What does lochia mean?

Many female friends who have never given birth do not understand what lochia is. Lochia is the discharge of blood stasis and mucus. After giving birth, there is actually some membrane tissue in the uterus that has not been discharged. It will be slowly discharged later. This is called lochia, and it usually lasts for twenty days.

Postpartum lochia refers to the blood and mucus discharged from a woman's vagina after giving birth. After giving birth, with the shedding of the uterine decidua, especially the decidua at the placental attachment site, tissues containing blood, necrotic decidua and other tissues are discharged through the vagina, which is called postpartum lochia. Generally speaking, women with good metabolic function and good physical fitness can completely eliminate lochia within three weeks after delivery. If the lochia continues for more than three weeks, it is called: lochia continues (also known as lochia that never stops, lochia is not clean, lochia that does not stop, postpartum lochia that does not stop, postpartum lochia that does not stop). In the TCM classic “The Heart of Pregnancy and Childbirth” it is mentioned: “Due to the damage to menstrual blood during delivery, the woman is weak and insufficient, unable to collect blood, or the bad blood is not completely eliminated, then the good blood will be difficult to calm down, and will flow out together and will not stop for a long time.” Therefore, the continued lochia is often related to “weakness” or “blood stasis”.

Symptom Type

Red lochia

In the first week after delivery, the amount of lochia is large and bright red. It contains a large amount of blood, small blood clots and necrotic decidual tissue, which is called red lochia. Bloody lochia lasts for three to four days, the amount of uterine bleeding gradually decreases, the serous fluid increases, and it turns into serous lochia.

Lochia serousa

After one week to half a month, the amount of blood in the lochia decreases, and there are more necrotic decidua, cervical mucus, vaginal secretions and bacteria, which makes the lochia turn into light red serous fluid. The lochia at this time is called serous lochia. Serous lochia lasts for about ten days, the serous fluid gradually decreases, the white blood cells increase, and the lochia turns into white lochia.

White lochia

After half a month to three weeks, the lochia no longer contains blood, but contains a large number of white blood cells, degenerated decidua, epidermal cells and bacteria, making the lochia viscous and white in color, so it is called white lochia. The white lochia lasted for three weeks without any bleeding.