Why does lochia come back again and again?

Whether it is a natural miscarriage or an induced abortion, just like normal delivery, lochia will occur after delivery. Generally, women's lochia will last for about a week, and no longer than two weeks. The color of lochia will gradually fade over time. It will start out as bloody lochia, then slowly turn into serous lochia, and then turn white. If it recurs, it is likely that there is a postpartum gynecological problem. It is best to go to the hospital for examination to avoid delaying treatment.

Lochia changes in three stages

The discharge of lochia goes through three stages in total, and lochia in different stages has different characteristics.

1. Bloody lochia: This is the secretion discharged within the 1st to 4th day after delivery. It is large in amount and bright red in color. It contains blood, decidual tissue and mucus. It is similar to menstruation, or slightly more than menstruation, and sometimes contains blood clots.

2. Serous lochia: This is discharged 4 to 6 days after delivery. It is light red in color and contains a small amount of blood, mucus, more vaginal secretions, and bacteria.

3. White lochia: This is the white or yellowish lochia discharged one week after delivery. It contains a large number of white blood cells, decidual cells and bacteria. It looks like leucorrhea, but there is more than usual.

Different delivery methods will result in different lochia

If mothers observe the color and amount of lochia after delivery, they will find that mothers who deliver by cesarean section will have very little lochia, which may only last for 7-10 days, while mothers who deliver naturally may last for 2-4 weeks.

Generally speaking, the color and amount of lochia will be similar to the pattern of menstruation. The color should gradually change from red to white, and the amount should gradually decrease. If the lochia remains red for many days and the amount is large, or if the original color has faded but suddenly becomes bright red again, it should be suspected that it is caused by poor uterine contraction. See a doctor immediately, otherwise it may cause anemia. Therefore, it is very important to observe the color and amount of lochia after delivery.

If lochia does not stop, beware of poor uterine recovery

New mothers can keep track of the recovery of their uterus by observing the changes in the amount, color and smell of lochia every day. Medically speaking, lochia retention refers to the failure of lochia to clear 6 weeks after delivery or is accompanied by irregular uterine bleeding.

This situation has little to do with natural birth or cesarean section, but is related to the quality of the mother's postpartum recovery and whether she breastfeeds. Prolonged postpartum lochia can lead to local and systemic infection, and in severe cases, sepsis may occur.

How to identify abnormal lochia?

1. Be alert to increased bleeding in two situations

If the amount of bleeding increases just after delivery, it may be caused by poor uterine contraction, birth canal laceration, placental retention and abnormal coagulation function. This situation is "postpartum hemorrhage" rather than lochia. This often happens in hospitals, and the situation can be averted with timely treatment from medical staff on site.

Another situation is that the amount of bleeding suddenly increases 2-3 weeks after delivery, or even heavy bleeding occurs. This may be due to poor uterine involution at the placental attachment site, residual placental membranes or decidua, or infection of the uterine incision.

2. Be aware of the amount of lochia that varies from time to time

Abnormal lochia is generally dark purple in color, such as uterine prolapse or flesh color, with a foul odor. It may be accompanied by fever, abdominal pain, uterine tenderness, and may last too long and recur repeatedly. The causes of this situation are generally due to cervical erosion, cervical polyps, or even cervical cancer.

If the lochia duration is simply prolonged, exceeding the normal time, and the amount is small, without an increase in amount or change in color, and without odor, it is also abnormal. The cause of this situation may be poor uterine involution, poor maternal physical condition, qi deficiency, and endocrine disorders.

How to better expel lochia?

1. Do proper exercise. It is wrong to stay still after childbirth. You should do proper exercise, which is beneficial to the recovery of the uterus and the discharge of lochia, prevent rectus abdominis fissure and prolapse of sexual organs, accelerate blood circulation throughout the body, and prevent postpartum congestion and thrombosis.

2. Lying on the side can help discharge postpartum lochia. It is best for new mothers to sleep on their side to prevent the uterus from tipping backwards, which is not conducive to the discharge of lochia.

3. If there are blood clots or a large amount of blood in the lochia, or if there is an odor or the discharge time exceeds 3 weeks, it indicates that the uterus is not recovering well and there may be an infection. You should see a doctor as soon as possible; if the lochia is abnormal, seek medical attention in time; if the lochia is not discharged smoothly, you need to take some Shenghua Tang under the guidance of a doctor.