Having a baby comes with a lot of physical changes to your body. Some of them can be quite surprising, like heavy vaginal bleeding after giving birth. Bleeding after delivery is perfectly normal. Use this guide to understand what lochia is, what causes postpartum bleeding, and what to expect with normal or not normal blood loss the weeks after childbirth.
Lochia, also known as postpartum bleeding, is vaginal bleeding after giving birth that includes bloody fluid made up of blood, placental tissue, sloughed off endometrial lining and mucous. Normal postpartum bleeding continues for 3 to 6 weeks as your uterus heals and returns to its usual shape and size. The blood in lochia comes mostly from the area where the placenta detached itself from the uterine wall during birth, leaving a wound that needs to heal.
The endometrial lining, which thickens during pregnancy, also sloughs off, similar to when you have your period. How long does postpartum bleeding last? How much blood loss is normal and what does the color of blood mean? Learn about the different stages below, including how long you can expect to bleed and what to expect during each stage. Postpartum bleeding is heaviest the first few days after baby is born.
Blood will be a dark or bright red and will be very heavy. It is normal to see clots in your lochia during this stage. Between days four and seven, the blood should turn a pinkish or brownish color. Clots should get smaller or disappear. By the end of the first week, the discharge will likely be white or yellow in color.
In three to six weeks, it should stop. Learn more about what to expect during a vaginal delivery. The color of the blood will change from red to brown to yellow or clear just as you would see after a vaginal delivery. Make sure to change your pads often to prevent infection.
Shop for postpartum pads. Bleeding should slow and then taper off within a few weeks after delivery. But a few things can temporarily increase the blood flow, including:. Also, tell your doctor if you notice:.
You should also tell your doctor if you have very large clots or a high number of clots. This could mean that your uterus is having trouble shrinking back to its original size. Having a baby is a major transition phase in your life. It will take time for you to get used to the changes taking place in your body and mind after delivery. Give yourself a chance to adjust. The best pain medication to ease the discomfort of uterine cramping is ibuprofen mg every 6 hours or mg every 8 hours.
Though we do not advise the use of ibuprofen during pregnancy, it is completely safe during the postpartum period and while breastfeeding. Restrictions: Because you had a vaginal birth, the only real restriction is to avoid sexual intercourse until you are evaluated at your 6-weeks postpartum visit.
Once you feel up to it, feel free to exercise and drive. Vaginal Tear: Most women will have some tearing of the vagina during vaginal delivery, especially with delivery of your first baby. The postpartum nurses will teach you about caring for your bottom in the first few days after delivery. We advise the use of witch hazel pads, dermoplast spray and frequent cleansing of the area with the peri-bottle.
Because urine is very acidic, it often will sting a fresh wound. A good way to alleviate this pain is to keep the urine very dilute by being well hydrated. You can also gently sprinkle water over the perineum while voiding.
Generally, it is better to blot your bottom than to use toilet paper to wipe. The stitches that we use to repair any vaginal lacerations will dissolve on their own; they do not have to be removed. Hemorrhoids: Similar to vaginal tearing, most women will develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy and delivery.
Most hemorrhoids will resolve on their own as your body recovers from delivery. Care of hemorrhoids can be accomplished with use of witch hazel pads, dermoplast and other over-the-counter hemorrhoid treatments. Again, cleansing your bottom with water after a bowel movement and blotting to dry will alleviate a great deal of discomfort associated with hemorrhoids. Breast Pain: Shortly after your discharge from the hospital, you likely will notice your breasts becoming sore, tender and hard.
This is engorgement, or your breasts filling with milk. However, if severe cramping or pain lasts for several days after delivery, it is a good idea to let a doctor know. If a woman loses more than 1 pint , or around ml, of blood in the first 24 hours after delivery, the doctor may refer to this as a postpartum hemorrhage.
Let a doctor know if it is necessary to change maternity pads more often than once an hour due to postpartum bleeding. These issues can indicate hemorrhaging, which can be serious, but a range of treatments can help. A doctor can also describe ways of reducing risk factors for postpartum hemorrhaging. If lochia has a foul smell, this can indicate an infection.
The infection may cause endometritis , which is inflammation of the uterine lining. To reduce the risk of infection, it is important to:. Uterine atony refers to the womb not contracting after delivery. The cause may involve some of the placenta being left in the womb or an anatomical or muscular problem. This can be a serious issue and can lead to postpartum hemorrhaging.
A woman can often manage regular postpartum bleeding as if it were a period. Resting, practicing good hygiene, and addressing each symptom individually can help. If a doctor believes that the bleeding might indicate a problem, they may :. After delivery, the uterine sheds extra tissue and blood that it no longer needs. It also changes its lining and shrinks to its regular size. This process commonly results in postpartum bleeding, which may last about 6 weeks, though it can take longer to finish.
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