Lochia

Lochia

In the field of obstetrics, lochia is post-partum vaginal discharge, containing blood, mucus, and placental tissue. Lochia discharge typically continues for 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth and progresses through three stages.

Lochia rubra is the first discharge, red in color because of the large amount of blood it contains. It typically lasts no longer than 3 to 5 days after birth.

Lochia serosa is the term for lochia which has thinned and turned brownish or pink in color. It contains serous exudate, erythrocytes, leukocytes, and cervical mucus. This stage continues until around the tenth day after delivery.

Lochia alba is the name for lochia once it has turned whitish or yellowish-white. It typically lasts from the second through the third to sixth week after delivery. It contains fewer red blood cells and is mainly made up of leukocytes, epithelial cells, cholesterol, fat, and mucus.

Lochia generally has an odor similar to that of normal menstrual fluid. Any offensive odor indicates a possible infection and should be reported to a healthcare provider.

External links

* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3755355&dopt=Abstract The duration of lochia]


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  • Lochia — Lo*chi a (l[=o] k[i^]*[.a] or l[ o]*k[imac] [.a]), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. ?, pl., fr. ? belonging to childbirth, ? a lying in, childbirth.] (Med.) The discharge from the womb and vagina which follows childbirth. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lochĭa — Lochĭa, Beiname der Artemis (s. d. und Eileithyia) …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Lochia — Lochia, griech., Kindbetterinreinigung; Lochiorrhagie, Mutterblutfluß; Lochodochium, Gebärhaus …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • LOCHIA — urbs turonensis prov. Lochos vulgo, ad Ingerem fluv. cum arce munita. 7. leuc ab ambacia in Austr. 9. a Caesaroduno Turonum, 22. a Biturico in Occ. In crypta subterranea arcis illi adiunctae repertum fuit corpus viri, ftaturae rarae, omnium huius …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • lochia — (n.) discharge from the uterus after childbirth, 1680s, Modern Latin, from Gk. lokhia, neut. pl. of lokhios pertaining to childbirth, from lokhos a lying in, childbirth, also, an ambush, from PIE root *legh to lie, lay (see LIE (Cf. lie) (v.2)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • lochia — [lō′kē ə, läk′ē ə] n. [ModL < Gr, neut. pl. of lochios, of childbirth < IE * loghos, bed < base * legh , to LIE1] the uterine discharge from the vagina that occurs for several days after childbirth …   English World dictionary

  • Lochia —   Lochia …   Wikipedia Español

  • Lochia — The fluid that weeps from the vagina for a week or so after delivery of a baby. At first the lochia is primarily blood, followed by a more mucousy fluid containing dried blood, and finally a clear to yellow discharge. * * * Discharges from the… …   Medical dictionary

  • lochia — n. the material eliminated from the uterus through the vagina after the completion of labour. The first discharge, lochia rubra (lochia cruenta), consists largely of blood. This is followed by lochia serosa, a brownish mixture of blood and mucus …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • lochia — noun Normal post partum vaginal discharge; blood, mucus, and placental tissue that are discharged from a females vagina (similar to menstruation) for several weeks after she has given birth. See Also: lochial, lochia rubra, lochia serosa, lochia… …   Wiktionary

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