How long does it usually take for the lochia to be discharged after a normal birth?

Whether it is a caesarean section or a natural birth, the mother's lower body will produce endless lochia after giving birth. Although lochia looks disgusting, its presence is also the best proof that a woman's uterus is recovering quickly. It’s just that the time for lochia discharge from caesarean section and natural birth is different. Under normal circumstances, the time for lochia discharge from natural birth is shorter than that from caesarean section. So how long does it usually take for lochia from natural birth to be discharged?

The lochia after normal delivery and caesarean section is different. For normal delivery, under normal circumstances, it will be completely discharged 4-6 weeks after delivery. In the first few days after delivery, the amount of lochia is relatively large and the color is bright red, so it is called red lochia, also known as bloody lochia, which generally lasts for 3-7 days. After 3-5 days, the amount of blood decreases and the lochia turns light red, called serous lochia. 10-14 days after delivery, the lochia is white or light yellow, called white lochia. Normal lochia has a bloody smell, but it is not foul. The process of lochia after normal delivery.

For those mothers whose lochia has not been cleared 6 weeks after a normal delivery, this may be related to the mother's physical constitution, whether she is breastfeeding, postpartum diet, rest and nutritional supply. Pay more attention to the following methods during the lochia period, and the lochia will clear up quickly.

What to do if lochia recurs after childbirth

Lochia retention refers to the failure of lochia to clear within 6 weeks after delivery or is accompanied by irregular uterine bleeding, also known as prolonged lochia. Both natural birth and cesarean section are possible, and are related to the mother's postpartum recovery and whether she breastfeeds. Women who have delivered by cesarean section are particularly prone to prolonged lochia. The hazards include:

1. Prolonged postpartum lochia can lead to local and systemic infection, and in severe cases, sepsis may occur.

2. Prolonged lochia can also cause wound infection, rupture or poor healing, and may even require hysterectomy.

3. The most important thing to note when lochia is prolonged is that the most likely thing to happen is late postpartum hemorrhage or even massive hemorrhage and shock, which endangers the life of the mother. Therefore, natural childbirth is recommended.

The normal postpartum period is 42 days. Lochia is shed with the uterine decidua after delivery and contains blood, necrotic decidua, white blood cells and epidermis. There are three types: bloody lochia, which lasts 3 to 4 days, serous lochia, which lasts about 10 days, and white lochia, which lasts about three weeks. There is a smell of blood but no stench. Observe it first. If you are not sure, it is best to go to the hospital and pay attention to personal hygiene.

The harm of postpartum lochia

Pregnancy and childbirth cause tremendous changes in a mother's body. Only with careful care can the body rest and recover as quickly as possible. Taking good care of a woman who has just given birth may seem like a simple task, but it actually involves a lot of knowledge.

After the fetus is delivered, many new mothers have residual blood and turbid fluid left in the uterus. Under normal circumstances, this can be discharged completely in the postpartum secretions, also known as lochia. But if the lochia continues after this period of time, it is called "retained lochia". If not treated in time and prolonged, it may affect the health of the mother and cause other diseases. So what are the dangers of postpartum lochia?

Recurrent lochia after delivery refers to the failure of lochia to clear up within 6 weeks after delivery or is accompanied by irregular uterine bleeding, also known as prolonged lochia. Both natural birth and cesarean section are possible, and are related to the mother's postpartum recovery and whether she breastfeeds. Women who have delivered by cesarean section are particularly prone to prolonged lochia. The hazards include:

1. Prolonged postpartum lochia can lead to local and systemic infection, and in severe cases, sepsis may occur.

2. Prolonged lochia can also cause wound infection, rupture or poor healing, and may even require hysterectomy.

3. The most important thing to note when lochia is prolonged is that the most likely thing to happen is late postpartum hemorrhage or even massive hemorrhage and shock, which endangers the life of the mother. Therefore, natural childbirth is recommended.

Precautions for postpartum lochia

You should get out of bed and move around 24 hours after delivery to help the uterus recover and facilitate the discharge of lochia. However, some mothers stay in bed for a long time and stay indoors even in hot summer weather. Some ignorant husbands still force their wives to have sex during the postpartum period, which causes mucosal rupture, endometrial infection, and abnormal lochia. Special attention should be paid to the precautions for postpartum lochia.

1. Sexual intercourse is strictly prohibited within 50 days after delivery.

2. The paper pad should be soft and disinfected strictly to prevent infection.

3. When the lochia decreases and the body tends to recover, the mother can be encouraged to get up and move around appropriately, which will help the circulation of qi and blood and the discharge of residual turbidity in the uterus.

4. Keep the indoor air circulating to remove foul air, but pay attention to keeping warm and avoid catching cold. If you have blood heat syndrome, you should not wear too warm clothes.

5. Patients with blood heat, blood stasis, and liver depression turning into heat should increase their intake of beverages, such as lotus root juice, pear juice, orange juice, and watermelon juice, to clear away heat and remove blood stasis.

6. Rest in bed, avoid emotional excitement, keep a good mood, comfort the patient, eliminate mental worries, and pay special attention to unexpected mental stimulation.

7. For patients with spleen deficiency and weak qi, they can add warm tonic foods such as mutton and dog meat in the cold season. Patients with liver and kidney yang deficiency can increase the intake of yin-nourishing foods, such as soft-shelled turtle and tortoise meat.

8. After delivery, you must stay in bed and rest. Patients with persistent lochia should pay attention to vaginal hygiene and wash the vulva with warm water or 1:5000 potassium permanganate solution every day. Use soft and disinfected toilet paper, and change menstrual pads and underwear frequently to reduce the chance of invasion of evil toxins.

9. Improve nutrition and eat a light diet, avoiding raw, cold, spicy, greasy, and indigestible foods. To prevent warm food from encouraging evil, eat more fresh vegetables. If the patient has qi deficiency, he can be given chicken soup, longan soup, etc. If the blood is hot, you can eat fruits such as pears, oranges, and watermelons, but they should be taken warm.