather difficult to put the dynamics of discharges in a time frame. But intermediate steps do exist. About the first of them - spotting, we have already written above. The second stage begins 4-6 days after birth, usually by the time of discharge. It is characterized by more scanty bloody discharge, which often contains mucus and clots.

About two weeks after the birth, the discharge becomes very small, and they become brownish-yellowish in color. Over time, the lochia becomes lighter, almost white.

It is normal if the discharge after childbirth lasts about 4 weeks.

At the same time, watery ones come to replace the mucous secretions a week after childbirth. In this consistency, they remain until the end of the recovery period of the uterus.

Abundant clear discharge after childbirth

Strong clear discharge after childbirth can occur in non-breastfeeding mothers a month and a half after the birth of a child. If a girl's menstrual cycle has returned, this pattern of discharge may mean that she has started ovulating. That is, you should resort to contraception if the partners do not plan to conceive another child.

If you have increased discharge after childbirth, you do not need to immediately panic. The intensity and nature of lochia is influenced by a large number of factors. The duration of the discharge may also vary. The cause for concern is the cardinal changes. For example, the appearance of an unpleasant odor or a strange color in the discharge, pain in the lower abdomen, chills, apathy and weakness. These symptoms may indicate the development of complications.

Unpleasant smell of discharge after childbirth

If the discharge after childbirth smells unpleasant, this may indicate that inflammation is developing in the uterus. Usually the reason for going to the doctor is the repulsive smell of lochia. If the intensity and even the color of the discharge can be considered normal in different cases, an unpleasant odor is almost always a sign of inflammation. The most common inflammation that occurs in the postpartum period is endometritis. During it, lochias have a putrid odor and are green or yellow-brown in color. Also, the woman in labor has an increase in temperature. If you do not see a doctor in time, this disease can lead to death.

Speaking about what kind of discharge comes after childbirth, it can be noted that the unpleasant smell of lochia is not always a sign of endometritis. It can also occur due to stagnation of secretions in the uterus. In this case, the girl is scraped, which prevents the development of more serious inflammation.

Expectant mothers should know that the unpleasant smell of lochia also occurs due to the development of infections in the body. For example, gardnerellosis or chlamydia.

Mucous discharge after childbirth

Mucous discharge begins already 4-5 days after childbirth. At first, due to the predominance of leukocytes, they are yellow in color and continue for a week. About two to three weeks after birth, clear mucous discharge begins, which can also be white. They say that the uterus has recovered completely and returned to its original size. Gradually, the number of lochia decreases.

Purulent discharge after childbirth

If a few days after the birth of the baby, the discharge from the woman in labor has acquired a green-yellow hue, this indicates the presence of pus. Such lochia occurs due to postpartum complications in the form of an infection and they are accompanied by various symptoms. For example, high fever and pain in the lower abdomen. If purulent lochia appears, you should immediately consult a doctor. After the diagnosis, he will prescribe the correct treatment, which will help to avoid complications.

Blood discharge after childbirth is a mandatory and quite normal process.

Thus, lochia and the remains of the placenta are removed from the body.

Blood discharge after childbirth: how much can go in the norm and what to do if they are plentiful and do not end for a long time?

Is this cause for concern?

Blood after childbirth: how much does it go and why does it happen?

Postpartum discharge is a natural physiological process, consisting in the rejection of the uterine mucosa by the body. Allocations go regardless of which way the child was born (natural or by caesarean). The birth of a child is the separation of all fruit membranes. The uterus after that is one big bleeding wound.

Restoration of the uterine mucosa begins immediately after the completion of labor. This process is taken over by the uterine glands. In the first days after childbirth, the discharge consists of blood (80%) and the secretion of the uterine glands. Gradually, the amount of blood in the secretions decreases.

Lochia go in both early and late postpartum periods. The early period is considered in the first two hours after childbirth. The next 6-8 weeks is late.

Blood after childbirth: how much goes and what determines the duration

The normal duration of postpartum hemorrhage is about 6 weeks. During this time, a woman loses about one and a half liters of blood. Do not be afraid of such a figure, because the woman's body is ready for this in advance. When pregnancy occurs, significantly more blood begins to circulate in the female body than in an ordinary person.

The duration of bleeding depends on many factors. Breastfeeding significantly shortens this period. In the body of a woman, the relationship between breastfeeding and uterine contraction was initially laid down. Accordingly, the faster the uterus returns to its normal state, the faster the discharge will end.

The duration of the discharge is also affected by the process of delivery. In those women who gave birth naturally, the blood ends faster after childbirth. After a caesarean section, the uterus recovers somewhat longer. This is due to the fact that an incision was made on it, which was subsequently sewn up.

Slightly longer bloody discharge will go on in those women who, in the postpartum period, are subjected to constant stress and heavy physical exertion. This is also why young mothers are recommended to rest more after childbirth and try not to worry.

What other factors affect the duration of discharge from the birth canal:

● multiple pregnancy (the uterus in this case greatly increases in size, which means that the reduction process will be longer);

● impaired blood clotting;

● trauma during childbirth, internal seams;

● large child;

● afterbirth elements that may remain in the birth canal (in this case, the inflammatory process begins);

● contractile feature of the uterus;

● the existence of fibroids or fibroids.

Blood after childbirth: how much goes and what are the rules of personal hygiene during this period

While there is bleeding, there is a high risk of developing an infectious disease. To avoid this, you must adhere to certain rules of personal hygiene. In the postpartum period, they will differ somewhat from the generally accepted and well-known:

● special attention should be paid to sanitary napkins, it is better to choose those designed specifically for postpartum discharge;

● when the discharge becomes not so abundant, you can start using regular menstrual pads, but you should be careful when choosing them: they should have a high degree of absorption;

● change gaskets more often; despite the fact that it is written on the pack of the product that they are able to retain moisture for up to 8 hours, you should not be fooled by advertising, ideally the gasket should be changed every 3-4 hours;

● it is strictly forbidden to use tampons during postpartum discharge, no matter what you are guided by and no matter what manufacturer you choose;

● it is desirable to wash away after each change of a laying;

● this can be done using baby soap, it is also important to follow the water jet: it should be directed from front to back;

● if the doctor has indicated the need for home treatment of sutures, then this should be done using antiseptics - furacilin or potassium permanganate;

Blood discharge after childbirth: how many days can go normally and when should you sound the alarm?

Normal postpartum discharge

The first few days after childbirth, the discharge will be as plentiful as possible. Approximately 400 ml of blood should come out daily. Most often it is not homogeneous, but with mucus or clots. You should not be afraid, this is a completely natural process. That's the way it should be. These days, the discharge is bright red.

After 3 days, the color will gradually change to brown. The closer to the end of the postpartum period (8 weeks), the less discharge will be. Gradually, they will look like menstruation, then they will become light and turn into ordinary mucus.

When to sound the alarm

If a woman notices in the hospital that the discharge has become more intense or less frequent, thicker or, conversely, more watery, you should immediately tell the doctor about it.

Also, postpartum discharge should be monitored after discharge from the hospital. Despite the fact that the recovery process after childbirth is individual for each woman, there are common points that should be the reason for contacting a gynecologist.

What should alert every young mother

Quick stop bleeding. If the lochia stopped going earlier than 5 weeks after giving birth, this is a serious cause for concern. Every woman should know that the functional layer of the endometrium is completely restored no earlier than 40 days after delivery. If the discharge stopped very soon after the appearance of the baby, this does not at all indicate a good ability of the body to recover. Most likely this is due to complications. Often they are infectious. However, it can also be a spasm of the cervix. It traps lochia in its cavity, preventing it from coming out. This situation requires an immediate solution, as it leads to serious consequences.

Red color discharge. 5 days after birth, lochia take on their color. For every woman, it can be individual. But if the discharge remains bright red, as in the first days after childbirth, this urgently needs to be told to the doctor. This may indicate problems such as impaired hematopoiesis or blood clotting.

Lochia color change. If at first the discharge changed its color from red to brown, and after a while, it turned back to red, this also indicates problems. In most cases, this is due to intrauterine bleeding, which urgently needs to be eliminated. Timely contact with a doctor will avoid serious consequences. A repeated change in the color of the blood after childbirth may indicate the existence of a polyp or a rupture of the soft tissues in the birth canal.

The appearance of an odor. If after some time the discharge began to smell (no matter what), it means that an infection has entered the uterine cavity. It can cause endometritis. By consulting a doctor in time and diagnosing a disease, a young mother can avoid such an unpleasant procedure as scraping. It is carried out when other methods of treatment (taking drugs that suppress the development of microorganisms and a forced increase in uterine contractions) have been ineffective.

Blood discharge after childbirth: how many days can go normally and when does menstruation begin?

One hundred percent answer the question: when menstruation comes, it is impossible. Each female body is individual. Usually, if a mother has stopped breastfeeding by the end of the postpartum period, she will soon begin to develop an egg.

For those who continue to breastfeed, menstruation may begin six months after birth, not earlier. At first, the cycle will be irregular. Menstruation can be both scanty and plentiful, both short (up to 1-2 days) and long (up to 7-8 days). You should not be afraid of this, everything is within the normal range. In some mothers, menstruation does not appear until the end of lactation. This option is also considered the norm. This is due to the postpartum production of the hormone prolactin. It stimulates the production of milk for feeding the baby and helps to suppress the formation of hormones in the ovary (ovulation simply does not occur).

The postpartum period is as important as pregnancy and childbirth. At this time, you should also be attentive to your health and condition. At the slightest deviation from the norm, it is necessary to visit a doctor. Don't be afraid to talk about any changes in bleeding that are bothering you. Even if your gynecologist is a man, remember that first of all he is a doctor who is interested in your speedy recovery after childbirth. If something worries you while still in the hospital, be sure to consult with him. Many problems are easy to solve at the stage of their formation, and not in a neglected form.

After being discharged home, do not neglect the rules of personal hygiene and the doctor's recommendations. Remember, your baby needs a healthy and cheerful mother!

Pregnancy and childbirth require a number of serious changes and expenditures of internal resources from the body. Therefore, it is not surprising that the return to the normal state takes some time. The first task 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 a rupture of the vessels that connected it with the uterus. Further, during involution, the uterus will have to shrink to its previous size, expelling excess fluids.

In order to avoid the possible development of inflammatory and other adverse processes in the postnatal period, as well as to 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. Simple pads usually cannot cope with such volumes - you have to use special diapers or postpartum pads. However, they should also be changed as often as possible, since during this period the risk of developing inflammatory processes and the penetration of pathogens is very high - 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

It is difficult to put the dynamics of postpartum discharge into any specific framework of norms or put it on a schedule. But conditionally, they can be tracked by averaged stages:

2-3 days after birth - 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, spotting after childbirth becomes noticeably less abundant and acquires a brownish tint, often containing clots and mucus. They can be aggravated by lifting weights, physical exertion, contractions of the abdominal muscles (during laughter, coughing, sneezing);
After 1.5-2 weeks, yellow discharge appears after childbirth - at first brown-yellow, which eventually becomes lighter, approaching white. Normally, they can continue for another month.

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

The cause for concern is more drastic changes, such as discharge with a smell after childbirth, with a specific color (bright yellow, greenish), curdled (as 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.

Length of discharge after childbirth

Of course, every woman wants to get rid of pads and constant discomfort as soon as possible. Yes, and the lack of sexual life in recent months needs to be made up for, and in the presence of even minor 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 monitor 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 features of the female body and the course of childbirth. On average, everything “heals” in about a month, but residual manifestations can be observed even 5-6 weeks after the birth of the 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. And in itself, prolonged blood loss does not bode well. A sudden increase in the intensity of bleeding is an extremely dangerous symptom - in this case, you should immediately call a doctor. On the other hand, too rapid and sudden cessation of discharge after childbirth also requires a visit to a specialist. Most likely, the body just rehabilitated very quickly, but there is a small chance that the blood simply accumulates in the uterus, unable to go outside for some reason.

Prevention of postpartum complications

A great responsibility lies with the doctors taking delivery - after the rejection of the placenta, it is important to make sure that this process was completed successfully. Within two hours after childbirth, a woman should be given the opportunity to rest, recover. But already moving to the postpartum ward, it is important not to neglect hygiene. It is highly desirable to take a shower on the same day, despite weakness, with which a nurse or nurse can help. Lying on your stomach creates optimal pressure, "adjusting" the uterus - it is recommended to adopt this technique as early as possible. 4.5 out of 5 (135 votes)

Bleeding after childbirth- This is the release of blood and tissue debris from the uterus. Usually allocate approximate periods of this bleeding, depending on the intensity and color of the blood.

In the first three days bleeding is profuse, often profuse in volume compared to menstruation. The blood is bright red, as it is released from the vessels at the site of attachment of the placenta.

The cause of this bleeding is insufficient contractility of the uterus in the first few days after childbirth. This is normal and should not scare you.

Over the next two weeks the intensity of bleeding is significantly reduced. The discharge changes color from light pink to brown and yellowish white.

The uterus gradually contracts and by the end of the second week, all discharge from it usually stops.

There are often exceptions to this general rule. Consider which of them are also a variant of the norm, and which ones are a sign of a condition that requires the intervention of a doctor.

How long does bleeding last in the early postpartum period?

So, discharge from the uterus during the first 2-6 weeks are considered normal. Even in the sixth week they may have an admixture of blood.

Sometimes, bleeding after childbirth first stops after a few days, and then resumes.

This is usually typical for too active mothers who, already in the first week after giving birth, tend to go to the gym. Then just enough to stop the load and the bleeding will stop again.

Variant of the norm the so-called "small period" of bleeding is also considered (it occurs three weeks to a month after childbirth).

Bleeding is then not profuse and painless. Its duration is not more than one or two days. Such a repetition of bleeding also does not require a visit to the doctor.

Now let's talk about pathological (late) postpartum hemorrhage.

Most often its cause becomes part of the placenta, which remains in the uterus after childbirth and prevents its complete reduction. Then, a week after the birth, the bleeding does not decrease, but remains as plentiful and bright in color.

In this case necessarily get an appointment with a gynecologist as soon as possible and conduct an additional "" uterine mucosa.

This the procedure scares many women and they try to delay the visit to the doctor, hoping that the bleeding will stop after all. This position often leads to the development of inflammation in the uterus, increase, pain.

"Purges" still cannot be avoided, but additional treatment after it can drag on for months. It is not necessary to say how this adversely affects breastfeeding and the further reproductive function of a woman.

Another case- continuation of not abundant brown discharge longer than six weeks postpartum. This may be caused by an infection.

Often such discharge is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and fever. If you do not delay the visit to the doctor, This condition is easily treated and does not cause adverse effects..

And of course, the most serious case- this is when the bleeding at first stopped completely, and after one to two weeks it resumed in the form of copious discharge from the uterine cavity.

It is impossible to stop such bleeding at home. It is a real life threat due to the rapid loss of a large volume of blood. That's why, in this case, you must immediately call an ambulance.

The reasons

What affects the intensity and duration of bleeding after childbirth? How long does it take and when does the bleeding end after childbirth? What concomitant conditions should alert a woman and make her more attentive to her health?

Normal phenomenon- this is a stop of bleeding due to the rapid contraction of the uterus after childbirth. This is facilitated by breastfeeding as a natural stimulator of the muscular contraction of the uterus, laid down by nature.

Doctors often prescribe oxytocin injections in the first days after childbirth in order to artificially speed up this process.

If the uterus remains in a relaxed state after childbirth, bleeding continues and becomes pathological. Often this happens due to traumatic childbirth, a large child or.

Other reasons- multiple fibrous nodes in the uterus, improper attachment of the placenta, early rejection of the placenta, exhaustion of the woman before childbirth.

Very rare case pathological postpartum hemorrhage - mechanical damage to the uterus during childbirth or undiagnosed clotting problems.

Uterine bleeding a few weeks after giving birth may be due to infection.

So, bleeding after childbirth is serious process, requiring close observation of a woman and a visit to a doctor at the slightest doubt and anxiety.