It’s normal to experience a range of bleeding after giving birth. It is made up of a mix of blood and mucus called lochia. Most of the bleeding you experience will be from the area where your placenta implanted into the wall of your uterus. As this heals, you’ll notice a transition in the bleeding/discharge.
Similar to your menstrual period, lochia begins as a dark or bright-red flow before tapering off to a brown or pinkish discharge, and then later becomes a white or cream color. The first several days after giving birth are usually the heaviest, and you might see some small clots.
During the postpartum period, nothing should be inserted into your vagina, so you will need to use pads or period underwear during this time. It is normal to have postpartum bleeding and discharge for several weeks after birth. It should taper off gradually until it is gone.
If you pass a clot the size of the palm of your hand or larger, or if you are bleeding heavily enough to fill a pad in an hour, you should call your provider or seek more urgent care.
