Is it normal to bleed after quarantine?

Quarantine also called the puerperium, is when a woman’s body takes after childbirth to return to normal pre-pregnancy conditions. It usually lasts about six to eight weeks, and the body will undergo some significant changes, such as weight loss. During this period, the uterus also has to return to its natural state, whether the child was born naturally or if the delivery was by cesarean section. Therefore, vaginal secretions called lochia are produced to expel the placenta’s remains, cervical mucus, and blood.

Once the quarantine is over, the lochia stop, and menstruation will not appear until after breastfeeding. However, due to the change in hormones, it is normal for minor bleeding to occur a few days after quarantine. What is not normal is that the bleeding is excessive or lasting. In this FastlyHealarticle, we will explain if it is customary to bleed after quarantine so that you know what is expected and what is not.

Bleeding during quarantine

During quarantine, the uterus has to rebuild itself from childbirth. It does not matter if it has been natural childbirth or cesarean section; it has suffered the same as the rest of the organs that must be recovered and returned to their place. For this reason, the woman faces physical changes, but also psychological due to the shift in hormones.

During the six or eight weeks that the quarantine lasts, it is normal for vaginal bleeding with clots to appear. They are called lochia. Lochia is vaginal secretions in which remains of the placenta, cervical mucus, and blood are expelled, and therefore they look like vaginal bleeding. They appear in any case, whether there is natural childbirth or not, and they are entirely normal.

You should see a doctor if:

• These clots are very abundant after five or six days after delivery.
• If they are smelly or have other symptoms such as fever.

In addition, during this stage, the woman loses weight due to eliminating fluids that she has accumulated throughout pregnancy, added to lochia, and breastfeeding (if she breastfeeds). All this means that the woman loses weight during the quarantine and begins to regain her figure, and the gut decreases in volume.

At this stage, the mother has to be aware of abundant vaginal bleeding or possible symptoms since it is a period in which some infections or risks may appear. However, there is no need to worry.

After about six to eight weeks, the post-quarantine period arrives. When the uterus and organs have been recovering, the woman’s body returns to normal. In this period, the lochia cease, and blood clots are no longer expelled.

Is bleeding after quarantine usual?

The short answer is yes. However, it should be noted that it depends. It is expected that after quarantine, there are a few days without bleeding. Suddenly a red or brown spot appears, maybe something thick due to hormonal changes, and the body is returning to normal. However, menstruation should not occur as soon as it is normal for some women to experience the first period just after quarantine, as we will see below.

However, it is not customary to continue passing blood clots or for the staining to be profuse. Therefore, if you continue to expel blood clots after two months (approximately, it may be two months and a week), you must see your doctor as soon as possible.

In some cases, it is also customary to bleed if, after quarantine, you have sex. If the bleeding is excessive or is accompanied by pain, it is advisable to visit the gynecologist. However, the gynecologist will be the one to recommend when you can have sex again after childbirth or cesarean section.

Bleeding after quarantine: conditions

During quarantine, some conditions may appear that can extend until after this period and cause bleeding. Some conditions that can cause bleeding after quarantine are:

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an inflammation of the endometrium (the layer or lining of a uterus) and causes it to grow in other parts where it does not belong. It can occur before pregnancy and produce risky pregnancies, or it can appear later, during the puerperium or quarantine, more common in women with cesarean section. It usually occurs with fever, abdominal pain, or even vaginal bleeding. It is essential to go to the doctor for the necessary treatment.

Cystitis

Cystitis is a common condition in women, not only in pregnancy. It is an infection or inflammation of the bladder due to some bacteria, usually Escherichia Coli. Its symptoms are frequent urination that can cause pain or burning and expulsion of small amounts of urine when urinating. Also, depending on the severity of the infection, blood may be expelled in the urine. It has treatment, but you should consult the gynecologist to treat it during breastfeeding.

The reappearance of menstruation after childbirth

Although the quarantine period helps the organs work again as before pregnancy, the hormones are still altered. Therefore, although the first menstruation after childbirth does not usually happen until a few months later, it is possible that a first spotting occurs after the quarantine that cuts itself and is what some gynecologists consider the first rule. This is over and does not appear until after lactation in breastfeeding mothers.

The hormones work differently than they usually do, so irregularities can occur in the first period after childbirth or changes such as the absence of pain in women who previously felt it during menstruation. It will take them a while to get used to it, usually a few months, but it depends on the mother’s circumstances.

Women who use artificial lactation (bottles) or breastfeed for less than a month usually have their first menstruation eight to ten weeks after delivery. Therefore right after the quarantine.

However, mothers who breastfeed their babies are slower to reactivate the cycle. In this way, their menstruation usually appears in the majority six months after delivery. However, some appear after three months, and others that may even take more than a year until their cycle is fully regulated. This is because, during lactation, the body produces prolactin. This hormone stimulates the secretion of milk and ensures that lactation continues but at the same time blocks the cycle for a more extended period.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more similar articles, is it normal to bleed after quarantine? We recommend that you enter our category of Female reproductive system.