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

Women usually experience lochia after giving birth naturally. Lochia refers to the material that falls off the placenta. After giving birth, lochia may remain in the woman's uterus. People need to pay attention to the lochia that occurs after a normal delivery, as it may have many adverse effects on a woman's uterus.

How long does it usually take for the lochia from a normal birth to clear up? Let me explain below.

The time it takes for postpartum lochia to be clean is about 6 weeks. It varies from person to person, and also depends on whether it was a vaginal delivery or a caesarean section, and whether there is any fetal residue left. Generally speaking, the early lochia may be red in color. After 3 days, it slowly changes from bright red to dark red and becomes serous. After two or three weeks, the lochia of most patients is white in color, just like leucorrhea, and the amount becomes less and less. Therefore, the changes in lochia are from more to less, and the color changes from bright red, dark red, serous to white. The uterus gradually becomes smaller, so the sign that the lochia is clear is the part of the uterus where the placenta is attached, and the endometrium has also fully recovered. So for a normal person it doesn't exceed 6 weeks.

Lochia refers to the discharge through the vagina containing blood, necrotic decidua and other tissues that occurs with the shedding of the uterine decidua, especially the decidua at the placental attachment site, after delivery. Under normal circumstances, lochia can be discharged 4 to 6 weeks after delivery. If the lochia increases, lasts longer, or is accompanied by a foul odor, it is called "lochia continues" after delivery. The cause of lochia that does not stop needs to be identified and treated accordingly.

Causes and common diseases

1. Tissue residue

Due to various reasons, some placenta, excessive decidua and other pregnancy tissues are not completely removed, resulting in some tissues remaining in the uterine cavity.

2. Uterine infection

It may be caused by taking a bath in a tub after childbirth or abortion, unclean sanitary napkins, having sexual intercourse shortly after childbirth or abortion, or due to the operator's lack of strict disinfection, as well as the mother's own physical constitution, which may lead to uterine infection, which can cause lochia to last longer and have a foul odor.

3. Uterine atony

It may be due to failure to get a good rest after delivery, or due to poor health or prolonged delivery or cesarean section, which may lead to weak uterine contractions, incomplete uterine involution, and continuous lochia.

Treatment principles

First of all, we need to identify the cause and provide appropriate treatment based on the cause.

1. Tissue residue

If ultrasound examination indicates that there is a lot of residual tissue in the uterus, uterine curettage can be performed, and treatment to prevent infection and promote uterine contraction should be given after the operation.

2. Poor postpartum uterine involution

B-ultrasound often indicates that the uterus is enlarged, there is fluid accumulation in the uterine cavity, and there is a high possibility of blood accumulation. Due to poor uterine contraction after delivery, there is residual fluid and blood in the uterus, which leads to irregular and slight vaginal bleeding. Uterine contraction treatment can be given, and antibiotics can be used to prevent infection if necessary; continued breastfeeding is beneficial to postpartum uterine contraction and involution.

3. Puerperal infection

Endometrial inflammation leads to postpartum lochia, fever, lower abdominal tenderness, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Routine blood tests may indicate an elevated white blood cell count and neutrophil ratio. Anti-infection treatment is required.