Allocations after caesarean section

Cesarean section refers to the number of serious cavitary operations, therefore the recovery period for a woman after such births takes longer than after the natural. Cesarean is referred to the category of difficult births, and therefore the postpartum period is calculated in this case by 60 days. This is 20 days longer than in the situation of natural childbirth.

The recovery period, regardless of how the delivery took place, is associated with uterine secretions, which are called lochia. These secretions are clots of the endometrium, as well as blood from the wound that formed after the removal of the placenta.

Allocations after cesarean section are no different from those after physiological birth, but require more attention. Since surgical intervention was performed, there is a high risk of inflammation and infection. And the presence in the case of caesarean section of an additional source of bleeding, a scar on the uterus, only aggravates the situation. Any pathological process in the uterus cavity inevitably affects the nature and amount of secretions.

What are the discharge after cesarean section?

In the first week after childbirth lochia should be red with clots and abundant enough. In the second week after cesarean, the discharge becomes red - brown and is no longer as plentiful as in the first days. In general, for the entire period of recovery, blood loss due to postpartum secretions is 1000 ml. As a rule, with each subsequent day they gradually become lighter and scant until they stop at all. Yellow mucous discharge after caesarean section, as in the case of independent birth, is considered normal in the last weeks of the postpartum period.

The smell of secretions is also of great diagnostic importance. If in the first 3-4 days after childbirth lochia have a spicy smell, then this is the norm. However, discharge after caesarean section with putrefactive sharp and unpleasant odor can be a sign of inflammation and infection. If these symptoms are found, it is better to seek medical help immediately.

How much is the discharge after cesarean section?

In order to know what cases are the reason for an immediate contact with a doctor, a woman needs to be aware of what is the norm in the manifestation of lousy, and when exactly the discharge after cesarean should end.

Allocations after cesarean can normally last up to 5-6 weeks. This is somewhat longer in time than in the case of physiological births. This fact is related to the fact that, in view of damage to the muscle fibers during the operation, the contractile capacity of the uterus is reduced, since its full-fledged ability is impaired. Therefore, the healing of the wound at the site of the former attachment of the "child's place" to the wall of the uterus, as well as the separation of the endometrium, occurs slightly more slowly.

Bloody discharge after caesarean for more than 2 weeks may indicate a pathological bleeding, which is a serious reason for going to the doctor and hospitalization.

The rapid and unexpected end of discharge after cesarean is a sign of insufficient uterine contractility. In this case, the doctor prescribes drugs that stimulate uterine activity, and massage the lumbar-chair section.

The unexpected termination of postpartum excretions, as well as their subsequent sudden resumption in 1-2 weeks, may also indicate poor uterine contractility and stagnation in her cavity, which increases the risk of infection.