Lochia

Introduction After maternal delivery, the decidua of the uterine decidua, especially the placenta attachments, is detached, and the tissues containing blood, necrotic decidua and the vaginal discharge are called lochia. Under normal circumstances, the lochia can be drained within three weeks after birth. If it is still over three weeks, it will be "not enough." In the TCM classics "Fetal Birth Heart Law" mentioned: "Because the time of injury to the menstrual blood, lack of deficiency, can not be taken, or the blood is not exhausted, then the blood is difficult, and the next time, more than a long time. Therefore, the lochia is more than related to "deficiency" or "blood".

Cause

After the birth, as the endometrium (especially the endometrium where the placenta is attached) falls off, the mucus secreted by the uterus also flows out of the vagina. This is the lochia. Normal lochia is somewhat bloody, but not stinky. The total amount is about 500 to 1 000 ml. Under normal circumstances, lochia is cleaned about 3 weeks after birth.

an examination

1. In the first week after delivery, the amount of lochia is more, the color is bright red, and it contains a lot of blood, small blood clots and necrotic decidua tissue, called red lochia.

2, 1 week to half a month, the amount of blood in the lochia is reduced, more is the necrotic decidua, cervical mucus, vaginal secretions and bacteria, making the lochia into a light red serum, at this time the lochia is called For pulpy lochia.

3. After half a month to less than 3 weeks, the lochia no longer contains blood, but contains a lot of white blood cells, degraded decidua, epidermal cells and bacteria, making the lochia thick and white, so it is called white lochia. White lochia can last for two or three weeks.

Differential diagnosis

Some lochia are abnormal and should be noted:

1. If the postpartum is 2 weeks postpartum, the lochia is still bloody, with a large amount of odor, sometimes excreted with rotten meat, or fetal membranes, and the uterus is very poor. At this time, it should be considered that the placenta may remain in the uterus. Or fetal membranes, there may be major bleeding at any time, should go to the hospital immediately.

2, postpartum production of sputum infection, it will cause endometritis or uterine myositis. At this time, the mother has fever, lower abdomen pain, increased lochia and odor. At this time, the lochia not only has an odor, but also the color is not normal bloody or serous, but is turbid and dirty.

Therefore, to learn to observe your own lochia and find out that there are problems, you should contact the doctor earlier.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.