Caesarean section and still have lochia half a month later

It usually takes about four to six weeks for lochia to be discharged after a cesarean section, and it may vary depending on each person's physical condition. Lochia is the discharge of dead tissue from the endometrium. After delivery, you should pay attention to changing sanitary pads frequently and keep them clean, but do not flush the vagina. If the lochia has not been discharged after six weeks, you can go to the hospital to check and find out the cause, and then receive treatment based on the specific cause.

How is lochia produced?

During pregnancy, the placenta is attached to the inner wall of the uterus. After the fetus is born, the placenta is also delivered. However, the wound caused by the placenta detaching from the uterus will take some time to heal completely. Therefore, some blood will be discharged from the wound during the postpartum period. In addition to blood, it also contains necrotic and detached decidual tissue, endometrium during pregnancy, mucus and bacteria. This vaginal discharge is lochia.

Causes of persistent lochia after cesarean section

1. Tissue residue

It may be due to the advanced stage of pregnancy, uterine malformation, uterine fibroids, etc., or it may be because the surgeon is unskilled, resulting in incomplete removal of the pregnancy tissue, causing some tissue to remain in the uterine cavity. At this time, in addition to the unclean lochia, the amount of bleeding varies, with blood clots inside, and is accompanied by intermittent abdominal pain.

2. Uterine infection

The uterine cavity infection may be caused by taking a bath in a tub after the abortion, or using unclean sanitary napkins, or having sexual intercourse shortly after the abortion, or by the operator's failure to disinfect the operation properly. At this time, the lochia has a foul odor, there is tenderness in the abdomen, and it is accompanied by fever. A blood test shows an increase in the total white blood cell count.

3. Uterine contractions

It may be because the patient was not able to rest well after the abortion, or is usually weak and sickly, or the operation took too long, which consumed Qi and blood, resulting in weak uterine contractions and continuous lochia.

Because the symptoms vary and the treatments are also different, new mothers should remind themselves to go to the hospital in time to ask the doctor to find out the cause of lochia after cesarean section and treat it accordingly.

What should I do if I still have lochia half a month after cesarean section?

After cesarean section, normal lochia discharge lasts for 4-6 weeks, of which bloody lochia lasts for 3-7 days, serous lochia lasts for 2 weeks, and white lochia lasts for 2-3 weeks and then stops. It should usually not exceed 4 weeks. If the lochia is not discharged within 4 weeks, don't be too anxious, because a few women still have a little brown lochia one month later. The ovaries will produce hormones after postpartum recovery, causing endometrial hyperplasia to peel off, making it easy for menstruation and lochia to mix together. Women's resistance is relatively low during the postpartum period, so they must pay attention to personal hygiene to prevent bacterial infection and puerperal fever. During the lochia period after delivery, it is best to change the sanitary pad every 4 to 6 hours, take a bath with clean water every day, but there is no need to specifically flush the vagina. Sexual intercourse should be avoided within 42 days of endometrial repair after delivery.