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Post Pregnancy Yellow Vaginal Discharge

Before we talk about a yellow discharge after pregnancy, it is important to understand that a discharge after pregnancy is normal. This discharge after pregnancy is called lochia and it is the term given to the vaginal discharge during the postpartum period. Lochia stats just after childbirth and will continue for approximately six weeks after delivery. It looks like a normal menstrual period, but contains placental tissue, blood and mucus. There are three different types of lochia and these are explained below.

1. Lochia rubra: This discharge is seen during the first three to five days after the delivery. This postpartum vaginal discharge is usually bright red in color and contains several red blood cells.

2. Lochia serosa: Such a discharge occurs up to the tenth day of the postpartum period. The brown discharge after pregnancy is lochia serosa. It can also be pink in color and is thinner than the lochia rubra discharge.

3. Lochia alba: The yellow discharge after pregnancy or the thick yellow discharge lasts up to six weeks after you have had your baby is known as lochia alba.

This bleeding after childbirth occurs because the placenta separates from the uterus, causing the blood vessels in the uterus to start to bleed as part of the process called “involution” or shrinking of the uterus which is extremely important. The bleeding must show signs of ebbing as the days pass by; if not, medical attention is necessary.

How do you manage this lochia during the post partum period? Stock up on sanitary towels and avoid using tampons during the first few weeks. If you find that you are using more than one sanitary towel in an hour and experience heavy bleeding with clots, then contact your doctor immediately. The yellow discharge you see after pregnancy usually occurs about 10 days after into the postpartum period. At times, this yellow discharge after pregnancy may become a slightly white discharge after pregnancy. This kind of yellow discharge after pregnancy is mostly made up of cells from the lining of the uterus, mucus, fat and cholesterol.

Now that it is clearer why you see a yellow discharge after pregnancy, do keep the following in mind as well. Lochia or this postpartum discharge has the same odor as that of a normal menstrual period. If you experience any foul odor or abnormal odor at any time, do contact your doctor at once for a proper evaluation. It could signal saprophytic organism contamination.

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