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.

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.