Recognize lochia bleeding and blood clots after delivery & bull; hello healthy

Every mother who gives birth will definitely experience bleeding after giving birth or what is known as lochia. In contrast to postpartum hemorrhage, lochia is bleeding that normally occurs postpartum or during the puerperium.

For those of you who have just given birth, you may often wonder how long it takes for postpartum blood to come out until it is clean and complete? Then how are the colors and characteristics of postpartum blood clean?

Let's look at the discussion about blood that comes out after giving birth during the puerperium in this review, let's!

Lokia is a normal blood discharge after childbirth

After childbirth is complete, whether it is a normal delivery in any labor position or a cesarean section, the mother usually experiences bleeding called lochia.

Pregnant women who give birth in the hospital or give birth at home will also experience lochia bleeding.

Lokia is the normal blood that pregnant women experience during the puerperium.

Lokia is different from postpartum hemorrhage as a sign that there is something abnormal after birth.

Lochia bleeding is actually the body's natural mechanism of cleaning the uterus from the blood and placenta that builds up during pregnancy.

Blood can come out in the form of clots or flow normally like blood that comes out during menstruation.

The lochia blood that comes out during the puerperium has a normal smell like the smell of blood in general.

Yes, the normal smell of puerperal blood shouldn't smell bad. However, sometimes there may be a mother who asks the reason why the puerperal blood smells bad.

In fact, the smell of puerperal blood or lochia may not be foul or unpleasant, but rather fishy like the smell of blood.

It's just that, if the mother believes there is something abnormal about the smell of postpartum blood, you should consult your doctor further.

Lokia is blood that comes out quite a lot during the puerperium, but usually decreases gradually over the next days or weeks.

If the mother is accompanied by a doula from the time of pregnancy, it is during the puerperium that a doula

How long does it take for the puerperal blood to come out until it is clean?

The puerperium period starts from the time the mother gives birth to 6 weeks or about 40 days thereafter.

That is why the length of discharge from lochia is throughout the puerperium.

During the puerperium or the body's recovery process after childbirth, the uterus will shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size (involution process).

The shrinking of the uterus makes it necessary for the body to draw blood from the wound in it.

Apart from the discharge of a lot of blood called lochia during the puerperium, the uterus also experiences contractions for 7-10 days.

How long does it take for the puerperal blood to come out clean and complete, that is, during the postpartum period, which is approximately 40 days.

Postpartum blood (lochia) is the amount of bleeding that is generally not small, aka more than menstrual blood.

That is why, it is recommended that you change the sanitary napkin every 1-2 hours or depending on the amount of bleeding.

This large amount of bleeding generally lasts 1 or 2 days.

When you get up for the first time after giving birth, lochia blood may also flow to your legs.

However, don't panic just yet because this blood has previously collected in the vagina when you sit and lie down.

When your body is in an upright position, the collected blood will automatically flow down through your legs.

The amount of blood that comes out during childbirth, normally will be less and less every day.

Entering the end of the puerperium, the amount of postpartum blood begins to be low, turns into blotches, the red color starts to fade, until the end is completely stopped.

However, in some women, lochia blood can stop more quickly and this is nothing to worry about.

When the lochia blood starts to clear or doesn't come out much anymore, it is a sign of the end of the puerperium.

Is it normal for blood to clot after giving birth?

Not all bleeding after delivery is liquid.

Some of the blood clots are large enough that usually come out profusely within 24 hours of delivery.

Blood clots that are shaped like gelatinous clots also normally come out when the uterus contracts and shrinks and sheds its lining after childbirth.

These blood clots usually come from damaged tissue in the uterus and birth canal after you give birth.

Types of blood clots after childbirth

The two types of lochia (puerperal blood) clots that are commonly experienced by women after giving birth are as follows:

• Blood clots that are secreted through the vagina during the period after childbirth that originate from the lining of the uterus and placenta.
• Blood clots that occur in the blood vessels of the body. This is a rare case but can be life threatening.

What color is the puerperal blood (lochia) from start to finish?

In addition to knowing how long it takes for postpartum blood (lochia) to come out until it is clean, the color of the blood will also change over time.

Launching from the Baby Center page, postpartum blood or lochia from the outset has a bright red color.

Over time, the puerperal blood turns brown.

Until about 40 days or 6 weeks after delivery, the puerperal blood will gradually clear and disappear.

No more lochia blood in any color until the end of the puerperium indicates that your uterus has finished the recovery process after giving birth.

Postpartum blood or lochia that comes out can have a liquid or thick texture such as blood clots.

According to Queesland Clinical Guidelines, blood clots, including after delivery, have a gelatinous appearance.

This is because blood clots after childbirth usually contain mucus and certain tissues that can be up to the size of a golf ball.

Just like lochia blood, you can experience this blood clot shortly after giving birth for up to six weeks afterward.

These lochia blood clots are not a complication of childbirth.

The following is the color of postpartum blood or lochia as well as blood clots after childbirth that are still classified as normal:

The first 24 hours after birth

This period is the period of heaviest bleeding and clotting after delivery with bright red blood.

The size of this postpartum blood clot can range from the size of a grape to the size of a golf ball.

Usually, you need to change pads every hour because the blood volume is quite heavy.

2-6 days after birth

During this time, the blood flow will gradually become lighter, much like the blood flow during a normal period.

Clots that form at this time are smaller than in the first 24 hours after delivery.

The color of lochia blood at this time is brown or pink.

If at this time you still have bright red blood, consult a doctor immediately as this shows the bleeding is not slowing down as it should.

7-10 days after birth

The lochia blood that had been brown or pink is now starting to fade.

The flow of blood clots will also be lighter than in the first week after delivery.

11-14 days after birth

The blood flow at this time will be lighter and less intense than before.

In addition, blood clots will also be smaller than the initial period after giving birth.

However, some women report heavier blood flow and clotting with a bright red color after vigorous physical activity following childbirth.

2-6 weeks after birth

During this time, some women don't even bleed at all.

Blood that was pink in color will turn white or yellow, much like the vaginal discharge that usually occurs before pregnancy.

6 weeks after birth

During this time, postpartum bleeding and blood clotting will usually stop.

However, you will usually find brown, red, and yellow blood stains on your underwear.

Even though the blood clotting after childbirth has stopped, the presence of blood spots is considered normal and should not be a cause for concern.

But sometimes, the amount of postpartum blood that has started to decrease can come out a lot more with a darker color such as red, brownish or blackish.

This red and black color of the puerperal blood may occur when the mother is doing strenuous activities or moving too much.

In order for the color and amount of postpartum blood or lochia to return to normal, the mother needs adequate rest.

Signs and symptoms of dangerous blood clots

Since the risk of blood clots in postnatal women is quite high, try to identify the signs of dangerous lochia blood clots after delivery.

Symptoms of problematic lochia blood clots after childbirth are as follows:

• Pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the legs which can be a symptom deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Hard to breathe
• Chest pain
• Dizziness or fainting
• The skin feels cold or clammy
• Heart rate faster than normal and irregular

Some women are more at risk of developing blood clots after giving birth because of these risk factors.

The following are various risk factors for blood clots in women after childbirth:

• Have had previous blood clots, for example after giving birth
• Family history of blood clotting disorders
• Obesity
• Pregnant women and giving birth over 35 years
• Do not engage in physical activity during pregnancy and often sit for long periods of time
• Pregnant and giving birth to twins or more
• Have other health problems related to autoimmune disease, cancer, or diabetes

Blood clots that form in the blood vessels after giving birth can sometimes break off and form clots.

These postpartum blood clots can appear in an artery or brain that is at risk of causing a heart attack or stroke.

Overcoming blood clots that occur after childbirth

To deal with prolonged bleeding and blood clots after delivery, the doctor will perform an ultrasound sonography (USG) test.

This is done to treat postpartum blood clots to test for any pieces of placenta left in the uterus.

Surgical removal of the placenta and other tissue that has been stuck in the uterus is also likely to be done to stop bleeding and blood clots after delivery.

In addition, the doctor will also prescribe certain drugs to make the uterus contract and reduce bleeding and blood clotting after childbirth.

The reason is, the uterus that fails to contract can cause bleeding so that it presses the blood vessels attached to the placenta.

This condition can cause the uterus to become blocked and can cause blood clots after giving birth.

When should I contact my doctor or midwife?

The symptoms of a lochia blood infection are as follows:

• The puerperal blood has a foul or unpleasant odor
• You have a hot fever and / or chills
• The puerperium remains thick and bright red after the first week
• Your stomach hurts in the lower left or right

Signs that something is wrong with postpartum blood or lochia are as follows:

• The bleeding suddenly becomes heavy, and you have changed more than one dressing in 1 hour
• Bleeding comes back bright red 4 days or more after delivery and does not stop even when sleeping
• You pass blood clots (bigger than a dime)
• You feel dizzy
• Your heartbeat starts to become irregular

Do not delay to see a doctor if the mother experiences various symptoms of postpartum bleeding or lochia.

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