It is advised that women shouldn't use tampons for at least six weeks after giving birth. This is because you will still have a wound at the site where the placenta joined with your uterine wall. Inserting a tampon can increase the risk of you developing an infection in this wound. Avoiding tampons will give your body a chance to heal itself.
After childbirth, women experience vaginal bleeding known as lochia. Lochia is a lot like a menstrual period but it occurs when the uterus (womb) sheds cells and tissues remaining after childbirth. It is advised that women should use sanitary towels during this time.
Lochia can last anywhere between two to six weeks. The bleeding usually begins as bright red in colour and changes over time to pinkish-brown, then cream. The length of time that you experience discharge, and the colour changes, is different for each woman.
Lochia is a normal postnatal experience, however you should seek medical advice if:
- the discharge remains heavy and bright red for more than a week,
- you are needing to use more than one sanitary towel an hour (because the towel is soaked),
- you have large blood clots,
- the discharge smells very bad, or
- you have a fever or chills.
Further information
