After childbirth, the inner lining of the uterus needs a recovery period, regardless of the type of delivery. If there are no complications, then it takes no more than two and a half months. This article will focus on lochia after caesarean section and other possible discharges. Their features will be considered, and special attention should be paid to non-standard secretions that are not typical for a he althy body.
Discharge after cesarean
Discharge that may appear from the genital tract after a cesarean operation deserves special attention. In gynecology, they are called "lochia". They can change their consistency depending on the time that has passed after childbirth. It can be thick white discharge, odorless and itchy, but it all starts with bloody lochia. They include: dead epithelium, mucus, plasma, blood cells. Some women compare them to menstruation. But this is not at all the case, since lochias have an odor, can change their color and texture, and all these changes occur throughout the entire postpartum period. It is from them that you can determine the state of the body of a woman who has recently become a mother.
What's the difference?
Many women do not know how much lochia goes after childbirth, and how much after caesarean, and whether there are any differences between these two types. They believe that the discharge after surgery does not differ significantly from those that appear after natural delivery, but this opinion is erroneous. After all, a cesarean is an operation, and it puts a lot of stress on the body. After such an operation, a woman should be especially attentive to herself, her feelings and conditions. Even the smallest deviation from the generally accepted norm should be a reason to visit a doctor. It is worth considering the differences between the lochia that appear after childbirth, and those that women see after a caesarean:
- After a caesarean, the risk of infection or the onset of inflammation of the genital organs is much higher than after childbirth. This may be due to the fact that the wound surface is much larger. Therefore, it is important that after the operation, follow all the doctor's instructions and perform each recommended procedure at least two to three times a day.
- After natural childbirth, mucus in the discharge is not observed, but after a cesarean, especially in the first week, there is quite a lot of it.
- Notyou should be scared if in the first few days after cesarean, the lochia is bright red. This is the shade they should have during this period.
- The contraction of the uterus after a caesarean section takes much longer. It is because of this that discharge after surgery lasts one or two weeks longer than after a normal birth.
Such discharges are the norm, so there should be no cause for concern. And many mothers are beginning to worry. This is especially noticeable among those women in labor who gave birth to their first child on their own, and the second was born by caesarean section, and, noting that the discharge has a different character, mothers begin to panic.
Duration
Very often women ask the question: how long do lochia go after a caesarean section? And this question is really important, because it is precisely by the timing that you can determine whether the recovery period in the body has dragged on. And also this information will allow a woman to approximately calculate the start date of the cycle, which is about to begin.
- Normal discharge is considered to last from two to two and a half months. Therefore, even if approximately eight weeks have passed and there is still discharge, this is not a reason to panic.
- A deviation from the norm is considered if after the operation the discharge stopped after six weeks or dragged on to ten, but this is not a reason to worry. Since in such cases it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of eachfemale body separately. It is not necessary to disregard the composition and smell of lochia, their color and quantity, if all these indicators do not go beyond the standards, then you should not be nervous in vain. For absolute certainty that everything is fine, you can consult a gynecologist.
- The reason for going to the doctor is the premature cessation of discharge, when they are gone after five weeks, or too long, when the lochia does not stop for more than ten weeks. Both cases carry the same danger. If the discharge ended too early, then, most likely, something did not allow the remnants of the dead endometrium to completely leave the body. There is a high probability that the process of festering has begun. In the second case, the diagnosis can be as follows: endometritis, as well as a gynecologist can diagnose the development of an infectious process. It happens that the discharge after cesarean was stopped at the right time, but after a while it resumed again. This is a clear sign that the recovery process of the uterus after childbirth has been knocked down for some reason.
A woman in labor should have information about how much lochia goes after childbirth, which took place naturally, and how much after surgery.
Lochia character
As mentioned earlier in the article, over time, the nature of lochia after cesarean will change, and this is considered the norm. The first time after the operation, mainly blood clots will depart, since the uterus during this period will be just an open bleeding wound. But over time, there will be less blood, and mucus, dead epithelial cells, and so on will appear instead.
These indicators also cannot be ignored. Prolonged bleeding indicates that the regeneration of damaged tissues does not occur in any way, and this will be the reason for a visit to the doctor. Next, we will talk in detail about each feature of the discharge, and how to respond to them.
Presence of blood
In the first few days, the blood in the discharge should not worry a woman, as this is considered the norm. Just like that, the process of healing of bursting vessels and tissues damaged during the operation takes place. In this matter, attention should be paid more not to the presence of blood, but to the timing of its release. If blood appears on the ninth day after caesarean, then you should immediately go to the hospital.
Clots
During the first week after the operation, thick white discharge without smell and itching can be observed in the discharge - these are cells of dead epithelium. Normally, they disappear after seven days, and the discharge becomes more liquid.
Slime
In the first days, mucus can also be added to the blood, the presence of which should not bother a young mother. Most often, mucus is represented by the products of the intrauterine life of the baby, which must certainly leave the mother's body.
Pink highlights
A month after the operation, a slightly pink discharge may appear, which signals to the woman that the healing has not yet ended. Although by this time this process is usually alreadystops, but if this did not happen, then this is a sign that, due to some kind of mechanical effect, the tissues cannot recover in any way. Quite often this happens in those couples who did not listen to the recommendations of the gynecologist and resumed sexual intercourse ahead of time.
Brown highlights
Normally, after a month and a half, the discharge becomes brown. This is due to the fact that the healing process is completed, the blood coagulates and is no longer as scarlet as it was at the very beginning. But you need to pay attention that brown discharge is considered normal only at the end of the recovery period. At other times they should not be.
Purulent discharge
Any woman will understand that purulent discharge is dangerous. This is usually a clear signal that inflammation of the uterine mucosa has begun. They have a yellowish-green color and acquire a rather unpleasant odor, and are also accompanied by a strong increase in body temperature. There may also be pain in the perineum and lower abdomen.
Watery discharge
If the lochia has become watery, then mom should be on the alert, because this phenomenon is not normal. Often this is how a transudate comes out. This is a fluid that is contained in the blood and lymphatic vessels. This is a rather bad sign, since it clearly indicates that serious circulatory disorders have appeared. If the discharge not only lost its color, but also began to smell bad, then this is a clear symptom of vaginal dysbacteriosis.
If the birth did not take place naturally, then mommy must definitely monitor the state of her body after the operation, and especially the nature and timing of the discharge. Even the most subtle impurities can be signals of violations.
Shades of goofy
Lochia color is another important point that should be kept under control. At the very beginning, the lochia have a red tint and turn brown towards their end. All other colors that will be described below are not the norm, and if they are found, the newly-made mother should immediately go to a specialist:
- Yellow highlights. They can have a different character, and they cannot be left without attention. Yellow discharge by the end of the second or third week after surgery is considered normal, but they should be very meager and short-lived. On the fourth or sixth day, almost orange discharge may appear, having an unpleasant putrefactive odor - this is a symptom of endometritis, which has just begun to develop. If 14 days after the operation, the yellow discharge became abundant and mucous, then it is safe to diagnose endometritis, which in this case is already running. Every woman should remember that endometritis does not heal on its own.
- Green highlights. The appearance of greenery in the discharge is a sign of pus. The latter appears if an inflammatory, infectious process takes place in the uterus. The reason for it can only be established by a gynecologist, after examining the patient.
- White Lochia. If aafter the operation, the woman had copious, odorless white discharge, then this is not a reason to run to the antenatal clinic. But if they carry with them an itch in the perineum, have a sour smell, acquire a curdled consistency, then this is a serious reason to take a smear. Since these are clear signs of an infection. Remember, you should not be nervous only in the presence of copious, odorless white discharge and other accompanying symptoms. In any other case, you should go to the gynecologist.
- Black highlights. Black discharge after cesarean is natural and should not cause panic. These are just hormonal changes in the blood that occur in every woman. But a deviation can be considered if such discharge appears after a long time after the appearance of the baby.
Number of allocations
The article has already considered almost all the signs of discharge: the color of lochia after childbirth, their nature and many other manifestations, but it remains to be said only about their number. A young mother should also pay attention to this fact. If the discharge after cesarean is too scarce, then this may indicate that the uterine ducts, tubes are clogged, or a blood clot has formed in them.
Too much lochia should also not please a woman, especially if the discharge in large quantities does not stop. This is a signal that the uterus cannot recover normally after the operation. In any case, you need to go to the doctor for an examination, to find out the reasons.occurrence of such deviations and their elimination as soon as possible.
It is also important to remember that not only attentiveness to changes, but also hygiene after a caesarean section will help maintain he alth. When discharged from the hospital, the doctor gives all the necessary recommendations regarding this, and it is highly undesirable to neglect these recommendations.
Conclusion
Almost all mothers do not like the period when lochia continues after a cesarean section or childbirth. But do not be so hostile to this phenomenon. Every woman should remember that discharge with a smell or containing too bright mucus should be especially alarming. Almost every such case requires immediate treatment with antibiotics or even surgery.
