What kind of discharge is there after a cesarean section?

It’s common to have some discharge following a cesarean section while your body heals. These changes, though somewhat alarming, are simply a byproduct of your healing process. It’s a common experience for new mothers, and being prepared can help make it less stressful.

Your body uses the discharge following a C-section, known as lochia, as a means of removing blood and tissue from your uterus. Over time, the discharge’s intensity and color will fluctuate, beginning bright red and progressively getting lighter. This is all a normal part of your body reverting to its pre-pregnancy state, though it may last for a few weeks.

But, it’s wise to monitor the situation to make sure everything is moving forward as it should. It could be worthwhile to see your healthcare provider if something feels strange or if the discharge suddenly gets heavier. Recuperating from your C-section can go more smoothly if you know what to expect and take care of yourself.

Type of Discharge	Description
Lochia	This is the initial discharge that happens after birth. It is a mix of blood, mucus, and tissue and lasts for a few weeks.
Serous Discharge	This is a lighter, more watery discharge that occurs as the healing progresses. It typically appears pinkish or brownish.
White Discharge	This is the final stage, a whitish or yellowish discharge as the body finishes healing. It usually indicates recovery is nearing completion.

Reasons

The process of the uterus developing backwards is indicated by discharge from the genitalia following both a cesarean section and a natural childbirth. As soon as the placenta and surgical sutures are placed and the child is removed from the mother’s womb, involution starts.

The female reproductive organ grows 500 times larger from the time two prized stripes are found on the express test until the day of the delivery procedure. The uterine smooth muscles expand, and the ligaments lengthen and roughen. With a network of blood vessels firmly embedded in the uterine wall, the placenta provides nourishment and oxygen necessary for the baby’s growth and life.

The only things that can result in bloody discharge following a physiological birth are the placenta’s separation and the disruption of this "joint" vascular network. The trauma following a cesarean section is more severe because the uterine wall must be cut in order to enter the cavity. The reproductive organ’s blood vessels are also harmed by this. Following a surgical delivery, hemorrhage intensifies and becomes more frequent following placenta separation.

After the baby is removed, the uterus itself does not immediately get smaller. For a while it stays large, but now it looks more like an empty bag that has had everything taken out of it. It will eventually shrink almost to its initial size, but involution takes time.

There will be spasms that resemble contractions along with involution. We refer to them as uterine contractions. The woman must receive injections of contraction drugs in accordance with the schedule because contractions following a cesarean section are not as active as those following a physiological birth. There is no need to be concerned when the uterus starts to actively contract a few minutes after "Oxytocin" or a medication based on it is introduced. This is accompanied by increased genital discharge.

When it comes to the nature of the lochia, both the woman and her physician should pay close attention to it both immediately following surgery and once she is sent home. To determine whether there is cause for alarm, you must be aware of the typical discharge following a surgical delivery.

What should be?

It’s normal to have a lot of bloody discharge in the early postoperative days following surgery. Blood is expelled from the wound surrounding the uterine incision and from the damaged blood network at the placenta’s attachment site. With the assistance of fibrin threads that cover the wound surface and stop significant blood loss, the internal wound starts to contract by the end of the first day. It is impossible to alter this mechanism because it is organic and natural.

As a result, the discharge is red and scarlet in the early hours following the procedure, and after 10 to 12 hours, blood clots can be seen in them (the result of fibrinogen’s work). The woman in labor shouldn’t be confused if there are clots of varying sizes and quantities on the second or third day following the procedure. Conversely, their departure is interpreted as a positive indication that the uterus is involution.

A high concentration of red blood cells in the vaginal discharge will be the absolute norm if you perform a laboratory study of the smear during this time.

After the operation today, they are discharged on the fifth day from the maternity hospital, at which point lochia typically undergoes some changes. They are still bloody, but there is more serous serum in them. On the sanitary pad, a noticeable amount of mucous ichor starts to appear. At this point, there shouldn’t be any blood clots.

These days, a smear examined in a lab reveals an astounding amount of leukocytes and epithelial cells, which are dead myocytes—uterine cells that have been harmed by a scalpel cut.

Even more mucus in the discharge normally appears a week after the operation. This is cervical mucus, which begins to be produced in large quantities. Often at this stage, women are frightened to find small brown fragments on the pad that resemble worms. There is no reason to worry: these fragments are the tips of surgical self-absorbable threads, which were used to apply the internal suture. This does not mean that the suture is diverging — particles of threads that did not directly enter the tissues of the uterus simply fall off and are excreted by the body. The more complex the internal suture (two-row, three-row), the more brown fragments can be found in the cervical mucus.

Almost every day, the discharge’s color and consistency will alter. A month later, lochia will become increasingly scarce. Up to 1.5 months following surgery, a pinkish or yellowish discharge that is moderate and consistent may continue. They return to normal by seven or eight weeks, just as they did before becoming pregnant.

Bloody discharge stops in 6-7 weeks, but doctors advise delaying starting sexual activity for a few more weeks after the lochia stops.

It is very challenging to determine the total volume of blood lost during the postpartum discharge period. Some data indicates that when it ends, it surpasses 1.5 kg of net weight from body weight, accounting for uterine contraction.

The term "lochia" refers to the vaginal discharge that typically follows a cesarean section. This discharge is the body’s natural method of expelling excess blood and tissue from the uterus. Over the course of several weeks, the discharge gradually lightens in color and amount after beginning heavy and bright red, much like a period. This is a normal phase of healing, but it’s crucial to keep an eye out for any indications of infection, such as an unpleasant odor or strange changes, and seek medical attention if necessary.

Recommendations

The faster a woman gets out of bed, the more quickly her reproductive organs will contract and the blood clots will release. That’s why it’s advised to move around 10 to 12 hours after surgery (without becoming unduly fanatical, of course). An additional benefit of early attachment to the breast is that the body produces more oxytocin when the baby is breastfed, which causes the uterus to contract more forcefully.

It is crucial to avoid wound infection and ascending vaginal infection in the first three days following surgery. Because hospital pads are sterile, it is strongly advised for women to use them exclusively. Every three hours, they must be changed. A woman can bathe herself two or three times a day, cleaning her external genitalia and making sure no water enters the vagina, from the moment she learns to walk. It is strictly forbidden to use sanitary pads manufactured in factories at this point.

You can use any pads on the fifth day following the procedure; the most important thing is to remember to replace them more frequently. A woman can go to daily hygiene thin gaskets as soon as her bloody discharge stops.

Body temperature is a vital indicator that should be monitored in addition to the color, amount, and consistency of vaginal discharge during hospital stays and after discharge to the patient’s home. Often, the first indication that inflammation has started is a sharp increase in its long-term character (the corresponding nature will be released a little later).

You shouldn’t be afraid to ask the maternity hospital’s medical staff questions. Nothing in it should be unanimous because Lochia and their character after operational births are very important. Furthermore, any departures from the above-described standard in the doctor’s discharge should not be concealed. Women can be reckless at times due to their fear that the extract may be deposited.

The problems that have been there for a long time will not be able to be concealed. Even if this is completed prior to release, the woman may still find herself in the hospital a few days later—this time without the child, as gynecological departments are where patients who experience postpartum complications are admitted.

Deviations from the norm

The majority of the time, pathological discharge signals surgical complications or a worsening of the mother’s long-term illnesses. There is always a chance of complications. No clinic can ever promise that everything will go as planned, not even if it is a paid procedure.

Abnormal circumstances may occur during the procedure, such as the injury of a vascular node, and there may be copious, massive, and continuous bleeding from the genitalia in the early postoperative period. If there is very little or no discharge during the first three days, the uterus may be hypotensive or atony, meaning that contractions are either very slow or nonexistent. It’s possible that no blood clots are seen in this situation.

Pathogenic microorganisms can enter the uterine cavity even in a sterile operating room, infection can happen during the postoperative period, and internal inflammation can then start. This will undoubtedly show up as a change in the type of discharge, a high temperature, and a general decline in health.

Doctors will be able to monitor any changes in the woman’s condition while she is in the hospital. However, there should be no decrease in discharge monitoring following home release. You should always see a doctor; self-medication is not appropriate in this situation. The following are typical pathological scenarios:

• severe bleeding opened after the discharge temporarily stopped;
• blood discharge with clots began after discharge home;
• temperature rose against the background of any discharge;
• little discharge in the first days or their early cessation (a week after surgery);
• a strange-colored fluid with an unpleasant odor is released;
• lochia is protracted: discharge continues even 2 months after a cesarean section;
• the discharge contains foreign impurities, flakes, light clots;
• stomach ache;
• purulent, green, gray discharge with a sharp unpleasant odor has appeared;
• there is bloody or other discharge from the suture on the abdominal wall after discharge.

You shouldn’t rely on pathological discharge to go away on its own.

What does it mean?

What precisely these or those deviations in the nature of the discharge may indicate is only known by a physician who orders an examination and administers tests to a new mother. However, a few typical issues will be discussed for educational purposes.

• Pink mucous. This nature of lochia is normal for 5-15 days after surgery, but after a month or two it is a sign of slow healing of the internal scar. It is possible that the woman"s body rejects the surgical suture material at the immune level. Such discharge may also occur in women who, contrary to the doctor"s recommendations, began sexual activity early, without waiting for the end of lochia and the healing of the internal scar. If such discharge is detected, a doctor"s consultation, a smear test and an ultrasound of the internal suture are required.
• Yellow-green. Discharges with endometritis and any other inflammatory process that has started have this character. Usually they have an unpleasant fishy smell, itching and burning in the perineum, abdominal pain, high temperature may be observed. The woman urgently needs hospitalization and a long course of treatment.

• Watery. Such discharge is also a rather alarming sign. They may indicate a violation of blood circulation in the uterus. A watery consistency in this case is a sign of transudate discharge. If watery lochia without a special color or slightly yellowish are also accompanied by an unpleasant odor, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor under any circumstances.
• White thick. Can be a sign of vaginal dysbacteriosis, as well as a sign of thrush, if accompanied by itching and burning. After surgery, a woman"s immunity weakens significantly, and the manifestation of thrush may well take place. Do not self-medicate: many vaginal products that were used even during pregnancy can cause harm after surgery until the internal uterine scar is completely healed. And therefore, it is best to consult a doctor.

Reminder for women in labor

Naturally, we want the post-c-section discharge to be brief and not ruin the joys of motherhood, but you have to get used to the fact that this is the reality. In addition to managing the discharge’s characteristics, it’s critical to take all reasonable steps to lower the risk of any complications.

Do not lift weights

Lifting weights is strictly contraindicated if you want the internal scar to form a solid one, allow you to have more children, and eliminate any chance of its rupture, divergence, or tear. Additionally, it is advisable to restrict yourself to the weight of a bowl of soup on the first day, and after discharge, the highest weight that can be manually lifted should not be more than 4 kilograms.

Even after the lochia discharge has concluded, the restriction should be taken for granted. Therefore, a woman shouldn’t jump, squat, or pump the press for at least six months. It is not feasible to carry a stroller or bulky bags up the stairs.

Don"t rush into sex

After a cesarean section, you can resume sexual activities only after the internal suture has healed and the postpartum discharge from the genitalia has fully stopped. There is a two-month restriction period. The specialist will advise you to see a doctor and put off engaging in intimate activities for a while if the discharge does not stop during this time.

Because the penis is not a model of sterility, even when wearing a condom, early sex is dangerous for the development of infection. Pathogens and opportunistic microbes have an easy time entering the genital tract, where they can quickly cause severe inflammation in the reproductive system or around the wound lesion.

Orgasm and sexual arousal increase blood flow to the smooth muscles of the uterus, which can lead to the formation of an insolvent internal scar, increased bleeding, and the formation of a keloid scar.Intense (and even non-intensive) friction can also mechanically damage the internal scar.

Monitor your menstrual cycle

One key component in avoiding complications is the use of contraception. The couple is required to use condoms once the discharge stops. Menstruation typically starts after two to seven months, at which point you can choose from among the available forms of birth control with your doctor’s help. It is strongly advised against getting pregnant for a period of two years.

After lochia ends, vaginal discharge must also be observed. It’s possible that a few days or weeks later, menstruation will start. The only difference between them and before the pregnancy will be that there won’t be as many clots in the menstrual discharge because the endometrium hasn’t healed completely yet. It is possible that the first menstrual period will be less frequent than usual, and that its brief duration—three to four days instead of six as in the past—will also be regarded as normal.

Menstruation will eventually resume on a regular schedule. Their duration, character, or frequency cannot be entirely altered by a cesarean section. The cycle will be restored and return to normal in six months.

Do not use tampons

Tampon usage in place of sanitary pads is strictly prohibited until lochia has stopped. With a vaginal secret swab, there is no free release of the vaginal secret, and this kind of "stagnation" can result in a potentially dangerous inflammatory process.

It’s also not recommended to introduce vaginal creams, insert vaginal suppositories (unless prescribed by a physician), or puff during the first six months of pregnancy.

It’s quite normal to experience discharge following a cesarean section. It’s how your body recovers and returns to normal. The discharge will be bright red and heavy during the first few days, akin to a heavy period. Its color will lighten and its volume will decrease with time.

The discharge will eventually turn pink or brownish as the days pass, and then yellowish or white. This may continue for a few weeks. Even though this is typically a normal part of the healing process, it’s crucial to watch out for any infection-related symptoms, such as an unpleasant stench, an abrupt increase in bleeding, or intense stomach pain.

Do not hesitate to contact your doctor if you notice unusual symptoms or if something doesn’t feel right. Since every recovery is different, receiving the proper care will promote a speedy and secure healing process.

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