What if lochia does not stop?

This is known as lochia. It's how your body gets rid of the extra blood and tissue in your uterus that helped your baby grow. Bleeding is heaviest the first few days after your baby is born. But if heavy bleeding continues after that, you may need to call your doctor.

What is the longest lochia can last?

How long does lochia last? It can vary between people, but lochia typically lasts about six weeks. However, some people have traces of lochia for up to eight weeks.

When should I be concerned about lochia?

You should contact your doctor if you notice any of the following, which could be signs of an infection or another more serious condition such as postpartum hemorrhage: Very large clots (think the size of a lemon or larger) A very heavy flow — enough to soak through a maxi pad every hour.

What causes lochia to last longer?

Lochia that remain red and abundant for longer than usual may indicate delayed involution of the uterus, which may be due to retention of a piece of placenta within the uterus and/or to infection. If placental tissue is retained the uterus remains enlarged and this may show on an ultrasound scan.

What are the signs of abnormal lochia?

What Is Normal Bleeding After Birth And Labor? | How Much Bleeding After Labor It Too Much? | Lochia

Why am I still bleeding after 2 months of giving birth?

It's possible to get secondary postpartum haemorrhage, which is abnormal or heavy bleeding between 24 hours and 12 weeks after giving birth. It's often associated with an infection, and sometimes with part of the placenta remaining in the womb (RCOG, 2016). Symptoms include: Feeling shaky, feverish, and generally ill.

How do I stop lochia?

Nothing needs to be done to treat lochia. You should not do anything to prevent lochia or stop it from happening—it's a normal part of your body's postpartum healing process. By the time your uterus has returned to its normal size, you won't be passing much lochia anymore (if at all).

Can lochia last for 8 weeks?

Lochia. Lochia is the initial bleeding that lasts for 4-6 weeks and is a normal part of childbirth. During pregnancy, the placenta is attached to the uterine wall.

When does lochia slow down?

Yes. It's common for postpartum bleeding (lochia) to last for at least a couple of weeks if not longer than a month. It's different for every woman. Postpartum bleeding typically stops after four to six weeks.

Does breastfeeding make lochia last longer?

Lochia will become less heavy after a week or so, and the color will become a more watery-pink or brown. If you are breastfeeding, you may notice that you pass more lochia while feeding, since the uterus is contracting in response to hormone shifts activated by nursing or pumping.

Can postpartum bleeding last longer than 6 weeks?

Your postpartum bleeding should not last forever. As “Most bleeding is often concluded by four to six weeks, but up to 15 percent of women will bleed as long as eight weeks,” Dr.

Why am I still bleeding 3 months postpartum?

Other causes of bleeding or spotting in the postpartum phase may include urinary tract infection, thyroid abnormalities, infection or inflammation of the uterine lining, or a piece of the placenta or amniotic fluid sac that hasn't yet come out.

What are the 3 types of lochia?

Three types of lochia color patterns were identified: type 1--rubra-->serosa-->alba sequence (n = 20); type 2-rubra-->serosa-->alba sequence with prolonged rubra phase and short serosa and alba phases (n = 11); and type 3-with two rubra phases (rubra-->serosa/alba-->rubra-->serosa/alba sequence with near-equal duration ...

Why am I bleeding 10 weeks after giving birth?

Postpartum hemorrhage (also called PPH) is when a woman has heavy bleeding after giving birth. It's a serious but rare condition. It usually happens within 1 day of giving birth, but it can happen up to 12 weeks after having a baby. About 1 to 5 in 100 women who have a baby (1 to 5 percent) have PPH.

Is it normal to have a lot of discharge 7 weeks postpartum?

After having a baby, you may have some type of vaginal discharge for six to eight weeks. In the first few days after giving birth, it is normal to bleed, similar to a heavy period, followed by light bleeding or spotting for up to two weeks.

Can lochia bleeding stop and start again?

Conclusions: Lochia lasted substantially longer than the conventional assumption of 2 weeks. It was common for postpartum bleeding to stop and start again or to be characterized by intermittent spotting or bleeding. Return of menses is rare among fully breast-feeding women in the first 8 weeks postpartum.

What are the 4 T's of postpartum hemorrhage?

There are four main causes of postpartum hemorrhage that account for the majority of cases. Also known as the “Four T's”, these are Tone (uterine atony), Tissue (retained placenta), Trauma (laceration), and Thrombin (coagulopathy).

What happens if pieces of placenta is left inside?

If your placenta is not delivered, it can cause life-threatening bleeding called hemorrhaging. Infection. If the placenta, or pieces of the placenta, stay inside your uterus, you can develop an infection. A retained placenta or membrane has to be removed and you will need to see your doctor right away.

Is lochia foul smelling?

Lochia is the vaginal discharge you have after a vaginal delivery. It has a stale, musty odor like menstrual discharge. Lochia for the first 3 days after delivery is dark red in color. A few small blood clots, no larger than a plum, are normal.

What does the end of lochia look like?

Finally, the lighter bleeding of the lochia serosa stage will fade into discharge; the lochia color will now be more yellowish but can sometimes be mixed with a bit of spotting. This is the final lochia stage, called lochia alba, and it may last for up to six weeks after delivery.

What is foul lochia?

Foul-smelling lochia may be a sign of infection and warrants a visit to a healthcare provider. It is normal for the bleeding to stop and start, and to experience period-like cramping as the uterus shrinks back to its normal size.

What does lochia look like at the end?

The Third Stage: Lochia Alba

This Alba stage is the final (and longest) stage of postpartum discharge. At this point, it may not even look like bleeding anymore. Lochia will be a yellowish-whitish color, and consists of cervical mucus, white blood cells, and epithelial tissue.

What causes bleeding not to stop after birth?

After the placenta is delivered, these contractions help put pressure on the bleeding vessels in the area where the placenta was attached. If the uterus does not contract strongly enough, these blood vessels bleed freely. This is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage.

When is postpartum bleeding worrisome?

Tell your doctor or call 911 if you have any of these symptoms or signs: Bright red bleeding beyond the third day after birth. Blood clots bigger than a plum. Bleeding that soaks more than one sanitary pad an hour and doesn't slow down or stop.

Why do you bleed for so long postpartum?

When the placenta comes away from the wall of the uterus (after your baby is born), there are open blood vessels that bleed. Your uterus contracts to squeeze these bleeding vessels shut. Over 7–10 days your uterus continues to contract, begins to heal and the bleeding gets less.