What you’ll learn about postpartum bleeding in this blog:
Lochia has 3 phases.
Rubra (Days 1–4): Heavy, bright red bleeding with possible clots.
Serosa (Days 4–10): Lighter, pink-brown discharge.
Alba (Up to 6 weeks): Creamy white/yellow discharge as healing finishes.
Early days need rest + heavy protection. Rest, hydrate, empty your bladder, and use high-absorbency products.
Mid-phase = don’t overdo it. Feeling better doesn’t mean healed. Heavy lifting can restart bright red bleeding.
Switch to breathable liners in the final phase and watch for foul smell or unusual symptoms.
Bleeding usually ends by 4–6 weeks. Ovulation can happen before your first period returns.
It’s day 1 after delivery. You are exhausted, elated and frankly, a little overwhelmed by the postpartum bleeding. You just want to snuggle your baby and sleep for a week. But suddenly, you stand up and feel a gush that makes you hate everything. Cut to a few weeks later, the bleeding stops, you think you’re in the clear, but then you lift a laundry basket and, surprise, it’s back.
How do we know this? Because your postpartum bleeding, a.k.a. lochia, follows a strict biological schedule after birth. That’s why adjusting your recovery to these specific lochia stages is pure genius! So, let’s time-travel through your recovery and see how to tweak your routine for every phase of postpartum bleeding.
What Exactly Is Postpartum Bleeding and Why Does It Happen?
Postpartum bleeding, known as lochia, is your body’s way of clearing out blood, tissue, and remnants from pregnancy as the uterus repairs itself after birth. It’s not a heavy period, it’s a sign that your body’s brilliant healing system is working.
Your postpartum recovery is like a massive renovation project where your uterus is the construction site. For 9 months, it grew a placenta to nurture your baby. When that placenta detaches, it leaves a wound the size of a dinner plate. If that happened anywhere else on your body, you’d need surgery.
But the uterus is built differently.
It has a superpower called living ligatures. Unlike other muscles that run straight, uterine muscles are criss-crossed in a figure-eight pattern. Immediately after birth, they clamp down hard on open blood vessels like a natural tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
As this happens, research shows that the uterus shrinks to its prepregnancy size. That’s from about 1000 grams (watermelon-sized) to 70 grams (lemon-sized) via a process called involution. Every drop of lochia is proof that this system is working and you’re healing.
What Are the 3 Phases of Lochia and How Long Does Postpartum Bleeding Last?
Postpartum bleeding occurs in three distinct lochia stages — lochia rubra (days 1–4), lochia serosa (days 4–10), and lochia alba (day 10 to 6 weeks) — and understanding each one is what makes postnatal healing so much more manageable. Each phase of postpartum bleeding looks, feels, and behaves a little differently. Knowing what’s normal at each stage can make postpartum care feel way less confusing and a lot more doable.
Lochia Rubra (Days 1–4): What Is the Heavy Red Bleeding Right After Birth?
Lochia rubra is the first and heaviest phase of postpartum bleeding, lasting about 3–4 days, where your uterus pushes out fresh blood, leftover uterine lining, and healing tissue as it contracts to close the placental site.
The flow is heavy and bright red. Over the entire rubra phase, you’ll lose around 200–300 ml of blood. Coin-sized clots are totally normal too, they’re just blood that coagulated (thickened) before coming out, like strawberry jam instead of cranberry juice.
You might also feel sudden gushes when you stand up. That’s gravity doing its thing. Blood pools while you’re lying down and is released when you move. We know, it’s A LOT. But don’t worry, there are things you can do to support your healing during this phase.
Your Lochia Rubra Action Guide: 5 Things to Do Right Now
- Empty your bladder completely. A full bladder presses against the uterus from the front. When this happens, the uterus can’t contract as tightly as it needs to, which slows down healing. So, emptying your bladder completely whenever you have to pee helps recovery during this phase.
- Do skin-to-skin contact with your baby. When you hold your baby against your bare chest, your body releases oxytocin, often called the love hormone. It directly signals your uterus to contract more efficiently, helping the placental site close faster. Research also shows skin-to-skin contact reduces postpartum stress and anxiety, boosts mood and lowers the risk of heavy blood loss.
- Use a peri-bottle to clean down there. During lochia, the vaginal and perineal area is extra sensitive and healing. Wiping can irritate tissue and make lochia feel more uncomfortable. A peri-bottle gently cleans the area without friction, helping reduce irritation and infection risk.
- Give cold compression a try. After birth, everything down there is swollen, trapping blood and fluid and putting extra pressure on the area. This makes lochia feel heavier, throbbing and more uncomfortable. A cold pack for 10–20 minutes helps reduce swelling, ease pressure and make lochia more manageable.
- Choose the right kind of protection. During lochia rubra, you need high absorbency protection without friction. While good-old maternity pads are a trusty option, you might find super-soft maternity panties to be a comfort upgrade.
That constant ‘will this leak?’ anxiety? It doesn’t have to be part of your healing.
Built for the heaviest days of lochia rubra, Nua Maternity Panties combine the pad and panty into one breathable, stay-put layer that gives you 360-degree cozy security without irritation or chafing. Because recovering shouldn’t mean suffering.
Lochia Serosa (Days 4–10): Why Has My Postpartum Bleeding Turned Pink?
Lochia serosa is the second phase of postpartum bleeding, where the flow shifts from bright red to pinkish-brown, signalling that the heaviest healing is over, but your body is still very much in repair mode.
Serosa comes from the word serum, the pale, watery part of blood. The flow now contains less fresh blood and is loaded with leukocytes (white blood cells) sent to clean up debris and prevent infection. Your uterus is literally digesting its own excess muscle cells to shrink back down (a process called autolysis), so the discharge is thinner and more watery.
The biggest thing to watch out for here is the delicate scab that covers the placental wound. If you overexert yourself, this scab can dislodge, sending you right back to bright red bleeding. It’s a tricky phase where you feel better but are still fragile. Carry forward all the healing tips from Phase 1 and add a few new ones.
Postpartum Healing Tips for Lochia Serosa
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Since your body is flushing out massive amounts of broken-down protein and tissue, you need water to keep the serum flowing. Dehydration here can make the discharge sticky and irritating. Plus, staying hydrated helps maintain your energy as your body works overtime on internal repairs.
- Follow the baby weight rule. Most women feel much better during lochia serosa and try to do normal life stuff like lifting heavy laundry and groceries. But this can add pressure on your belly, which can pop that delicate scab right off. A good rule of thumb? Don’t lift anything heavier than your baby. If your flow suddenly turns bright red again from exertion, take it as a sign from your body to sit down and rest immediately.
- Load up on iron. You lost a fair bit of blood in Phase 1, so your energy might take a dip. Focus on easy-to-digest iron sources like spinach soup, dates or jaggery. Restoring iron levels now gives your body the raw materials it needs to finish the healing job without you feeling totally drained.
- Switch up your protection. The flow is lighter, so you can move to a medium-absorbency pad like normal period pads. Since white blood cells are working hard to fight bacteria, hygiene is a must — change your pad every 3–4 hours to prevent infections.
You’ve made it through the hardest part. Your protection should feel like it knows that too. Designed for the transition days of lochia serosa, Nua Maternity Pads offer the right absorbency for lighter days while keeping you fresh and comfortable throughout your natural postpartum recovery.
Lochia Alba (Day 10–6 Weeks): Is That Creamy Discharge Still Normal?
Yes, lochia alba is completely normal. It’s the final phase of postpartum bleeding, where the discharge turns creamy white or yellow because there’s almost no blood left, just mucus, white blood cells, and regenerating tissue cells.
During this time, your uterine lining is shedding the old surface to reveal pristine, new tissue underneath. It is like hitting ‘factory reset’ so that the lining is perfect for the future.
Even though the bleeding has stopped, your cervix might still be slightly open, meaning you’re still a little vulnerable. Continue any of the healing tips that helped you before, and add these final ones for the last stretch.
Healing After Childbirth: What to Do in the Final Phase
- Perform a sniff test every now and then. Lochia should smell like a period (musky), never foul or fishy. A bad smell in this phase is often the first sign of an infection, so trust your nose and call your doctor if something seems off.
- Give your vajayjay some air. You’ve been wearing pads 24/7 for days. The constant moisture and heat can create a breeding ground for yeast or cause itching. Try lying on a towel without underwear for 10–15 minutes a day. Letting the area breathe helps restore your natural skin barrier and prevents that end-of-recovery itchiness.
- Switch to something light and breathable. The flow slows down significantly during this phase. It may even stop for a day, then come back as light spotting. This is a good time to switch to breathable, cotton-top liners. Moving away from heavy-duty absorption to something light and airy is important to keep you fresh.
You’re almost there. Your last few weeks of recovery deserve something that feels as light as your progress. When heavy pads feel like overkill, Nua’s Ultra-Thin Liners are only 1mm thin, so it’s basically like wearing nothing. Because the finish line of postnatal healing should feel good, not just functional.
How Do You Know When Postpartum Bleeding Has Actually Ended?
Postpartum bleeding ends when the discharge fully stops, usually by around 4–6 weeks postpartum. Lochia fades from red to pink to creamy white and tapers off completely. Once you no longer need a pad or liner and see no ongoing discharge, lochia is done.
When Will You Get Your First Period After Having a Baby?
Don’t worry, it’ll take time. Breastfeeding gives you a menstrual vacation for six months or more, thanks to a hormone called prolactin, which tells your ovaries to stop releasing eggs. And no egg = no period.
It sounds great, but be a lil careful. You will actually ovulate (release an egg) about two weeks before your first postpartum period. This means your fertility reboots silently and you can get pregnant again before you even see a single drop of blood.
The Bottom Line on Postpartum Healing
Postpartum bleeding is not something to power through or ignore, it’s your body’s carefully orchestrated way of healing after childbirth. The postpartum healing timeline moves through three lochia stages: the heavy, red flow of lochia rubra in the first few days; the lighter, pinkish discharge of lochia serosa through the first week or two; and the creamy, winding-down lochia alba through week six. Each phase has its own needs, and meeting those needs — with rest, hydration, iron, the right protection, and a healthy dose of patience — is what makes the difference between just getting through it and actually healing well. If something feels off, heavier, smellier, or more uncomfortable than it should, trust that signal and check in with your doctor. You’re allowed to ask for support at every stage of this journey.
Disclaimer:
The content of this article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information shared is of a general nature and may not be appropriate for all individuals or specific circumstances. Readers should not disregard, delay, or substitute professional medical advice based on the information contained herein.
If you experience any symptoms, notice anything unusual, or have concerns relating to your health or overall wellbeing, you should consult a qualified healthcare professional. While every effort is made to ensure the information shared is accurate and up-to-date, Nua makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information provided and disclaims all liability arising from reliance on this content to the fullest extent permitted by law.
