The birth process is stressful for a woman's body. After it, a certain type of discharge is observed. It's quite normal. However, in the period while the inner surface of the uterus heals, you need to control the number and color of secretions. If they do not meet the standards, appropriate action should be taken as soon as possible. What postpartum discharge is considered normal will be described below.
First hours after childbirth
Postpartum discharge is called lochia. They appear due to damage to blood vessels inside the uterus. The process of childbirth is considered completed when the rejection and exit of the afterbirth occurs. This is accompanied by the release of a large amount of blood, mucus. On the surface of the uterus, the wound surface remains in the place where the placenta was attached.
As the tissues heal and recover, the secretions will gradually change color. They will first have a large amount of bloody contents. Over time, the lochia will lighten.
After the birth is completed, a woman is given a stimulant to contract the uterus. Also, with the help of a catheter, the bladder is emptied so that it does not press on this organ. On the stomach below put a heating pad with ice. If you do not take the right actions, the likelihood of uterine bleeding increases. Therefore, a woman in labor is observed in the delivery room for another 2 hours.
At this time, the discharge of bloody species is plentiful. However, there is a permissible norm, the excess of which cannot be ignored by doctors. At this time, pain should not be. Bleeding causes weakness and dizziness. It is imperative to inform the medical staff if the blood flows very quickly, for example, if the diaper has become almost all wet.
How many postpartum secretions normally appear in 2 hours? During this time, immediately after the cessation of labor, there should be up to 0.5 l of Lochia. If all is well, the woman feels fine, she is transported to the ward. Further in the following weeks, you need to monitor your condition. To do this, you need to know what is considered the norm.
The nature of the discharge
The duration and nature of the postpartum discharge should be in line with established standards. Any deviations should be an occasion to attend a antenatal clinic. Lochia include the uterus, blood cells, plasma, mucous membranes of the uterine cavity and cervical canal.
The nature of the discharge in the first days after birth is heterogeneous. Clots, mucous inclusions appear. With movement or pressure on the stomach, the number of lochia can increase. Therefore, at this time it is impossible to make sharp turns, bends. You have to get up slowly. Before going to bed, it is better to lay a diaper under you. When you get out of bed, discharge can simply flood.
At first, lochia reminds menses with their appearance. Only in this case their number will be greater. This is normal, since the uterus is cleansed, recovering from childbirth.
After a few days, until the end of the first week, the discharge will become darker. Their number will slightly decrease. Starting from the second week, the discharge will turn brownish yellow. They will have a slimy appearance. After the third week, the lochia will be yellowish. A white tint may appear. They may contain small impurities of the blood.
Lochia become brighter. Normally, the duration of postpartum discharge is 6-8 weeks. It is considered normal if Lochia go from 5 to 9 weeks after birth. Such deviations are explained by the characteristics of each organism. If Lochia is observed after this period, you need to see a doctor. It should also be alerted if, after a month, the discharge is completely absent.
Process deviations
The duration of postpartum discharge is normal 6-8 weeks. Deviations up to 1 week in both directions are admissible. However, no more. If there are certain discrepancies, you should immediately go to the gynecologist. It is bad if the Lochia stopped too early or, conversely, too late. This indicates serious deviations in the healing process of the inner surface of the uterus.
The sooner a full diagnosis is made and treatment is started, the less likely there will be serious complications.
Some women whose lochia stopped before the deadline are happy that the recovery process is behind. However, this is not the case. In 98% of cases, the premature completion of this process ends with hospitalization. This situation is observed due to incomplete cleansing of the body. As a result, the remains of postpartum activity partially remained inside the uterus. Since they are not excreted, an extensive inflammatory process begins. This can end in disrepair. If the lochia stopped before the due date, you need to start a course of treatment.
Knowing how much postpartum discharge is, you can take appropriate action in a timely manner in case of deviation from the norm. If the separation process is too long, you need to establish the cause. Healing is slow. There are certain factors that affect this process. The gynecologist will be able to choose the right treatment.
Pathology
Knowing how much postpartum discharge lasts, one must also consider possible deviations in the course of this process. Pathology is considered if the number or nature of the lochia has changed dramatically. If pus appears in the discharge, you should immediately go to the doctor. Such a symptom indicates the onset of the inflammatory process. It is caused by an infection that could develop in the body.
The inflammatory process may be accompanied by fever, lack of appetite, and weakness. Pain in the lower abdomen may appear. It should also alert the appearance of an unpleasant odor. If the color becomes greenish yellow, it also indicates the presence of inflammation. The malaise will gradually increase. To avoid serious consequences, you need to undergo a course of treatment.
Clear, watery discharge is also not the norm. It could be a transudate. This is the name of the fluid that seeps out of the lymphatic, blood vessels. It penetrates the vaginal mucosa . Similar symptoms may be accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
You should know the norm for postpartum discharge. The smell in the first week should be neutral. Lochia smell of blood, as they mainly consist of it. When the discharge ceases to be scarlet, they acquire a ripe smell. This is also the norm. The uterus contracts, different clots, mucus are secreted. However, a sharp, unpleasant smell is definitely a pathology. You need to pay attention to this.
Yellow
Postpartum discharge with a smell may have a yellowish tint. This is a pathology. It is considered normal if the lochia of this color does not have an unpleasant odor. They should not be plentiful. Gradually, the yellow hue changes from dark to light in color over time. This is considered normal and indicates the correct healing of the uterus.
If the lochia acquired a more pronounced shade, cause unpleasant sensations, the disease develops in the body. The unpleasant smell confirms this. Such discharge indicates the presence of infection. Often this is a symptom of endometritis. The uterus can not cope with the remains of postpartum activity, can not bring them out. As a result, inflammation develops.
In this case, the nature of postpartum discharge may be different for the same pathology. It depends on the stage of development of endometritis and its neglect. If mucus is present in the suckers, and the shade is yellowish, there is an unpleasant smell, the disease develops, however slowly. The body tries to fight it, but to no avail.
With a pronounced yellow color, as well as the appearance of goofs with a smearing, sticky consistency, interspersed with pus, we can talk about the rapid development of endometritis. If the temperature has not yet risen, there is no doubt that this will happen in the coming hours. Self-medication in this case is life threatening. Hospitalization is often required. In some cases, surgery is indispensable.
Green color
An unpleasant odor-causing postpartum discharge may take on a greenish tint. This is also a deviation from the norm. Allocations can be yellowish-greenish or greenish. This indicates the presence of infection. In the uterine cavity, in the vagina or in the fallopian tubes, pathogenic bacteria are present that provoke the appearance of such problems.
In the absence of proper treatment, microorganisms cause an inflammatory process. Endometritis or other complications may occur. If a woman’s immunity is weakened, her nutrition is unbalanced, or other adverse factors are present, various infections can enter the body.
One of the diseases that is characterized by the appearance of such symptoms is bacterial vaginosis. Familiar microflora (lactobacilli) are displaced by various pathogenic microorganisms. A greenish hue indicates the presence of leukocytes in the lochia. They fight the causative agent of the infection, remaining in the secretions. The more saturated the greenish tint, the stronger the infection, the greater the number of leukocytes sent to combat pathology.
Also, a similar symptom is characteristic of such serious ailments as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis. Foam secretions may also be present. There is not only an unpleasant smell, but also an itch, pain in the lower abdomen. The mucous membranes may turn red. If treatment starts on time, you can quickly deal with the infection. Otherwise, the inflammation will become extensive. It can go into a chronic form. This leads to serious complications.
Bloody issues
In the postpartum period, the discharge may be reddish, brownish. Blood clots can be observed in small amounts up to 2 months. If blood or brown daub is present in the lochia longer, this may be a sign of the disease. If the blood is excreted longer than the prescribed period, there may be a hormonal malfunction in the body.
If a woman does not breast-feed, her periods may recover much earlier than in nursing mothers. In this case, the appearance of a brownish daub may indicate the onset of menstruation. Only a doctor can determine whether such a symptom is considered normal.
If the baby is breastfed, her periods are restored much later than mothers, who for a number of reasons cannot do this. Therefore, even after 3 months, they should not appear. Spotting in this case often becomes a sign of the disease.
Endometriosis and various neoplasms can become such serious ailments that provoke the appearance of brownish or scarlet discharge, 2 months after birth. If such lochia became light, and then again changed character, you need to undergo an examination.
Mucous and purulent lochia
An unpleasant postpartum discharge can be mucous. In this case, infection may develop. If there is no unpleasant odor, and mucous discharge appeared during the first week after childbirth, this is the norm. The mucous membranes are restored. Gradually, the volume of such lohija decreases.
If odorless mucous discharge appeared after 2-3 months, this may indicate the beginning of ovulation. The menstrual cycle is restored. This is confirmed by monthly periods that came after 2 weeks. Since that time, contraception must be used in the process of sexual intercourse.
The appearance of purulent discharge is extremely dangerous. At any time after delivery, this is a sign of serious pathology. An extensive inflammatory process develops in the uterus. This condition is accompanied by weakness, pain in the lower abdomen. The temperature may rise, the head often hurts, there is no appetite. Treatment should be immediate.
White color
Postpartum discharge may turn white. They have a heterogeneous, lumpy structure. Sour smell may be present. This is a sign of thrush. This phenomenon is observed quite often. This disease does not pose a serious danger if treatment is started in a timely manner.
Otherwise, cheesy discharge will be accompanied by itching, pain during urination. In addition to discomfort, thrush leads to the development of infection. It is unacceptable. Therefore, treatment should be started immediately. He is prescribed by a doctor. Otherwise, you can get a chronic form of candidiasis. This is fraught with serious complications.
Burning, itching are mandatory companions of this fungal disease. The skin and mucous membranes are constantly irritated. Thrush can be accompanied by vaginal dysbiosis. A characteristic smell of rotten fish appears. Against the background of thrush, this disease develops often.
Preventive actions
To prevent the appearance of deviations, you need to perform a series of preventive actions. They begin to be carried out in the hospital. This avoids the appearance of bleeding and other troubles. Postpartum discharge should not be too plentiful. In order to prevent such a pathology, you need to roll on your stomach after childbirth. This stimulates the release of the uterine cavity.
Also in the first few days you need to often go to the toilet. Even if you don’t feel like it, you need to do this every 2-3 hours. The bladder should not put pressure on the uterus. Do not lift heavy objects. It is advisable to breastfeed. This contributes to the proper healing of the inner surface of the uterus. It will shrink faster.
Since the wound surface is most susceptible to attack by pathogenic microorganisms, special attention should be paid to its hygiene. It is advisable to wash with warm water every time after going to the toilet. This procedure is done outside, not inside. Movements are carried out from front to back. Shower should be taken daily. Bath during the healing of the wound surface is prohibited.
Do not douche. On the first day after birth, sterile disposable diapers are used. Gaskets during this period is better not to use. In the following days, gaskets are changed at least 8 times a day. Tampons during this period are strictly prohibited. They will delay the removal of blood masses from the uterus. This leads to the development of infections and the inflammatory process.
Fulfilling the above requirements, monitoring your condition, you can prevent the occurrence of serious health problems.