Do you know what lochia is? In fact, most people are not clear about it, unless you are a mother who has given birth. In fact, for pregnant women, the occurrence of lochia is a relatively common thing, so there is no need to be overly anxious, but you still need to pay attention to prevent infection, otherwise it will be risky. Let’s talk about what lochia is next.

After delivery, the placental decidua, especially the decidua attached to the embryo, falls off, bringing with it blood and necrotic decidua tissue, which is discharged through the vagina and called lochia. Normal lochia has a pungent smell, with a total volume of about 500-1000mL, but it is not臭. The duration of lochia varies from person to person, generally about three weeks after giving birth, with an average of about 21 days, ranging from 14 days to 6 weeks for the elderly.

Types of lochia

1. Bright red lochia

In the first week after giving birth, the amount of lochia is more, with a bright red color, containing a lot of blood, small blood clots, and necrotic decidua tissue, and is called bright red lochia. The tenacious lochia lasts for three to four days, and the abnormal uterine bleeding gradually decreases, the serous substance increases, and changes into serous lochia.

2. Serous lochia

After one week to ten days, the amount of blood in the lochia is less, and there are more necrotic decidua, cervical mucus, female secretions, and pathogens, which promote the lochia to become a pale red jelly-like substance. The lochia at this time is called serous lochia. The serous lochia lasts for about ten days, and the serous substance gradually decreases, with an increase in white blood cells, and then changes into white lochia.

3. White lochia

After ten to fifteen days and within three weeks, the lochia does not contain blood anymore, but it contains a large number of white blood cells, degenerated decidua, epidermal cells, and pathogens, making the lochia more粘稠 and lighter in color, and therefore called white lochia. The white lochia lasts for three weeks and becomes clean.