How long does it take for lochia to be discharged after a caesarean section? How long does it take for lochia to be discharged after a caesarean section to be considered normal?

Generally, after giving birth, pregnant women will discharge bright red fluid from their bodies in the next few weeks. This is called lochia and is a normal phenomenon. So how long does it take for lochia to be discharged after a caesarean section? How long does it take for lochia to be cleared after a caesarean section to be considered normal?

Will there be lochia after caesarean section?

Is there any difference between natural birth and caesarean section? Usually, the lochia of a natural birth is discharged by itself, so the amount of lochia is relatively large. The amount of lochia of a caesarean section mother is less than that of a natural birth mother because the doctor will clean up the blood clots, placenta, fetal membranes, etc. in the uterus when the baby is delivered. It is worth mentioning that some women who have caesarean sections may suddenly have more lochia about 10 to 14 days after delivery. This is because the blood clots in the uterine wound after the operation are dissolved at this time. As long as there are no other abnormal symptoms, there is no need to worry.

How long does it take for lochia to be discharged after cesarean section?

After giving birth, the mother will gradually discharge some liquid secretions. This is a normal phenomenon. These liquid secretions are called lochia. By observing the lochia, you can understand the recovery of the mother. So, how long does it take for the lochia to be discharged after a cesarean section?

Many mothers are concerned about the normal amount of lochia and how long it will take to clear up. This issue is directly related to the method of delivery and the mother's physical condition. Mothers who give birth naturally and by caesarean section not only have different recovery times, but also the amount of lochia discharged. Since mothers who give birth by caesarean section directly undergo surgery, during the surgery, some doctors will clean the mother's uterine cavity and remove some blood clots, placenta, fetal membranes, etc. in the uterine cavity. Therefore, the lochia of some mothers who give birth by caesarean section will only last for about 2 weeks.

Usually, within 3 to 4 days after delivery, the lochia flowing out of the vagina will be bright red, and after a few days, it will slowly turn into brownish red or pink. After about 10 days, the lochia will turn into brownish yellow or milky yellow. For mothers who give birth naturally, on average, the lochia will last until the third week after delivery. Some mothers will occasionally have a little bright red lochia after the 10th day after delivery, but if the flow is not much, it is actually not a big problem and there is no need to worry too much.

However, some mothers drink Shenghua Tang after giving birth in order to restore the contraction of the uterus as soon as possible. It is generally recommended to drink it one week after giving birth. However, after drinking Shenghua Tang, the lochia will remain bright red for many days. This is a normal phenomenon. After a week, the color of the lochia will gradually turn brown. Finally, I would like to remind all mothers that the specific time for lochia to be discharged depends on the individual's physical condition. If the lochia does not stop or the amount of lochia is small, you need to seek treatment under the guidance of a doctor.

Color of lochia after cesarean section

The first is bloody lochia, which is the discharge from the first to fourth days after delivery. It is large in volume, bright red in color, and contains blood, decidual tissue, and mucus, similar to menstruation, or slightly more than menstruation, and sometimes with blood clots.

The second is serous lochia, which is discharged around the 4th to 6th day after delivery. It is light red in color and contains a small amount of blood, mucus, and more vaginal secretions, as well as bacteria.

The third is white lochia. This is the white or light yellow lochia discharged one week after delivery. It contains a large number of white blood cells, decidual cells and bacteria. It looks like leucorrhea, but it is more than usual.

Abnormal lochia and its treatment principles

The timing and amount of lochia discharge may vary depending on the mother's physical condition, but if bright red lochia continues to flow in large amounts, contains large blood clots, produces a foul odor, occurs with a fever, or causes lower abdominal pain 4 days after delivery, you must return to the hospital for treatment immediately to avoid postpartum hemorrhage or even shock.

The cause of lochia is often residual placental fragments or fetal membrane tissue in the uterus, birth canal lacerations, poor uterine contraction or excessive intake of Shenghua Tang. Usually, after seeing a doctor, the doctor will first ask about the mother's condition to determine whether an internal examination is needed to confirm whether there is residual placental tissue still in the uterus. If placental fragments are still found in the uterus, uterine curettage may be performed, and then the mother will be given oral uterine contraction drugs.

If the birth canal is lacerated, disinfectant can be used to wipe the affected area. If the situation is serious, it needs to be repaired. If the lochia does not stop due to simple poor uterine contraction, oral uterine contraction agents will be given, and the mother will be taught to massage the uterus and encouraged to breastfeed to promote uterine contraction and increase uterine involution. If the lochia does not stop due to improper use of excessive amounts of Shenghua Tang, it should be relieved as long as the medication is stopped immediately.