Lochia: what bleeding after birth looks like and how long it lasts

Lochia is the bleeding and discharge from your vagina after giving birth, while the place where your placenta was attached heals. KKH says it is heavy for the first couple of days, then changes from bright red to pink or brown and may turn yellow before it stops. Most mothers stop bleeding within three to four weeks, though some carry on for up to eight.

How lochia changes, stage by stage

Cleveland Clinic splits lochia into three stages:

• Lochia rubra, for at least the first three to four days: dark or bright red, flowing like a heavy period, sometimes with small clots. You may soak a thick maxi pad every two to three hours.
• Lochia serosa, from about day 4 to day 12: pinkish brown, thinner and more watery, with fewer clots or none.
• Lochia alba, from about day 12 and for up to six weeks: yellowish white and light, with little or no blood.

Lochia should smell like a period, Cleveland Clinic says, and never fishy or foul. The NHS notes that the flow can turn redder and heavier while you breastfeed, because feeding makes the womb contract, and you may feel period-like afterpains at the same time.

How long bleeding after birth lasts

Think weeks, not days. KKH says most mothers stop bleeding within three to four weeks, and some carry on for up to eight. KKH's obstetrics team adds that it usually gets steadily lighter towards weeks 4 to 6. The RCOG, the UK college of obstetricians, says lochia has usually stopped by the time your baby is 12 weeks old.

A caesarean birth does not spare you this. Cleveland Clinic says you will still bleed for several weeks, though usually less than after a vaginal birth.

Pads, hygiene and lochia during confinement

Use pads, not tampons. The NHS says to avoid tampons and menstrual cups until after your 6-week postnatal review, because the spot where the placenta joined the womb is still a wound and internal products could raise your risk of infection. KKH tells new mothers to change their pad every two to three hours.

Some confinement customs treat lochia as unclean, which is why new mothers are told to keep away from altars and places of worship. KKH says there is no scientific basis for this. It is also clear that bathing during confinement is fine, and lowers the chance of skin and wound infections.

When postpartum bleeding needs a doctor

The CDC lists these as urgent warning signs after pregnancy: soaking through one or more pads in an hour, and passing clots bigger than an egg or passing tissue. Cleveland Clinic adds a foul smell, green discharge, fever or chills, and feeling dizzy or faint. KKH asks you to see a doctor if your lochia suddenly becomes heavy after it had been easing.

Heavy bleeding can also start weeks later. The RCOG calls abnormal or heavy bleeding between 24 hours and 12 weeks after the birth a secondary postpartum haemorrhage. The NHS says to get help straight away for sudden or very heavy blood loss, especially with a racing heart or feeling faint.

In Singapore, KKH's Urgent O&G Centre is open 24 hours for walk-in post-pregnancy problems, and KKH says heavy vaginal bleeding should be seen there or at your nearest emergency department. Our guide to postpartum bleeding covers pads, timing and where to go.

Frequently asked questions

How long does postpartum bleeding last?

KKH says most mothers stop within three to four weeks, and some bleed for up to eight weeks. It should get lighter and paler as the weeks go by.

Is it normal to pass clots after giving birth?

Small clots are common in the first few days, Cleveland Clinic says. Clots bigger than an egg are an urgent warning sign, according to the CDC, so get seen the same day.

Why has my lochia turned red again?

Breastfeeding can do it: the NHS says feeding can make bleeding redder and heavier for a while. If the flow suddenly becomes heavy again after easing, KKH says to see a doctor.

Does lochia smell?

It should smell like period blood. Cleveland Clinic says a fishy or foul smell is not normal and can mean an infection, so call your doctor.

Related terms

• Afterpains: Cramps in your lower tummy after birth as your womb shrinks back, often stronger while you breastfeed.
• 6-Week Postnatal Review: Your own check-up with a doctor four to six weeks after birth, covering healing, mood, feeding and contraception.
• Confinement (Zuo Yue Zi): The traditional rest period after birth, 30 to 44 days depending on community, with food rules and extra help at home.
• C-section (Caesarean Section): An operation to deliver your baby through a cut in your tummy and womb, planned ahead or done in labour.
• Perineum: The skin and muscle between the vagina and anus, which stretches in birth and can tear or be cut.

See every term in the glossary