There is a strange smell under the confinement

Most women are having children for the first time and also experiencing confinement after childbirth, so they feel very panicked about some abnormal conditions that may occur in their bodies during the confinement period. Some women find that they have secretions from their lower body during the confinement period, and these secretions have a very strong odor. Is it normal for women to have odor in their private parts during the confinement period?

The discharge from the vagina after childbirth is called lochia, which usually recovers in about 4 weeks. Normal lochia has a bloody smell and generally has no foul odor.

If the lochia has a fishy smell, it is generally considered that the smell is caused by residual tissue, uterine malformation, uterine fibroids, etc. It may also be because the pregnancy tissue was not completely removed during the surgery, resulting in some tissue remaining in the uterine cavity. It may also be caused by uterine infection or uterine atony. It may be due to failure to rest well after delivery, poor health or long surgery time and poor recovery, which leads to uterine atony and odor in lochia.

At the same time, late postpartum hemorrhage is also manifested as unclean and smelly lochia. Repeated or sudden vaginal bleeding can lead to anemia, shock and even life-threatening. Late postpartum hemorrhage refers to heavy uterine bleeding that occurs within the postpartum period 24 hours after delivery, with the amount of bleeding exceeding 500 ml. The most common onset is 1 to 2 weeks after delivery, but it can also occur as late as 6 weeks after delivery. Also known as puerperal hemorrhage, it can cause foul-smelling lochia.

Before delivery, there were premature rupture of membranes, prolonged labor, repeated vaginal examinations, artificial rupture of membranes, water bag induction of labor, or use of air bag to promote cervical ripening and other vaginal operations. The mothers themselves had severe anemia during pregnancy, severe pregnancy-induced hypertension, diabetes and other pathological conditions. In addition, after delivery, they did not pay attention to vaginal hygiene, were afraid of pain, and did not clean the perineum. Vaginal and intrauterine infections may occur, resulting in poor uterine involution or poor incision healing, causing smelly lochia and even late postpartum hemorrhage.

The lochia duration of women who have cesarean section is longer than that of women who have vaginal delivery.

By observing the lochia, paying attention to changes in its quality and quantity, color and odor, as well as the state of uterine recovery, you can understand whether the uterine recovery is normal. It is normal to have a small amount of bleeding occasionally, which is probably because the vaginal discharge has not been completely discharged.

If there is a bad smell or other symptoms, it is considered to be accompanied by inflammation. It is recommended to go to the hospital for examination when necessary according to personal situation to avoid postpartum hemorrhage due to infection.