Bleeding after Delivery\Birth\Postpartum\C-section

How much will  bleed after birth\postpartum !

After you give birth, either via cesarean birth or a vaginal birth, you will bleed from your vagina. The cause of this bleeding is the healing of the uterus, specifically where the placenta was attached to the uterine wall. As the uterus slowly shrinks back down to nearly it's prepregnancy size in a process called involution, the body expels blood form the wound inside.

The first few days after you give birth you can expect to see more blood than you would normally see in a heavy period. This can also include blood clots. Though the amount of bleeding will diminish each day. The first time you stand up after giving birth, you may actually have blood run down your legs. This is because when you sit or lay down, the blood pools in the vagina.

You should not use tampons for bleeding after giving birth as this might cause an infection. It can also irritate the vagina if you had a vaginal birth. It is recommended that you use maternity pads or something similar. Some women choose to use bladder control pads or adult diapers for the first few days because of the heavy flow.

If you experience bleeding that soaks a pad every hour for two hours, you should call your doctor or midwife as it may be a sign of postpartum hemorrhage. Blood clots are normal in the first few days, beyond that seek advice from your practitioner.

Your bleeding will eventually taper to a normal period and then to spotting. The color of the flow will go from bright red, to brown to a yellow or whitish color as your uterus heals. It is normal to see an increase in amount or a darkening of the color of the blood if you do something more strenuous or move around more. This may be an indication that you need to take it easy.

Vaginal Bleeding After Pregnancy

What vaginal bleeding after pregnancy is

This postpartum symptom is the heavy flow of blood and mucus, called lochia, that starts after delivery and continues for up to ten days. Light bleeding and spotting after pregnancy can continue until four to six weeks after delivery.

What causes vaginal bleeding after pregnancy

Whether or not you're in recovery from a C-section, your body is ridding itself of all the extra blood and tissue it needed to nourish your baby during pregnancy.

What you need to know about vaginal bleeding after pregnancy

Lochia is just like your period — only heavier and much longer-lasting. It also has some components that you won't find in a basic menstrual period, like mucus and tissue from your uterus, mostly from where the placenta was attached (think chunkier). The heaviest of the bleeding will last for about three to ten days after labor and delivery and then it should taper off to lighter spotting after pregnancy. You'll see the difference in the color as this starts to happen, from red to pink, then brown, and finally to a yellowish white. Lochia should stop flowing around four to six weeks after delivery.

What to do about vaginal bleeding after pregnancy

• For the first six weeks, use only pads, even if you need pads as thick as your baby's diapers. Don't use tampons, which can introduce bacteria into your still-recovering uterus and genital tract.
• Choose clothes (particularly panties) that you don't care too much about. Wearing your favorites immediately after delivery (even if you could fit into them) might not be such a good idea, since stains from spotting after pregnancy will inevitably happen. 
• Take it easy. Doing too much too soon can slow down the body's repair work and cause bleeding to start again, or to become heavy once it's started tapering off.
• If you see very large clots or experience very heavy flow — enough to soak through a maxi pad every hour — give your practitioner a call. Ditto if you notice a foul smell from the lochia (normal lochia smells like a normal period).

Bleeding After A C-Section

 

There is always some bleeding after a C-Section. It's referred to as the post-natal discharge or Lochia bleeding.

Every woman experiences this after having a baby, either c-section or vaginal birth. This is the old blood left over from the delivery, and originates from where the placenta was attached to the uterine wall.

But How Much Bleeding after a C-Section is considered normal?

At first you will experience bright red bleeding that should taper off to a pinkish color, then a brownish-yellow until it stops.

If you notice that you are passing small blood clots don't be alarmed, this is often normal. If the clots are larger than a golf ball, this is not normal and you should contact your doctor immediately.

Your blood flow is always heavier immediately after your c-section procedure and will continue for about the first 4-5 days, but it should get progressively lighter after about 10-12 days,  but note it could also last up to 6 weeks.

Typically the range of bleeding is about 3-4 weeks. Your main concern will be if you experience large clots or uncontrollable, heavy bleeding.

If there are days where you have little to no bleeding but then start bleeding heavier again, this is generally an indication that you are doing too much or over-exerting yourself and is a clear sign that you need to stop what you are doing and take it easy for a few days or possibly a week.

Bleeding after Your C-Section that is NOT Normal

If you experience uncontrollable, heavy bleeding which could be categorized as soaking a towel in the span of about an hour or you completely soak several pads within a few hours, then call your doctor immediately.

Damage to major blood vessels can be a serious complication and heavy bleeding could be an indication of that type of problem. More times than not, it just means you've been doing too much but there is the rare case when there may be a problem.

A call to your doctor and a simple checkup will determine what the problem is, however any heavy  bleeding that concerns you is a good reason to call your doctor. 

Don't use tampons while you are bleeding during this time. During your c-section recovery you are at risk of internal infections and tampons can harbor bacteria which can lead to an infection while healing so avoid using them until your body has completely healed.

Whether you will need treatment depends on why you are bleeding and how serious it might be and treatment could vary from something as simple as administering a drug to get contractions going or it could be as serious as a blood transfusion or even a hysterectomy.

It's difficult to know what treatment is needed, that is why uncontrollable, heavy bleeding after a C-Section means you should contact your doctor right away.

Signs of internal Bleeding After C-Section

Cesarean section is the most common surgery performed in the United States; nearly one third of all deliveries are cesarean sections, according to the Center for Disease Control. Bleeding can occur from the uterine or skin incision, from the placental attachment site, or from a nicked or damaged blood vessel. Blood loss from cesarean section may be twice that lost in vaginal delivery, according to the Encyclopedia of surgery; so, additional internal bleeding can rapidly lead to hypovolemic (low blood volume) shock.

Vital Sign Changes

Tachycardia, or rapid heartbeat over 100 beats per minute, is a classic sign of internal bleeding and hypovolemic shock. Because the blood volume drops, blood pressure to less than 90 mm Hg systolic. Breathing may become rapid and gasping, with respiration of 22 minute or more, according to the Merck Manual.

Abdominal Signs

After delivery by cesarean section, all women are given a medication called oxytocin to help the uterus contract and stay firm, so bleeding doesn't occur. If the uterus loses its tone, and becomes flabby, it's called uterine atony, or a "boggy" uterus, and large amounts of internal bleeding can occur rapidly, according to David Miller, M.D. For this reason, the uterus is felt manually through the abdomen every hour or so for the first few hours after delivery.

The uterus is generally felt between the public bone and the navel after a cesarean delivery. If the uterus begins to be palpated at a higher level each time it's checked, it may be filling up with blood. Bruising or a bluish tint to the skin below the navel may also be seen if internal bleeding occurs. The abdomen may become hard, distended or painful to touch.

Skin Signs

Women with internal bleeding become very pale. Hands and feet may be cold and clammy, the woman may be very sweaty, and capillary refill time, which is checked by pushing down on a fingernail and watching to see how fast the blood returns to the nail, is slow, according to the Merck Manual.

Weakness and Anxiety

Women with internal bleeding may complain of being weak, or may even pass out, especially if they try to stand up. Feelings of anxiety and an impending sense of doom are common during an episode of internal bleeding, according to the Merck Manual.

Vaginal Bleeding

Because the cervix is soft and often somewhat dilated, or open, even after a planned cesarean delivery, blood can escape through the vagina. Women who have had cesarean sections still have vaginal bleeding, called lochia, from the placental site after delivery. However, if bleeding becomes heavier than normal, saturating a pad an hour, or if large clots are passed, internal bleeding should be considered.

Decreased Urine Output

Because blood flow to the kidneys is reduced, urine output may fall to less than 30 milliliters (ml) per hour, according to the Merck Manual. Most women have a foley catheter inserted for a cesarean delivery to keep the bladder empty, and the urine output is checked every hour for the first few hours after delivery.

Blood Tests

A complete blood count, or CBC, may show a decrease in hemoglobin or hematocrit, although this won't show up on a blood test immediately in the case of rapid blood loss