Everything You Need To Know About Rejection After Childbirth

Rejection after childbirth is one of the natural consequences of giving birth. If the bleeding is light, you can manage it at home. However, if the bleeding is more abundant, it may be a sign of some complications.

This bleeding is usually abundant during the first two or three days and then decreases with time. The heavy bleeding should not be longer than two weeks.

It is a completely natural process. The body gets rid of what is left in the uterus after pregnancy:  mucous membranes from the cervix, the remnants of the placenta and other secretions.

In order for this expulsion to be more effective, the body uses after-effects. These are intense contractions that last for a day or two after birth. Their purpose is to contract the uterus and help with the “cleansing process”.

Rejection after delivery: 3 phases

We can divide the rejection into three steps:

• First phase: In this phase, there is a red bleeding. It contains leukocytes as well as epithelial cells and sometimes hair that belonged to the fetus. Bleeding occurs during the first two or three days after birth. The blood may come in a steady stream, or at intervals, and it may also contain clots of coagulated blood.
• Second phase: The body now gets rid of serous fluid, and the discharge has a pink hue. It occurs between day three and ten after birth. It contains erythrocytes and leukocytes and serous exudate.
• Third stage: Finally, the rejection becomes white or yellowish around the second week after birth. The color is due to the fact that the rejection now mainly contains leukocytes.

How to deal with rejection after childbirth

If you are wondering what to do to handle the rejection period, we have compiled some recommendations here:

• You can shower, but preferably not bathe. You then prevent potential infections. Make sure you rinse with plenty of water.
• Use multi-gyn compresses to keep the area clean and relieve discomfort.
• Do not use tampons or menstrual cups.
• Pay close attention to symptoms such as fever or a general feeling of illness, as this may mean that you have some type of infection.
• When you go to the hospital or for check-ups after giving birth, bring a bag of personal hygiene items. We recommend that you bring maternity bandages, which are specially developed for rejection, so as not to bleed through your clothes.

When the rejection is not normal

When the amount of blood in the rejection exceeds the equivalent of 4 dl, specialists no longer call it rejection, but categorize it as a postpartum haemorrhage.  After cesarean section, the corresponding volume is 1 liter.

It can occur during the first 24 hours after delivery. This is then called early postpartum haemorrhage. If it occurs after this period, it is called just postpartum hemorrhage. The later bleeding is much less common than the previous ones.

Causes of postpartum haemorrhages

One cause of a postpartum haemorrhage – perhaps the most worrying – may be what is called uterine nausea, or weakness. This is the loss of muscle power in the uterus after the baby is born and the placenta has been expelled. The uterus should then contract to keep the bleeding to a minimum.

When this does not happen, the risks for the mother are great. Doctors must act quickly to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding is very severe, the life of the new mother may be in danger.

However, it can also be due to other factors, such as:

• Injuries: If tissue or blood vessels rupture during childbirth, bleeding is a very likely consequence.
• Tissue retention: This occurs when fragments of the placenta or fetus remain attached to the uterus.
• Coagulopathy: This is when the coagulation process fails. It may be due to a condition such as pregnancy toxicosis.

Treatment

Excessive bleeding immediately after birth can be effectively prevented. The method consists of giving drugs that stimulate the uterus to contract, such as oxytocin or carbetocin. These drugs are administered intravenously. This is a simple and routine treatment that is common in hospitals.

Complications of postpartum haemorrhage

As I said, some situations can cause a slight bleeding after childbirth to become a more severe bleeding. This can make the situation much more complicated.

Unfortunately, statistics from the World Health Organization on deaths after childbirth are not encouraging. Worldwide , 830 women die from complications during childbirth or pregnancy every day.

Of these women, the majority – 99% to be exact – live in developing countries or in rural areas. However, it is noteworthy that this mortality rate decreased by 44% between 1990 and 2015.

Medical advances have been very helpful. Specialist care can save the lives of both women and newborns. Today, in developed countries, this type of death is hardly ever seen.

Rejection after childbirth is in most cases not something that causes problems anymore, so you do not have to worry.

Just try to keep track of your personal hygiene, and do not hesitate to contact your doctor if you feel any discomfort or other symptoms.