How long does it take for the lochia to be clear after giving birth?

After giving birth, there is still some residue in the uterus, so a lot of blood clots or other things will flow out of the uterus. This type of secretion is called lochia. It is relatively normal to have lochia, but if the lochia itself is abnormal, or if it occurs for a long time, it needs to be taken seriously. So, how long does it take for the lochia to stop after giving birth?

1. What is lochia?

Lochia is actually the secretion discharged from the vagina after delivery, which is a mixture of uterine bleeding, placental fragments, fetal membranes, and secretions from the uterus. In fact, the reason for lochia is mainly caused by the separation of the placenta and uterus. After a woman gives birth, her uterus needs to recover from being large to shrinking, and the wounds of the placenta and uterus also need to heal. During this recovery process, some tissues will be produced, which are discharged as lochia.

2. How long does it usually take for postpartum lochia to be discharged?

In fact, after giving birth, the discharge of lochia will help the mother's body recover, but the discharge of lochia will vary from person to person. For example, due to different physical conditions, the time of lochia discharge after childbirth will also vary. Generally speaking, it takes about 3 weeks (21 days) to completely discharge lochia after giving birth. However, some women may be able to completely excrete the stool within 2 weeks, while others may take around 6 weeks.

In fact, there are differences in the discharge of lochia between women who give birth naturally and those who give birth by caesarean section. Generally speaking, it takes longer for women who have undergone cesarean section to expel lochia. However, if the lochia has not been discharged completely for more than 7 weeks, it is best to go to the hospital for a gynecological examination.

3. Doing these two things will help the mother to discharge lochia

1. Keep the vulva clean

During the period of lochia discharge, the mother must pay attention to keeping the vulva clean and change underwear in time. And after urinating and defecating, you must use special cleaning lotion for care.

2. Posture is also critical

In order to help the lochia drain out as quickly as possible, after giving birth, when lying in bed, you should lie down or sit on the opposite side of the perineum wound. This posture can help the lochia to be discharged without touching the wound. On the other hand, this posture is also beneficial to improving blood circulation of local wounds, which helps the wounds heal as quickly as possible.