Lochia vs. Period After C-Section: What to Expect

Question
i had my son 6 weeks ago. after i had him i didn't bleed that much. It went from red to white and thought when i started bleeding again it was my period but i am not sure. how much do you bleed after a c section.

Answer
Dear Tonya,

Whether you give birth vaginally or by C-section, you can expect to have some vaginal discharge, called lochia, after you have your baby. For the first few days the lochia will be bright red and look like a heavy menstrual period, consisting largely of blood and sloughed-off tissue from the lining of your uterus.

If everything proceeds normally, you'll have a bit less discharge each day, and by two to four days after you've given birth, it'll be more watery and pinkish in color. By about ten days after the birth, you should have only a small amount of white or yellow-white discharge, mostly composed of white blood cells and cells from the lining of the uterus. This may continue for a few days or up to several weeks.

If you are not breastfeeding, you generally will start menstruating 6-8 weeks postpartum. If you are breastfeeding, you may not menstruate until you wean the baby. Other women get their period back but continue to breastfeed. Your first period after childbirth is often much heavier and lasts longer than usual.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda