Contents
Like pregnancy, the postpartum period has its own lexical field and sometimes obscure medical vocabulary. So we can hear about the return of childbirth, fairly well known to future and young mothers, but also of the aftermath of childbirth, trenches or even lochies.
The body of the young mother must indeed undergo some tests and transformations to recover from these nine months of pregnancy and childbirth. The trenches, named after uterine contractions and cramps occurring in the days following childbirth, will allow the uterus to return to its normal size. And with these trenches usually arise lochia.
What are we called lochia?
Derived from ancient Greek, the word lochia is the medical term for lbleeding and other vulvar discharge that occurs after childbirth. Coming from the placental wound, that is to say from the place in the uterus where the placenta was implanted, the lochia last about fifteen days, and gradually change in appearance, until disappearing when complete healing of the place where the placenta was attached to the uterus.
What do lochia look like?
Lochia contain du sang, du mucus cervical but also uterine residue in the form of clots, and placental membrane debris. D’aspect bloody the first three days after childbirth, like menstruation, the lochia gradually become more pinkish, then brownish as the days go by. Because the more the days pass, the more the blood ages and oxidizes, which gives it this brown color.
The intensity of postpartum bleeding therefore gradually decreases, to disappear around the 15th day after childbirth. What is called the “little couch returnes ”, a bleeding phase that can last up to a month, due to hormonal drop.
Note that lochia would tend to disappear more quickly when breastfeeding, because breastfeeding induces a secretion of oxytocin during breastfeeding, which triggers or increases uterine contractions. They will then be more effective for “to do the housework”In the womb.
To avoid infections, since the cervix is not yet completely closed during the lochia period, it is advisable to prefer large sanitary napkins to tampons, and to avoid swimming, baths and bathing in the sea.
Lochia after childbirth: when to consult?
The quality, quantity, appearance and smell of lochia are usually monitored in the maternity ward or during the midwife’s home visits after childbirth. The smell of lochia must remain discreet.
If the bleeding is smelly, increases in intensity and / or if it is accompanied by pelvic pain, fever or even an acceleration of the pulse, it is necessary to consult very quickly, because it may be a question of an infection of the uterus (endometritis) or tubes (salpingitis). It is also advisable to consult quickly in case of very heavy bleeding, or even hemorrhagic, because this can be the sign of a postpartum hemorrhage.
Depending on the cause, the gynecologist or midwife may perform a curettage to remove the remaining placental debris, prescribe medicines to make uterine contractions easier, or antibiotics to fight an infection.
good