After childbirth, the inner lining of the uterus requires a recovery period, regardless of the type of delivery. If there are no complications, then it takes no more than two and a half months. This article will discuss lochia after cesarean section and other possible secretions. Their features will be considered, and special attention should be paid to non-standard secretions, which are not typical for a healthy body.
Discharge after cesarean
The discharge that may appear from the genital tract after a cesarean operation is worthy of special attention. In gynecology, they are called "lohii." They can change their consistency depending on the time that has passed since the birth. It can be a thick, white, odorless and itchy discharge, but it all starts with bloody suckers. They include: dead epithelium, mucus, plasma, blood cells. Some women compare them to menstruation. But this is not at all true, since Lochia has a smell, can change its color and consistency, and all these changes occur throughout the postpartum period. It is from them that it is possible to determine the condition of the body of a woman who has recently become a mother.
What is the difference?
Many women do not know how much lochia goes after childbirth, but how much after cesarean, and whether there are any differences between the two species. They believe that the discharge after surgery does not differ significantly from those that appear after natural delivery, but this opinion is erroneous. After all, cesarean is an operation, and it causes great stress to the body. After such an operation, a woman should be especially attentive to herself, her feelings and conditions. Even the smallest deviation from the generally accepted norm should be an occasion to visit a doctor. It is worth considering the differences between the lochia that appear after childbirth and those that women see after cesarean:
- After cesarean, the risk of infection or the onset of genital inflammation is significantly higher than after childbirth. This may be due to the fact that the wound surface is much wider. Therefore, it is important that after surgery, follow all the doctor’s prescriptions and perform each recommended procedure at least two to three times a day.
- After natural birth, mucus is not observed in secretions, but after cesarean, especially in the first week, it happens quite a lot.
- Do not be scared if the first few days after cesarean lochia are bright red. It is precisely this shade that they should have during this period.
- Contraction of the uterus after cesarean section occurs much longer in time. It is because of this that discharge after surgery lasts one or two weeks longer than after normal childbirth.
Such discharge is the norm, so there should not be any reason for excitement. And many mothers begin to worry. This is especially noticeable among those women in childbirth who gave birth to the first child on their own, and the second was born by Caesarean section and, noting that the discharge is of a different nature, mothers start to panic.
Duration
Very often women ask the question: how much lochia go after cesarean section? And this question is really important, because it is by the timing that you can determine whether the recovery period in the body has dragged on. And also this information will allow the woman to approximately calculate the start date of the cycle, which is about to begin.
- Normal discharge is considered, which lasts from two to two and a half months. Therefore, even if it has already been approximately eight weeks, and there is still discharge, this is not a reason to raise a panic.
- A deviation from the norm is considered if, after the operation, the discharge stopped after six weeks or was delayed to ten, but this is not a reason to worry. Since in such cases it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of each female body separately. It is not necessary to disregard the composition and smell of the suckers, their color and quantity, if all these indicators do not go beyond the standards, then you should not be in vain. For absolute certainty that everything is normal, you can go through a gynecologist's consultation.
- The reason for going to the doctor is the premature cessation of discharge, when they are not already in five weeks, or too protracted when the lochia has not stopped for more than ten weeks. Both cases carry the same danger. If the discharge ended too soon, then most likely, the remnants of the dead endometrium did not allow something to completely leave the body. It is likely that the process of suppuration has begun. In the second case, the diagnosis may be as follows: endometritis, as well as a gynecologist can diagnose the development of an infectious process. It happens that the discharge after cesarean was stopped at the right time, but after a while it resumed again. This is a clear sign that the process of restoring the uterus after childbirth was knocked down for some reason.
A woman in labor must have information about how much lochia goes after childbirth, which took place naturally, and how much after surgery.
Character loch
As mentioned earlier in the article, over time, the nature of the goof after Caesarean will change, and this is considered the norm. The first time after the operation, mainly blood clots will leave, since the uterus during this period will simply be an open bleeding wound. But over time, blood will become less, and instead of it, mucus, cells of dead epithelium and so on will appear.
These indicators also cannot be ignored. Prolonged spotting indicates that the regeneration of damaged tissues does not occur, and this will be an occasion for a visit to the doctor. Next, each feature of the discharge will be described in detail, and how to respond to them.
The presence of blood
In the first few days, the blood in the secretions should not worry the woman, since this is considered the norm. Just like that, the healing process of bursting vessels and tissues damaged during surgery goes on. In this matter, attention should be paid not to the presence of blood, but to the timing of its allocation. If blood appears on the ninth day after cesarean, then you should immediately go to the hospital.
Clots
During the first week after the operation, thick white, odorless and itchy discharge can be observed in the secretions — these are cells of dead epithelium. Normally, they disappear after seven days, and the discharge becomes more fluid.
Slime
In the early days, mucus can also be added to the blood, the presence of which should not bother the young mother. Most often, mucus is represented by products of the intrauterine life of the baby, which must certainly leave the mother's body.
Pink discharge
After a month after the operation, slightly pink discharge may appear, which signals the woman that the healing has not yet ended. Although by this time this process, as a rule, has already stopped, but if this did not happen, then this is a sign that, due to some kind of mechanical effect, the tissues cannot recover in any way. Quite often this happens in those couples who did not listen to the recommendations of the gynecologist and renewed sexual intercourse ahead of time.
Brown discharge
Normally, after a month and a half, the discharge acquires a brown tint. This is due to the fact that the healing process is completed, the blood coagulates and is no longer as scarlet as it was at the very beginning. But you need to pay attention that brown discharge is considered normal only at the end of the recovery period. At other times, they should not be.
Purulent discharge
It will be clear to any woman that purulent discharge is dangerous. Usually this is a clear signal that inflammation of the uterine mucosa has begun. They have a yellowish-green color and acquire a rather unpleasant odor, and are also accompanied by a strong increase in body temperature. Pain in the perineum and lower abdomen may also occur.
Watery discharge
If the lochia become watery, then mother should be on the alert, since this phenomenon is not normal. Often this is the transudate. This is such a fluid that is found in the blood and lymph vessels. This is a pretty bad sign, as it clearly indicates that serious circulatory disorders have appeared. If the discharge not only lost color, but also began to smell bad, then this is a clear symptom of vaginal dysbiosis.
If the birth took place not in a natural way, then mom should definitely monitor the state of her body after the operation, and especially the nature and timing of the discharge. Even the most obscure impurities can be signals of violations.
Shades of Loch
The color of the goose is another important point that should be kept under control. At the very beginning, the lochia have a red tint and turn brown closer to its completion. All other colors, which will be described below, are not the norm, and when they are detected, the newly mummy should immediately go to the specialist:
- Yellow discharge. They can have a different nature, and they can not be left without attention. The norm is yellow discharge by the end of the second or third week after surgery, but they should be very scarce and short-lived. On the fourth or sixth day, almost orange discharge may appear, having an unpleasant putrefactive odor - this is a symptom of endometritis, which has just begun to develop. If 14 days after the operation, the yellow discharge became abundant and mucous, then it is safe to diagnose endometritis, which in this case is already neglected. Every woman should remember that endometritis is not treated independently.
- Green highlight. Appearing green in the discharge is a sign of pus. The latter appears if an inflammatory, infectious process occurs in the uterus. The cause can only be determined by a gynecologist, after examining the patient.
- White Lochia. If, after the operation, the woman has developed abundant white odorless discharge, then this is not a reason to run to the antenatal clinic. But if they carry itching in the perineum, have a sour smell, acquire a curdled consistency, then this is a serious reason to pass a smear. Since these are clear signs of infection. Remember, you should not be nervous only if there is abundant white discharge, odorless and other accompanying symptoms. In any other case, you should go to the gynecologist.
- Black discharge. Black discharges after cesarean are natural and should not cause panic. These are just hormonal changes in the blood that occur in every woman. But a deviation can be considered if such discharge appears after a long time after the appearance of the baby.
Number of Discharges
Almost all the signs of discharge were already considered in the article: the color of the Lochia after childbirth, their nature and many other manifestations, but it remains to be said only about their number. The young mother should also pay attention to this fact. If the discharge after cesarean is too scarce, then this may indicate that the uterine ducts, tubes are clogged or a thrombus has formed in them.
Too many lochia also should not please a woman, especially if the discharge in large quantities does not stop. This is a signal that the uterus cannot recover normally after surgery. In any case, you need to go to the doctor for an examination to find out the reasons for the appearance of such deviations and to eliminate them as soon as possible.
It is also important to remember that not only attentiveness to changes, but also hygiene after cesarean section will help to maintain health. Upon discharge from the hospital, the doctor gives all the necessary recommendations regarding this, and it is highly undesirable to neglect these recommendations.
Conclusion
Almost all mothers do not like the period when lochia continues after cesarean section or childbirth. But do not be so hostile to this phenomenon. Every woman should remember that discharge with a smell or containing too bright mucus should be especially alarming. Almost every such case requires immediate treatment with antibiotics or even surgery.