How long does it take for lochia to be discharged?

It is normal for a woman to have lochia for a while after giving birth. Only by expelling the waste in the uterus can she recover to a healthy state. However, many women notice that the lochia lasts for a long time and they don’t know whether it is normal. We should have a correct understanding of this issue. So how long does it take for the lochia to be discharged?

Generally, lochia will last for one to two weeks. By the second week, the amount of blood will drop significantly, which we think is normal. If the amount of bleeding is like menstruation and there is intermittent bleeding, and the bleeding is like menstruation in the first week after delivery, but stops in the second week, but comes back like menstruation in the third week, then there may be a problem, especially if it is a cesarean section, it may be a problem with the wound, or the blood vessels may not have grown well. For most mothers, especially those who give birth naturally, the lochia will be basically discharged three weeks after delivery.

There are several common types of lochia, including bloody lochia and white lochia, which appear at different times. We generally believe that bloody lochia is bleeding that appears within one week after delivery, like blood or menstruation, mixed with some mucus and even some fetal membranes. These mixed together are called lochia. Generally, no matter it is a natural birth or a cesarean section, not all the fetal membranes will be removed cleanly, especially for a natural birth, so some of the fetal membranes have to be slowly removed and discharged by the contraction of the uterus. This discharge process is lochia.

Many people panic when they see intermittent spot bleeding, wondering why they are bleeding again. This intermittent spot bleeding often lasts for two months. People who have had a cesarean section will also have some bleeding. The duration of bloody lochia from a cesarean section is shorter than that from a normal birth because the placenta is taken out directly and is much cleaner.

However, if the bleeding after cesarean section is still bright red and heavy after four weeks, two months, or three months, and the amount of blood is in small basins, we have to consider whether the wound has not healed or there are other reasons. Normally, it's mostly clear by 6 to 8 weeks.

I believe everyone has a general understanding of how long it takes for the lochia to be discharged. Since everyone's physical condition is different, the amount of lochia in the uterus also varies, and the specific length of time also varies from person to person. However, you still need to regulate your body during the confinement period to ensure that the lochia is discharged within a normal time.