Does discharge after C-section smell?

What is lochia? Lochia is the vaginal discharge you have after giving birth. It contains a mix of blood, mucus and uterine tissue. It has a stale, musty odor like menstrual period discharge and can last several weeks.


What does postpartum discharge smell like?

Lochia is the vaginal discharge you have after a vaginal delivery. It has a stale, musty odor like menstrual discharge. Lochia for the first 3 days after delivery is dark red in color. A few small blood clots, no larger than a plum, are normal.

How do you know if your lochia is infected?

Symptoms of Infections of the Uterus After Delivery

Symptoms of uterine infections commonly include pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, fever (usually within 1 to 3 days after delivery), paleness, chills, a general feeling of illness or discomfort, and often headache and loss of appetite.


How long does lochia odor last?

“The postpartum body brings smells that may be confused with sweat-related body odor,” says Dr. Alagia. “This includes a vaginal discharge called lochia, which is a mix of amniotic fluid, tissue, and blood. It usually passes through the vagina up to six weeks post-birth.”

How long does postpartum smell last?

Weird smells are normal.

Immediately after, and even six to eight weeks after delivery, there will be lochia, and lots of it. This is the stuff (mostly blood) that your uterus sheds, and it may have a mild odor to it.


Management of postpartum foul smelling white discharge - Dr. Teena S Thomas



How do you clean lochia?

Gently pat dry with clean toilet paper or clean wipes. Change the sanitary pad after every void or bowel movement, or at least 4x a day. Both lochia and feces are a medium for bacteria. If you have delivered vaginally, soaking in a bath tub can also help with cleaning and wound healing.

When can I start bending after C section?

Lifting more than your baby, stretching, straining and deep bending are not recommended until about 4-6 weeks post-delivery OR until you are able to do these movements with no pain or strain and your incision feels like it has healed.

When should I be concerned about lochia?

You should contact your doctor if you notice any of the following, which could be signs of an infection or another more serious condition such as postpartum hemorrhage: Very large clots (think the size of a lemon or larger) A very heavy flow — enough to soak through a maxi pad every hour.


How does lochia get infected?

Postpartum infections can stem from open sores in your uterus (at the site of the placenta), lacerations in your cervix, vagina or perineum (especially if you had an episiotomy), or an incision if you've had a C-section.

What are the postpartum warning signs that could indicate infection?

Symptoms of uterine infections commonly include pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, fever (usually within 1 to 3 days after delivery), paleness, chills, a general feeling of illness or discomfort, and often headache and loss of appetite. The heart rate is often rapid. The uterus is swollen, tender, and soft.

Can lochia cause infection?

Lochia may smell similar to a menstrual period and have a stale, musty, or metallic odor. Lochia occurs in three stages and is a normal part of healing after giving birth. Keep in mind that there are complications to look out for, such as infection or hemorrhage.


How do you know if you have an internal infection after C section?

Symptoms of a post-cesarean wound infection or complication

Call your doctor for advice or seek medical care if you have any of these symptoms after your release from the hospital: severe abdominal pain. redness at the incision site. swelling of the incision site.

How do I know if my C section opened inside?

The internal C-section incision on the uterus can also open or rupture.
...
These include:
  1. severe abdominal pain.
  2. vaginal bleeding.
  3. dizziness.
  4. low blood pressure.
  5. a fever.
  6. painful urination.
  7. painful bowel movements.
  8. severe constipation or the inability to have a bowel movement.


How do you clean lochia?

Gently pat dry with clean toilet paper or clean wipes. Change the sanitary pad after every void or bowel movement, or at least 4x a day. Both lochia and feces are a medium for bacteria. If you have delivered vaginally, soaking in a bath tub can also help with cleaning and wound healing.


Is yellow discharge after C section normal?

The body goes through many changes after having a baby, and having some yellow discharge after birth is normal. This type of discharge is called “lochia.” It is part of the body's way of healing itself after delivery, and it is a normal part of recovery after a vaginal birth or cesarean section (C-section).

What does postpartum sepsis feel like?

Sepsis is a severe infection which affects the entire body; the first signs are usually a rise in your temperature, heart rate and breathing. You may also feel unwell, have chills and flu-type symptoms, abdominal pain in your tummy and diarrhoea.

What is postpartum sepsis?

Sepsis is a complication of a severe infection. When the immune system fights the infection, sepsis sees the body go too far and start to attack organs and other tissues. When it occurs in pregnant women or within six weeks after giving birth, it's called maternal or postpartum sepsis (Bonet et al, 2017).


When can I start bending after C section?

Lifting more than your baby, stretching, straining and deep bending are not recommended until about 4-6 weeks post-delivery OR until you are able to do these movements with no pain or strain and your incision feels like it has healed.

What are the three stages of lochia?

You'll go through three postpartum bleeding stages: lochia rubra, lochia serosa and lochia alba.

How can I make my lochia go away faster?

Treatment of Lochia

Nothing needs to be done to treat lochia. You should not do anything to prevent lochia or stop it from happening—it's a normal part of your body's postpartum healing process. By the time your uterus has returned to its normal size, you won't be passing much lochia anymore (if at all).


What kind of discharge is normal after C-section?

This discharge will be red and heavy for the first few days. Then it will taper, become increasingly watery and change from pinkish brown to yellowish white. Contractions. You might feel contractions, sometimes called afterpains, during the first few days after the C-section.

What makes lochia worse?

Breastfeeding makes your body release oxytocin. This makes your womb contract so it releases the lochia blood more quickly (but it will be the same amount of blood overall). Any sort of gentle exercise – even a quick vacuum of the lounge – could also make bleeding heavier.

How long does discharge last after C-section?

How long do you bleed for after a c-section? You will have some vaginal bleeding (called lochia) for 2–6 weeks after the birth. Bleeding sometimes lasts longer than this, but it should have stopped by 12 weeks.


What does infection after C-section look like?

Redness around the incision. Abnormal swelling around the incision. Fluid leaking from the wound. Increasing pain at the wound site, or pain that doesn't get better.

Does yellowish discharge mean infection?

What does it mean when you have a yellowish discharge? Yellow discharge is commonly associated with a vaginal infection called bacterial vaginosis. Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, can also cause yellow or green discharge. If you're concerned about a change in your vaginal discharge, see a medical provider.
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