When does bleeding stop after childbirth? How much blood goes after childbirth? The nature of bleeding during postpartum recovery. Clinical signs of separation of the placenta

When blood flows after childbirth, this is considered a normal process of cleansing the uterine cavity. The severity of bleeding depends on factors such as blood loss and duration. The characteristics of the discharge will indicate the presence of pathologies for timely treatment.

The reasons

Women believe that when the uterus bleeds after childbirth, there is no cause for alarm, since at first the discharge is plentiful, and then decreases and gradually completely disappears. However, prolonged discharge with an unpleasant odor, causing pain, should not be considered the norm.

Why is there bleeding after childbirth:

poor clotting;
rapid childbirth;
placental tissue has grown;
weak contraction of the uterus;
gynecological diseases.

When the minimum blood clotting is noted, the liquid flows out in a thin stream. It is recommended to check the indicator with the help of tests before childbirth. With a rapid process, an injury to the birth canal occurs, which leads to bleeding. Problems arise with multiple pregnancies, polyhydramnios, if the child is large. The discharge is affected by the presence of fibroids and fibroids.

How long does it take to bleed after childbirth? The maximum period is two months. During this time, the amount of liquid decreases, by the end of the period it stops completely. Lochia is allocated regardless of whether the woman gave birth naturally or by caesarean section. The process is divided into several stages, one of which is the separation of the placenta.

There are 3 periods of time when blood flows after childbirth:

two to four hours after childbirth - heavy bleeding;
several days average blood loss;
a month and a half - a daub.

Late bleeding develops within a day, blood comes out after childbirth over the next 50 days. The process is delayed in time due to the delay of tissue particles in the uterus. For each woman, the timing is individual, so you need to monitor the rise in temperature, the abundance and duration of bleeding.

Norm and pathology

Immediately after the birth of the child, the woman is in the delivery room. Doctors monitor the mother and newborn, the risk of hypotonic uterine bleeding increases. In any case, blood must flow after delivery, as a wound opens at the site of attachment of the placenta.

This happens when there is a violation of uterine contractions. Painful sensations do not occur, the woman feels dizzy, fainting occurs. During the time spent in the delivery room, about half a liter of blood is lost. It is forbidden to get up until the doctor makes sure that there are no hematomas and ruptures.

After being transferred to the ward for the next two or three days, the mother is under the supervision of specialists. This time is given for postpartum recovery. The amount of discharge does not decrease, so special pads should be used. After caesarean, use absorbent diapers. On a daily bypass, note the nature of the liquid.

If there is scarlet bleeding without foreign smell, this indicates the proper healing of the uterus without complications.

The exception is women in labor with multiple pregnancies. When the birth was difficult, it should bleed, however, there is a need for curettage or medical intervention. If after a week the blood has gone, you will need a dropper with oxytocin to quickly contract the uterus.

After a woman is discharged from the maternity hospital, the next period begins - blood comes out, similar to a normal menstrual cycle with small clots. It is noted that every day the amount of liquid decreases, and the color brightens. A month later, when the blood stops flowing after childbirth, this is already a meager discharge of a yellowish color.

Timing

Every woman's uterus bleeds after childbirth. Primiparas note a shorter period of discharge than mothers after the second birth. At this time, the uterine mucosa is restored, which in the process takes its previous form. In 30 days, blood comes out after childbirth, if a woman has a second child. The rapid process of birth leads to the fact that the body recovers longer, muscles and walls are injured, they need more time.

How long bleeding will continue after childbirth depends on factors:

features of pregnancy;
natural or operative way of delivery;
contractile activity of the uterus;
complications;
physiological status and state of health;
lactation, which affects the effective cleansing of the uterus due to rapid contraction.

There is bleeding after childbirth without breaks for about six weeks. The output of the liquid differs in color and intensity. On the first day, a scarlet-colored substance is removed from the vessels, so there will be a lot of discharge. This happens from the first to the fourth day.

In the next two weeks after birth, there is blood, and the shade changes to pink or yellow. During this time, the amount of liquid is minimized. Sometimes the period increases, until the end of the second month, the discharge may be sparse and inconsistent, scarlet in color. This is due to physical activity or stress.

Blood after childbirth with a gap is noted for one and a half months. The help of doctors will be needed if a slight discharge suddenly becomes bright scarlet, the woman feels unwell, pain is noted in the lower abdomen. At this time, intoxication occurs, the temperature rises, weakness, dizziness, and vomiting appear. The discharge is dark or yellow-green with an unpleasant odor.

This condition requires the intervention of medical staff. Characteristics indicate endometriosis, inflammation in the pelvis, pathological conditions. Additional examination will be required. A woman needs to be diagnosed and treated.

Diagnostics

The collection of tests begins even before birth. Obstetric and gynecological statistics show that it is possible to prevent problems if you conduct studies on the level of hemoglobin, find out the number of red blood cells and platelets. In the third period of labor, muscle flabbiness and a weak contraction of the myometrium are revealed.

The occurrence of bleeding leads to the fact that you need to determine its cause. When discharge continues for a long time in the postpartum period, diagnostic measures will help. For early bleeding after delivery, a hemostatic agent is used. Estimate how much blood the woman in labor has lost. This is an important aspect for the choice of therapeutic measures.

Diagnosis is needed for a thorough study of the integrity of the placenta, to identify birth injuries. If necessary, anesthesia is administered and the uterine cavity is manually examined to determine ruptures, clots, tumors that interfere with the normal contraction of the organ. At a later date, blood flows if there is a pathology, therefore, the reason for which it arose is first identified.

Methods for diagnosing the causes of bleeding:

Hysteroscopy;
Coagulogram.

With the help of ultrasound, inflammation, a placental polyp are detected, and the organs of the small pelvis are studied. Exclude a new pregnancy, the first menstruation. Hysteroscopy is used to examine the uterine cavity.

If it is impossible to diagnose after natural childbirth in such ways, the WFD is prescribed, then the blood is tested for clotting, then sent for histological examination. With the help of mirrors, ruptures, inflammatory processes are revealed. In case of violation of the integrity of the placenta, a manual check and manual cleansing of the uterus are used.

Treatment

Once the cause of the bleeding is established, it must be stopped quickly. It will take an integrated approach, which includes medical treatment and invasive methods. To stimulate uterine contractions, a catheter is inserted into the urethra to empty the bladder, and ice is applied to the lower abdomen. Carry out external massage of the uterus. With prolonged treatment, the blood passes quickly if Oxytocin is administered intravenously, and injections with prostaglandins are injected into the cervix.

The volume of circulating fluid can be replenished with the use of infusion-transfusion therapy. A woman is injected with drugs that will replace the plasma and blood components. If examination with mirrors showed the presence of injuries, an anesthetic is used and suturing is performed.

If uterine ruptures are detected using the manual method, an emergency laparotomy, suturing or removal is performed. Surgical intervention will be needed if the organ is overgrown, and massive bleeding cannot be stopped. Resuscitation actions are practiced in the form of compensation for blood loss, stabilization of hemodynamics and blood pressure.

To stop the release of blood, which has exceeded 1 liter, Prostin is introduced into the uterus to enhance contractions. The drug is administered intravenously, a transfusion is made from donors. With a successful prognosis, antihistamines, ATP are prescribed, and droppers with vitamins are placed.

Preventive measures will help reduce the duration of postpartum hemorrhage. A woman needs to follow simple recommendations. Toilet visits should be regular to empty the bladder and bowels. They exert pressure and prevent the uterus from contracting.

Reduce the risk of infection by simple rules of hygiene. You can not swim in the reservoirs, take baths. You should abstain from sexual activity. One and a half months not to play sports, not to lead an active image. For the fastest contraction of the uterus and its cleansing, it is recommended to sleep on your stomach. Refuse the sauna, bath, solarium. Breastfeeding has a positive effect. How many days after delivery there will be discharge depends on the physiological characteristics of the woman. Postpartum hemorrhage normally lasts no more than 6 weeks.

Bleeding after childbirth is considered a normal process that is important to control. The duration, intensity, nature of the discharge matters. If you suspect a pathology, call an ambulance or consult a doctor. Subject to all the rules, you can reduce the body's time to recover without complications. By the end of the first month, the discharge will be scarce, and the general condition will be satisfactory.

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

However, is this true? What should women in childbirth know, and when should you really worry about your health? What is the norm of natural uterine secretions, and what color should they be? All about discharge after childbirth further.

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 abnormal uterine bleeding in the early (including) postpartum period.

Heavy (abundant) bleeding after childbirth is almost always associated with complications; it is observed during caesarean section almost twice as often. However, this does not mean that small bleeding immediately after childbirth should be taken as a threat to life. The main thing is to know the cause of such a manifestation, the volume of permissible blood released and its color.

The uterine arteries of a woman during the entire period of bearing a baby deliver from 500 to 700 per minute to the attachment of the placenta. After delivery, this amount of blood may linger in the uterine cavity. Isolation of bleeding in the afterbirth (early postpartum) period occurs due to natural contractions of the uterine cavity.

Myometrium, if everything is fine, and the birth took place naturally, decreases very quickly in the first three days. That is why the most abundant discharge is observed during this period. Then the discharge for one month is considered the norm. However, this is a meager, not permanent discharge of a brownish smeared hue.

After caesarean and natural childbirth, the amount 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 has not been given additional Oxytocin to improve uterine contraction. Additionally, injections against tetanus are carried out (in the stomach) 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 body of the uterus 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 parturient women in the postpartum period, even experienced obstetricians cannot stop this process. If the task is complicated by a large blood loss (more than 1.5 liters) of a rare blood type of the child giving birth (4.3 Rh negative), then the mortality rate of the birth outcome is very high.

All natural processes for the female reproductive organs should end by the end of the second month. That is why obstetricians warn against early sexual intercourse. You can start having sex only 2 months after giving birth. Violation of this rule can provoke an increased discharge from the uterine cavity. Dangerous signs (symptoms) in this case:

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

In this case, the doctor conducts an additional study, because if the blood is not all out, then a fatal disease can develop - endometritis.

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

Causes of bleeding after childbirth

Bleeding in the postpartum period has a different etiology of origin, differ in intensity, clinical manifestation (picture) and in complexity for the woman in labor (emergency, pathological). The most frequent bleeding after childbirth is associated with such a manifestation 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 muscles of the uterus (Oxytocin, Carbetocin or Pabal). Reasons why there is bleeding associated with hypotension:

age up to 18 years;
anomalies of patrimonial forces, placenta;
anaphylactic shock;
embolism;
preeclampsia;
malformations of internal organs (side-shaped, horn-shaped uterus;
previously cesarean uterus, and subsequent births are natural;
polyhydramnios;
a large number of fruits;
chronic extragenital diseases.

However, there are other causes of bleeding in the early postpartum period:

Violation of placental exfoliation. The most important thing after childbirth is to “give birth” to the place of the child, the so-called placenta. Postpartum opening bleeding and their most common causes are remnants of tissue inside the body of the uterus. In any case, there is accumulated blood that 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 their large numbers during this period. Late postpartum hemorrhage (a month later), as a rule, is associated with just such a process, when the body of the uterus is not completely freed from the remnants of the placenta. At the same time, the discharge for the entire subsequent period was normal, and the condition of the woman in labor did not cause concern. The best prevention of such an unsightly situation is ultrasound at discharge from the maternity ward.
Traumatization during childbirth. This pathology is observed in the same early childbirth, multiple pregnancy. The situation is complicated by the so-called rapid childbirth with increased intoxication of the body. Tears or cuts can be on the body of the uterus (cesarean), on the cervix, and in the vagina (during natural childbirth). The severity is determined by the category (from 1 to 4). The more severe the severity, the higher the risk of blood loss. The reasons for this condition can be early multiple abortions (more than 5), early births with complications, difficult previous births (cesarean), obstetric illiteracy. It is much worse to break on your own than an obstetric incision, so if the obstetrician sees during childbirth that the baby’s head does not pass, then it is advisable to make an obstetric incision, which will then cause the woman in labor to lose a lot of strength and blood.
Blood diseases. The most rare conditions that should be investigated in advance.

Dangerous diseases that can provoke complications and opening of bleeding include:

hemophilia;
hypofibrinogenemia;
von Willebrand disease.

Bleeding during childbirth (and / or the postpartum period) and their causes are provoked, first of all, by pathological conditions. Pregnancies at risk include early primiparas, multiple pregnancies, vaginal delivery after cesarean, a baby weighing more than 4 kg or less if the mother is underweight, uterine abnormalities, and a narrow pelvis. The recommendations of the postpartum period must be strictly followed.

Bleeding in the afterbirth and early postpartum period can be prevented if you provide all the information about your health, follow the doctor's recommendations and understand the need (if indicated) for a caesarean section. Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage - the introduction of additional amounts of the hormone oxytocin and other drugs that will help increase uterine contractions. Early postpartum hemorrhage is considered a dangerous condition that leads to the death of women in labor in the first three months after delivery.

Blood after childbirth: how much goes, and what determines the duration

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

Second-born mothers already know how long it bleeds after childbirth, and what the discharge should actually be, 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 takes, how many days is considered the norm, and what to do if it bleeds longer than the prescribed period.

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

Natural, normal blood loss during childbirth - a volume of 0.5-0.6 liters. Up to one liter is allowed for cesarean section, however, to stabilize the condition, 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 without measuring the liquid?

To do this, you need to know the process of blood excretion, its intensity relative to childbirth. The average duration (duration) of normal early bleeding is the first five days, that is, the time when the woman in labor is in the hospital. These are abundant scarlet discharges that literally do not go, but “squish” at the slightest movement, and this is normal.

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

Approximately one and a half to two months after childbirth, such discharge should completely stop. Even if the spotting does not end in the third month, it is necessary to undergo an additional examination. To control the woman in labor and her condition, the obstetrician appoints 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 (monitoring by the doctor);
the last day of discharge (mandatory with the ultrasound procedure);
two months after birth;
6 months after birth;
subsequent mandatory gynecological examinations in terms of regular research.

If suddenly spotting went in the normal volume for the first month, and then it continues to increase sharply 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 goes well, there are no changes in color, smell and well-being, then you should not worry. The amount of blood in the first month can increase once due to weight lifting, nervous condition, depression, and a decrease in hemoglobin levels. However, all these symptoms are easily eliminated. As a rule, the most voluminous (squishy) discharge ends in the first 10 days.

Features of postpartum hemorrhage

Bright scarlet blood in the first month of childbirth, namely, in the first two weeks, is a natural process of cleansing the uterus, which, by contraction, gets rid of accumulated excess blood. A small blood loss during childbirth up to 0.6 liters is the norm, everything above is a matter that requires attention.

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

an increase in body temperature (usually not faster than the third day);
blood loss more than one liter;
disorientation;
vomiting, nausea, headache at the same time;
acute pain in the abdomen (not at the bottom, where natural uterine cramps go);
narrowed pupils and loss of consciousness, partial loss of memory;
cessation of secretions in any amount (does not even smear). Additional methods of stopping bleeding are considered as an 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 studies with painful perception.

Complications, on the contrary, after childbirth (early or late) are a very big risk to a woman's health. All manifestations can develop at lightning speed, in just a few hours sepsis provokes complications, the 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 is the prevention of postpartum complications.

Late postpartum hemorrhage

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

If there are weak brownish compartments that appear after exercise, you should not worry. If the contraction of the body of the uterus occurs according to the period of the postpartum period, then such discharge will be of a short-term nature and will end in a few hours.

However, if the above pathologies associated with abundant discharge and poor health take place, then you should not hesitate to go to the gynecologist. Every minute of the extension complicates the situation.

Treatment of postpartum hemorrhage

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

Hospitalization. The first thing to remember is no self-treatment, lie down and wait. Every drop of blood is a risk and a mortal danger. Hospitalization can be carried out both in the maternity ward (if the child is under a month old) and in the hospital for gynecological pathology. The duration of treatment depends on the degree of difficulty and the amount of blood lost.
Withdrawal of urine using a urethral catheter. A complete bowel movement is a necessary measure that 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 (with cesarean), it is necessary to conduct a complete examination of all internal organs. A life-threatening condition is the ingress of blood into the abdominal cavity.
Ultrasound examination is also a mandatory event, which is carried out in parallel with all examinations. Only on such an apparatus can one see the absence or presence of a clot, additional lobules of the placenta.
Prescribing medication. Based on the studies carried out and the data obtained, the doctor prescribes an 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. Medications that are used in any case are intravenous injections of Oxytocin or methylergometrine-containing drugs. Additionally, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial therapy is prescribed, which eliminates the possibility of developing life-threatening situations for the mother.

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

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage is the observance of the recommendations and appointments of the staff of the maternity ward. Uterine contraction is a natural process that can be accelerated with the help of natural procedures for women that nature has provided:

Breastfeeding a child contributes to an increase in the production of its own hormone of happiness - oxytocin and endorphin. Under the influence of such hormones, the uterus contracts faster, and the recovery process is not delayed for a long period.
Lie on your stomach- a simple recommendation, which also allows you to additionally 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 women in labor in the ward immediately after delivery. It is not recommended to carry out such activities on your own.
Frequent feeding of the child (on demand). The first months of a baby's life, he requires not only increased attention from the mother, but also needs to replenish his own strength, which is partly compensated by mother's milk. Such a process is laid down 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 requires it.
Walks in the open air. Restoration of red blood cells and an increase in hemoglobin is a must for all women in labor. However, such a task is especially relevant for those who have given birth to a caesarean section. The stitches that were placed during childbirth will pull, overgrow and cause discomfort and pain. But, walks in the fresh air are mandatory for everyone, regardless of the state and degree of complexity of the childbirth.
Regular emptying of the bladder. Stagnation of urine is a risk for the mother, who, under the pressure of a filled urea, is not able to contract normally and intensively. Therefore, the main task of the woman in labor is to constantly monitor the emptying and in no case not to endure.

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 child, and carry out water procedures. However, personal hygiene in the postpartum period is the key to a quick recovery and prevention of complications.

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

Most often, bleeding after childbirth is not a spontaneous spontaneous phenomenon.

Uterine bleeding after childbirth is a pathological process that is provoked by a number of reasons. Among the factors that cause bleeding directly from the placental site (place of attachment of the placenta to the uterine cavity), the most significant and common are the following:

too much expansion of the uterine cavity;
pathological labor activity;
rapid childbirth;
protracted birth process;
however, the main etiological factors of such a pathological phenomenon as bleeding after childbirth are hypotension and / or atony of the uterus.

Hypotension of the uterus is a pathological phenomenon, which is an insufficient postpartum contractility of the muscles of the uterus and its imperfect tone.

Hypotension of the uterus can be the result of weakness of the labor forces, rapid labor and labor activity with excessive force, functional impairment of the ability of the myometrium to contract, overstretching of the myometrium with polyhydramnios or a large fetus, as well as dystrophic phenomena of the myometrium after the previous curettage of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity, the presence of cicatricial changes ( after undergoing surgery, for example, after enucleation of the myomatous node or caesarean section) and / or inflammatory processes in the uterus (chorioamnionitis), uteroplacental apoplexy, premature detachment of a normally located placenta, anomalies of placental attachment (its increment or dense attachment), uterine tumors (myoma).

This condition can be stopped by the use of specialized drugs. However, in some cases, hypotension can transform into atony (characterized by a complete loss of uterine muscle tone and its contractility) of the uterus and aggravate the current situation. Extremely rarely, atony can occur without a previous hypotonic state.

Signs characterizing bleeding

Like many other types of bleeding, bleeding after childbirth has a number of characteristic distinguishing features.

For example, hypotonic bleeding can have 2 variants of its clinical picture:

Option 1 - initially bleeding can be very profuse with massive blood loss. In this case, the palpable uterus becomes flabby, atonic, and poorly responsive to the administration of uterotonic drugs. There is a rapidly progressive hypovolemia, possibly the rapid development of hemorrhagic shock and, possibly, DIC. Vital organs can also undergo pathological changes that are irreversible.
Option 2 - there is a small amount of initial blood loss. The hypotonic state alternates with a temporary restoration of myometrial tone. The uterus is able to respond briefly to conservative measures, the purpose of which is to stop the resulting bleeding directed (the introduction of uterotonics). Blood is mainly discharged from the vagina in portions of 150 to 250 ml. Due to the fact that a woman does not lose blood abruptly, the body is able to adapt to gradually developing hypovolemia: blood pressure numbers remain within the normal range, there is a slight tachycardia. However, then it is possible to stop the response of the uterus to the introduction of drugs and the further development of hemorrhagic shock, as well as DIC.

Atonic bleeding is characterized by its massiveness and constancy. Atonic bleeding after childbirth cannot be stopped by the administration of pharmaceutical drugs.

duration of postpartum hemorrhage

Q: How long does bleeding last after childbirth? worries all women who have given birth. Normally, the duration of postpartum hemorrhage can vary from 6 to 8 weeks. However, this bleeding is a normal physiological phenomenon - the uterus is cleared of accumulated blood clots, such discharge is called lochia. The total amount of such secretions does not exceed 1500 ml. If a woman notices bleeding a month after giving birth, she should not worry. There are 2 reasons that can cause this phenomenon.

Firstly, it may be the onset of menstruation, and secondly, a slightly belated release of the remaining blood clots. However, if the bleeding began after 2-3 or more months, you should think about the presence of any pathological process localized in the uterine cavity, and urgently contact a qualified specialist.

To the question: "how much bleeding after childbirth?" the doctor will not be able to give you an answer in a specific figure, because the duration of this phenomenon is strictly individual and depends on the physiological characteristics of the body of each woman.

Treatment

The treatment of postpartum hemorrhage is based on the following set of measures:

diagnosis and elimination of the cause of hypotension or atony of the uterus;
restoration of the functional ability of the myometrium is carried out by applying such measures as: bladder catheterization, external uterine massage, intravenous administration of drugs that promote uterine contraction (Metilergometrin, Oxytocin), applying a bladder filled with ice to the lower abdomen;
sometimes techniques are used that help reduce blood flow to the uterine cavity: finger pressure of a part of the aorta, as well as the imposition of specialized clamps on the parameters;
if the above therapeutic measures did not bring the expected effect (bleeding does not stop and blood loss continues to increase), hysterectomy is indicated;
an obligatory aspect of treatment is the restoration of circulating blood volume.

In this article:

Postpartum hemorrhage is a normal process, which results in a natural cleansing of the uterine cavity from lochia and lingering remnants of placental tissue. The severity of bleeding depends on its nature, total blood loss and duration. How much blood flows after childbirth is a question that worries every young mother.

For many women, bleeding from childbirth is neither a cause for alarm nor a threat. Abundant in the first days, it gradually decreases and disappears within a few weeks. Severe bleeding, which occurs with painful contractions and pulling pains, a 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 provoked by:

Poor indicators of blood coagulability, 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 thrombus formation (thickened lumps, darkening of the color of the blood). It is not difficult to prevent such bleeding if, on the eve of childbirth, a woman passes an appropriate blood test for coagulation.
resulting in trauma to the birth canal.
An increase in placental tissue, as a result of which blood will flow, since the uterus cannot fully.
Unsatisfactory ability of the genital organ to contract due to overstretching of its tissues caused by, and.
Gynecological problems associated with changes in the structure of the reproductive organ - myoma or uterine fibroids.

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

Why does blood flow after childbirth in this case:

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

How long does bleeding last after childbirth?

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

During this period of time, the mucous layer of the uterus is restored, while the organ takes its prenatal form. bleeding lasts longer, because the muscles and walls of the uterus were injured during surgery, 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;
way of delivery - or;
natural contractile activity of the uterus;
, for example, inflammation in the pelvic organs;
features of the physiological status of women, health status;
features of lactation - regular attachment of the baby to the breast, on demand, reduces the number of lochia and increases the contractile activity of the uterus, as a result of which the organ begins to be cleansed more efficiently.

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

regularly empty the bladder and intestines so that crowded organs do not create excessive 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 is cleansed more intensively;
establish breastfeeding as much as possible.

Despite the fact that bleeding after childbirth is a natural process, this condition requires attention from the woman and the doctor.

normal bleeding

How much blood normally flows after childbirth was said above - about 6 weeks. Postpartum hemorrhage is divided into several stages, which differ from each other in specific signs: staining and intensity of discharge.

On the first day after childbirth, 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.

In the next 10-14 days, the amount of discharge decreases significantly. The scarlet shade of discharge taken immediately after childbirth at this time changes to slightly 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 often, bleeding lasts longer, and until the 6th week of the postpartum period, a woman is disturbed by uterine discharge with scarlet blood. If they are not abundant and fickle, there is nothing wrong with that. Most often, their appearance is preceded by physical exertion, nervous shock and other unfavorable factors.

Pathological bleeding

How much postpartum bleeding will go normally and what it depends on, we described above. But there are pathological conditions.

The need for medical attention arises if postpartum discharge is accompanied by the following symptoms:

they last more than 6 weeks;
slight sanious discharge suddenly changes to bright scarlet blood;
the health and general condition of the woman worsens;
discharge is accompanied by significant pain in the lower abdomen;
clinical manifestations of intoxication develop - body temperature rises, dizziness, general weakness, nausea, etc .;
spotting instead of physiological shades acquire yellow-green and dark brown colors, complemented by a repulsive odor.

Regardless of how much blood flows after childbirth, if the discharge has become more intense and has acquired 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 staining of uterine secretions always become evidence of postpartum complications that have developed, for example, endometriosis, an inflammatory process in the small pelvis and other pathological conditions. In such cases, the correct scheme of action will be timely thorough diagnosis and treatment.

How many days after delivery a young mother will have discharge is an ambiguous question. Postpartum hemorrhage normally lasts no more than 6 weeks, but many factors can influence this, including the physiological characteristics of a woman.

During the postpartum period, the woman in labor should observe the nature of the bleeding, for any changes and accompanying symptoms of 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.

Useful video about postpartum hemorrhage

Any woman who has given birth should not be afraid of postpartum lochia. This process is planned by nature itself, and the body of a young mother is ready for this. But what if the spotting turns into bleeding? How much blood goes 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 state of health of the woman: someone has lochia for several days, and someone suffers for two months.

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

Lochia can go constantly and in equal volumes, or they can stand out intermittently, but in large numbers. In the latter case, the discharge is more abundant, with an admixture of blood clots.

Of course, such a phenomenon can scare a young mother, but there are weighty and quite natural reasons for the appearance of lochia.

Why does it have to bleed after childbirth?

The release of blood after childbirth is a normal 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 logical question: how much blood goes after childbirth?

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

How many days does it bleed after childbirth?

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

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

As the walls of the uterus heal and the internal genital organs recover, the discharge begins to change its color from bright red to pink, and then light yellow. This period stretches for about two weeks.

If no complications have occurred, 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 much blood flows after childbirth in a 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 up to six weeks, so even a two-month recovery period is considered the norm.

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

If the bleeding that recurs three weeks after the birth is not too strong, then the alarm should not be sounded. But if there is as much blood coming out as in the first days after childbirth, then this is a signal that you need to immediately go to the doctor.

Causes of prolonged bleeding after childbirth

How much blood flows after childbirth, if the vessels exposed after the detachment of the placenta caused bleeding? Three days is enough for the shrinking 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 a sluggish contraction of the organ, as well as constant discharge.
Tears in the tissues of the genital organs. During childbirth, there are complications when the tissues of the vagina, perineum, or even the cervix are torn in a woman in labor. Sometimes they are dissected intentionally so as not to damage the skull of the baby, and also so that there are no lacerations, which heal longer and harder. Usually, doctors sew everything up neatly, but if the gap in any place was not noticed or the suture 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 blood flows after childbirth is just as useful for a young mother as understanding how to behave during lochia. To promote the rapid healing of the uterus, and not interfere with your own recovery, you must follow the following rules.

Avoid tampons. All blood clots should come out of the vagina and in no case should they stagnate. To feel comfortable, it is better to get night pads that can absorb large amounts of liquid. Tampons should be forgotten, as they can provoke the development of infections of the internal genital organs.
Empty your bladder constantly. In the first days after childbirth, this organ loses its sensitivity. It is better not to wait for the urge to urinate, but to go to the toilet in advance. Otherwise, the overflowing bladder will put pressure on the uterus and once again provoke the release of blood.
It is necessary to urgently consult a doctor if abundant lochia is observed for more than four days (the pad is completely soaked in one hour), especially if they also contain large blood clots.

Medical treatment of postpartum hemorrhage

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

If the cause of long-term lochia is the remains of the placenta in the uterus, then the young mother will have to “cleanse”. Dodging this procedure is not worth it, because it is fraught with the formation of purulent processes in the uterus, which after a while will lead to infertility. After the “cleansing”, the woman is prescribed a number of antibiotics to take, which will prevent the development of infection.

If the examination shows that there are no serious deviations, but it turns out that the young mother began to lead an active lifestyle too quickly, go to the gym and so on, then it will be enough to reduce physical activity, and the lochia will stop. After evaluating 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 unnoticed gaps in the vaginal cavity or cervix are found, they are sutured.

Rehabilitation

How much blood should flow after childbirth and how to control this process, we found out. Let's talk about what kind of prohibitions you will have to face if complications nevertheless occur, and a “cleansing” is done.

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

After how much blood stops flowing after childbirth - future women in labor should be informed in detail by their obstetricians-gynecologists. If this does not happen, it is better to ask yourself in order to avoid unnecessary complications in the future.