Many mothers-to-be think about caesarean section. They believe that this procedure is their lifeline, rather than ordinary childbirth. Any doctor will recommend a natural process in the absence of contraindications, because after the operation it will take a long period to restore strength and he alth. Any woman must know the most important aspect of such a procedure - this is how much discharge goes after a cesarean section. What should they be and what is the optimal amount?
Features of lochia after surgery
Rehabilitation of the uterus occurs in the same way as after natural childbirth. It decreases, the vessels heal and the remains of the fetal bladder with the placenta are removed. They are discharge after a caesarean section, or they are also called lochia. As time goes by untilthe uterus is restored, they change their appearance. How successful this process is is judged by the duration of the discharge.
The features of the recovery period after surgery include:
- The extra time needed for the stitch to heal.
- Discharge after caesarean section stops later than after natural childbirth. The thing is that the uterus contracts much more slowly. A woman in labor can get up from a hospital bed only on the second day, due to surgery and anesthesia. At this time, lochia stagnates.
- Increased risk of complications. These include genital infection or bleeding.
Normal amount of lochia after surgery
It is important to know and understand how successful recovery is. To do this, you should be very careful about some indicators:
- What kind of discharge after caesarean section.
- What is their consistency and color.
- What is the volume and smell of discharge.
- How long is the discharge after a caesarean section.
After such an operation, the vessels secrete blood for about 14 more days. The color can be scarlet or bright red. The volume varies and depends on what the tissue damage was during the operation. It is also affected by the patient's blood clotting and complications during the period of bearing the baby. Over time, the discharge after a caesarean section weakens and turns into leucorrhoea.
The nature of the discharge during the recovery period
In the absence of complications, the nature of the discharge is as follows:
- After seven days after the operation - blood mixed with clots and mucus. The total volume is about 0.5 liters. Walking, exertion, feeding can increase the discharge.
- Four weeks after the operation, the volume of discharge becomes significantly less. They take on a brownish color and a slight musty smell.
- After two months, the discharge should be the same as before pregnancy.
The norm is discharge without an unpleasant odor.
Duration of uterine body recovery
After a caesarean section, there is approximately 8 weeks of discharge, which is 2 weeks longer than after a normal birth. Any deviations speak about the individual characteristics of the woman's body.
Therefore, how long the discharge after a caesarean section lasts also depends on them.
If the lochia ends after four to five weeks, this indicates that adhesions have formed in the body of the uterus or its bend has occurred. In the future, an infection may develop and get into other organs through the bloodstream.
If lochia after surgery has not stopped after two months, this is a reason to seek help from a specialist. The inflammatory process can go very far. In this case, not only women's he alth, but also life is at stake.
Discharge pathology
Deviations from the norm are considered bright discharge with an admixture of pus or unpleasantscent.
- Discharges mixed with pus. Indicate inflammation of the mucous membrane of the body of the uterus. The color range ranges from yellow to green, there is an unpleasant, rotten smell. May join high fever and severe pain in the abdomen.
- Wateriness. Talks about vaginal dysbacteriosis. The discharge may turn gray, and even those around you will feel an unpleasant odor. He looks like a spoiled fish.
- White discharge with a sour smell, more like cottage cheese. A similar sign indicates infection with thrush.
- Yellow lochia with a disgusting smell. If such discharge appeared four weeks after the operation, it is urgent to seek help from a specialist. This is inflammation that can only be treated with antibiotic therapy.
Yellow discharge does not always indicate pathology. In the absence of smell and pain, such lochia is considered normal.
Bleeding after surgery
Sometimes, the discharge may stop on the seventh day after the operation, but then resume again. This may indicate the following:
- Menstruation has begun (for non-nursing women).
- Poor uterine contraction resulting in interruption of discharge. The doctor must prescribe special drugs to stabilize the condition.
- There was a late uterine bleeding. This situation indicates poor healing of the surface layer of the uterus or poor-quality removal of the placenta during surgery.
You can only find out what caused the bleeding in the hospital. Tests will be required, as well as an ultrasound examination of the uterus. A woman should immediately consult a doctor in order to eliminate the cause of blood loss in a short time, otherwise the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia is not excluded. Such a condition threatens not only the he alth, but also the life of the patient.
Self-treatment is categorically excluded. With severe bleeding, you need to call emergency care. Before the arrival of specialists, a woman should lie with ice on her stomach.
When to see a doctor
The reason for the excitement should be lochia, which does not weaken after eight days after the operation. Specialized assistance is also needed, if a month has passed after a cesarean section, the discharge has disappeared dramatically. This indicates stagnation and early closure of the cervix. Antispasmodic therapy will be required.
Special attention should be paid to discharges that do not stop going after two months or increase. Usually they acquire a disgusting smell and a greenish-yellow hue. At this time, the woman does not feel well. Her blood pressure goes down, hemoglobin goes down. In some cases, the body temperature rises greatly and unbearable pain occurs in the entire abdominal cavity.
All this signals about complications with which you should definitely see your doctor. It is better if such a consultation is carried out before the operation, because only a doctor can know how much and whatdischarge after a caesarean section is considered normal.
How to avoid complications after surgery
To speed up the removal of lochia in the postoperative period, a woman should lie on her stomach more often. So the uterus will change its position and contract better. You also need to go to the toilet more often. This will provide more space for the uterus.
Belly massage will not be superfluous. It should be done with careful and gentle movements. You also need to apply a cold compress just below the navel once a day. The procedure should not last more than five minutes. This time is enough to get rid of inflammation of the internal tissues and reduce bleeding.
The most important thing is hygiene. After a week, you can wash in a warm shower, as the seam will heal, but you should not rub yourself with a washcloth. After the procedure, the bath should be forgotten for a couple of months.
After two days after the operation, the woman can rise from the hospital bed. This prevents stagnation of lochia. But you should not overload your body. Lifting heavy things, playing sports and having sex is prohibited for about two months.
The body of the uterus is finally restored only after a couple of years, so the next pregnancy should not occur earlier than this period, otherwise there is a risk to the life of the woman and the unborn baby. So planning for your next baby needs to be taken seriously.
