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Postpartum hemorrhage
Can there still be heavy bleeding one year after childbirth?
Under normal circumstances, postpartum hemorrhage is one of the serious obstetric complications that can endanger the life of the mother. It is most commonly due to poor uterine contraction after childbirth, causing bleeding, and generally occurs within 24 hours after childbirth or as late postpartum hemorrhage occurring more than ten days after childbirth. If a year has passed since childbirth, there generally will not be instances of severe hemorrhage. It is advised to undergo an ultrasound examination within 42 days after childbirth to confirm whether the recovery of the uterus and its appendages is satisfactory. If the uterus has recovered back to its normal pre-pregnancy state, it generally will not cause severe hemorrhage.
Methods of assessing postpartum hemorrhage
There are several methods to assess the approximate amount of bleeding when postpartum hemorrhage occurs. Normally, a curved dish can be placed at the vaginal opening after childbirth. By collecting blood in this curved dish, you can understand the specific amount of bleeding. Alternatively, the gauze method can be used, estimating the amount of bleeding based on the specific area of each piece of gauze. Another method involves monitoring changes in the patient's vital signs and using the specific timing of shock indices to determine the amount of bleeding. However, it is crucial to promptly implement hemostasis to avoid severe consequences.
How long will postpartum bleeding last until it stops?
Generally, in normal childbirth or after cesarean section surgery, there is usually a small amount of vaginal bleeding, which typically subsides completely within about a week. If there is heavy bleeding after delivery, it is crucial to closely monitor the vaginal bleeding to rule out the possibility of delayed postpartum hemorrhage. If the uterus contracts well and there is no retention of placental fragments, the area will generally be clean within about a week, albeit with some bloody discharge. Therefore, if there is abnormal vaginal bleeding postpartum, it is recommended to promptly re-examine to exclude the possibility of late bleeding, so as to avoid endangering life.
Can postpartum hemorrhage be treated?
Postpartum hemorrhage refers to bleeding exceeding 800 or 1000 milliliters within a short period after childbirth. It is currently the leading cause of maternal mortality in clinical practice. With the improvement of clinical treatment levels and the enhancement of diagnostic capabilities for postpartum hemorrhage, the vast majority of such cases can be well-managed. The keys to addressing postpartum hemorrhage effectively are early diagnosis and early intervention, which can lead to favorable outcomes. The main causes of postpartum hemorrhage include uterine atony, retained placenta and membranes, injuries to the soft birth canal, and coagulation disorders. When significant postpartum bleeding occurs, it is crucial to carefully investigate these four aspects to identify the cause and intervene accordingly, often leading to successful treatment outcomes.
How long does it take to recover from postpartum hemorrhage?
Postpartum hemorrhage is a relatively common and serious complication clinically, but how long does it take to recover from postpartum hemorrhage? This depends on the physical condition of the mother. Typically, recovery takes about 4-6 weeks after delivery. Women with weaker constitutions may take longer to recover. When postpartum hemorrhage occurs, appropriate measures should be taken based on the cause. If there are lacerations in the birth canal, timely suturing is necessary. Additionally, if there is weak uterine contraction, medications that stimulate uterine contraction should be used to promote contraction and stop the bleeding.
Does postpartum hemorrhage affect appetite?
Postpartum hemorrhage can be significant, leading to anemia, which in turn affects appetite. After anemia occurs, the blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract is reduced, causing relative hypoxia and impacting the function of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby affecting appetite. If the postpartum bleeding is minimal and consists only of normal lochia, it generally does not affect appetite. Furthermore, whether postpartum hemorrhage affects appetite also greatly depends on individual differences. Regardless of its impact on appetite, postpartum recovery requires comprehensive and adequate energy intake to ensure physical recovery and milk secretion. Therefore, it is important to eat more and include a diet rich in protein and nutrients for better recovery.
Can you eat spicy food with late postpartum hemorrhage?
Women who experience late postpartum hemorrhage should not eat spicy foods. Spicy foods are not conducive to wound healing. Additionally, they may reduce the body's immune resistance, which could potentially lead to infections. Women who have postpartum bleeding should focus on a light diet and consume high-nutrition, easily digestible foods, such as eggs, milk, lean meat, fresh vegetables, and fruits, which can provide the necessary nutrients needed for postpartum recovery. Furthermore, appropriate physical activity is also beneficial for bodily recovery.
Can you drink brown sugar water after childbirth bleeding?
Can you drink brown sugar water after childbirth, including after natural childbirth and cesarean section? If it is after natural childbirth, you can drink brown sugar water, but you must check if it contains jujube components. If it does contain jujube, do not drink such brown sugar water. If it is after a cesarean section, do not drink brown sugar water because there are gastrointestinal recovery issues post-cesarean section, especially in the first 1-2 days when there hasn't been gas passing yet. Drinking a lot of brown sugar water can cause abdominal bloating, intestinal obstruction, and other issues. Generally, after a cesarean section, you can drink some brown sugar water after 10 days, but also do not drink brown sugar water that contains jujube.
What are the warning signs of postpartum hemorrhage?
Postpartum hemorrhage generally does not have warning signs but usually has precipitating factors. These factors include maternal fear, psychological tension, macrosomia or twin pregnancy, as well as conditions like uterine fibroids, placental abruption, or placenta previa. In cases of placenta previa during a cesarean section, there is a high likelihood of severe bleeding. There is only one condition that might signal an impending postpartum hemorrhage, which is placental abruption. If placental abruption occurs, it can cause severe abdominal pain along with issues of hypertension during pregnancy. If a person with pregnancy-induced hypertension experiences severe abdominal pain, this could be a precursor to postpartum hemorrhage.
Postpartum hemorrhage uterine suturing method
If postpartum hemorrhage occurs, it is foremost important to actively seek the specific causes of the bleeding to achieve timely and rapid hemostasis. It is also necessary to quickly replenish blood volume to prevent shock and infection. Meanwhile, if there is localized bleeding, active local suturing treatment should be pursued to control the bleeding. Normally, if the postpartum bleeding is light, suturing the uterus in the conventional way will suffice. However, if the bleeding is caused by uterine atony or similar reasons and oxytocics are ineffective, procedures like ascending ligation of the uterine arteries or uterine compression sutures and binding can be performed to effectively stop the bleeding.