Bleeding after a delivery, either a vaginal delivery or a C section is a very common symptom. This bleeding along with the vaginal discharge, in clinical terms it is known as lochia. So bleeding happens because during 9 months of pregnancy, the woman doesn’t bleed actually. So the inner lining of the uterus is quite thick and once the delivery happens and once the placenta or the connection between the mother and the baby or the uterus and the baby, is also out, the uterus contracts. The inner lining of the uterus, along with the tissues and with blood clots, it comes out. That manifests as bleeding. This bleeding usually occurs till 4 to 6 weeks after delivery, but not usually beyond 6 weeks. Any bleeding that happens beyond 6 weeks, that can be abnormal and it requires a consultation with the obstetrician. This bleeding which happens after delivery, it will be a little high on the heavier side, with a bright red color till the first 10 days of delivery. Once the 10 days or 1 week interval passes off, then the bleeding decreases in amount. The color changes to pinkish and it will be more of watery. But this discharge or reddish brownish disarrange can continue till 6 weeks. Now in these 6 weeks if there is any foul smelling discharge or if there is heavy bleeding, which is associated with clots, it seeks attention. So patients should come to the obstetrician to come to say those symptoms because it can be a first manifestation of post-partum hemorrhage, means abnormal bleeding after the delivery. So it has to be checked by the gynecologist and see whether anything is remaining inside, any placental growths or if there is any source of infection which is causing this heavy bleeding.
