Bleeding one month after birth. Scarlet blood after childbirth

- This is a normal physiological process that is inherent in nature.
In this way, the woman’s body gets rid of the placenta, lochia and the remains of the placenta. It occurs in the early postpartum period and may continue into the later period. Obstetricians determine its severity by the nature of the discharge and the volume of blood loss. However, postpartum bleeding is not always a normal physiological process. In some cases, it can even pose a threat to a woman's life. Normally, losses amount to up to 0.5% of the total body weight of the giving birth woman. Early postpartum bleeding is what occurs within the first two hours, and late postpartum bleeding can last up to 1.5 months.

Bleeding one month after birth

Normally, during the first week after the birth of a child, a woman continues to experience discharge. Gradually they change color, become paler, clots cease to be present in them, and every day there are fewer and fewer of them.

There are cases that women, even after a month, continue to observe discharge from the birth canal. In small quantities they are normal, as this is a natural process of restoration of the uterus. This is especially true for women who did not breastfeed. If there are no clots or unpleasant odor, then there is no need to worry. In the near future, such discharge will no longer bother the woman and will stop.

It is worth consulting a doctor if minor bleeding becomes heavy.

The situation is especially dangerous when the discharge acquires a putrid odor and turns yellow or green. Most often, this is a sign that an inflammatory process is developing in the uterus or vaginal cavity. It may be associated with an accumulation of lochia due to kinking of the fallopian tubes.

A woman may begin to develop postpartum endometritis. It varies in severity and may be accompanied by a significant increase in body temperature. The most difficult case is considered to be when a woman experiences pain in the lower abdomen, accompanied by bloody and purulent discharge. If the doctor confirms such a diagnosis, then the woman undergoes mechanical scraping of the remains and is prescribed a course of antibiotics.

Another option for heavy bleeding a month after childbirth is the restoration of the menstrual cycle. If a woman does not breastfeed, then she does not produce a special hormone - prolactin, which inhibits ovulation. Therefore, after a month, the first menstruation can be observed. This indicates normalization of uterine function and restoration of hormonal levels.

Sexual relations started too early can provoke bleeding a month after birth. Doctors recommend abstaining from intimacy for 2 months after a woman has a child. This is due to the fact that the uterus needs to recover, return to its previous size, and return to its normal state.

Sometimes bleeding 30 days after delivery can be caused by incompletely cured erosive processes in the cervical area. In this case, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist and undergo a course of appropriate therapy. In this case, sexual relations should not begin.

You should consult a doctor if:

A month after birth, heavy blood loss occurs, with a sudden onset and pronounced intensification.

If the bloody discharge changes color or smell.

When there are bloody clots in the discharge.

If general health deteriorates sharply, there are signs of intoxication of the body.

If pain occurs in the lower abdomen, accompanied by heavy blood loss.

How long can lochia last?

Discharge after childbirth lasts on average 7 to 8 weeks. However, each woman has a different recovery process, which explains the fact that for some they may end after 5 weeks, while for other mothers they continue to discharge two months after giving birth.

The speed of recovery of the reproductive system after childbirth is influenced by the following factors:

• how the pregnancy went;
• features of the course of labor;
• how intensely the muscles of the uterus contract;
• are there any postpartum complications;
• Is the woman breastfeeding her baby?

A month and a half has passed since giving birth, but the discharge continues and its intensity does not decrease? Then a consultation with a gynecologist is necessary. As in the case when discharge or postpartum menstruation ended too early - after 3-4 weeks.

How long does bleeding last after childbirth?

The normal period during which spotting is observed after childbirth is considered to be up to 6 weeks. During this time, a woman can lose up to 1.5 liters of blood. However, you should not be afraid of such numbers, since the body has prepared in advance for such expenses. Indeed, during pregnancy in women, the total volume of circulating blood increases significantly.

Another factor influencing the duration of bleeding after childbirth is breastfeeding. If this happens, the uterus contracts and recovers much faster, which contributes to an earlier process of stopping the discharge.

If a woman has had a caesarean section, the bleeding may continue a little longer. This is due to the fact that the uterus was injured and a suture was placed on it. In this case, it recovers somewhat slower compared to natural childbirth.

Women who experience increased physical activity during the postpartum period can also observe the process of bleeding from the birth canal for a longer period of time. Therefore, if possible, you should rest as much as possible and avoid anxiety.

The following factors may also affect the timing of bleeding after childbirth:

Multiple pregnancy, due to which the uterus has significantly increased in size.

A large child with a lot of weight.

Parts of the placenta remaining in the birth canal and the resulting inflammatory process.

Weak contractility of the uterus.

Taking certain medications, such as aspirin.

Trauma to the birth canal, internal sutures.

Placental polyp.

Blood clotting disorders.

To reduce bleeding time after childbirth, it is useful to sleep on your stomach or simply lie on it while resting. Also, do not avoid going to the toilet; you should empty your bladder when the first urge appears. It is important to avoid strenuous physical activity and lifting heavy objects. All this will help reduce bleeding time after childbirth and avoid complications.

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received from the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Health and Social Development (2010). In 2013, she completed her postgraduate studies at NIMU named after. N.I. Pirogova.

Bleeding in the early postpartum period is a normal physiological process that should not frighten a woman. After the expulsion of the fetus and placenta, the uterus actively contracts, “pushing out” the remaining blood, clots and everything that remains in its cavity after childbirth. A few days after birth, the bleeding becomes less and is replaced by spotting - lochia. They will bother the woman for about 5-8 weeks, until the endometrium in the uterus has completely healed.

Lochia does not pose a danger to the female body, but it is necessary to constantly monitor their quantity and consistency so as not to miss the onset of true uterine bleeding.

Bleeding occurring during the postpartum period is one of the most common causes of death in women. In order not to miss time and seek medical help in time, it is important to know the signs by which pathological bleeding can be distinguished from normal discharge.

Important!

The appearance of any of the signs (the main one is the need to change hygiene products every hour) indicating the possibility of bleeding, you must call an ambulance. Before her arrival, the woman must be placed on the bed with her legs slightly elevated. This position will help avoid large blood loss.

Lochia usually appears in a woman 2-3 days after childbirth. Until this point, bleeding is considered normal, but even here it is necessary to monitor the amount of blood released. If, while still in the maternity hospital, the postpartum mother has to change sanitary pads every 45-60 minutes, she must inform the midwife or nurse on duty about this.

Bloody discharge after the birth of a baby can normally last up to 8 weeks. In young women, the recovery process is faster, so for them this period is usually reduced to 5-6 weeks. A woman’s nutrition during the postpartum period plays a big role in this. In order for the endometrium to heal faster, you need to include the following foods in your diet:

• cold-pressed vegetable oils (premium class);
• nuts (Brazil, walnut, hazelnut);
• dried fruits (dried apricots, figs);
• greens (any type of greens and leafy salads);
• fatty fish;
• meat (veal, beef, lean pork and lamb);
• fruits and vegetables.

After the placenta is expelled, an open wound forms at the site of its attachment to the uterine wall, which bleeds until complete healing. In order for the damaged endometrium to heal faster, a woman needs to maintain a calm regimen, not lift heavy things or objects that exceed the weight of the baby, and include more foods containing vitamins E, A and ascorbic acid in the menu. Among the drinks, a decoction of rose hips and raspberry leaves is especially useful. Extracts contained in raspberry leaves stimulate uterine contractions and help to quickly cope with postpartum bleeding.

What is postpartum hemorrhage called?

Postpartum hemorrhage includes intense blood loss of up to 0.5% or more of the mother’s body weight and is directly related to childbirth.

• If bleeding after childbirth occurs 2 hours or more later (in the next 42 days), it is called late.
• If intense blood loss is recorded immediately after birth or within two hours, it is called early.

Postpartum hemorrhage is considered a serious obstetric complication and can lead to the death of the mother.

The severity of bleeding is determined by the volume of blood loss. In a healthy woman in labor, the estimated volume of blood loss during childbirth does not exceed 0.5% of body weight, while with gestosis, anemia or coagulopathy it decreases to 0.3%. If in the early postpartum period a woman has lost more blood than expected, then they speak of early postpartum hemorrhage, which requires immediate action, sometimes even including surgery.

Bleeding increased a month after birth

Any change in the amount of discharge a few weeks after birth is an alarming sign that may indicate the development of serious diseases. If the amount of blood released increases sharply, you should consult a gynecologist. The doctor will conduct an examination, palpate the uterus, determine whether it is painful, and make a conclusion about the need for an inpatient examination.

Some mothers refuse the proposed hospitalization because they do not want to be separated from their baby. Under no circumstances should you do this, especially if the woman plans to have another child in the future. The most common pathology that occurs in women who have recently given birth is inflammation of the uterine mucosa (endometritis). This is a serious disease that can lead to infection of the organ and the onset of a purulent-inflammatory process. If bacterial organisms and toxins enter the systemic circulation, the likelihood of sepsis (blood poisoning) will be very high. In the absence of timely assistance and improper treatment, death is possible.

Note!

Every year, about 11 thousand women around the world die from excessive blood loss after childbirth. According to experts, more than half of them could have been saved if they had gone to the hospital in time.

Reason four: benign and malignant neoplasms

Often, the reason that brown discharge causes discomfort to a woman after sex is various neoplasms. Most often we are talking about polyps: these benign tumors appear due to stress, weakened immunity or hormonal imbalance.

Polyps are formed from cells of the cervix and parasitize on it until they are removed. Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure this disease using conservative methods: polyps can only be gotten rid of through surgery, and nothing else. The secretions released from polyps are either pink or bloody in color: brown is not typical for them.

Brown discharge after sex can also indicate cervical erosion: unlike polyps, this disease is not characterized by any other symptoms and often goes unnoticed until the next examination by a specialist. Erosion is incredibly dangerous - if there is a delay in treatment, it develops into cancer, which is why, at the slightest suspicion of it, an examination by a doctor is necessary.

Polyps are growths of mucous membrane tissue inside a woman’s vagina. Forming polyps with mechanical impact on them can lead to injury and bleeding. If polyps are detected, they must be removed surgically, otherwise there is a risk of developing cancer.

When should you see a doctor?

The postpartum period is a dangerous time when the likelihood of complications increases several times. A woman’s body is weakened by pregnancy and childbirth, and therefore cannot cope with stress, which becomes significantly greater after the birth of a baby in the house. If possible, during this period it is better to take the help of a grandmother, sister or friend who could take on part of the responsibilities for caring for the baby. If a woman has to cope with everything on her own, she must be attentive to her own body. It is necessary to contact an observing gynecologist in the following cases:

• the discharge has acquired a bright scarlet color;
• bleeding increased 2-4 weeks after birth;
• there is pain in the abdomen or lower back;
• the discharge has acquired an unpleasant odor;
• clots began to come out of the uterus;
• The temperature began to rise regularly.

Advice

! In women who are breastfeeding, measuring temperature in the armpit is not very informative, especially in the first days after the birth of the child. If lactation has not yet been established, there may be an increase in temperature due to slight lactostasis, so postpartum women are advised to measure body temperature at the elbow.

Infectious diseases5

Sexually transmitted diseases can cause bleeding during sex. These diseases include:

• Syphilis
• Gonorrhea
• Chlamydia
• Trichomoniasis

• Cervicitis
• Vaginitis
• Endometritis

Sexual infections can also be caused by the presence of E. coli, staphylococcus, fungi and other harmful microorganisms. To avoid the occurrence of fungus, it is necessary to carefully monitor intimate hygiene, use special cream soap, change sanitary pads and tampons at least once every 3-4 hours and change clean underwear daily with soap and boiled water.

Will the bleeding stop after a few days?

In some cases, a woman may notice that 4-7 days after giving birth, the discharge has stopped completely. This happens abruptly and is often accompanied by a deterioration in well-being. If such a situation arises, it is necessary to urgently go to the hospital, since the only cause of this phenomenon is hematometra (accumulation of blood in the uterus).

Blood can accumulate due to insufficient contraction of the uterus, so the woman is advised to take all measures to prevent this condition. The nurse will talk about this in detail after the woman is transferred to the postpartum ward. In order for the uterus to contract well, as well as to relieve swelling, young mothers need:

• lie down and sleep on your stomach more often;
• get out of bed more often and walk around the ward or along the corridor;
• put cold on the lower abdomen (heating pads or ice bottles can be found in the refrigerator compartment).

If it was still not possible to avoid the formation of hematometra, it is important to go to the hospital in time, since stagnation of blood in the uterus can lead to the spread of infection and inflammation in the organ cavity. The main symptoms of the pathology are cessation of discharge and severe nagging pain in the lower abdomen. When these symptoms appear, a woman should call an ambulance.

The doctor in the department will conduct an ultrasound scan, determine the exact diagnosis and, if confirmed, prescribe treatment. You can stimulate the uterus to contract using the hormone oxytocin, but most experts prefer a more effective method - surgical curettage or vacuum aspiration. Both procedures are quite traumatic, but their use is necessary to prevent dangerous complications.

Video - Postpartum period. Recovery. Ultrasound. Nutrition. Hygiene

Treatment

Uterine bleeding is treated in stages, depending on the condition of the woman in labor. First, a diagnosis and examination is carried out to determine the cause of the pathology. Throughout the entire period, the nurse monitors the woman’s blood pressure and pulse.

The functioning of the uterus is restored with the help of medications. For each patient, the drug and dosage are selected individually based on the characteristics of the body. To relieve cramps and stop bleeding, cold is applied to the lower abdomen.

Drugs to stop bleeding one month after childbirth:

1. Oxytocin – used to contract muscles. It is used in the form of droppers both during childbirth and after the birth of the child;
2. Methylergometrine is prescribed intramuscularly only during the postpartum period. Accelerates contraction of the uterine muscles.

The doctor examines the uterus and inserts a tampon with a substance inside that helps the organ contract. If remains of the placenta are found inside the cavity and in the birth canal, the organ is cleaned under general anesthesia.

If the bleeding cannot be stopped, the problem is solved surgically:

• uterus removal;
• stitching lacerations and injuries inside the organ;
• squeezing damaged vessels.

Surgery is used only as a last resort when medications have not eliminated the problem. All surgical procedures are performed under general anesthesia. In case of severe blood loss, a blood transfusion is prescribed.

Could bleeding be menstruation?

If the discharge stops 1-1.5 months after birth, and starts again a couple of weeks later, this may be early menstruation. If a woman is not bothered by nausea and dizziness, the temperature is normal, and the discharge is moderate, there is no need to worry. It is necessary to observe the situation for 3-5 days. Menstrual blood has a darker shade and a peculiar smell, so it is quite easy to distinguish between periods and bleeding.

Important!

Some women believe that lactation is a 100% effective method of preventing unwanted pregnancy, and believe that menstruation cannot occur during breastfeeding. In 85% of cases this is true, but sometimes a woman’s menstruation begins 2 months after the birth of the child. During this same period, the ability to conceive is restored, so you need to take care of contraception if children are not in the plans of the new mother in the near future.

True uterine bleeding after childbirth is a rare complication, so do not panic if the discharge suddenly increases somewhat. This may be the result of increased physical activity or heavy lifting, so you need to calm down and adjust your work and rest schedule. But if too much blood is released and the woman’s condition worsens, medical attention is needed as soon as possible.

We are all well aware of bleeding after childbirth. A very unpleasant, but extremely necessary process of the release of lochia from the uterine cavity, consisting of mucus of the cervical canal, blood cells, dead epithelium, and pieces of the placenta. And it is quite normal when this discharge appears in the first 6-8 days after birth, first in large quantities, gradually changing color to lighter, more transparent and without clots, while simultaneously decreasing in volume. After 2 weeks, if the uterus contracts without complications, the vaginal discharge is already noticeable, and after 6-8 days, which is enough time for the uterus to recover, the discharge is already “smeared” or stops altogether. What could be the reason for bleeding a month after childbirth?

Let's start with the fact that after a month the uterus is still in the process of recovery, so small discharge is quite normal. This is especially true for women who have not breastfed their babies, because during lactation the uterus closes faster and the discharge stops accordingly earlier. Therefore, if the discharge is not alarmingly abundant, without clots and an unpleasant fetid odor, then there is no need to worry. You can drink decoctions of herbs that reduce discharge, such as shepherd's purse or yarrow.

It’s a completely different matter when, a month after giving birth, bleeding that was already “smeared” suddenly begins to increase in volume, change color and have the smell of rotting. This should alarm any woman, as it may be associated with an inflammatory process in the uterus or vaginal cavity, with the accumulation of lochia due to kinking of the fallopian tubes. This is a sign that a woman is developing. In this case, you should immediately visit your doctor, who, after performing an ultrasound, will determine the cause of the bleeding at such a late period. If the fears are confirmed and the woman has inflammation, then the treatment process will include scraping of the remaining placenta from the vaginal cavity, as well as antibacterial therapy with the prescription of a complex of antibiotics.

But there is also a third option that explains why bleeding appears a month after childbirth. This may be due to the restoration of the woman's menstrual cycle. The thing is that breastfeeding women produce a hormone called prolactin, which affects the production of milk by the mammary glands. This hormone can block hormones in the ovaries, and as a result, prevents ovulation. Women who are not breastfeeding do not produce prolactin, and accordingly, the menstrual cycle can begin as early as a month after childbirth. Heavy bleeding during this period can be explained by the normalization of hormonal levels, as well as the restoration of uterine functions.

In any case, if heavy discharge occurs, suddenly intensifying, changing color, with clots appearing, as well as with an unpleasant odor, it should alert the woman and encourage her to go to the doctor. After all, an extra check of recovering organs won’t hurt, and timely seeking help can be a decisive factor in treating complex inflammatory processes and maintaining health.

It’s good if postpartum discharge lasts 6-8 weeks (that’s how long it takes for the uterus to develop back after pregnancy and childbirth). Their total quantity during this time is 500-1500 ml.

In the first week after childbirth, the discharge is comparable to normal menstruation, only it is more abundant and may contain clots. Every day the amount of discharge decreases. Gradually they acquire a yellowish-white color due to a large amount of mucus, and may be mixed with blood. Approximately by the 4th week, scanty, “spotting” discharge is observed, and by the end of the 6-8th week it is already the same as before pregnancy.

In women who are breastfeeding, postpartum discharge stops faster, as the entire process of reverse development of the uterus occurs faster. At first there may be cramping pain in the lower abdomen when feeding, but within a few days it goes away.

In women who have undergone a cesarean section, everything happens more slowly, since, due to the presence of a suture on the uterus, it contracts less well.

Hygiene rules during the postpartum period. Following simple hygiene rules will help avoid infectious complications. From the very first days of the postpartum period, a variety of microbial flora is found in the lochia, which, when multiplying, can cause an inflammatory process. Therefore, it is important that lochia does not linger in the uterine cavity and vagina.

During the entire period while the discharge continues, you need to use pads or diapers. Gaskets must be changed at least every 3 hours. It is better to use pads with a soft surface than with a mesh surface, because the nature of the discharge is better visible on them. Pads with fragrances are not recommended - their use increases the risk of allergic reactions. While you are lying down, it is better to use padding diapers so as not to interfere with the release of lochia. You can put a diaper on it so that the discharge comes out freely, but does not stain the laundry. Tampons cannot be used, as they prevent the removal of vaginal discharge, instead absorbing it, which can cause the proliferation of microorganisms and provoke the development of an inflammatory process.

You need to wash yourself several times a day (after each visit to the toilet), you need to take a shower every day. The genitals need to be washed from the outside, but not from the inside, from front to back. You cannot douche, because this way you can get an infection. For the same reasons, it is not recommended to take a bath.

During intense physical activity, the volume of discharge may increase, so do not lift anything heavy. You should seek medical help in the following cases: The discharge has acquired an unpleasant, pungent odor and is purulent in nature. All this indicates the development of an infectious process in the uterus - endometritis. Most often, endometritis is also accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and fever. Heavy bleeding appears after its amount has already begun to decrease, or the bleeding does not stop for a long time. This may be a symptom that there are parts of the placenta that have not been removed in the uterus, which interfere with its normal contraction. The appearance of cheesy discharge indicates the development of yeast colpitis (thrush). In this case, itching in the vagina may also appear, and redness sometimes occurs on the external genitalia. The risk of this complication increases when taking antibiotics. Postpartum discharge suddenly stopped. Complications are more common after a cesarean section than after a natural birth. If there is severe bleeding (several pads within an hour), you should call an ambulance rather than go to the doctor yourself. The above complications do not go away on their own. Adequate therapy is necessary, which should be started as early as possible. In some cases, hospital treatment is required. If complications arise after childbirth, a woman can go not only to the antenatal clinic, but also (in any case, at any time of the day) to the maternity hospital where the birth took place. This rule is valid for 40 days after birth. Restoration of the menstrual cycle.

The timing of the restoration of the menstrual cycle is individual for each woman. After childbirth, a woman’s body produces the hormone prolactin, which stimulates milk production in the female body. It suppresses the formation of hormones in the ovaries, and therefore prevents ovulation.

If the child is breastfed, then the mother’s regular menstrual cycle will be restored 5-6 months after birth, and may also be restored after the cessation of lactation. Before this, menstruation may not occur at all, or it may come from time to time. With artificial feeding (the baby receives only formula), menstruation is restored, as a rule, by the 2-3rd month after birth.

Attentive attention to the nature of postpartum discharge and other indicators of the successful course of the postpartum period will help a woman avoid many complications. It is important to follow all hygiene rules and doctor’s recommendations.

During the first few weeks after giving birth, a woman continues to experience lochia, or bloody discharge. Lochia after childbirth consists of pieces of mucus, plasma, ichor and dying epithelium. The color and amount of discharge changes - this process depends on the degree of restoration of the uterine mucosa and should correspond to the days of the postpartum period. Now the woman’s body is weakened, the birth canal is open and through it various types of infections can enter the body, which will certainly affect the amount and color of the discharge.

Blood discharge after childbirth requires constant monitoring on the part of the woman, and in case of any suspicious deviations from the norm, you should immediately run to the gynecologist.

How long does discharge last after childbirth? In the first few hours after delivery, the discharge is clearly bloody. The main goal during this period is to prevent bleeding from starting. To prevent it, a woman is often given a heating pad with ice on her stomach (this is necessary to speed up uterine contractions), urine is removed using a catheter, and drugs that promote uterine contractions are administered intravenously. The amount of discharge should not be more than half a liter of blood. Bleeding may increase if muscle contraction is poor or the birth canal is severely ruptured.

If the amount of discharge from the birth canal does not normally cause concern, the woman is transferred to the postpartum ward. Over the next few days, the number of lochia will become slightly smaller, and the color will acquire a darker brownish tint. The duration of discharge after childbirth is about one and a half months: the mucous membrane of the uterus will be actively restored, and the surface of the uterus will heal. They become insignificant, with a rare admixture of blood. By the end of the fourth week, the discharge becomes white or yellow-white. The use of tampons is not recommended during the entire postpartum period. Pads with a high degree of absorbency will be the best option in this situation. Now the likelihood of bleeding is low, but still present.

Blood during ejaculation20

There is nothing special about rough sex, because everyone has their own tastes and preferences, but you need to be careful not to hurt your partner. If sharp pain is noticed during sexual intercourse, you need to stop and check the amount of blood. Perhaps the required amount of lubrication is not enough, due to strong friction, irritation occurs, and the genitals begin to bleed. Mechanical damage is possible when using dildos.

The occurrence of wounds or irritation can provoke the development of infections if pathogenic bacteria enter the damaged genital organs. To do this, immediately after sex, you need to rinse the external genital organs with running water, apply a healing ointment for the vagina, and then use medicinal baths.

During sex, the penis can damage the uterus. Uterine bleeding is much more difficult to stop, so if there is a large amount of blood, you should not wait and contact a doctor immediately.

Just like mechanical damage, this is a fairly common reason for bleeding after sexual intercourse. Inflammatory processes in a woman’s reproductive system, which cause enormous discomfort, can also provoke blood discharge! In addition to them, the woman will also be bothered by painful sensations after PA.

Brown discharge from the genital tract appears in the next two to three days after unprotected contact, and occurs periodically throughout the menstrual cycle, regardless of the presence or absence of sexual intercourse. In addition to this symptom, STDs are characterized by itching and burning in the genitals, as well as painful urination: if you observe such symptoms, you should see a gynecologist-venereologist.

Avoiding discharge for this unpleasant reason is quite simple: all you need to do is avoid unprotected sex with strangers, and even more so, with people you don’t know at all. If such contact does occur, and you are suffering from spotting, you need to see a doctor as soon as you can.

Prevention of bleeding

1. During the first few days after giving birth, stay on your feet as little as possible.
2. Breastfeeding the baby. When breastfeeding, oxytocin is released, which helps contract the muscle mass of the uterus. When a newborn breastfeeds, blood clots that are slightly larger than normal may be released.
3. Timely emptying of the bladder. A full bladder prevents the uterus from contracting and, accordingly, can provoke the onset of bleeding.
4. Periodically place a container of ice or ice water on your lower abdomen. When pressure is applied to the walls of the abdominal cavity, the vessels are pressed down, and the uterus begins to actively contract.

Symptoms and signs that indicate complications and are a reason to contact a gynecologist:

With careful personal hygiene of the body, sufficient rest and following all instructions, the risk of bleeding will be minimized.

How to prevent complications

To reduce the risk of complications after childbirth, you need to adhere to basic personal hygiene. Otherwise, infection and inflammation may occur. Doctors recommend:

• choose gynecological pads that are postpartum and change them regularly;
• temporarily stop using tampons;
• wash regularly;
• use antiseptics to treat seams.

A sudden change in color urgently requires contacting a doctor.

This video will tell you about the features of discharge after childbirth:

Composition of lochia

To understand whether everything is in order with the restoration of the body after childbirth, a woman should pay attention not only to the duration of lochia. Sometimes it fits within the norm, but their composition leaves much to be desired and may indicate serious problems.

Fine:

• the first 2-3 days after birth there is bleeding due to burst blood vessels;
• then the uterus will begin to heal, and there will be no more open bleeding;
• usually in the first week you can observe discharge with clots - this is how dead endometrium and the remains of the placenta come out;
• after a week there will be no more clots, the lochia will become more liquid;
• there is no need to be alarmed if you observe mucous discharge after childbirth - these are the products of intrauterine vital activity of the fetus;
• mucus should also disappear within a week;
• 5-6 weeks after the birth of the baby, lochia becomes similar to ordinary smears that occur during menstruation, but with coagulated blood.

So bleeding after childbirth, which frightens many young mothers, is normal and should not be a cause for alarm. It is much worse if pus begins to mix with them, which is a serious deviation. It is worth consulting a doctor if the composition of lochia differs in the following characteristics:

• purulent discharge after childbirth indicates the onset of inflammation (endometrium), requiring immediate treatment, its cause is infectious complications, which are most often accompanied by fever, pain in the lower abdomen, and lochia is distinguished by an unpleasant odor and greenish-yellow color;
• if mucus and clots continue to flow longer than a week after childbirth;
• watery, transparent lochia is also not considered normal, because it can be a symptom of several diseases at once: it is fluid from the blood and lymphatic vessels that seeps through the vaginal mucosa (it is called transudate), or it is gardnerellosis - vaginal dysbiosis, which is characterized by an abundance of discharge with an unpleasant fishy odor.

If a woman knows which discharge after childbirth is considered normal depending on its composition, and which indicate abnormalities, she will be able to promptly seek advice and medical help from a gynecologist. After testing (usually a smear, blood and urine), a diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is prescribed. The color of the lochia will also help you understand that something is wrong with your body.

Recommendations

In order to protect the vaginal mucosa from dryness, it is recommended to use lubricants (lubricating and moisturizing intimate gels based on water, silicone or fat). To choose them correctly, you need to consult a doctor.

If alarming suspicions arise about discharge after sexual intercourse, a woman should immediately go to the gynecologist and take the necessary smears and blood tests. It is preferable to use condoms during sex. This will protect against infection and infectious diseases.

Postpartum discharge

The natural and normal process of discharge during the first days after childbirth worries the vast majority of happy young mothers. What are they, are they dangerous, how long will they last?

The nature of discharge after childbirth.

In medicine, bright scarlet copious discharge is called lochia. Their presence indicates a complete and successful process of healing and restoration of the uterus. Just imagine: in the first 2-6 days after birth (there should be discharge both after a natural birth and after a cesarean section), the uterus will have to reduce its weight from more than 1000 grams to 60-40 grams, that is, 15-25 times!

It is quite natural that this process requires cleansing and removal of all that unnecessary tissue. This explains the significant abundance of postpartum discharge, which is many times more abundant than during menstruation. By the way, ordinary sanitary pads (even overnight ones) are absolutely unable to cope with postpartum discharge. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase hygiene products at the pharmacy specifically for the postpartum recovery period.

How long does discharge last after childbirth: norm and deviations

Doctors recommend checking the processes in your body with the following diagram:

• from the 1st to the 5th day: extremely abundant, pronounced bright scarlet color, on average the volume can reach 400-450 ml.
• from the 6th to the 10th day: still very abundant, the color becomes browner, in addition to blood, lymph (ichor) is also present;
• from the 11th to the 15th day: the abundance decreases to moderate, lymph already predominates in the discharge, which affects its color - the discharge becomes almost yellow;
• from the 16th to the 20th day: residual discharge, very scanty and almost entirely consisting of translucent or pale yellow ichor.
• from the 20th day: discharge becomes more and more scanty and colorless;
• important observation: in nursing mothers, the discharge ends faster - the feeding process itself directly affects the speedy recovery of the uterus.

Thus, if the discharge lasts for at least three weeks, then this is not only normal, but also indicates the full functioning of the postpartum recovery process. However, complete restoration of the uterus can only occur when the baby is 2 months old (8 weeks). So, if discharge continues to occur sporadically even after three weeks, this fits into the normal picture of the regeneration processes of a woman’s reproductive system.

Gynecologists and obstetricians identify two main deviations from the normal course of the process:

1. Absence or significant scarcity of discharge, indicating spasm or inflammation of the cervix;
2. Excessive increase in the abundance of postpartum discharge 5-6 days after birth.

However, reasons for visiting a supervising doctor . Make an appointment without delay if:

• Lochia completely (even in minimal manifestations) stopped earlier than five weeks after birth. Such a rapid completion of the process does not at all indicate the superability of a particular organism to recover, but rather possible complications.
• The color of the discharge does not change - 6-7 days after birth, it remains bright scarlet. This fact may indicate bleeding disorders or inflammatory processes.
• Reverse color change: after the lochia have been brown for several days (days 6–10), they again become distinctly red. This state of affairs may be a sign of the development of intrauterine bleeding and requires immediate attention to a specialist.
• The presence of any unpleasant odor - putrid, sour or even sweet. This suggests that an infection is developing in the uterine cavity.
• The most dangerous signs that can be accompanied by lochia: sharp and acute pain in the lower abdomen, fluctuations in body temperature, manifestations of general signs of intoxication (aches, attacks of nausea, severe dizziness, sudden and acute migraines, muscle spasms, etc.). It goes without saying that such unpleasant phenomena require diagnosis by a doctor as soon as possible.

Pathological causes

The appearance of blood after sex may be a symptom of diseases of the reproductive organs. The causes of illnesses are often hormonal disorders, infections, and dysbiosis.

Vulvovaginitis, cervicitis, endometritis. Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the internal and external genital organs leads to damage to blood vessels, scarring and tissue destruction. The cause of inflammation is the penetration of infectious agents, including sexually transmitted ones, into the organs. The development of opportunistic microflora, provoked by a sharp decrease in immunity and the death of beneficial lactobacilli, is also possible.

Cervical polyps. These benign neoplasms are easily injured, as they are held in the mucous membrane only by a thin stalk.

Erosion, dysplasia, cervix. The diseases are associated with damage to the surface of the cervix, the formation of ulcers and cracks. Often such pathologies are the consequences of the development of chronic inflammatory processes.

Prolapse of the uterus and vagina. Bloody discharge appears after sexual intercourse as a result of the fact that the mucous membranes of the cervix and vagina become more vulnerable, and the functioning of the glands that produce protective mucus is disrupted.

Viral infection of the mucous membranes of the genitals. It is possible, for example, to be affected by herpes or human papilloma viruses. When infected with HPV, condylomas (cone-shaped warts) appear on various parts of the genitals. Sexual intercourse becomes painful and is inevitably accompanied by the appearance of blood.

Endometrial hyperplasia, endometriosis. These pathologies arise as a result of abnormal growth of the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus). Hyperplasia leads to the formation of polyps in the cavity and disruption of the structure of blood vessels. Endometriosis is a serious disease in which endometrial particles, riddled with blood vessels, extend beyond the uterine cavity and into the cervix or abdominal cavity. The cause of such pathologies is a hormonal imbalance in the body.

Cervical cancer. A malignant tumor occurs either on the vaginal part of the cervix (squamous cell carcinoma) or inside the cervical canal. During and after sexual intercourse, bleeding often occurs when the tumor is located externally, which is more susceptible to mechanical stress.

Addition: The insidiousness of such a disease is that it is almost asymptomatic, there is no pain signaling the rapid development of a deadly pathology. The appearance of a small amount of blood after sex is one of the few signs of tumor development. The symptom is especially obvious in women after menopause, when menstruation no longer comes, the appearance of blood from the genital tract is a clear anomaly.

After sexual contact, not only external bleeding may appear, but also internal bleeding (blood leaking into the abdominal cavity). This condition occurs due to rupture of the ovary or its cyst, as well as if sexual intercourse provokes the onset of a miscarriage or rupture of a tube during an ectopic pregnancy.

The occurrence of internal bleeding is indicated by the appearance of sharp, increasing pain in the abdomen, its bloating, as well as a drop in blood pressure and increased heart rate. The woman becomes increasingly weak, dizzy, cold sweats, and has difficulty breathing. She turns pale and may lose consciousness. If such symptoms appear, it is necessary to call an ambulance, since such a condition is life-threatening.

The doctor is sometimes able to find out the reason for the appearance of bloody discharge after sexual intercourse after a routine gynecological examination. To clarify the nature of pathologies, the following diagnostic procedures are performed:

• smear on the microflora of the vagina and cervix;
• cytological smear (PAP test) to detect atypical cells and precancerous changes on the surface of the cervix;
• blood tests: general, PCR (identification of the type of infectious agents based on their genetic characteristics), analysis for tumor markers, as well as hormones;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• colposcopy of the vagina and cervix, hysteroscopy of the uterine cavity (examination of the mucous membranes using optical devices).

To clarify the diagnosis, tomography (CT or MRI) is prescribed.