Why is lochia yellow

Cleveland Clinic. Physical changes after child birth. Updated January 1, March of Dimes. Postpartum hemorrhage.

Updated March, University of Michigan. Postpartum bleeding. Updated October, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth.

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Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. When to See a Healthcare Provider. Does Lochia Smell? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. Is Postpartum Bleeding Normal? What Is Postpartum Hemorrhage?

What Is Uterine Atony? The Anatomy of the Uterus. Fibroids and Pregnancy: Fertility, Gestation, and Postpartum. What It Means. Having a baby comes with a lot of physical changes to your body. Some of them can be quite surprising, like heavy vaginal bleeding after giving birth. Bleeding after delivery is perfectly normal.

Use this guide to understand what lochia is, what causes postpartum bleeding, and what to expect with normal or not normal blood loss the weeks after childbirth. Lochia, also known as postpartum bleeding, is vaginal bleeding after giving birth that includes bloody fluid made up of blood, placental tissue, sloughed off endometrial lining and mucous. Normal postpartum bleeding continues for 3 to 6 weeks as your uterus heals and returns to its usual shape and size.

The blood in lochia comes mostly from the area where the placenta detached itself from the uterine wall during birth, leaving a wound that needs to heal. The endometrial lining, which thickens during pregnancy, also sloughs off, similar to when you have your period.

How long does postpartum bleeding last? How much blood loss is normal and what does the color of blood mean? Learn about the different stages below, including how long you can expect to bleed and what to expect during each stage.

Postpartum bleeding is heaviest the first few days after baby is born. Blood will be a dark or bright red and will be very heavy. It is normal to see clots in your lochia during this stage. Normal blood clots are smaller than a quarter or a small plum.

You may feel cramping and uterine contractions as your uterus returns to its usual size. If you have large clots—larger than a quarter—you should consult your doctor. Your blood flow will lighten. Its color will change from light red to a watery pink or pinkish brown. Marchant S, et al. A survey of women's experiences of vaginal loss from 24 hours to three months after childbirth the BLiPP study. Midwifery 14 2 Vicness CM, et al.

The duration and character of postpartum bleeding among breast-feeding women. White L. Foundations of Nursing. Join now to personalize. Postpartum bleeding is normal. It's called lochia. For a few days after you give birth, you'll feel like you're having a very heavy period. Because the amount of blood in your body rises by about 50 percent during pregnancy, your body is well prepared for this normal blood loss. How long does postpartum bleeding last?

Usually only a few days, but you may continue to have some spotting over the next few weeks. Photo credit: iStock. What is lochia? How long do you bleed after giving birth? What causes lochia? How should I manage lochia? What if my postpartum bleeding stopped and started again? Does lochia smell? Call your midwife or doctor if your bleeding is getting heavier or: Your lochia is still bright red a week after your baby's birth. You have abnormally heavy bleeding saturating a sanitary pad for two hours straight or having blood clots bigger than a golf ball.

This is a sign of a late postpartum hemorrhage and requires immediate attention. Note: If you're bleeding very heavily or feeling faint, call Learn more Watch for these warning signs during your postpartum recovery Learn how a postpartum doula can help Get tips on how to get the help you need as you adjust to life with a newborn Find out when you'll get your period again after having a baby. Sources BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world.

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