What is the reason why lochia becomes lighter and turns red again?

Postpartum lochia is not unfamiliar to mothers, because all women will have lochia to discharge after childbirth, just like the garbage and waste in the body need to be discharged. However, there may be some troubles when expelling lochia, such as changes in the amount or color of lochia. So the question is, what is the reason why the lochia becomes lighter and then turns red?

Generally, it is normal for bleeding to last about 20 days. It is related to your poor uterine contraction. It is recommended that you drink more brown sugar water and motherwort granules to promote the discharge of lochia and shorten the bleeding time. If there is still bleeding one month after delivery, you should consider the possibility of residual fetal membrane. It is recommended to recheck the B-ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis

Confusing symptoms of bloody lochia

Prolonged duration of bloody lochia: The most prominent clinical manifestation of incomplete uterine involution is the prolonged duration of bloody lochia, which may extend from the normal 3 days to 7-10 days or even longer. If the cause of the disease is retained placenta, the bloody lochia will last for a long time and the amount of blood will increase significantly. At this time, the lochia is often turbid or accompanied by a foul odor.

Postpartum lochia: After delivery, the uterine decidua, especially the decidua at the placental attachment, falls off, and the tissue containing blood, necrotic decidua and other tissues are discharged through the vagina, which is called lochia. If the lochia continues to flow for more than three weeks after delivery, it is called persistent lochia. Postpartum lochia that does not stop is caused by the strain on the meridians during delivery, which leads to abnormal circulation of qi and blood, resulting in vaginal bleeding more than 3 weeks after delivery. It is equivalent to poor uterine involution, mild uterine infection, and residual placenta and fetal membranes. Under normal circumstances, the lochia will clear about 3 weeks after delivery. If the lochia is still not clear after 3 weeks, it is a pathological phenomenon. The amount may be more or less, the color may be light red, dark red or dark purple, or there may be blood clots, or there may be a bad smell or no smell; the parturient often has waist pain, distension and pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes fever, headache, joint pain, etc. Gynecological examination may reveal poor uterine involution.

White lochia: sticky and white in color. Contains a large number of white blood cells, necrotic tissue decidua, epidermal cells and bacteria. The white lochia lasted for 3 weeks.

Postpartum lochia is unclean and has a foul odor: Late postpartum hemorrhage is often manifested as unclean and smelly lochia. Repeated or sudden heavy vaginal bleeding can lead to anemia, shock and even life-threatening. Late postpartum hemorrhage refers to heavy uterine bleeding that occurs within the postpartum period 24 hours after delivery, with the amount of bleeding exceeding 500 ml. The most common onset is 1 to 2 weeks after delivery, but it can also occur as late as 6 weeks after delivery. Also known as puerperal hemorrhage. The incidence of late postpartum hemorrhage is closely related to the quality of prenatal care and obstetrics in various regions. There is a history of lower abdominal pain, low-grade fever or postpartum low-grade fever.