Advertisement
Meet other parents...
...just like you on Parent24.com. Blogs, tools, info, forums and lots of chat about children of all ages.
Mom or dad to be?
Share the joys and fears of pregnancy with other parents like you on Parent24.com
     TERMS     GET A DAILY HEALTH TIP  
  
MAKE HEALTH24 YOUR HOMEPAGE   
H24 NEWS MEDICAL SCHEMES DIET FITNESS NATURAL MAN WOMAN SEX PREGNANCY CHILD TEEN SUN
FOCUS CENTRES MEDS ORAL PET MIND GRAPHICS VIDEOS ANTI-AGEING WIN TOOLS EXPERTS TALK
DO THIS:TEST YOURSELFGREAT PREGNANCY GUIDESQUIZ YOURSELF
 What about me?
Lochia

The material eliminated from the uterus through the vagina after the completion of labour is known as lochia. The first discharge, lochia rubra, consists largely of blood. This is followed by lochia serosa, a brownish mixture of blood and mucus, and finally lochia alba, a yellowish or whitish discharge containing micro organisms and cell fragments.

 
Advertisement
Each stage may last for several days. The various stages may even last as long as six weeks postnatally.

If your discharge has a foul odour or returns to red after having been white or even increases with bloody clots, there could be a more serious problem and you should report this to you doctor or midwife as soon as possible.


 
Print this article
 Rate this article
Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent

 
Previous article: Next article:
After birth pains Painful urination/bowel movements
Sign up
 *Daily tip
 Newsletter
 Special offers
*Stand a chance to win R1000 every month!
 OTHER ARTICLES
After birth pains
Lochia
Painful urination/bowel movements
Care of the perineum
Breast care
Your skin after pregnancy
Menstrual cycle and conception
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression: not just 'baby blues'
Symptoms of postpartum depression
The baby's fine - how are you?
Weight loss after pregnancy
 

 Sponsored links
 Health24 links

Advertisement