What lochia is
Lochia is the vaginal discharge you have after giving birth, whether by vaginal delivery or caesarean. It is made up of blood, mucus, and tissue as your uterus shrinks back down and sheds the lining that supported your pregnancy. Everyone bleeds afterward, and it follows a fairly predictable pattern that lightens over about 4 to 6 weeks.
The three stages, week by week
Standard postpartum (lochia) guidance, including the NHS, describes three overlapping stages:
Lochia rubra (days 0-3): bright or dark red, the heaviest flow, and may include small clots. Lochia serosa (days 4-10): pinkish-brown and noticeably lighter. Lochia alba (days 11-42): yellowish-white, light, and tapering off; for most people it ends by about 6 weeks.
The calculator above turns your delivery date into these date ranges so you can see roughly where you are now.
When to get urgent care
Some signs mean you should not wait. Seek urgent medical care if you are soaking a pad in an hour, passing clots larger than a golf ball, notice foul-smelling discharge, develop a fever, or your bleeding suddenly gets heavier or turns bright red again after slowing. These can point to postpartum haemorrhage or infection and need prompt attention.
Lochia versus your period returning
Lochia is part of healing and steadily lightens. Your period returns later - often after lochia has fully stopped - and timing varies a lot, especially while breastfeeding. We cover that in more detail in postpartum periods: when your cycle returns. Femora's postpartum mode helps you track recovery and spot that first true period when it arrives.
Frequently asked questions
How long does postpartum bleeding last?
Postpartum bleeding (lochia) usually lasts about 4 to 6 weeks. It starts heavy and bright red in the first few days, fades to pinkish-brown over the next week or so, then becomes a light yellowish-white discharge that tapers off. Standard postpartum guidance (such as the NHS) notes most people stop bleeding by around 6 weeks, though some spotting can linger a little longer.
What are the stages of lochia?
There are three stages. Lochia rubra (roughly days 0 to 3) is bright or dark red, the heaviest flow, and may contain small clots. Lochia serosa (about days 4 to 10) is pinkish-brown and lighter. Lochia alba (about days 11 to 42) is yellowish-white, light, and tapers off, usually ending by about 6 weeks postpartum.
Is it normal for bleeding to increase?
A short, temporary increase can be normal after standing up, breastfeeding, or being more active, because the uterus contracts and releases pooled blood. What is not normal is bleeding that suddenly becomes much heavier, soaks a pad in an hour, turns bright red again after it had slowed, or comes with large clots. Those are red flags - contact your provider or emergency services right away.
How is lochia different from my period returning?
Lochia is the discharge as your uterus heals and sheds its pregnancy lining; it follows the predictable rubra-serosa-alba pattern and steadily lightens. A returning period comes later (often after lochia has fully stopped) and tends to arrive as fresh red bleeding after a gap of no bleeding. Timing of the first period varies a lot, especially if you are breastfeeding.
When should I call a doctor about postpartum bleeding?
Seek urgent medical care if you soak a pad in an hour, pass clots larger than a golf ball, have foul-smelling discharge, develop a fever, or your bleeding suddenly gets heavier or turns bright red again after slowing. These can signal postpartum haemorrhage or infection. When in doubt, call your doctor, midwife, or emergency services.
These calculators give estimates based on cycle averages and standard formulas. They are for general information only and are not medical advice. For anything concerning your health or pregnancy, talk to a qualified healthcare provider.