What is postpartum lochia? Is it normal to have less postpartum lochia?

After giving birth, mothers will have lochia discharge, whether it is a natural birth or a caesarean section. So what is the lochia discharged by the mother? How long does it usually take for the lochia to return to normal after childbirth? What are the standards for the amount of lochia discharged? What are the precautions for lochia discharge after childbirth?

What is postpartum lochia

After delivery, the uterine decidua, especially the decidua at the placenta attachment, is shed, and the blood, necrotic decidua and other tissues are discharged through the vagina, which is called lochia. Normal lochia has a bloody smell, and the total volume is about 500-1000 ml, but it is not smelly. The duration of lochia varies from person to person. Under normal circumstances, lochia will be cleared about three weeks after delivery, with an average of about 21 days, the shortest can be 14 days, and the longest can be up to 6 weeks.

Normal lochia smells bloody. In the first few days after delivery, there is more lochia and the color is bright red, which is called bloody lochia. After 5 to 7 days, the amount of lochia decreases and the color gradually becomes lighter, pink, which is called serous lochia. After about 2 weeks after delivery, the amount of lochia gradually decreases and the color is light yellow or yellowish white, which is called white lochia. Generally, the lochia is gone 3 to 4 weeks after delivery. The duration of lochia varies from person to person. As long as there is no odor, it is not sticky, and it does not suddenly turn from white to red, it is normal for white lochia to last for 5 to 6 weeks.

Is it better to have more or less lochia after childbirth?

After childbirth, the uterine decidua, especially the decidua at the placenta attachment, falls off, and the tissues containing blood, necrotic decidua, etc. are discharged through the vagina, which is called lochia. Lochia is divided into:

(1) Bloody lochia: bright red in color, contains a large amount of blood, sometimes with small blood clots. There is a small amount of fetal membrane and necrotic decidual tissue. Bloody lochia lasts for 3 to 4 days, the amount of uterine bleeding gradually decreases, the serous fluid increases, and it turns into serous lochia.

(2) It is light red and contains a lot of serous fluid. There is a small amount of blood, but there is a lot of necrotic decidual tissue, cervical mucus, uterine exudate, and bacteria. The serous lochia lasts for about 10 days, the serous fluid gradually decreases, the white blood cells increase, and the lochia turns into white lochia.

(3) White lochia: viscous, white in color. Contains a large number of white blood cells, necrotic tissue decidua, epidermal cells and bacteria. White lochia lasts for 3 weeks and is clean. Normal lochia has a bloody smell but no odor, lasts for 4 to 6 weeks, and the total volume is about 250ml-500ml, with large individual differences. By observing the lochia, paying attention to the changes in its quality and quantity, color and smell, and the recovery of the uterus, you can understand whether the recovery of the uterus is normal. If your lochia is normal, don't worry too much!

How long is the postpartum lochia considered normal?

After a woman gives birth, the blood, decidual tissue and various "garbage" accumulated during pregnancy discharged from the vagina are what we commonly call lochia. Normal lochia has a bloody smell, with a total volume of about 500 to 1000 ml, but it is not smelly. The duration of lochia varies from person to person. Under normal circumstances, lochia will be clear about three weeks after delivery, with an average of about 21 days, the shortest being 14 days and the longest being up to 6 weeks. Lochia can be divided into three types: red lochia, serous lochia and white lochia. The duration of the three types of lochia is not the same.

One week after delivery: red lochia

Red lochia time range: the first week after delivery. In the first week after delivery, there is more lochia, which is bright red and contains a lot of blood, small blood clots and necrotic decidual tissue, which is called red lochia. Bloody lochia lasts for three to four days, the amount of uterine bleeding gradually decreases, the serous fluid increases, and it turns into serous lochia.

1-2 weeks after delivery: lochia serous

Serous lochia time range: between one to two weeks after delivery. During this period, the blood in the lochia decreases, and is replaced by necrotic decidua, cervical mucus, vaginal secretions and bacteria. This change makes the lochia turn into light red serous fluid, and the lochia at this time is called serous lochia. Serous lochia lasts for about ten days, the serous fluid gradually decreases, the white blood cells increase, and the lochia turns into white lochia.

2-4 weeks after delivery: White lochia

White lochia time range: within two to four weeks after delivery, the blood will disappear normally, but the lochia will contain a large number of white blood cells, degenerated decidua, epidermal cells and bacteria, making the lochia viscous and white in color, so it is called white lochia. White lochia lasts for three weeks.

Under normal circumstances, the lochia after delivery will follow the above suggestions. For those who have a caesarean section, their lochia will change accordingly. They will have less lochia, mainly because the placenta will be completely removed during the caesarean section, reducing some tissue residue. However, because the cervix is ​​not fully opened after the caesarean section, the lochia will be discharged in a sporadic manner for a longer period of time.

If the lochia is still not clean after caesarean section and confinement, and the amount is large, and even accompanied by a foul or rotten smell, or accompanied by lower abdominal pain, fever and other symptoms, then it may be related to infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina, and ovaries. If the amount of lochia discharged increases day by day, the color becomes redder and darker day by day, or some bruises appear, or accompanied by uterine bleeding, vaginal trauma, or infection symptoms, etc., causing the lochia to always be unclean, everyone must pay enough attention and go to the hospital for examination and treatment in time.

Precautions for dealing with postpartum lochia

1. Sexual intercourse is strictly prohibited within 50 days after delivery.

2. The paper pad should be soft and disinfected strictly to prevent infection.

3. When the lochia decreases and the body tends to recover, the mother 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.

4. Keep the indoor air circulating to remove the foul air, but pay attention to keep warm and avoid cold. If you have blood heat syndrome, you should not wear too warm clothes.

5. Patients with blood heat, blood stasis, and liver depression turning into heat should increase their intake of beverages, such as lotus root juice, pear juice, orange juice, and watermelon juice, to clear away heat and remove blood stasis.

6. Rest in bed, avoid emotional excitement, keep a good mood, comfort the patient, eliminate mental worries, and pay special attention to unexpected mental stimulation.

7. Patients with spleen deficiency and weak qi can add warm tonic foods such as mutton and dog meat in cold seasons. Patients with liver and kidney yang deficiency can add yin nourishing foods such as soft-shelled turtle and tortoise meat.

8. After delivery, you must stay in bed and rest. Patients with postpartum 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, change menstrual pads and underwear frequently to reduce the chance of evil toxins invading.

9. Strengthen nutrition. The diet should be light. Avoid raw, cold, spicy, greasy, and indigestible foods. To prevent warm foods from helping evil, eat more fresh vegetables. If you have qi deficiency, you can give chicken soup, longan soup, etc. If you have blood heat, you can eat fruits such as pears, oranges, and watermelons, but they should be taken warm.

10. Use a medical maternity pad with a lochia meter to record changes in lochia volume at any time and observe whether it is within the normal range to avoid postpartum hemorrhage.

11. Use 100% pure cotton products. The skin of the mother is very sensitive after giving birth, and the wounds are easily infected. You must use pure cotton products. Many maternity products on the market are not 100% pure cotton, which will make the mother uncomfortable and prone to allergies.

12. Disinfection and sterilization: The items used by pregnant women must be sterilized. It is best to use products that meet national medical device standards.