Bleeding After C Section: How long will it last (4 Danger Signs)

Question: How long does bleeding after c section last?

If this is your first caesarean section, it can be worrying to still see blood on your pad days or even weeks after surgery.

First of all, its important you know it’s not abnormal that you will lose blood from your vagina after a cesarean section. This vaginal bleeding and discharge is called lochia, and it happens whether you deliver vaginally or by c section. And rarely, if there is a complication from the procedure, you may have additional bleeding from the incision site.

The volume and color of blood from your vagina may signify whether there is a problem or not. Bright red bleeding is expected in the first few days after surgery, but bright red blood that is very heavy and soaks a large pad in less than an hour, especially if it keeps happening, may signify a problem. If you are experiencing this, talk to the surgical team immediately or go back to the hospital.

On the other hand, an ongoing vaginal discharge that gradually changes from red, to brown, and then to yellowish or whitish is not abnormal. It’s your body cleaning up your womb and depending on the individual, it may last for weeks.Cleveland Clinic

This article explains how long bleeding should last after a c section, and when to worry if you experience heavy vaginal bleeding. It does not replace seeing your own doctor if you are concerned.

You can also read more about normal lochia here (Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22485-lochia). Cleveland Clinic

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Is it normal to bleed after c section?

If you are bleeding right after your surgery, it’s not something you should panic about. This is because, whether you have a vaginal delivery or through surgery, it’s normal that you will have some form of bleeding.Cleveland Clinic+1

In fact, immediately after caesarian section, your womb begins to release a particular type of discharge (called lochia) that will change its color over time. Doctors advise using pads only (no tampons or anything inside the vagina) for at least the first 6 weeks to reduce the risk of infection.Mayo Clinic+1

Right after your c section, lochia is bright red. And as expected, you will have heavier bleeding (with occasional blood clots). At this time, it’s important to observe how many sanitary pads you’ve changed in an hour as this could quickly tell if something is wrong. If you are soaking through a large pad in less than an hour, especially for more than 2 hours, you may have excessive bleeding and should seek urgent help.Cleveland Clinic+1

Also, it’s essential you know vaginal discharge after c section will vary in color and volume every week after your surgery.

At first, you will experience the first type of lochia called RUBRA which consist of parts of your baby’s membrane, blood, and decidua tissues. Within the next 3 – 5 days, you will experience this “very bloody discharge” (lochia rubra), and you should not feel like something serious is happening as long as the flow is slowly reducing and you feel well.MSD Manuals

After some days, your vaginal lochia will change to a pinkish or brownish discharge with less bleeding compared to the first days after your surgery. This is the lochia serosa, and it’s important you inform your doctor if you are still bleeding heavy (soaking pads or passing large clots) beyond the first few days or if bleeding suddenly becomes heavy again after it had reduced.

After this brown lochia discharge (lochia serosa), your vaginal discharge becomes clearer, something looking yellowish or white in color. This later stage (lochia alba) is usually lighter and may last for several weeks.Cleveland Clinic+1

If you persistently now have to bleed vaginally after a c section and the bleeding is getting heavier instead of lighter, has a bad smell, or continues beyond about 6 weeks, it’s important to tell your doctor to rule out any complications such as infection or retained tissue.MedlinePlus+1

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How long do you bleed after a c section?

The bleeding duration after c section varies from woman to woman, and in fact, while it may take only 2 or 3 weeks for some women, others may experience vaginal spotting for as long as 6 weeks. Most women will have some lochia for about 4 – 6 weeks after birth, whether the birth was vaginal or by c section, but the flow should gradually reduce and change colour over time.Mayo Clinic

One important sign you must check is the volume of blood loss. Remember, days after your surgery, you will experience much more bleeding. However, if you still have bright red, heavy bleeding or large clots after the first couple of weeks, or any bleeding that worries you after 6 weeks, see your doctor for a check-up. Late heavy bleeding can sometimes be a sign of secondary postpartum haemorrhage (excessive bleeding after birth) and needs urgent review.TJO Istanbul

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Signs of internal bleeding after c section

It’s very uncommon that you will have massive bleeding inside your abdomen after a cesarean section. This is because, most times, a trained doctor is in charge of your surgeries and therefore, the risk of an internal bleeding is reduced. Most severe bleeding after birth is from the womb (postpartum haemorrhage), but bleeding inside the abdomen can also happen and is an emergency.NCBI+1

During a c section, a cut is made through the skin, into the subcutaneous fat, and then a curvilinear incision is also made on the uterus. If your womb is not repaired correctly or a blood vessel starts bleeding again, it may cause blood to continue to leak into your abdomen.

Here are some signs you will experience if you have internal bleeding after c section or very severe postpartum bleeding in general.

Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain after c section is normal, and it’s due to surgical stress on your belly. So, it’s important you don’t think you have internal bleeding with every abdominal pain episodes.

However, if the pain suddenly becomes much worse, is one-sided, or comes with fever, vomiting, dizziness or feeling very unwell, it could mean inflammation or bleeding in your abdomen. The only way to be sure is informing your doctor or going back to the hospital urgently.

Abdominal swelling

As blood accumulates in your abdomen, your belly starts to swell up too. This is a sign something is wrong, and you will need to inform your doctor ASAP.

Fast breathing

Another sign that you will experience is an increase in the frequency of breathing. This is called tachypnoea and means you are breathing more than normally required for adults.

If you experience fast breathing after your surgery, especially together with dizziness, chest pain, racing heartbeat or feeling like you might faint, it could be due to excessive loss of blood. Ensure you tell your doctor or call emergency services immediately.Cleveland Clinic+1

Less urine output

Before going to the theatre, your surgical team will pass a tube (called urethra catheter) that help to drain your bladder continuously, and prevents obstruction from a full bladder during surgery.

So, if after the surgery you are having so much vaginal bleeding or bleeding from the incision site, your body on its own quickly redistributes blood to important organs like your heart and brain. This means there is less blood supply to your kidneys, and so, only a little or no urine will be produced.

Your medical team will usually monitor your urine closely after surgery, but if you notice your urine bag suddenly has very little urine and you feel weak, dizzy, or short of breath, tell them straight away.

Heavy vaginal bleeding

I’ve already explained it’s not abnormal that you get to bleed right after a c section. However, it’s important you check how frequent you are changing your pads to know if bleeding is heavy.

Heavy vaginal bleeding after c section can occur if a woman’s womb fails to contract after surgery (uterine atony) or due to other causes like retained tissue or infection. This is more common in twin pregnancies and women that have had multiple deliveries in the past.TJO Istanbul

If you’ve already been discharged home, and you experience heavy bleeding (soaking pads, large clots, feeling faint), see your doctor or go to the emergency room ASAP.

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Bleeding after c section stopped and started again. Should I be worried?

Because you are still recovering, it’s normal that you will panic over any unusual signs. Your body after a c section will change, and removal of blood from your womb is normal. This bleeding can be continuous over the course of 6 weeks, and it’s normal you will see ON and OFF vaginal bleeding, especially when you are more active or breastfeeding.Cleveland Clinic+1

So, if bleeding after c section stopped and started again within the first few weeks, and the flow is light and not associated with pain, fever or feeling unwell, don’t panic yet. However, you must see your doctor if bleeding that had already reduced becomes bright red and heavy again, or if you notice new heavy bleeding 6 weeks or more after your surgery.

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Heavy bleeding after c section, how can I know?

For a lot of women, it’s confusing how they can identify heavy vaginal bleeding after surgery. Most times, its best to see your doctor to ensure you are not losing so much blood. Some of the signs of excessive vaginal bleeding after surgery are:

Frequent changing of sanitary pads

Immediately after your surgery, you will deal with much flow of blood. However, if you are changing your pads in minutes, or soaking through a pad in less than an hour for more than 2 hours, then something is definitely wrong.Cleveland Clinic+1

Big blood clots from vagina

Heavy bleeding allows big blood clots to form. If you experience a golf-ball or larger size clot, or many clots, it’s a sign of too much bleeding. Tell your doctor right away.

Reddish lochia for weeks

If after some weeks you still see a very reddish lochia that is excessive, or the bleeding suddenly becomes red and heavy again after it had turned brown or yellow, it means you may still be having bleeding down there. To be sure, let your doctor find out the cause.

Other signs that could indicate a problem are foul-smelling vaginal discharge, greenish lochia, fever, feeling very unwell, and continuous abdominal pain weeks after a c section. These can be signs of infection and must be checked.MedlinePlus+1

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C section incision bleeding a little, what does it mean?

If after your surgery you experience a little bleeding or slight stain on the wound dressing (either on the left or right side of the incision), it may not indicate anything serious.

Usually, it takes some time for the wound to heal, and except you notice frank red blood that continuously soaks your wound dressing, or pus-like discharge, you should not worry.

However, as always, informing your doctor of any change you don’t understand is the right thing to do. Seek urgent review if the scar area becomes very painful, hot, very red, opens up, or you have fever with discharge from the wound, as these can be signs of wound infection or breakdown.Mayo Clinic+1