The dangers of retained placenta

All women who have just given birth will have lochia. The amount of lochia discharged varies, averaging around 500 to 1000 milliliters. The duration of lochia discharge also varies, normally around three weeks. The discharge of lochia is mainly to excrete some things remaining in the placenta. Some people do not discharge much or the discharge is incomplete, and if it remains in the uterus, it is easy to get sick, so the discharge of lochia after childbirth is very important.

After the fetus is delivered, the secretions that flow out of the mother's vagina contain blood, necrotic decidual tissue and cervical mucus, which is called lochia. The discharge of lochia by parturients is a physiological phenomenon.

Normal lochia has a bloody smell, not stinky. Lochia can be divided into three types.

One is bloody lochia. This is the secretion discharged within the 1st to 4th day after delivery. It is large in amount, bright red in color, and contains blood, decidual tissue and mucus. It is similar to menstruation, or slightly more than menstruation, and sometimes contains blood clots.

The second is serous lochia. This is discharged 4 to 6 days after delivery. It is light red in color and contains a small amount of blood, mucus, and more vaginal secretions, as well as bacteria.

The third is white lochia. This is the white or yellowish lochia discharged one week after delivery. It contains a large number of white blood cells, decidual cells and bacteria. It looks like leucorrhea, but there is more of it than usual.

Although every parturient has lochia, the amount discharged varies from person to person, with the average total amount being about 500 to 1000 ml.

The duration of lochia discharge varies from woman to woman. Normally, it will be clear in about three weeks. If lochia is still leaking for more than two months after delivery, it is considered as unclean lochia.

Causes of postpartum lochia

Tissue residue

It may be due to uterine malformation, uterine fibroids, etc., or it may be due to the unskilled operation operator, 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.

Uterine infection

Uterine infection may be caused by taking a tub bath after delivery, using unclean sanitary napkins, having sexual intercourse before a full month after delivery, or by the operator's failure to provide strict disinfection. 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.

Uterine atony

It may be due to failure to get a good rest after delivery, or due to poor health and illness, or due to prolonged delivery, which consumes Qi and blood, leading to weak uterine contractions and continuous lochia.

Because symptoms vary, treatments are also different. By observing the nature, odor, amount and duration of lochia, we can understand the recovery of the uterus and whether there is infection.

If bloody lochia lasts for more than 2 weeks and the amount is large, it often indicates that the placenta attachment site is not restored well or there are residual placenta and fetal membranes. If the lochia is not clear one month after delivery and is accompanied by a foul or rancid odor, or is accompanied by abdominal pain and fever, it may be an infection of the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. If it is accompanied by heavy bleeding and the uterus is large and soft, it often indicates that the uterus is poorly restored. Therefore, you should go to the hospital in time and ask the doctor to find out the cause of lochia and treat it accordingly.

diagnosis:

1. Three weeks after delivery, red lochia is still discharged from the vagina.

2. If the lochia has a foul odor, or is accompanied by low fever, lower abdominal pain, poor uterine involution, or uterine tenderness, there is a uterine cavity infection.

3. When ultrasound examination shows that the uterus is poorly involuted and there is tissue in the uterine cavity, it is the placenta or placental residues.

Immediate treatment

If you find that your vaginal bleeding is heavy or prolonged, or if the blood has an unusual odor, you should go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible. If the situation is not serious or no abnormalities occur for the time being, you can use uterine contractions and antibiotics. If the situation is serious or placenta residue is found, uterine curettage should be performed with the use of antibiotics to remove the residue and promote uterine contractions.

If the residue stays for too long, curettage can be performed under B-ultrasound to remove it completely in one go. To rule out infection, placental residue and other pathological changes, postpartum lochia that persists can be treated with folk prescriptions or traditional Chinese medicine. （