Why does lochia repeatedly turn bright red?

Lochia is what is discharged from the vagina after a woman gives birth. Clinically, the amount of lochia that is discharged is often used to determine whether a woman's body has any abnormalities after giving birth. Generally speaking, the lochia of postpartum women can return to normal after a certain period of time. Some women may also experience recurring lochia that turns bright red. When this symptom occurs, you must pay attention to treatment.

1. Postpartum hemorrhage:

After the placenta is delivered, there are a large number of open blood vessels in the placental wound on the inner wall of the uterus. Bleeding occurs after delivery. The general amount of bleeding is about 150-300 ml. If it exceeds 400 ml within 24 hours, it is called postpartum hemorrhage. Weak uterine contractions, retained or residual placenta, cervical and vaginal tears, and anemia in pregnant women can all cause postpartum hemorrhage. The consequences of postpartum hemorrhage are serious and we must never be careless. According to surveys, postpartum hemorrhage is the main cause of death among pregnant women.

2. Puerperal infection

Postpartum infection is more common in areas with poor medical and health care. Failure to strictly sterilize instruments during delivery, excessive and unnecessary vaginal examinations during delivery, and poor postpartum hygiene can all cause postpartum infection. In addition, pathogens can enter the vagina during sexual intercourse or sitz bathing before delivery, or if the pregnant woman suffers from chronic diseases, severe anemia, malnutrition, pregnancy toxification, excessive bleeding during and after delivery, residual placental tissue, etc., which reduce the maternal resistance and destroy the ecological balance in the vagina. The non-pathogenic bacteria originally parasitic in the vagina can become active and cause autoinfection. In addition to abnormal lochia, there are often symptoms such as fever and abdominal pain. In severe cases, peritonitis, even sepsis and toxic shock may occur.

3. Note

Improper postpartum care is also an important cause of abnormal 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 force their wives to have sex during the postpartum period, causing vaginal mucosal rupture, endometrial infection, and abnormal lochia. If red lochia recurs or increases in amount after childbirth and is occasionally mixed with fresh blood clots, in addition to the possibility of placental polyps, you should also be alert to choriocarcinoma. This is a highly malignant cancer that often occurs after hydatidiform mole. About 20% of cases are secondary to full-term pregnancy or exist simultaneously with pregnancy. This type of cancer is not uncommon. In a normal pregnancy and delivery, the urine or blood chorionic gonadotropin will turn negative a few days after delivery. If it is still positive and accompanied by repeated bloody lochia, you should be highly vigilant.