How much bleeding after childbirth. Postpartum hemorrhage - causes and dynamics of development How much blood flows after childbirth and cleansing

After childbirth, a woman may experience bleeding from the vagina for some time. This may well be normal when the female body is cleared of the placenta. However, there are cases that it bleeds due to any disease or postpartum complications. How long should blood flow after childbirth and how not to confuse this with a pathological process?

Causes

Bleeding after childbirth usually subsides as soon as it starts. breastfeeding

Normally, bleeding after childbirth stops quickly due to the production of the hormone oxytocin, which appears in large quantities as soon as nipples are stimulated during breastfeeding. Doctors themselves can prescribe injections with such a substance so that the woman in labor does not have a lot of blood loss.

If the reproductive organ cannot recover on its own after the birth of the baby, it is normal to contract, then we are talking about pathology. This is due to the fact that the delivery took place with complications:

injury;
multiple pregnancy;
polyhydramnios;
large fetal weight;
problems with the placenta;
education in the uterus;
blood does not clot;
a large weight loss of a woman in labor in the last month of pregnancy.

If spotting in the uterus did not begin immediately after childbirth, but after a certain period of time (for example, after a week), then we can talk about infectious disease, other signs suggest this, for example, a high body temperature.

Peculiarities

Postpartum hemorrhage can be characterized by the amount or amount of discharge and its color. At the same time, the girl complains of poor health, general weakness, pressure surges. Physiological normal blood loss is no more than half a percent of the total mass.

Important! If the indicator is higher, then it is impossible to talk about the variant of the norm. Deterioration of the general condition occurs with blood loss up to 1%, if higher, then this indicator is considered critical, and health care the woman needs it immediately. The consequences of the last blood loss can be irreversible, so you need to be very sensitive to your health. Need to call ambulance, doctors will administer the necessary drugs that will interrupt the profuse blood loss. If the loss was significant, then a transfusion will be required.

Bleeding after childbirth can occur if the uterus for some reason does not contract as it should. At the same time, the woman feels weak, she feels dizzy, the level of hemoglobin in the blood drops, which means that the skin turns pale. It is best to contact specialists in time and avoid such a state.

There are times when the uterus does not contract after childbirth, then the bleeding is prolonged, and the woman's health worsens.

Timing

How many days does it bleed after childbirth? Bleeding after childbirth for up to six weeks is normal. In this case, spotting can alternately either stop or resume. This is typical for those women who try to play sports after childbirth or do not sit still. To stop blood loss, it is enough just to rest more and reduce the load on the body.

Bleeding occurs suddenly within a month after delivery. How much blood goes in this case after childbirth? If no more than two days, then there is no reason to go to the doctor, if more, then a visit to the gynecologist is necessary.

If everything is fine with the health of the woman in labor, then the bleeding decreases in volume over time, that is, every week there is less and less blood, it is not so scarlet. If there is no decrease in the amount of discharge, then you need to make an appointment with a specialist and undergo a procedure for cleaning the uterus. If this is not done, then you can only aggravate the problem, provoke inflammation.

The most dangerous problem is when the bleeding stopped after childbirth, but suddenly blood began to flow in large quantities, of a bright color. Such a loss of blood threatens the life of mom, so you can not hesitate - immediately call an ambulance and be hospitalized.

When to go to the doctor?

Pathological uterine bleeding immediately after the birth process is controlled by doctors, if necessary, they even cut out the genital organ if the current situation threatens the life of the patient.

If something remains in the reproductive organ, for example, the placenta, then all the remains are removed manually, while the girl is under anesthesia.

If a woman feels bad for the entire period of lochia, her stomach hurts, a temperature appears, blood alternately appears and disappears, then this condition of the patient requires medical attention. It is important to remember that a lot of physical activity after childbirth is prohibited, because of this, health problems often appear.

How much blood is normal after childbirth? Lochia can last up to 4-6 weeks. But if already in the first week there is no gradual decrease in the amount blood secretions so it makes sense to see a doctor.

If a week after the birth, the bleeding does not decrease, and the state of health worsens, then this is a reason to consult a doctor

Diagnostic tests for postpartum hemorrhage

Before prescribing treatment, when the mother began to bleed, it is necessary to establish the cause of blood loss with the help of tests and other medical examinations. Even during pregnancy, doctors monitor the condition of the girl, control the change in hemoglobin, the number of platelets and red blood cells in the blood. It is imperative to establish how well the blood of the woman in labor coagulates.

The fact that the uterus is weak, cannot contract on its own, cannot be known in advance, since the birth itself is mainly to blame for this. During the diagnostic studies, the organ is completely viewed, it is studied whether the placenta, the placenta has come out, whether the birth canal is injured.

Important!The reason why it bleeds long after childbirth is established with the help of ultrasound.

Fine

The question of how long it takes to bleed after childbirth has already been decided, usually no more than six weeks. The whole process is conditionally divided into stages, when the discharge is characterized by quantity, color and smell.

The first three days are the most abundant bleeding, while the blood can be saturated with scarlet. Do not panic, the uterus overgrows and recovers, the female body is cleansed.
For the next two weeks, there is no clear blood of a bright color, the discharge is more pink or brownish, the intensity decreases significantly every day. If such a stage is not skipped, then the restoration of the uterus occurs in the normal mode.

Important! If the birth was not natural, then the genital organ will heal even longer due to the large wound. Painless discharge that appears up to the sixth week is normal, there is no point in worrying.

Pathology

There can be much more pathological processes, all of them are associated with complications that occurred during childbirth or during pregnancy. What signs indicate that bleeding after childbirth is not a variant of the norm?

duration more than 1.5 months;
scanty pink or brown discharge suddenly change to intense scarlet discharge;
deterioration of well-being;
pain in the abdomen and back;
dizziness;
increased body temperature;
nausea and vomiting;
the discharge is distinguished by a putrid or rotten smell, as well as an unnatural yellow or greenish tint.

With a visit to the doctor, it is better not to hesitate, if the bleeding is life-threatening - do not hesitate, but call an ambulance.

If bleeding does not stop within a month after childbirth, then this may indicate various kinds of complications.

How to treat?

The treatment is prescribed mixed, that is, it is impossible to solve the problem with drugs alone, drug therapy combined with invasive. Even in the maternity hospital, doctors first empty the bladder so that the uterus can contract on its own, for this they put a catheter, ice is placed on the bottom of the tummy, and an external massage is done. Not always all these measures help to achieve the desired effect.

Sometimes a woman needs a blood transfusion, she may receive donor plasma or red blood cells. If the integrity of the placenta has been violated, then a procedure for manual cleaning and suturing of the wounds formed during childbirth is needed.

In the event that the uterus has severely ruptured, it can be removed so that the life of the woman is not in the balance. In this case, during the operation, blood or donor material is transfused, controlled arterial pressure.

There are times when a blood transfusion may be required to stabilize well-being.

Prevention measures

How to reduce the risk of bleeding after childbirth?

Empty your bladder and bowels regularly. If these organs are full, then they put a lot of pressure on the uterus and provoke problems.
Monitor intimate hygiene.
It is forbidden to swim in open natural reservoirs, a pool and even a bath if the birth was recent or the waters have broken, and the contractions have not yet begun.
Intimate relations with a spouse are prohibited.
Physical activity has a bad effect on the recovery of the uterus.
The reproductive organ contracts faster if you often lie on your stomach.
Breastfeeding increases the production of a hormone that is more responsible for the contraction, cleansing and repair of the uterus.
Overheating is prohibited. It is better to give up going to saunas and baths, and in hot weather stay in a cool room.

Summing up

Bleeding should not be confused with the return of periods, which return after two months if the baby is not fed. breast milk. On average, in a woman who has given birth, menstruation returns after six months, they go irregularly, the discharge is plentiful, and the onset of menstruation is accompanied by pain (but they are, on the contrary, almost painless, the return of menstruation after childbirth is an individual process).

Lochia after childbirth (bloody discharge, which indicates the process of cleaning the uterus) normally lasts a month, but not more than 6 weeks. This is a natural process, if their duration, quantity, color and smell correspond to the norm. But some signs may indicate complications in the woman's body (too abundant discharge, the wrong color, with bad smell etc.). If necessary, in case of deviations, it is better to immediately contact a female doctor. And in case of sudden severe bleeding, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Bleeding in the early postpartum period is a normal physiological process that should not frighten a woman. After the expulsion of the fetus and placenta, the uterus actively contracts, “pushing out” the remaining blood, clots, and everything that remains in its cavity after childbirth. A few days after the birth, the bleeding becomes less and is replaced spotting- lochia. They will disturb the woman for about 5-8 weeks, until the endometrium in the uterus is completely healed.

Lochia does not pose a danger to the female body, but it is necessary to constantly monitor their quantity and consistency so as not to miss the onset of true uterine bleeding.

Bleeding that occurs in the postpartum period is one of the most common causes of death in women. In order not to miss the time and seek medical help in time, it is important to know the signs by which pathological bleeding can be distinguished from normal discharge.

sign	Bloody postpartum discharge (lochia)	Uterine bleeding
How long does it take to fully fill a sanitary napkin?	2-4 hours	40-60 minutes
Discharge color	Dark red, brown	bright scarlet
The nature of the discharge	Normal, smearing	Copious, blood comes out in spurts
Painful sensations	Missing	Pain may appear in the lower abdomen, lateral sections of the lower back, coccyx and sacrum. The nature of the pain - pulling, may be replaced by stabbing sensations
Changes in well-being	Doesn't usually happen	Dizziness appears, loss of consciousness is possible
Nausea and vomiting	Mild nausea is possible, but it is noted in rare cases(usually with errors in the diet)	Nausea is severe, vomiting may occur. Vomit with a normal odor, without the admixture of bile acids

Important! The appearance of any of the signs (the main of which is the need to change hygiene products every hour), indicating the possibility of bleeding, it is necessary to call an ambulance. Before her arrival, the woman must be laid on the bed, slightly raising her legs. This position will help to avoid large blood loss.

Lochia usually appears in a woman 2-3 days after childbirth. Up to this point, bleeding is considered normal, but even here it is necessary to monitor the amount of blood released. If, even during the period of stay in the maternity hospital, the mother has to change sanitary pads every 45-60 minutes, the midwife or nurse on duty should be informed about this.

Bloody discharge after the birth of a child can normally last up to 8 weeks. In young women, the recovery process is faster, so for them this period is usually reduced to 5-6 weeks. A large role in this is played by the nutrition of a woman in the postpartum period. In order for the endometrium to heal faster, you need to include the following foods in your diet:

cold-pressed vegetable oils (premium class);
nuts (Brazilian, walnut, hazelnuts);
dried fruits (dried apricots, figs);
greens (any kind of greens and leafy salads);
fatty fish;
meat (veal, beef, lean pork and lamb);
fruits and vegetables.

After the expulsion of the placenta, an open wound is formed at the site of its attachment to the uterine wall, which bleeds until it is completely healed. In order for the damaged endometrium to drag on faster, a woman needs to observe a calm regimen, not to lift heavy things and objects that exceed the weight of the baby, to include more foods containing vitamins E, A and ascorbic acid in the menu. Of the drinks, a decoction of wild rose and raspberry leaves is especially useful. Extracts contained in raspberry leaves stimulate uterine contractions and help to cope with postpartum bleeding faster.

Bleeding worsened one month after delivery

Any change in the amount of discharge a few weeks after birth is an alarming sign that may indicate the development of serious diseases. If the amount of blood released has increased dramatically, you need to contact a gynecologist. The doctor will examine, feel the uterus, determine if it is painful, and make a conclusion about the need for a hospital examination.

Some mothers refuse the proposed hospitalization because they do not want to part with the baby. In no case should you do this, especially if a woman plans to have another child in the future. The most common pathology that occurs in women who have recently given birth is inflammation of the lining of the uterus (endometritis). This serious illness, which can lead to infection of the organ and the onset of a purulent-inflammatory process. If bacterial organisms and toxins enter the systemic circulation, the likelihood of sepsis (blood poisoning) will be very high. In the absence of timely assistance and improper treatment death is possible.

Note! Every year, about 11,000 women worldwide die from massive blood loss after childbirth. According to experts, more than half of them could have been saved if they had gone to the hospital in time.

When should you see a doctor?

The postpartum period is a dangerous time when the likelihood of complications increases several times. The body of a woman is weakened by pregnancy and childbirth, therefore, she cannot cope with the loads that become much greater after the appearance of a baby in the house. If possible, during this period it is better to use the help of a grandmother, sister or friend who could take on some of the responsibilities for caring for the baby. If a woman has to cope with everything on her own, you need to be attentive to your own body. It is necessary to contact the observing gynecologist in the following cases:

discharge acquired a bright scarlet color;
bleeding increased 2-4 weeks after birth;
there was pain in the abdomen or lower back;
allocation acquired bad smell;
clots began to stand out from the uterus;
temperature began to rise regularly.

Advice! In women who are breastfeeding, measuring the temperature in the armpit is not very informative, especially in the first days after the birth of a child. If lactation has not yet been established, an increase in temperature is possible due to small lactostasis, therefore, women in childbirth are advised to measure body temperature at the elbow.

Can the bleeding stop after a few days?

In some cases, a woman may notice that 4-7 days after giving birth, the discharge has completely stopped. This happens abruptly and is often accompanied by a deterioration in well-being. If such a situation has arisen, it is necessary to urgently go to the hospital, since the only reason for this phenomenon is a hematometer (accumulation of blood in the uterus).

Blood can accumulate due to insufficient uterine contraction, so a woman is advised to take all measures to prevent such a condition. The nurse will tell you about this in detail after the woman is transferred to the postpartum ward. In order for the uterus to contract well, as well as to relieve swelling, young mothers need to:

lie and sleep on your stomach more often;
get out of bed more often and walk around the ward or along the corridor;
put cold on the lower abdomen (heaters or bottles of ice can be taken from the compartment refrigerator).

If it was still not possible to avoid the formation of hematometers, it is important to go to the hospital in time, since stagnation of blood in the uterus can lead to the spread of infection and inflammation in the organ cavity. The main symptoms of the pathology are the cessation of discharge and severe pulling pain in the lower abdomen. When these symptoms appear, a woman needs to call an ambulance.

The doctor in the department will conduct an ultrasound diagnosis, determine the exact diagnosis and, if confirmed, prescribe treatment. It is possible to stimulate uterine contractions with the help of the hormone oxytocin, but most specialists prefer more effective method- Surgical curettage or vacuum aspiration. Both procedures are quite traumatic, but their use is necessary to prevent dangerous complications.

Video - Postpartum period. Recovery. Uzi. Nutrition. Hygiene

Can bleeding be menstruation?

If the discharge stopped 1-1.5 months after the birth, and after a couple of weeks it started again, this may be early menstruation. If a woman is not worried about nausea and dizziness, the temperature is normal, and the discharge is moderate, you should not worry. It is necessary to observe the situation within 3-5 days. Menstrual blood has a darker shade and a peculiar smell, so it is quite easy to distinguish between menstruation and bleeding.

Important! Some women think that lactation is 100% effective method protection from unwanted pregnancy, and it is believed that menstruation during breastfeeding cannot be. In 85% of cases, this is true, but sometimes a woman's menstruation begins as early as 2 months after the birth of a child. In the same period, the ability to conceive is restored, so you need to take care of contraception if in the near future the children are not included in the plans of the newly-made mother.

True uterine bleeding after childbirth is a rare complication, so do not panic if the discharge has suddenly increased somewhat. This may be the result of increased physical activity or lifting weights, so you need to calm down and adjust the mode of work and rest. But if too much blood is released, and the woman's condition worsens, medical assistance is needed as soon as possible.

After the birth of a child, for several weeks, lochia is released from the genital tract of a woman. Their number gradually decreases, which indicates the healing of wounds after separation of the placenta. Many women are interested in the question: how long does bleeding last after a normal birth?

This is a very important factor, since it can be used to determine the degree of recovery of the body and deviations from the norm. Over time, lochia changes its composition and color. First, the woman is in the hospital, but then discharged home.

If at first the medical staff monitors her condition, then in the future she must do it on her own. The amount and nature of the discharge indicates the state of health, so you need to notice deviations from the norm in time.

How much blood goes after childbirth?

For 2 hours, the woman and the newborn are in the maternity unit. At this time, normal discharge is quite abundant and bloody, but their total amount should not exceed 400 ml. To prevent complications in the form of bleeding, they can remove urine through a catheter, put ice on the stomach, and intravenously inject drugs to accelerate uterine contraction.

These few hours are the most dangerous, because the muscles of the uterus are relaxed and contractions may not occur, and the blood loss that has begun does not show itself except for dizziness and weakness. So when these symptoms appear and the sheets / diapers get wet quickly, you need to urgently call a nurse.

Complications can also occur when the tissues of the birth canal are torn, so the obstetrician carefully examines the vagina and cervix, and if their integrity is violated, take the necessary measures, that is, suturing the wounds. If the gap is not completely sutured, a hematoma may form, which is then opened and re-sutured.

how long does bleeding last after childbirth?

The recovery process is successful if in the first 2-3 days the lochia is of a bloody nature and is quite plentiful (up to 300 ml in 3 days). At this time, the gasket should fill completely in just 1-2 hours.

Lochia may have blood clots after childbirth, a rotten smell, similar to menstruation. Gradually, their number decreases, and they acquire a brown-red hue, intensify with movement. They also appear on palpation of the abdomen.

To prevent bleeding, you must adhere to certain rules:

Go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to urinate. On the first day, you need to visit the restroom at least every 3 hours. A crowded urea hinders the contraction process;
Attach the baby to the chest at his first request. The fact is that when the nipples are irritated, oxytocin is released - the hormone responsible for contractions. The blood leaving after childbirth, during breastfeeding, may intensify and be accompanied by cramping pains in the lower abdomen;
Sleep and rest lying on your stomach. This posture promotes the release of blood clots. The uterus may tilt backwards, but the prone position will bring it closer to the abdominal wall. Thus, the outflow will improve;
Several times a day, put ice on the stomach, which will improve the condition of blood vessels and speed up contractions.

With overstretching of the uterus and complicated childbirth, oxytocin injections are prescribed to stimulate contractions.

It is worth noting that an increase in the amount of discharge should be a reason to see a doctor, because it may indicate late bleeding. Such a phenomenon can overtake not only in the first days, but also a few weeks after childbirth. So even at home you need to pay attention to how much fluid is released.

Late bleeding is usually caused by a stuck part of the placenta. Sometimes it is not diagnosed immediately after childbirth, then it leads to complications that can be detected during a vaginal examination or ultrasound. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the remains are removed under general anesthesia. Simultaneously carry out infusion and antibiotic therapy.

Sometimes this phenomenon occurs when there is a violation of blood clotting, which can be caused by various diseases. Stopping that kind of blood loss is the hardest thing to do.

Most often, complications arise due to insufficient contraction of the muscles of the uterus. Bleeding after childbirth in this case is also painless, but very plentiful. To stop it, reducers are introduced, and also replenish the loss of blood. intravenous administration fluids or blood products. If necessary, resort to surgical intervention.

Early cessation of lochia is also a reason to visit a doctor. Perhaps there is a lochiometer - an accumulation of secretions in the uterine cavity. This pathology occurs when the organ is overstretched or posteriorly bent.

If this condition is not eliminated in time, endometritis will appear - inflammation of the uterine mucosa, because lochia is a good breeding ground for microbes. Treatment mainly consists of taking Oxytocin and No-shpa.

Blood after childbirth at home

So how much bleeding after childbirth? Average time is 6-8 weeks. It is this period that the uterus needs for reverse development after pregnancy and delivery. The total amount of lochia ranges from 500 to 1500 ml.

In the first week, they can be compared with normal menstruation, only more abundant and with clots. With each following day, their volume will decrease, and the color will approach yellowish-white. By the end of 4 weeks, they are very scarce, one might say spotting, and after another 14 days they should become the same as before pregnancy.

For those who are breastfeeding, they end earlier, as the uterus contracts much faster. But in women who have had a caesarean section, recovery is slower because the suture interferes with the normal reverse process, and blood flows longer than usual.

What to do with bleeding after childbirth?

It is important to observe special rules of personal hygiene during the postpartum period. Lochia contains microbial flora, which, under favorable conditions, can contribute to the development of the inflammatory process. That is why it is necessary that the discharge does not linger in the uterus and leaves it.

For your own comfort, use pads or special disposable panties. Change them every 3 hours. It is recommended to give preference to the soft surface of these products, because this way you can better determine the nature of the discharge. You should not take flavored ones, they often cause allergic reactions. Also, don't use tampons.
You need to wash yourself after every trip to the toilet. No baths, only showers. The genitals are washed only from the outside, in the direction from front to back. At this time, douching is not used so as not to infect the infection.
It bleeds more strongly with significant physical exertion, so it is not recommended to lift too heavy things.

It is necessary to seek medical help in such situations:

Lochia acquired a purulent character, a sharp and unpleasant odor. These phenomena indicate endometritis. It is usually accompanied by fever and pain in the lower abdomen;
Blood discharge increased after it began to decrease, or their volume is constantly large. These conditions may indicate that there is still an afterbirth in the uterus, which prevents the contraction of the organ and its restoration;
Curdled discharge from the vagina is a sign of yeast colpitis, which is popularly called thrush. Usually this disease is characterized by itching in the vagina and labia. Sometimes there is redness skin in the groin Significantly increases the risk of developing thrush when taking antibiotics;
The blood stopped abruptly. This happens when the cervix is blocked by a blood clot. This condition requires medical intervention. It is worth noting that the risk increases after surgery. caesarean section;
If you have to change several pads in an hour, then this indicates severe bleeding. In this situation, you need to call emergency help.

The above complications do not go away on their own. Sometimes hospital treatment is required. Therefore, it is very important to seek help from specialists in time.

Stages

Recovery

Every fifth birth in Russia, according to statistics, is carried out by caesarean section. Therefore, the issues of recovery after such an operation for women are important.

In this article, we will talk about how long bleeding lasts after surgery and what a woman needs to do to prevent complications.

Causes and characteristics of discharge

Postpartum discharge indicates the reverse development of the female reproductive organ. The uterus has grown 500 times during the period of bearing a child, the vessels of the placenta are firmly connected with its own blood vessels. This allowed the baby to receive the necessary nutrition and oxygen during fetal development.

During surgical intervention, the woman's uterus is injured more than during natural physiological childbirth. First of all, we are talking about the incision of the tissues of the uterus itself, through which the surgeon gains access to the baby. The suturing of the uterine incision is another factor for enhancing discharge after a caesarean section.

The doctor separates the placenta manually after the baby is removed. In this case, the vessels connecting the "children's place" with the uterus are injured, which is the reason for the subsequent bleeding.

The enlarged uterus, when the need for such dimensions disappears, begins to shrink, and in a relatively short time it will have to take on almost the same dimensions. This process also proceeds with an increase in secretions, which doctors call lochia.

Discharge for the doctor is a sign of reverse involution of the uterus. According to them, an experienced doctor will be able to determine with great accuracy how this process proceeds, how well the recovery after the operation is going.

In the first three days, blood usually predominates in the lochia, which comes from the damaged vessels of the placenta and the wound surface in the incision area. At laboratory research a large number of erythrocytes in the discharge is determined. Blood clots in the secretions during this period are also completely normal.

By the fifth day, lochia begin to contain serous serum, ichor. If you examine it under a microscope, it will be found that the discharge contains a huge amount of leukocytes, and dead cells of the uterine epithelium can also be observed in them. By the end of the first week after natural childbirth, cervical mucus appears in the secretions. After a caesarean section, during the same period, particles of surgical sutures may be found in the lochia, which are used to suture the cut wall of the uterus. These threads are self-absorbable, but their tips, which did not enter directly into the uterine tissue, are separated as the rest of the threads are absorbed and leave the uterine cavity in the traditional way - through the vagina.

Compared with natural childbirth, it bleeds in the first days after surgical delivery is much stronger. You should not be afraid of this, because the area of \u200b\u200bdamage to the uterus after surgery is much larger.

Total blood loss depends on many factors - the presence or absence of complications, the weight and height of the woman.

After natural childbirth, according to BME (Big Medical Encyclopedia), a woman loses up to one and a half kilograms due to the discharge of lochia and contraction of the uterus. After caesarean, this number may be higher.

Recovery time

After the operation, you can get out of bed after 12 hours, but this should be done gradually. Excessive zeal and careless handling of the seams can lead to a divergence of the latter.

During the first three days, the postpartum lining (sterile, maternity) is recommended to be changed every 3 hours. This is important not only from the point of view of hygienic necessity. Since the area of damage to the uterus after surgery is larger, the risk of infection is also higher.

By the time she is discharged on the fifth day, the woman no longer has scarlet blood discharge, there are erythrocytes and mucus in the lochia. The period of discharge lasts quite a long time - on average up to 8 weeks. This is how long it takes for the uterus to contract (after surgical intervention it contracts more slowly), as well as for healing and scarring of the incision area on the uterus.

During the first days, reducing drugs are administered to the woman to avoid complications. Oxytocin accelerates uterine contractions, and after an injection for 10-15 minutes, a woman may notice that the discharge has become stronger.

In addition to lochia control, medical workers be sure to monitor the body temperature of the puerperal, since it is her sharp increase at times that is the first signal of inflammation, infection. During the bypass, the doctor palpates the uterine area through the anterior abdominal wall, and before discharge, it is mandatory to conduct a control ultrasound examination, which should confirm that the uterine cavity is clean and the contraction occurs normally.

A small amount of blood in the urine in the absence of complaints of pain during urination during the first five days after surgery is allowed.

Norm and pathology

After discharge, the woman controls the discharge herself. Taking care of a child, of course, will take a lot of time, but you should not forget about your own health.

Normal discharge is moderate, homogeneous after 2 weeks of staying at home. With normal involution of the uterus, after about a month and a half, the discharge becomes mucous, yellowish, and then colorless. The mucus changes to normal vaginal secretion after a 2 month recovery period.

Pathological discharge must be a reason to visit a doctor. These include the following situations:

profuse bleeding, which began suddenly after discharge from the maternity hospital, after the stage of serous lochia;
increased bleeding or blood "daub" against the background high temperature body;
earlier cessation of discharge (after 4-5 weeks);
prolonged discharge (after 9-10 weeks from the date of surgery);
heterogeneity of secretions, clots, "curdling" after discharge from the hospital;
any abdominal pain in combination with spotting.

A woman in the postoperative recovery period special attention should be paid to the color of the prominent lochia. If the discharge has become bright pink or orange, trauma to the internal tissues formed in the dissection zone is not excluded. This can happen if a couple begins to live sexually too early, contrary to prohibitions and restrictions, if a woman lifts weights.

If the discharge has become green, gray, brownish, has an unpleasant odor, additional signs have appeared in the form of itching of the genital organs, it is necessary to be examined for infectious lesions. Yellow-green discharge may be a sign of inflammation of the endometrium. Liquid watery discharge in the recovery period is also an alarming sign that indicates a complication of the recovery process. In any of these cases, a woman should definitely visit a gynecologist to find the true cause of the problem and start treatment.

How to behave - a reminder

Discharge after a caesarean section is an inevitability that you will have to come to terms with.

Don't lift weights

For a woman who has undergone a serious abdominal operation (and a caesarean is just such an intervention), the concept of a serious one must change radically.

The first days after the operation, it is not recommended to lift even a child if he weighs more than 3.5 kilograms. Up to six months in the process of recovery, a woman should not strain the anterior abdominal wall, carry bags with groceries, or lower the stroller with the child down the stairs on her own. The weight allowed for lifting is no more than 4-5 kilograms.

Limit your intimate life

Until the moment when the lochia is completely over, sex is contraindicated. Such a ban is associated, first of all, with the likelihood of infection. Even opportunistic microorganisms that can get into a woman's genital tract in the early recovery period can cause serious consequences for her health. Mechanical damage to the area of the incision on the uterus may also occur, since during orgasm and sexual arousal, blood flow to the organ increases.

If this prohibition is not observed, the scar on the uterus may form insolvent, which will become a serious obstacle to carrying a subsequent pregnancy.

Bleeding after childbirth is a normal process in which the uterine cavity naturally gets rid of lochia and remnants of placental tissue. The very nature of bleeding, its pain, severity and duration (duration) are always different, and can vary greatly in different women. How much bleeding after childbirth? This question is of great concern to all young mothers, especially those giving birth for the first time.

All women know that without bleeding, childbirth is hardly possible. Everyone is concerned about the question: how much blood should flow, how long will blood flow after childbirth?

Blood can flow for several reasons.

Poor blood clotting. This parameter is always individual in nature, and it often happens that blood flows from the female genital organs in liquid small streams, and at the same time no signs of the beginning of the clotting process are visible. Such a situation can be foreseen if a woman passes the appropriate tests before giving birth.
Rapid (rapid) childbirth, due to which serious injuries of the birth canal were formed.
An increase in tissue of the placenta and membranes that interferes with the normal contraction of the uterus. This also causes bleeding.
The inability of the reproductive organs to contract due to excessive stretching of the tissues caused by the large size of the fetus (either multiple pregnancy or polyhydramnios).
Some individual gynecological problems are fibroids, fibroids, long uterine recovery, problems with myometrial contraction.

How long does it take to bleed after childbirth? It's always different.

How long can blood flow?

How long does bleeding last after childbirth? It depends on several factors:

How was the pregnancy?
when did the discharge start?
how did the birth go - naturally, or did you have to resort to stimulation;
how natural are uterine contractions;
Are there any postpartum complications?
what is the general individual health status of the woman;
what are the features of lactation (breastfeeding at the request of the child reduces the number of lochia, stimulates the contractile activity of the uterus);
whether there is an accreta of the placenta.

Each of these reasons, to one degree or another, affects how long postpartum bleeding will go (continue).

Rules for personal hygiene after childbirth

How much blood will flow after childbirth depends largely on the woman's implementation of a number of recommendations. To stop bleeding as quickly as possible and avoid possible complications, you need to follow a few rules.

Go to the toilet regularly to eliminate the pressure of a full bowel and Bladder on the uterus. The uterus should contract normally.
Carefully maintain cleanliness and hygiene to prevent infection.
Exclude any physical activity and sexual relations for at least one and a half months after childbirth.
During sleep, try to lie on your stomach.
Establish a breastfeeding schedule as much as possible.

How long blood flows after childbirth is always an individual matter. Therefore, an even longer list of recommendations can be added to the general standard requirements for each woman, the correct implementation of which depends not only on success postpartum care body of a woman, but also the effectiveness of preparation for the next pregnancy.

Prevention and diagnostic procedures

Modern medicine makes it possible to assess the risks of postpartum hemorrhage in time. A woman should be examined during pregnancy for the level of hemoglobin, the number of erythrocytes and platelets in the blood serum. It is necessary to determine the time of bleeding and blood clotting. Then it will be possible to guess how many days the bleeding lasts after childbirth, how much blood can come out after childbirth. This procedure is required.

Norm and pathology

Normally, postpartum discharge from the uterus () lasts no more than 1.5 months. The woman does not experience much inconvenience from them. During the first 20 hours, blood can flow most intensively, and there is nothing to worry about. After a few days, the amount and intensity of discharge will begin to gradually decrease. If pregnancy and childbirth went well, and if after childbirth a normal lactation regime was quickly established, then the mucous layer of the uterus will heal quickly.

more than three days there is blood of a dark red color;
discharge acquired an unpleasant odor;
the postpartum hemorrhage does not just continue in the puerperal, but blood loss increases, it becomes necessary to change hygiene products every hour;
the number of injuries (ruptures) after childbirth does not decrease;
the woman is very weak, her temperature is not normal, even loss of consciousness is possible;
bleeding does not stop after 6 weeks.

normal bleeding

Postpartum hemorrhage is usually divided into several stages. The main differences are in the color and intensity of the discharge. On the very first day after childbirth, blood flows profusely, there is much more discharge than during menstruation, they have a bright scarlet color. On the first day after birth, it bleeds from the vessels that fastened the placenta to the wall of the uterus. This is precisely the reason why the blood flows profusely at first. How much blood can flow the first time after childbirth? In a normal physiological state - no more than 4 days.

Pathology

To avoid complications after childbirth, it is necessary to be able to distinguish pathology from the norm.

bleeds unevenly after childbirth - bright scarlet blood suddenly replaces insignificant secretions;
2 weeks after childbirth, not only bleeding persists, but also pain;
bleeding and a month after birth bright red.

When is medical assistance required?

When should you seek medical help? No matter how much blood flows after childbirth, if the discharge becomes more frequent, more abundant and more red, then immediate medical attention is needed. First of all, go to the gynecologist. Especially if the bleeding has not passed and does not pass for more than 4 days.