How long does it take to bleed after childbirth? Bleeding after childbirth

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Postpartum bleeding is normal process resulting in natural cleansing uterine cavity from lochia and retained remnants of placental tissue. The severity of bleeding depends on its nature, total blood loss and duration. How long after labor is underway blood is a question that concerns every young mother.

For many women, bleeding as a result of childbirth is not a cause for alarm and does not pose any threat. Abundant in the first days, it gradually decreases and disappears within a few weeks. Severe bleeding that occurs with painful contractions and nagging pain, pronounced odor and putrefactive discharge, is not the norm and requires urgent medical intervention.

Causes of bleeding after childbirth

Severe bleeding in the first hours after the birth of a newborn can be caused by:

Poor indicators of blood clotting, individual for a woman in labor, as a result of which blood flows out of the genital tract in liquid streams without any symptoms of incipient thrombosis (thickened lumps, darkening of the color of the blood). It is not difficult to prevent such bleeding if, on the eve of giving birth, a woman undergoes an appropriate blood test for coagulation.
resulting in injury birth canal.
Incremental tissue of the placenta, as a result of which blood will flow, since the uterus cannot fully .
Unsatisfactory ability of the reproductive organ to contract due to overstretching of its tissues caused by, and.
Gynecological problems associated with changes in the structure of the reproductive organ - uterine fibroids or fibroids.

Late bleeding may develop 2 hours after delivery and over the next 6 weeks.

Why there's blood coming out after childbirth in this case:

particles of placental tissue are retained in the uterus;
a bloody clot or several clots cannot leave the uterus as a result of its spasm in the cervical area;
the recovery time of the uterus is delayed due to the inflammatory process in the pelvic area, this condition is characterized by an increase general temperature body and prolonged bleeding.

How long does bleeding last after childbirth?

Every woman who cares about her health is sure to ask her doctor about how and how much days go by blood after childbirth. Normally, postpartum discharge lasts up to 6 weeks, but for many young mothers it ends a little earlier.

During this period of time, the mucous layer of the uterus is restored, and the organ takes on its prenatal form. bleeding continues longer because the muscles and walls of the uterus were injured during surgical intervention, and it takes longer to return to its original state.

How much blood will flow after childbirth directly depends on the following factors:

features of the course of pregnancy and labor activity;
way of delivery - or;
natural contractile activity of the uterus;
, for example, inflammatory phenomena in the pelvic organs;
features of a woman’s physiological status, health status;
features of lactation - regular application of the baby to the breast, on demand, reduces the number of lochia and enhances the contractile activity of the uterus, as a result of which the organ begins to cleanse itself more effectively.

To reduce the duration of postpartum bleeding and avoid possible complications, it is recommended to follow the following rules:

empty regularly bladder and intestines, so that overcrowded organs do not create excess pressure on the uterus and do not interfere with its contractility;
carefully observe hygiene rules to prevent infection of the birth canal;
exclude physical activity and intimate relationships for 6 weeks after the birth of the child;
sleep on your stomach, as in this position the uterus cleanses more intensively;
establish breastfeeding as much as possible.

Although bleeding after childbirth is natural process, this condition requires attention from the woman and the doctor.

Normal bleeding

How long after childbirth bleeding normally occurs was stated above - about 6 weeks. Postpartum bleeding is divided into several stages that differ from each other specific signs: coloring and intensity of discharge.

On the first day after birth, the amount of discharge will be greater than during normal menstruation. The blood will flow bright scarlet. On the first day, blood is removed from the vessels that attached the placental membranes to the wall of the uterus, so there will be a lot of it. Such bleeding is considered normal from the first to the fourth day after delivery.

Over the next 10-14 days, the amount of discharge decreases significantly. The scarlet tint of the discharge, which is accepted immediately after childbirth, at this time changes to faint pink, brownish or yellow. The uterus continues to contract, and after 2 weeks bleeding is minimized to a small amount of discharge per day.

Less commonly, bleeding continues longer, and until the 6th week of the postpartum period, a woman is bothered by uterine discharge with scarlet blood. If they are not abundant and inconsistent, there is nothing wrong with that. Most often, their appearance is preceded by physical exertion, nervous shock and other unfavorable factors.

Pathological bleeding

We described above how long postpartum bleeding will last normally and what it depends on. But pathological conditions do occur.

Necessity medical care occurs if postpartum discharge is accompanied by the following symptoms:

they last more than 6 weeks;
minor bloody discharge suddenly change to bright scarlet blood;
health worsens and general state women;
discharge is accompanied by significant painful sensations lower abdomen;
clinical manifestations of intoxication develop - body temperature rises, dizziness appears, general weakness, nausea, etc.;
bloody issues Instead of physiological shades, they acquire yellow-green and dark brown colors, complemented by a repulsive odor.

Regardless of how much blood flows after childbirth, if the discharge becomes more intense and acquires a scarlet color and a liquid structure, you should urgently contact the ambulance service. Painful sensations, an increase in body temperature, a change in the nature and color of uterine discharge always become evidence of developed postpartum complications, for example, endometriosis, inflammatory process in the pelvis and other pathological conditions. In such cases, the correct course of action will be timely, thorough diagnosis and treatment.

How many days after delivery a young mother will have discharge is a controversial question. Postpartum bleeding normally lasts no more than 6 weeks, but this can be influenced by many factors, including physiological characteristics women.

During the postpartum period, the mother should monitor the nature of the bleeding, any changes and associated symptoms this condition. If everything is normal, and the body recovers without complications after the birth of the child, then after 6 weeks any uterine discharge should stop.

Helpful video about postpartum bleeding

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Blood after childbirth is a completely normal natural process that helps the uterus empty its cavity of placenta particles. By and large, bleeding from the vagina should not frighten a woman, however profuse bleeding- a cause for concern.

What is considered normal and natural, and what symptoms should alert a young mother - we will talk about all this further.

"Good" type of bleeding

Dark blood clots that are released after the baby is born may be caused by lochia discharge. This normal bleeding, which is not dangerous to a woman’s health.

If the postpartum period is stable and there are no complications, this type bleeding should stop completely after 14-16 days. Moreover, it should be understood that “good” bleeding after childbirth cannot be abundant. Otherwise, this is a real pathological acute bleeding.
In order to reduce the likelihood of severe bleeding after childbirth, immediately after the baby is born, doctors should apply a heating pad with ice to the mother's abdomen. Also, if necessary, enter medicines to stop bleeding.

Important! All women should continue to bleed for several days or even weeks after giving birth. Moreover, if it stands out dark blood in small quantities and does not cause pain, this is considered normal. The opposite picture will occur when a woman has red blood, which is accompanied by a high temperature. This condition is a good reason for an urgent visit to a specialist.

It should also be noted that “good” bleeding is late menstruation, which a woman may accidentally confuse with menstruation.

For those new mothers who do not breastfeed for certain reasons, the normal cycle can return to normal after 20 days.

“Bad” type of discharge

Bleeding that occurs a month after childbirth is dangerous. , as well as cases when a woman goes to the toilet with blood . In addition, bleeding is regarded as pathological in the following cases:

When after childbirth there is bleeding for three or more days and at the same time it has a bright red color (lochia cannot have such a shade, which indicates uterine bleeding).
If the blood began to flow a month after a strong emotional experience, intimate relationship or sports stress on the body.
With increasing blood loss, when a woman needs to change hygiene products literally hourly.
The blood acquires a putrid odor and a strange consistency.
The appearance of secondary impurities in the blood, which can be signs of an acute purulent focus in the reproductive organs.
Bleeding, which is accompanied by disturbances in blood pressure, pallor of the woman and other signs of a pathological focus.

Important! Until the cause of bleeding is determined, the gynecologist after childbirth does not advise women to breastfeed, because if the source of the blood is an infection, then it can harm the baby.

Features of bleeding

How many days will a woman bleed or bleed after giving birth? general allocation blood, is determined by the following factors:

The presence or absence of problems with blood clotting.
Method of childbirth. Thus, during the natural birth of a baby, a woman’s uterine cavity is more traumatized, and when caesarean section- the muscles of the anterior abdominal cavity are affected.
Success of childbirth, fetal weight and the presence of postpartum injuries.
The general health of the mother in labor and the presence of severe chronic diseases.
State immune system women.
Practice breastfeeding(when a woman frequently puts her baby to her breast, the uterine cavity clears faster and the volume of lochia decreases).
Correct adherence to postpartum measures (application of a cold compress, administration of a number of medications, cleanliness during childbirth, etc.).
Physiological characteristics of a woman and her tendency to recover.
The presence of postpartum complications, such as infections or inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs.
State hormonal levels women, as well as the presence of a number of endocrine disorders.

Causes

The main causes of bleeding in this state are:

Rapid childbirth, which became the culprit of severe damage to the woman’s birth canal. In this condition, a woman in labor may experience severe ruptures of organs. At the same time, copious bleeding can be observed for several days after rapid labor.
Pathologies of the attachment of the placenta to the uterus, which subsequently provoke severe bleeding.
Poor blood clotting in a woman in labor can provoke excessive bleeding. In such a condition, doctors should urgently administer hemostatic drugs to the woman. Otherwise, death from blood loss cannot be ruled out (which is why it is dangerous to give birth outside a hospital setting without medical supervision).
Presence of changes in the uterus.
Poor contractility of the uterus, which can be caused by very strong stretching of its walls.
Rupture of the uterus, which was provoked by difficult childbirth (usually occurs with a large fetus).
Accumulation in the uterus of amniotic mucous tissue that has not yet come out.
The appearance of blood that cannot completely leave the organ due to reflexive contraction of the uterus. This condition is often observed during cesarean section.
Presence of outbreak acute inflammation, which led to a slowdown in the recovery process.

Diagnostics

At the first suspicious discharge of blood, a woman should contact her observing gynecologist. After initial examination and collecting anamnesis, the doctor may also prescribe the patient an ultrasound examination and blood tests.

If blood appears, the woman must be urgently hospitalized and given medicinal treatment.

The doctor must also determine the type of bleeding: primary (occurs immediately after childbirth and in the first three days after it) and secondary (develops after several weeks).

Treatment

Immediately after the baby is born, doctors take a number of steps to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, the woman needs to stay in the delivery room for two hours after giving birth. This is necessary for acceptance emergency measures in case of bleeding.

During this period, the condition of the woman in labor is monitored by staff who monitor the pulse, arterial pressure and the amount of blood released.

For women who are giving birth for the first time or have had a difficult labor, the doctor examines the vagina and uterus to look for damage. If necessary, the affected areas of the ruptures are stitched and treated with antiseptics.

The permissible amount of blood loss during childbirth should not exceed 500 mg. Otherwise, the woman's blood loss will be regarded as bleeding.

If bleeding occurs, the following treatment measures are taken:

Administration of drugs to stop bleeding. They are selected by a doctor in each individual case.
Applying cold to the lower abdomen.
Carrying out external massage of the uterine area. To do this, the doctor places his hand on the fundus of the uterus and gently squeezes it until the organ contracts. For women, such an event is unpleasant, but it can be endured without anesthesia. A hand can also be inserted into the organ to examine its walls. After this, the hand is clenched into a fist.
Inserting a tampon into the vagina. The tampon itself must be saturated special means which will cause uterine contractions.
If there is severe bleeding, the patient needs an urgent blood transfusion.

If bleeding is advanced, a woman may need surgery. The following operations can be used to stop bleeding:

Complete removal of the uterus.
Squeezing of affected vessels in the reproductive system.
Stitching of uterine injuries.

Important! If bleeding is severe, it is impossible to stop it at home. Moreover, if at the same time the woman tries to recover traditional methods, then she will only waste precious time. The wisest thing to do in such a condition is to call an ambulance.

Why is blood released: normal

According to gynecologists and obstetricians, after the birth of a child, small amounts of blood can be released for up to four weeks in a row. If the woman’s condition is satisfactory, she does not suffer from pain, high temperature and other dangerous signs, then this process is regarded as a physiological norm.

Gradually, the uterus will clear itself of postpartum injuries and restore its mucous layer.

Important! After a caesarean section, the woman’s recovery process takes longer, since the muscles and walls of the uterus are injured. surgically. In this condition, the healing period of the organ will be longer.

Preventive measures

In order to reduce the risk pathological bleeding After the birth of the baby, it is important for young mothers to adhere to the following doctor’s recommendations:

Avoid sexual intercourse with a man for several weeks to allow the uterus to fully recover and heal birth wounds.
Take it regularly clinical tests blood to monitor white blood cells, as well as hemoglobin and platelets. If any malfunctions are detected, take normalizing medications prescribed by your doctor.
Before the birth of a child, it is very important to take blood tests for clotting. This way, the woman herself and the doctors will specifically understand what they need to be prepared for.
Strictly prohibited in postpartum period smoking or drinking alcohol, especially if the woman is breastfeeding.
Carefully observe personal hygiene of the genitals. However, you need to change it regularly sanitary napkin and wash with simple baby soap.
For two months after the birth of the child, any physical activity, especially heavy lifting, is strictly contraindicated. During such a period, a woman needs to take maximum care of herself, especially if she had a caesarean section (stress can not only cause bleeding, but also contribute to the divergence of the stitches).
To improve lactation, it is useful to enrich the diet with fermented milk products.
Carefully monitor your diet. In this state, it is very useful for a woman to eat cereals, soups and vegetable dishes. At the same time, food should be cooked mainly by steaming, baking or boiling. You need to forget about fatty, smoked, salted and fried foods for a long time.
On the first day after giving birth, be sure to apply a cold ice compress to your stomach.
To cleanse the uterine cavity as quickly as possible, a woman is recommended to lie on her stomach.
When you first feel the urge to urinate, you should immediately visit the toilet so that a full bladder does not lead to unnecessary contractions of the uterus.
Visit more fresh air. At the same time, it is very useful to practice long hiking with the baby, as these actions will be useful for mother and child.
In order to reduce the likelihood of postpartum complications, every week a woman must undergo a follow-up examination with a gynecologist. Only a specialist will be able to identify problems with the uterus in a timely manner and prescribe the necessary treatment.

It should be understood that it is important not only how much there is bleeding, and what character does it have, and what additional symptoms at the same time observed in women. Wherein, copious discharge bleeding can be extremely dangerous to health, so do not delay in contacting a doctor if they appear.

Any woman who has given birth should not be frightened postpartum lochia. This process is planned by nature itself, and the young mother’s body is ready for this. But what if the spotting turns into bleeding? How long does it take to bleed after childbirth? When should you see a doctor?

Lochia

Lochia is literally blood after childbirth. How long does this process take? It all depends on the woman’s state of health: for some, lochia lasts for several days, while others suffer for two months.

Lochia is a bloody discharge mixed with bacteria, as well as remnants of the endometrium of the uterus. In the first two to three days after birth, it is difficult to distinguish them from normal bleeding or menstruation, since there is too much blood in them. But then they change their bright red color to serous and become less abundant.

Lochia can flow constantly and in equal volumes, or they can be released intermittently, but in large quantities. In the latter case, the discharge is more abundant, mixed with blood clots.

Of course, such a phenomenon can frighten a young mother, but there are significant and completely natural reasons for the appearance of lochia.

Why should there be blood after childbirth?

Bleeding after childbirth is common. physiological process.

During pregnancy, the placenta is attached to the wall of the uterus and communicates with it through small blood vessels. During childbirth, the placenta separates from the walls of the uterus, exposing blood vessels that begin to bleed. Young mothers have a completely natural question: how long does blood flow after childbirth?

Ideally, immediately after the birth of a child, a woman should begin postpartum contractions, during which the uterus contracts and compresses the blood vessels, thereby helping to stop the bleeding. If we draw an analogy, a person does the same thing when his finger bleeds: he simply presses the wound with his second hand. Minor blood loss after childbirth is a planned process, especially considering that while carrying a baby, the mother’s blood volume doubles. But if a woman bleeds without interruption, then it is urgent to look for the cause and begin treatment.

How long does it take to bleed after childbirth?

If we talk about such a phenomenon as lochia, then they should not bother a young mother for more than two months. This maximum term, during which blood may be released after childbirth.

How long does it take for severe blood loss to occur? The first three days of discharge are even more abundant than during menstruation. Moreover, the blood comes out bright red because the uterine vessels are bleeding. As mentioned above, the reason for this is insufficient contraction of the uterus after childbirth, which is why the bleeding stops for several days.

As the walls of the uterus heal and the internal genital organs are restored, the discharge begins to change color from bright red to pink, and then light yellow. This period lasts approximately two weeks.

If no complications occur, then a healthy woman can count on the fact that after two weeks she will no longer be bothered by such discharge.

Deviations from the norm

How long does it take to bleed after childbirth? healthy woman, we figured it out. But what if, after two weeks, spotting still continues to bother the young mother?

In some cases, doctors admit that the healing of the uterus can take six weeks, so even two months recovery period are considered the norm.

If the bleeding stops, but after a long period it starts again, it is necessary to reduce physical activity, since it is increased activity that contributes to this condition.

If the bleeding that recurs three weeks after birth is not too severe, then there is no need to sound the alarm. But if there is as much blood coming out as in the first days after birth, then this is a signal that you need to immediately go to the doctor.

Causes of prolonged bleeding after childbirth

How long does it take to bleed after childbirth if the exposed vessels after detachment of the placenta cause bleeding? Three days are enough for the contracting uterus to cope with the task on its own. If this does not happen, then the cause of the pathology may lie in the following:

The uterus contracts too sluggishly after childbirth or there are no postpartum contractions at all.
Remains of the placenta in the uterus. They can provoke sluggish contraction of the organ, as well as constant discharge.
Ruptures of the tissues of the genital organs. During childbirth, there are complications when the woman in labor tears the tissue of the vagina, perineum, or even the cervix. Sometimes they are cut deliberately so as not to damage the baby’s skull, and also to prevent lacerations, which heal longer and harder. Usually doctors carefully stitch everything up, but if a gap in any place was not noticed or the seam is damaged, then it continues to bleed for a long time, which even poses a threat to life.

How to behave

Knowing how many days the blood bleeds after childbirth is just as useful for a young mother as it is to understand how to behave during lochia. To promote fast healing uterus, and not interfere with your own recovery, you must follow the following rules.

Avoid tampons. All blood clots must come out of the vagina and in no case stagnate. To feel comfortable, it is better to get night pads that can absorb large volumes of liquid. You should forget about tampons, as they can provoke the development of infections of the internal genital organs.
Constantly empty your bladder. In the first days after childbirth, this organ loses its sensitivity. It is better not to wait for the urge to urinate, but to visit the toilet in advance. Otherwise, an overfilled bladder will put pressure on the uterus and once again provoke bleeding.
It is necessary to immediately consult a doctor if symptoms persist for more than four days. profuse lochia(in one hour the pad is completely saturated), especially if they also contain large blood clots.

Medical treatment of postpartum hemorrhage

Knowing how long the blood flows after childbirth, a woman can draw at least approximate conclusions (whether her lochia corresponds to the norm or not). If there is cause for concern, the young mother should immediately go to see a gynecologist. What treatment will she be offered?

If the cause of long-term lochia is the remains of the placenta in the uterus, then the young mother will have to “cleanse”. You should not shy away from this procedure, since this is fraught with the formation of purulent processes in the uterus, which after some time will lead to infertility. After the “cleansing”, the woman is prescribed a series of antibiotics that will prevent the development of infection.

If the examination shows that there are no serious abnormalities, but it turns out that the young mother too quickly began to lead an active lifestyle, go to the gym, and so on, then it will be enough to reduce physical activity and the lochia will stop. Having assessed the overall picture, the gynecologist may advise the mother to breastfeed the baby more often, since this process provokes uterine contractions and, as a result, stops bleeding.

If undetected tears are found in the vaginal cavity or cervix, they are sutured.

Rehabilitation

We found out how long blood should flow after childbirth and how to control this process. Let's talk about what prohibitions we will have to face if complications do occur and a “cleaning” is done.

At a minimum, you will have to forget about hot baths, steam baths and saunas, going to the gym and any other physical activity. Naturally, you will have to give up sexual relations for some time.

How long after childbirth does the blood stop flowing - their obstetricians-gynecologists should inform future mothers in detail about this. If this does not happen, it is better to inquire yourself in order to avoid unnecessary complications in the future.

Uterine spotting and actual bleeding after childbirth are two very different things. Some women in labor perceive any bloody discharge, even the slightest, after childbirth, as a dangerous condition that threatens life.

However, is this so? What should women giving birth know, and when should they really worry about their health? What is the norm for natural uterine discharge, and what color should it be? Read more about discharge after childbirth.

Uterine bleeding after childbirth, according to the World Health Organization, is an emergency obstetric pathology that complicates every tenth birth in the world. Every 4 minutes in the world, regardless of the degree of development of the country, one woman in labor dies due to uterine abnormal bleeding in the early (including) postpartum period.

Severe (heavy) bleeding after childbirth is almost always associated with complications; it is observed with caesarean section almost twice as often. However, this does not mean that minor bleeding immediately after childbirth should be perceived as a threat to life. The main thing is to know the reason for this manifestation, the volume of permissible blood released and its color.

A woman’s uterine arteries deliver from 500 to 700 per minute to the placenta during the entire period of pregnancy. After delivery, this amount of blood may remain in the uterine cavity. Bleeding in the afterbirth (early postpartum) period occurs due to natural contractions of the uterine cavity.

Myometrium, if all is well and labor has passed naturally decreases very quickly in the first three days. That is why the most abundant discharge is observed during this period. Then, discharge for one month is considered normal. However, this is a scanty, non-constant discharge of a brownish, smeared tint.

After cesarean and natural birth, the volume of blood released should be the same.

Caesarean section, although considered a safe and frequently performed operation, due to the fact that an incision is made on the body of the uterus, can provoke late postpartum hemorrhage if the woman in labor was not given additional Oxytocin to improve uterine contractions. Additionally, anti-tetanus injections are given (in the abdomen) and droppers with Oxytocin are placed directly in the delivery room after the baby is removed from the uterus.

The most dangerous condition in obstetrics of the postpartum period is uterine hypotension. In simple words- this is the passivity of the uterine body to contraction, it is in a kind of “paralyzed” postpartum state (period), and therefore the process of bleeding after childbirth in the first period is most often associated with just such an anomaly.

Postpartum hypotonic bleeding is the cause of death in mothers in the postpartum period; even experienced obstetricians cannot stop this process. If the task is complicated by large blood loss (more than 1.5 liters) rare group blood giving birth (4.3 Rh negative), then the lethality of the birth outcome is very high.

All natural for women reproductive organs the processes should end by the end of the second month. This is why obstetricians warn against early sexual intercourse. Start off sex life possible only 2 months after birth. Violation of this rule can provoke increased discharge from the uterine cavity. Danger signs(symptoms) in this case:

stomach ache;
heaviness in the lower back;
putrid odor in intimate places;
greenish or distinct yellow discharge;
temperature;
loss of consciousness.

In this case, the doctor conducts additional research, because if not all of the blood has come out, then a fatal disease may develop - endometritis.

After three months there should be no discharge. If there is red discharge and the woman in labor is breastfeeding, you should consult a doctor. Any delay could threaten your life.

Causes of bleeding after childbirth

Bleeding in the postpartum period has a different etiology of origin, differs in intensity, clinical manifestation(picture) and according to the complexity for the woman in labor (emergency, pathological). Most frequent bleeding after childbirth is associated with such manifestations as uterine hypotension. In particular, it is for this reason that doctors recommend administering specific drugs for prevention that help accelerate the contraction of the uterine muscles (Oxytocin, Carbetocin or Pabal). Reasons why bleeding associated with hypotension occurs:

age under 18 years;
abnormalities of labor and placenta;
anaphylactic shock;
embolism;
gestosis;
developmental defects internal organs(sidelocutaneous, horn-shaped uterus;
previously cesarean uterus, and subsequent births are natural;
polyhydramnios;
a large number of fruits;
chronic extragenital diseases.

However, there are other reasons for bleeding in the early postpartum period:

Violation of placental abruption. The most important thing after childbirth is to “give birth” to the baby’s place, the so-called placenta. Postpartum bleeding and its most common reasons- These are the remains of tissue inside the body of the uterus. In any case, there is accumulated blood, which the obstetrician squeezes out from the uterus immediately on the obstetric table when the child lies on the mother’s chest. Such a process does not bring pain to the woman in labor, and a competent professional will do everything in such a way that all the clots come out in large quantities during this period. Late postpartum bleeding (after a month), as a rule, is associated with precisely this process, when the body of the uterus is not completely freed from the remains of the placenta. At the same time, the discharge was normal throughout the subsequent period, and the condition of the woman in labor did not cause concern. The best prevention such an unsightly situation is an ultrasound scan upon discharge from maternity ward.
Traumatization during childbirth. Observed this pathology with the same early birth, multiple pregnancy. The situation is complicated by the so-called rapid labor with increased intoxication of the body. Tears or cuts can be on the body of the uterus (caesarean), on the cervix, and in the vagina (during natural childbirth). The severity is determined by category (from 1 to 4). The more severe the severity, the higher the risk of blood loss. The causes of this condition can be early multiple abortions (more than 5), early births with complications, difficult previous births (cesarean), and obstetric illiteracy. Rupture on your own is much worse than an obstetric incision, so if the obstetrician during childbirth sees that the baby’s head does not go through, then it is advisable to make an obstetric incision, as the mother will then lose a lot of strength and blood.
Blood diseases. The most rare conditions that should be investigated in advance.

TO dangerous diseases that can cause complications and bleeding include:

hemophilia;
hypofibrinogenemia;
von Willebrand's disease.

Bleeding during childbirth (and/or the postpartum period) and its causes are provoked primarily by pathological conditions. The risk group includes pregnant women such as primiparas in early age, multiple pregnancy, natural childbirth after cesarean section, a baby weighing more than 4 kg or less, if the mother's weight is below normal, abnormalities of the uterus and narrow pelvis. Recommendations for the postpartum period must be strictly followed.

Bleeding in the placenta and early postpartum period can be prevented if you provide all the information about your health, follow your doctor’s recommendations and understand the need (if indicated) for a cesarean section. Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage is the introduction of additional amounts of the hormone oxytocin and other drugs that will help increase uterine contractions. Early postpartum bleeding is considered dangerous conditions, which lead to the death of mothers in the first three months after delivery.

Blood after childbirth: how long does it flow, and what does the duration depend on?

Bleeding in the first postpartum period occurs in the first two hours, maximum four hours after birth. This process is started under the influence of a natural hormone that is released during childbirth and contractions - oxytocin. All further period(1 day or more) is designated as late dates bleeding.

Second-time mothers already know how long it takes to bleed after childbirth, and what the discharge should actually be like, and what should cause concern. However, for those who give birth for the first time, it is very important to know when the bleeding stops, how long it lasts, how many days are considered normal, and what to do if it bleeds longer than the prescribed period.

Blood clots form in the uterine cavity after any birth. And this process is considered normal if the clots come out before 5 days after the baby is born. Actually, for this purpose, an additional ultrasound examination is carried out, and if it is discovered that some piece remains, then additional curettage is performed (under local anesthetic).

Natural, normal blood loss during childbirth is 0.5-0.6 liters. Up to one liter is allowed for caesarean section, however, to stabilize the condition, a blood transfusion is always performed in parallel with anesthetics (with spinal anesthesia), regardless of the patient’s condition. Anything above the specified volume is an anomaly that requires additional treatment. But how can you independently determine that very norm? Is it possible to somehow determine it without measuring the liquid?

To do this, you need to know the process of blood secretion, its intensity relative to childbirth. Average duration(duration) normal early bleeding– the first five days, that is, the time when the woman in labor is in the maternity hospital. This is an abundant scarlet discharge that literally does not flow, but “squishes” at the slightest movement, and this is normal.

From about the third or fifth day, the discharge becomes less intense, and from the second week it is identical in quantity to a simple period. They may be larger in volume at one time and smaller at a second time, but this is a natural process that should not cause fear in the mother. The situation is considered not normal when, a month after giving birth, blood of a bright scarlet or burgundy color begins to flow. This may indicate a postpartum complication that requires immediate hospitalization.

Approximately one and a half to two months after birth, such discharge should completely stop. If even spotting does not stop in the third month, it is necessary to undergo additional examination. To monitor the woman in labor and her condition, the obstetrician sets a time for a mandatory visit to the doctor after childbirth:

all days when the woman in labor is in the ward of the maternity ward (doctor monitoring);
last day of discharge (on mandatory with ultrasound procedure);
two months after birth;
6 months after birth;
subsequent mandatory gynecological examinations in terms of regular research.

If suddenly the bleeding occurred in a normal volume for the first month, and then sharply continues to increase in volume, the color and smell change, and the woman in labor feels apathy, fatigue, drowsiness and loss of appetite, then hospitalization with treatment with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy is necessary.

It is important to understand that the entire process of cleansing the uterus is a necessary period of cleansing from stagnant blood clots, and if everything proceeds normally, there are no changes in color, smell and well-being, then there is no need to worry. The amount of blood in the first month may increase once due to heavy lifting, nervous condition, depression, decreased hemoglobin levels. However, all these symptoms are easily eliminated. As a rule, the most voluminous (squelching) discharge ends within the first 10 days.

Features of postpartum hemorrhage

Bright scarlet blood in the first month of labor, namely in the first two weeks, is a natural process of cleansing the uterus, which, by contracting, gets rid of accumulated excess blood. A small blood loss during childbirth, up to 0.6 liters, is the norm; anything higher is an issue that requires attention.

Emergency care in the postpartum period may only be required in the following situations:

increase in body temperature (usually no faster than the third day);
blood loss more than one liter;
disorientation;
vomiting, nausea, headache simultaneously;
acute pain in the abdomen (not in the lower part, where natural spasms of the uterus occur);
constricted pupils and loss of consciousness, partial loss of memory;
cessation of discharge in any quantity (not even smeared). Additional Methods stopping bleeding is considered as inflammatory process, which further provokes uterine hemostasis;
rapid breathing, pulse, heartbeat;
putrid, rotten smell of copious discharge;
hot, tight to the touch abdomen, difficult to palpate.

Obstetric bleeding in the early period after delivery does not cause concern if the woman feels well, and the abdomen is well palpated, there is no hardening, and the woman in labor does not respond to all the doctor’s examinations with a painful perception.

Complications, on the contrary, after childbirth ( early period or late) is a very big risk for a woman’s health. All manifestations can develop at lightning speed; in just a few hours, sepsis provokes complications and death of the patient.

Therefore, in the maternity ward, women in labor are asked to systematically measure body temperature, show the nature of the discharge, and palpate at least twice a day. This is a natural process that prevents postpartum complications.

Late postpartum bleeding

Late bleeding is considered to be discharge from one day (obstetric). However, in practice, for women in labor, all discharge after one month is considered late. The discharge ends within a month after birth in almost 60% of women in labor.

If there are weak brownish secretions that appear after physical activity, no need to worry. If contraction of the uterine body occurs according to the postpartum period, then such discharge will be short-lived and will end in a few hours.

However, if the above pathologies associated with heavy discharge and feeling unwell, then you shouldn’t hesitate to go to the gynecologist. Every minute of extension complicates the situation.

Treatment of postpartum hemorrhage

Treatment postpartum hemorrhage- a mandatory set of measures that prevents the occurrence dangerous situations:

Hospitalization. The first thing to remember is no self-medication, lie down and wait it out. Every drop of blood is a risk and deadly danger. Hospitalization can be carried out either in the maternity ward (if the baby is under one month old) or in a hospital gynecological pathology. The duration of treatment depends on the degree of complexity and the amount of blood lost.
Withdrawal of urine using a urethral catheter. Complete bowel movement - necessary measure, which counteracts the formation of urea pressure on the body of the uterus, contractions occur more intensely.
Inspection of the birth canal and placenta. To exclude injuries that were possible during childbirth, as well as uterine rupture (during caesarean section), it is necessary to conduct a complete examination of all internal organs. A life-threatening condition is blood entering the abdominal cavity.
Ultrasound examination also mandatory event, which is carried out in parallel with all examinations. Only with such a device can one see the absence or presence of a clot and additional lobules of placenta.
Prescription of drug treatment. Based on the research and data obtained, the doctor prescribes effective and urgent treatment that will counteract the formation of uterine atony. The main thing is to establish the cause of this condition, the degree of the process and its complexity. Medicines that are used in any case are intravenous injections Oxytocin or methylergometrine-containing drugs. Additionally, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial therapy is prescribed, which eliminates the possibility of life-threatening situations developing for the mother.

The postpartum woman and her relatives must understand that the postpartum period is the most difficult moment for female body who just learned to be a mother. At this moment, all important changes in the body occur: the girl becomes a mother. In order for the entire recovery process to occur without complications, it is important to follow the doctor’s recommendations and follow all his instructions.

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage means following the recommendations and prescriptions of the maternity ward staff. Contraction of the uterus is a natural process that can be accelerated using natural procedures for women that nature has provided:

Breastfeeding your baby helps increase the production of your own happiness hormone – oxytocin and endorphin. Under the influence of such hormones, the uterus contracts faster, and the recovery process does not drag on for a long period.
Lie on your stomach – simple recommendation, which also allows you to further stimulate the uterus to contract.
Applying cold to the lower abdomen immediately after childbirth. As a rule, such procedures are carried out by nurses who help mothers in the ward immediately after delivery. It is not recommended to carry out such activities on your own.
Feeding the baby frequently (on demand). The first months of a baby’s life require not only increased attention from the mother's side, but also needs to replenish its own strength, which is partially compensated by mother's milk. This process is inherent at the genetic level, and therefore nature itself allows you to avoid all sorts of complications after childbirth; for this you just need to feed the baby as soon as he demands it.
Walks in the open air. Restoring red blood cells and increasing hemoglobin is a mandatory measure for all women in labor. However, this task is especially relevant for those who gave birth by cesarean section. The stitches that were placed during childbirth will pull, heal and cause discomfort and pain. But walks in the fresh air are mandatory for everyone, regardless of the condition and degree of difficulty of the birth.
Emptying your bladder regularly. Stagnation of urine is a risk for the mother, who, under the pressure of a filled bladder, is unable to contract normally and intensively. Therefore, the main task of a woman in labor is to constantly monitor emptying and under no circumstances tolerate it.

Personal hygiene rules during this period

It is worth considering separately such a process as personal hygiene after childbirth. Many girls who have given birth are afraid to take a shower, leave the baby, or spend water treatments. However, personal hygiene in the postpartum period is the key to quick recovery and prevention of complications.

In addition to the fact that it is necessary to carry out shower procedures every day, it is important to carry out preventive washing of the seams, especially if we are talking about several external seams on the labia. The cleaner the fusion site is, the faster the healing process. Remains of blood and secretions contribute to the development of pathogenic flora, which in the future will lead to suppuration.

Bleeding after childbirth is normal, as long as it occurs without pathologies. By and large, these are blood cells and epithelium from the walls of the uterus. Bleeding after childbirth in a woman is explained by the fact that this is a very difficult physiological process, in which ruptures and multiple microtraumas very often occur. After the placenta has been delivered, the uterus remains great amount unnecessary epithelium, blood vessels. They are the ones that leave a woman’s body during the postpartum period.

Some people tolerate this bleeding after pregnancy calmly and painlessly, while others sometimes need qualified help. It is quite natural to have copious bleeding in the first hours after childbirth; up to 500 g of blood can come out. But the woman must be constantly monitored. After a certain time, they subside. In a month this should disappear to almost nothing.

Causes

Many women worry about how long bleeding should last after childbirth. The normal duration of bleeding after childbirth lasts up to 60 days. There are cases that a woman’s bleeding subsides after two weeks after childbirth.

In the first 2 hours after birth, heavy bleeding may be due to:

– it is liquid and literally “flows like a stream” without even trying to curl up;
Rapid labor is also a cause of severe blood loss;
If the placenta is accreta and interferes with involution.

If the blood does not stop coming out after 2 months, then this is a serious reason to consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

The reasons for this bleeding may be the following:

Dysfunction of the uterus, in which it contracts little. Or does not try to get rid of unnecessary organic material at all;
Fibroids and fibroids are also a cause;
The body of the uterus is greatly stretched during multiple pregnancy;
Large baby;
Prolonged labor during which stimulant medications were used;
It could also be the negligence of a midwife or doctor;
Not all of the afterbirth came out and caused an inflammatory process;
Endometritis;
If there was premature expulsion of the placenta, or tight attachment and so on.

After a woman gives birth to a child, her body must independently cleanse itself of everything unnecessary. That is, particles of the uterine mucosa come out with the blood, and if they come out abundantly at first, this is great - it means the process of self-cleansing is underway.

Over the entire period, which is approximately 6-8 weeks, a woman on average loses from 500 to 1500 g of blood.

Women after childbirth feel aching pain in the lower abdomen - this process occurring in the body of the uterus is called involution - contraction of the uterus.

When a woman in labor puts her baby to her breast, she produces the hormone oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract. Therefore, in women who breastfeed, involution occurs faster than in women who do not breastfeed. And if involution occurs slowly, it means that the young mother may have hormonal or immune disorders. Perhaps there are pieces of the placenta left in the uterus, and this provokes a slowdown in uterine contractions.

Some women in labor claim that in the first days it is difficult to even get out of bed, since after pregnancy they literally “flow like a stream.” This suggests that when getting out of bed, the muscles tense, and as a result, I push out everything unnecessary from the uterus. Because of this, it is not recommended to move a lot and put pressure on the stomach so that the woman’s bleeding does not increase. True, doctors advise sleeping on your stomach for the first time after childbirth, but under no circumstances should you pull it over.

Norm

You can argue for a long time about the norms of blood secretion, but you need to take into account that each woman is individual. Most doctors say that heavy bleeding no more than five days should pass after childbirth. If you have bleeding if they drag on and do not decrease in abundance, then you need to consult a doctor.

Some women consider their heavy discharge to be quite normal even after two weeks; one condition is to monitor your red blood cells - by doing a blood test. There are times when the blood discharge turns brown. This means that there are few red blood cells; in general, this is not dangerous for the body.

If your blood comes out bright red for a very long period of time, then this is a sign that something is wrong. It is considered normal for blood discharge after childbirth if the first days your discharge is bright and thick, and later it becomes Brown color, and just “smears”. Then, the discharge may change color to yellowish. This is also normal and does not pose a health hazard. This is explained by the fact that it is becoming less and less, and the “daub” is decreasing.

If bleeding resumes after a certain period, special medications must be used.

Because due to large blood loss, the patient may experience hypotension and pale skin. Bleeding after the baby’s pregnancy can be stopped either with medications, you can do an external muscle massage and put on an ice heating pad, or in a surgical way - by suturing perineal tears and removing the remaining placenta by hand.

If the uterine ruptures are significant, this can even lead to complete removal of the uterus. Whatever the surgical actions, they are always accompanied by the introduction of special drugs that restore blood loss, either infusion or blood.

Sexual relations after childbirth

After giving birth, doctors recommend not to be sexually active for one and a half to two months so that the woman can recover. After all, during sexual intercourse you can easily introduce an infection into a woman’s weakened and exhausted body, since the uterus is in this moment is a continuous non-healing wound, and infection can lead to inflammatory complications and endometritis, and this is already dangerous for the health of the mother in labor.

The next fact is that early sexual intercourse causes pain to a woman, due to ruptures that heal slowly and physiological vaginal dryness. Nature intended it this way that a woman does not want intimacy for the first time after giving birth. So that a complication does not begin, and the next, unwanted pregnancy does not occur.

If you rush into sexual intercourse, you may cause bleeding to increase or return. Untreated cervical erosion can also contribute to this.

When to contact a gynecologist

You should go to a gynecologist if:

The discharge continues for more than two months;
If in them they intensified;
If pain is present;
If after a short period of time bleeding starts again.

A reason to go to the doctor may be bad smell from discharge. In general, there should be no smell during bleeding after childbirth; if it is present, it means that there may be some kind of infection in the uterus. It could have been caused by ruptures during labor, or more specifically by improperly done treatment.

After 30 days have passed after delivery, you must visit a gynecologist for a consultation. Don’t follow fortune tellers and don’t heal yourself, otherwise it can lead to dire consequences.

Prevention

In order to avoid infection, you must follow the rules of prevention and personal hygiene:

Take a shower every day warm water using soap or intimate hygiene gel;
For the first time after childbirth, use sterile diapers as pads;
If bleeding is heavy, change pads often (up to 8 times);
And lastly, do not use tampons under any circumstances, even at the end of this period.