How long does it take to stop bleeding after cesarean section?

Caesarean section is a very common method of delivery. When the conditions for a natural birth are not met, a caesarean section is required. After a caesarean section, mothers often experience foul smelling stool. As long as there is no abnormal color, foul smelling stool is a normal phenomenon and will continue for a period of time. So, how long does it take to stop the bad discharge after a caesarean section? Let’s take a look below.

Causes of lochia secretion

1. When a mother has a caesarean section, the placenta will be completely removed, resulting in less residual tissue. Therefore, the lochia discharged by mothers who have a caesarean section will be less than that of mothers who have a natural birth. But at the same time, because the mother's uterus is not fully opened during the caesarean section, the discharge of lochia will take longer and be less frequent.

2. Some mothers experience lochia that lasts for a long time after delivery, and their body recovers relatively slowly. It may be caused by anemia, which reminds mothers to supplement blood during pregnancy and eat more iron-containing foods to prevent anemia.

How long does lochia discharge last?

The situation faced by each mother is different, and lochia is divided into many types. After a new mother has a caesarean section, the normal duration of lochia discharge is 4-6 weeks, of which bloody lochia lasts for 3-7 days, serous lochia for 2 weeks, and white lochia lasts for 2-3 weeks and stops. It should usually not exceed 4 weeks. If the lochia is not discharged within 4 weeks, don't be too anxious, because a few women still have a little brown lochia one month after delivery. The ovaries after postpartum recovery will produce hormones that will cause the endometrial hyperplasia to peel off, which can easily cause menstruation and lochia to be mixed together.

How to deal with lochia

Mothers can use sterilized cotton to deal with lochia. After boiling and disinfecting, soak it in 2% boric acid water or Lysol solution, or soak it in 1000 times diluted disinfectant soap solution and put in absorbent cotton, generally 5 cm in size. Boil it for 5 minutes to disinfect more at one time. Put it in a covered container and take it out directly when you use it next time.

Mothers, please note that the cotton wool should be replaced after urination or defecation, and must be done after washing hands to ensure hygiene. Note that if you wipe feces and urine from the anus toward the vulva, it is very likely to cause infection, because this will bring bacteria from the anus into the wound on the vulva left after delivery. The correct way is to wipe from the vulva toward the anus. Also, do not use the same piece of sterilized cotton twice to save money. After sterilization, immediately put a new cloth towel or absorbent cotton on it, then put on the menstrual belt or thong. When putting absorbent cotton on it, put gauze on it, otherwise the cotton wool will stick to the vulva. The perfect combination of 1+1 internal and external conditioning after childbirth to remove lochia.