Every woman will have to go through postpartum bleeding after childbirth. The chances of complications during this bleeding period though, are higher in C-section deliveries. In some cases, complications may occur, leading to abnormal bleeding.
Normal postpartum bleeding
During childbirth, the placenta, that has been attached to the uterine wall throughout a pregnancy, should naturally detach itself, leaving open blood vessels at the point of attachment. These blood vessels begin to bleed into the uterus but with time, the uterus contracts, thereby closing the open blood vessels, and the bleeding should stop.
In normal cases, postpartum bleeding will be bright red and heavy for the first few days with some blood clots before slowing down to a pinkish discharge within five to six days. The color of the discharge gradually changes to brownish-yellow and then white, quite like menstruation bleeding for some women. This is usually a 15-day process, but in some cases, it may last up to four or six weeks.
Large clots with this bleeding at this point are not normal and will need to be checked out by your doctor.
Why excessive bleeding may occur
Large blood clots and overly heavy bleeding after a C-section is also not normal and should not be taken lightly. Indicator: It is not normal if you have to go through several sanitary pads within an hour to soak up the blood.
Reasons for this heavy bleeding after a C-section delivery could be, among other things, damage caused to a major blood vessel during the surgery. The removal of a strongly attached placenta may also be a reason, wherein some cases, the placenta is not removed completely during the C-section, leaving the fragments to bleed heavily.
Another reason why there may be excessive bleeding is that the uterus does not contract properly, allowing the blood vessels to remain open and bleed. Excess strain after a C-section may also cause heavy bleeding.
Heavy bleeding needs to be treated
If you’re found to be experiencing excessive bleeding after undergoing a C-section, you may have to be treated by a doctor. There are various methods of treatment. While some cases require medication, others may require surgery, depending upon the cause of the bleeding. If the uterus does not contract to stop the bleeding after childbirth, medicines are prescribed for stimulating it to do so.
Some women may experience excessive blood loss due to this heavy bleeding and in these cases, blood transfusions will be required. There might be cases where surgery is the only way to stop the bleeding. A hysterectomy or uterus removal surgery might be required to prevent blood loss in some rare cases.
How to tell if you’re bleeding too much
If bright red spotting reappears after your lochia has already lightened, it may just be a sign that you need to slow down. But if you continue to spot after taking it easy for a few days, check-in with your doctor.
Call your doctor if your bleeding is getting heavier or:
- Your lochia still bright red four days after your baby’s birth.
- Your lochia has a foul smell or you come down with fever or chills, which can be a sign of postpartum infection.
- You have abnormally heavy bleeding (saturating a sanitary pad in an hour or having blood clots bigger than a golf ball). This is a sign of a late postpartum hemorrhage and requires immediate attention.
Lochia
Lochia is the name given to postpartum bleeding. Every woman who delivers a child, either vaginally or through cesarean section, will experience this type of bleeding. It is how your body expels excess mucus, placental tissue, and blood after giving birth. You can expect to bleed heavily for the first three to ten postpartum days, after which the bleeding should taper off, turning from red to pink, then brown, and finally to a yellowish-white. Lochia should stop sometime between four and six weeks postpartum.
