Postpartum bleeding is completely normal. It is also termed as lochia bleeding and is considered a part of the self-cleansing process of the uterus. In some cases, complications may occur, leading to abnormal bleeding.
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Lochia
Lochia is the name given to postpartum bleeding. Every woman who delivers a child, either vaginally or through cesarean section, will experience this type of bleeding. It is the way in which your body expels excess mucus, placental tissue, and blood after giving birth.
Normal duration of lochia bleeding
You can expect to bleed heavily for the first three to ten postpartum days, after which the bleeding should taper off, turning from red to pink, then brown, and finally to a yellowish white. Lochia should stop sometime between four and six weeks postpartum.
The placenta is attached to the uterine wall throughout a pregnancy. During the birthing process, it detaches itself, leaving open blood vessels at the point of attachment. These blood vessels begin to bleed into the uterus but with time, the uterus contracts, thereby closing the blood vessels, and the bleeding should stop.
Every woman will have to go through postpartum bleeding after childbirth. The chances of complications during this bleeding period though, are higher in C-section deliveries. In normal cases, postpartum bleeding will be bright red and heavy for the first few days with some blood clots.
Usually, heavy bleeding may reduce to a pinkish discharge within five to six days. The color of the discharge gradually changes to brownish-yellow and then white. This process may take around 15 days, but in some cases, it may last up to four or six weeks.
Large clots with your bleeding however could be a cause of worry. In case of very large clots, immediate medical attention is needed.
Causes for excessive bleeding
Apart from the presence of large clots in the discharge, uncontrollable heavy bleeding after a C-section is also not normal and should not be taken lightly. It is not normal if you have to go through several sanitary pads within an hour to soak up the blood.
There could be various reasons for this heavy bleeding after a C-section delivery. It could be due to damage caused to a major blood vessel during the surgery. The removal of the placenta, that is strongly attached to the uterine wall, may also be a reason, where in some cases, the placenta is not removed completely during the C-section, leaving the fragments to bleed heavily.
Another reason why there may be excessive bleeding is that the uterus does not contract the way it should, allowing the blood vessels to remain open and bleed. Excess strain after a C-section may also cause heavy bleeding.
Treating heavy bleeding
If you’re found to be experiencing excessive bleeding after undergoing a C-section, you may have to be treated by a doctor. There are various methods of treatment.
While some cases require medication, others may require surgery, depending upon the cause of the bleeding. If the uterus does not contract to stop the bleeding after childbirth, medicines are prescribed for stimulating it to do so.
Some women may experience excessive blood loss due to this heavy bleeding and in these cases, blood transfusions will be required. There might be cases where surgery is the only way to stop the bleeding. A hysterectomy or uterus removal surgery might be required to prevent the blood loss in some rare cases.
How to tell if you’re bleeding too much
If bright red spotting reappears after your lochia has already lightened, it may just be a sign that you need to slow down. However, if you continue to spot after taking it easy for a few days, check in with your doctor.
Call your doctor if your bleeding is getting heavier or:
- Your lochia still bright red four days after your baby’s birth.
- Your lochia has a foul smell or you come down with fever or chills, which can be a sign of a postpartum infection.
- You have abnormally heavy bleeding (saturating a sanitary pad in an hour or having blood clots bigger than a golf ball). This is a sign of a postpartum hemorrhage and requires immediate attention.
