Lochia is a normal vaginal discharge that happens after you give birth. The characteristics and duration of lochia vary from person to person. Here are some basics you should know.
What is it?
Lochia is a mixture of blood, mucus, amniotic fluid, and uterine tissue that your body flushes out after delivery. It’s a sign that your body is returning to its non-pregnant state, and as such, it's healthy and normal.
What does it look like?
Lochia can look like a heavy period at first. It will likely be red or reddish brown. After an average of four to five days, it will turn dull brown, pink, or yellow with red streaks. After about three weeks, it will lighten to yellow or white and then finally turn clear [1, 2].
How long does it last?
On average, 27 days. Some women have the discharge for 14 days, while others have it for up to 56 days. Aside from individual differences among women, different doctors may use different criteria to determine what constitutes lochia. Those who believe that any discharge (regardless of color or consistency) is lochia will record longer discharge periods than those who believe that only red discharge is lochia [3].
In addition, around 20% of women will see lochia stop, then start again between the third and eighth weeks after delivery [1, 3]. Long periods of discharge of lochia—or the return of lochia after it stops—are more common among mothers who aren’t breastfeeding [1].
How do I distinguish lochia from my period coming back?
If you continue to notice something that looks like blood 40 days after delivery, or if you have stopped seeing lochia and suddenly notice it again, there is a good chance you are menstruating again. It’s a good idea to resume your preferred method of birth control at this time.
When should I call my doctor about my lochia?
Call your doctor if:
the discharge is still heavy and bright red more than a week after delivery;
you have to change thick/overnight menstrual pads every hour;
you see large (plum-sized) clots;
your lochia was no longer red, but then became red again, and it’s less than 14 days after delivery;
the lochia smells foul;
the lochia has lasted longer than 60 days.
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