In plain words
Lochia rubra is the red stage of . It is the heaviest kind, and it lasts about the first three to four days after birth. It is mostly blood, along with small pieces of the uterine lining and some tissue from the attached. The color is bright red at first, then darker. Small clots are common during this stage. Large clots, or bleeding that soaks through a pad every hour, are not normal and need prompt medical attention. Lochia rubra is a sign that the uterus is healing and shrinking, a process called . Many people feel cramps during this time, especially while breastfeeding. If bleeding suddenly increases, call your provider right away, or go to emergency care.
The deeper version
Lochia rubra is predominantly blood with decidual fragments and amniotic debris. It is the heaviest stage and lasts about the first three to four days. Its blood component reflects the open placental bed, where spiral arteries are remodeled over the following weeks. Large clots, persistent heavy bleeding, or sudden increases prompt assessment for and retained tissue (ACOG Committee Opinion 736, 2018). Postpartum hemorrhage is commonly defined as cumulative blood loss of 1,000 milliliters or more after birth, and it is a leading cause of worldwide (WHO, 2012). The controversy concerns measurement versus visual estimation, which affects detection of significant bleeding.
Where it comes up
- Postpartum bleeding (lochia): what's normal, what's notPostpartum: Your Body
- Heavy bleeding after birth (hemorrhage)Birth and the First Days
- Afterpains: cramping while nursingPostpartum: Your Body
- Blood clots: the signs to knowPostpartum: Your Body
What mothers here say about lochia rubra
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing Postpartum Care, 2018
- World Health Organization — WHO Recommendations for the Prevention and Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage, 2012