After your baby is born, it may seem as though all the symptoms you've been contending with over the last nine months or so will evaporate instantly and you'll suddenly be in tip-top shape. But that's not the case for most women, and many experience postpartum symptoms like vaginal bleeding. Rest assured that it's normal and temporary. ×What is postpartum bleeding or lochia?× Vaginal postpartum bleeding, or lochia, is the heavy flow of blood and mucus that starts after delivery. For about three days after you give birth, lochia is typically dark red in color. ×How long do you bleed after giving birth?× Heavy bleeding generally can last for up to 10 days after giving birth. Light bleeding and spotting after pregnancy can continue for up to four to six weeks after delivery, though it varies from person to person and pregnancy to pregnancy. ×What causes postpartum bleeding?× Whether or not you're in recovery from a C-section, your body is ridding itself of all the extra blood and tissue it needed to nourish your baby during pregnancy. ×What's the difference between lochia and your period?× Lochia is just like your period — only heavier and (often much) longer-lasting. It also has some components that you won't find in a basic menstrual period, like mucus and tissue from your uterus, mostly from where the placenta was attached. The heaviest of the bleeding will last for about three to 10 days after labor and delivery, and then it should taper off to lighter spotting after pregnancy. You'll see the difference in the color as this starts to happen, from red to pink, then brown, and finally to a yellowish white. Lochia should stop flowing around four to six weeks after delivery, though it can end sooner or later depending on the woman and the pregnancy.
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