The difference between lochia and menstruation

The lochia of pregnant women contains various fluids, including some blood and blood clots, so in terms of shape, lochia and menstruation are quite similar, which is why some women think it is menstruation even though their lochia is not discharged. There are differences in smell and amount between menstrual period and undischarged postpartum lochia. Ladies can quickly distinguish them after understanding them.

The difference between lochia and menstruation:

1. Postpartum lochia

1. Ingredients: Strong postpartum lochia is bright red, contains a lot of blood, sometimes with small blood clots, a small amount of fetal membrane, vernix caseosa, necrotic decidual tissue, etc.; serous lochia is light red, contains a small amount of blood, with more necrotic decidual tissue and cervical mucus; white lochia is viscous, white in color, and contains a lot of white blood cells, necrotic decidual tissue, epidermal cells, etc.

2. Smell: If everything is normal, the lochia after delivery does have a fishy smell, but it is not smelly.

3. Quantity: The total output is about 500ml, which changes from stubborn postpartum lochia to serous lochia, and then to white lochia.

4. Duration: It usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks, which shows that it does not coincide with the return of menstruation.

2. Menstrual Period

1. Menstrual components: blood and some fallen uterine wall, cervical mucus and female secretions.

2. Smell: Strong menstrual odor.

3. Quantity: The total output of each menstrual period is generally between 50 and 6250 l.

4. Duration: The cycle time is about 21 to 30 days, and the menstrual period lasts 4 to 7 days.

What are the main manifestations of postpartum lochia:

1. Tissue residues

It may be due to a late pregnancy, uterine malformation, uterine fibroids, etc., or it may be due to the surgeon's unskilled skills, resulting in the failure to completely remove the pregnancy tissue, causing some tissue to remain in the uterine cavity. At this time, in addition to the lochia being unclean, there is also bleeding that is sometimes more and sometimes less, with blood clots inside, and is accompanied by intermittent abdominal pain.

2. Intrauterine infection

Intrauterine infection may be caused by taking a sitz bath after childbirth or abortion, using unclean sanitary napkins, having sex soon after childbirth or abortion, or by the surgical operator not performing thorough disinfection and sterilization. At this time, the lochia has an odor, the abdomen is tender and painful, and there is fever. A blood test shows an increase in the total white blood cell count.

3. Uterine contractions

It may be due to failure to rest well after giving birth, or due to poor physical constitution, or due to prolonged delivery or cesarean section, which may lead to weak uterine contractions and continuous lochia after delivery.

The harm caused by unclean lochia after childbirth includes:

1. Increased lochia in parturients can cause partial and systemic infection, and in severe cases, sepsis can occur;

2. Increased lochia after delivery will cause wound infection and dehiscence or poor healing, and even require hysterectomy;

3. Pay special attention to the increase of lochia after delivery, as it is also easy to cause late postpartum hemorrhage and even internal hemorrhage shock, which seriously endangers the life of the pregnant woman. Therefore, it is better to advocate natural childbirth.