The lochia

Midwife talk with Sarah: Today the focus is on the topic of lochia. You asked, Sarah has the answers.

WHAT IS THE STAMINA?
"The lochia is a wound secretion from the placenta's attachment point. As soon as the placenta detaches from the inner wall of your uterus, an uneven surface is created there. This must heal before normal uterine lining can build up again. The lochia therefore serves to clean your wound surface, as the constant bleeding directs immune cells to the affected area. The wound surface is thus closed and in the next step new tissue is created - your uterine lining. At the beginning, the lochia consists of blood, cervical mucus and bacteria, but - contrary to previous assumptions - it is not highly infectious."

HOW LONG DOES THE STAMMARY FLOW LAST?
“The lochia usually lasts 4-6 weeks, but this varies from mother to mother. It is also not possible to say exactly how and when the lochia changes.”

HOW DOES THE STATUARY FLOW DEVELOP?
“At first it is a strong red bleeding, which changes to a bloody-watery consistency, then reddish-brownish, then yellowish, and finally white to clear, until it stops.”

IS THIS ALSO AVAILABLE AFTER A CAESARE SECTION?
“The lochia also exists if you have had a Caesarean section. After all, your placenta is also removed. However, a standard procedure for a Caesarean section is a so-called "curettage", which means that the lochia is much weaker than in mothers who give birth naturally.”

WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER REGARDING HYGIENE?
“You should definitely not use tampons. If a tampon is left in for more than three hours, lots of bacteria will build up on your cervix, which creates a breeding ground for infections. In this case, we recommend using special sanitary pads, which should be changed every 2-4 hours (depending on the severity of the bleeding) (our MyClarella organic postpartum pads are particularly suitable for this ). Don't forget to wash your hands afterwards. Disinfecting your hands is not necessary.”

WHAT ABOUT BATHING?
"It used to be believed that lochia was highly infectious and could cause breast infections, among other things. Today, however, we know that this is not the case. Nevertheless, I recommend that you do not take a bath for the first 10 days after the birth. This is because heat counteracts the contractions of your uterus. However, after the birth, we want the uterus to contract and shrink back."

ADDITIONAL TIPS & TRICKS?
“If your bleeding is very heavy at first, I would recommend rinsing with lukewarm water after each visit to the toilet (our MyClarella Peri Bottle is particularly suitable for this ). You can also mix the water with a calendula essence if you are suffering from birth injuries.”

CAN I HAVE SEX DURING THE STAMMARY FLOW?
"If you already feel like having sex during the lochia and your potential birth injuries have healed well, there is nothing to stop you from doing so. There is absolutely no ban on having sex during the postpartum period; you and your partner decide that for yourselves."

WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR FOR?
"If you experience sudden heavy bleeding, you should go to your hospital immediately. You should contact your midwife if you have no lochia for several hours. If you also have a pressing headache behind your forehead and a raised temperature or fever, you should also see your doctor."