How to distinguish lochia from menstruation? Do lochia and menstruation smell the same?

Lochia is the fluid that a woman will discharge after giving birth. It will usually be discharged in three weeks. If there is bloody fluid after that, it is usually menstruation. However, some people may mistake lochia for menstruation if it is not completely discharged. So how to distinguish the two?

The difference between lochia and menstruation

After giving birth, women will have different lochia durations depending on their individual physical conditions, and menstruation usually occurs after the lochia is discharged. There will not be a situation where lochia occurs at the same time as menstruation.

Lochia goes through three stages. When the lochia is completely discharged, if there is no reason for bleeding, the amount of blood is the same as the previous menstrual flow or slightly more than before, the color is bright red, and there is no other discomfort, then it is very likely that menstruation has resumed. Generally speaking, the first menstrual flow of most mothers after giving birth will be slightly more than the menstrual flow before pregnancy, and it will stop within a week.

Generally speaking, mothers who are not breastfeeding usually have their menstruation resume 6 to 10 weeks after delivery, while mothers who are breastfeeding will have their menstruation resume later. The timing of the resumption of menstruation is extremely variable and may resume at any time between the 2nd and 18th months after delivery, with an average of 6 to 8 months. Some mothers even do not have their menstruation during breastfeeding.

Postpartum lochia and its classification

The so-called postpartum lochia refers to the discharge of blood and necrotic decidua and other tissues from the vagina after childbirth, along with the shedding of the uterine decidua and its attachments. This part, including blood stasis and mucus, is called postpartum lochia. Under normal circumstances, lochia has a bloody smell, but no peculiar smell, or even a foul odor. Generally, lochia is divided into three types, which are also determined according to the stage:

1. Bloody lochia

It is more common in the first week after delivery. As the name suggests, not only is the amount of lochia large, but it is also red and in the form of blood or small blood clots. As the amount of postpartum uterine bleeding gradually decreases, bloody lochia will gradually stop after three or four days.

2. Lochia serousa

Most of them appear after bloody lochia. This is because the amount of blood in the lochia of the newborn mother is less, and more of the tissues and objects such as necrotic decidua, cervical mucus, vaginal secretions, etc. Therefore, serous lochia is basically light pink serous. This stage usually lasts about ten days. When the serous fluid decreases and the white blood cells increase, it begins to turn into white lochia.

3. White lochia

This part of lochia no longer contains blood or blood clots, but more shed epidermal cells and bacteria, and has a more viscous appearance. In most cases, after three weeks, the white lochia will gradually disappear.

Is postpartum lochia cream useful?

Postpartum lochia cream is a powder made from four traditional Chinese medicines: motherwort, safflower, peach kernel, and licorice. It is used to replenish qi and blood, promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and treat postpartum lochia.

Usage of postpartum lochia cream: Take out 15-20g of postpartum lochia powder, mix it with a little rice wine to make a paste, apply it to the navel, and then fix it with gauze. The dressing needs to be changed once a day, one bottle can be used 5 times, and three bottles are a course of treatment.

Because the Chinese herbal ingredients in the postpartum lochia cream mainly replenish qi and blood and disperse blood stasis, the clinical effect is quite obvious. If the mother has persistent or recurrent lochia after delivery, she can consult a Chinese medicine pharmacist to see if it is suitable for her.

Precautions for postpartum lochia care

In order to promote postpartum recovery and stop lochia as soon as possible, parturients should do the following steps: Use sanitary napkins that are soft and comfortable, and change them every two hours to prevent infection. When lochia decreases and the body tends to recover, parturients can be encouraged to get up and move around appropriately, which will help the circulation of qi and blood and the discharge of residual turbidity in the uterus. After delivery, patients with persistent lochia should pay attention to vaginal hygiene and wash the vulva with warm water or 1:5000 potassium permanganate solution every day. Use soft and disinfected toilet paper, and change menstrual pads and underwear frequently to reduce the chance of invasion of evil toxins.