What is lochia after a natural miscarriage?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on February 25, 2025
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Vaginal bleeding is a symptom of natural miscarriage, and this is known as lochia. Lochia is the discharge from the vagina after childbirth, typically ceasing about a week postpartum. After a natural miscarriage, normal bleeding lochia generally has a bloody smell but does not have any other odorous scents. Following a natural miscarriage, it is important to monitor the expulsion of lochia, paying attention to its amount, color, and odor changes, as these factors can reflect the recovery of the uterus. Normally, the lochia will clear up around a week, and it should not last longer than two weeks at most. If lochia persists for an extended period after the miscarriage and is accompanied by abdominal discomfort, a hospital visit is necessary for a follow-up to check the condition of the uterus.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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What is the discharge from a natural miscarriage?

Miscarriage refers to the spontaneous expulsion of the gestational sac from the uterine cavity, without the need for human intervention. Human interventions mainly include medical abortion or painless surgical abortion. During a miscarriage, the gestational sac is expelled from the uterus, so the expelled material is primarily the gestational sac. The sac generally consists of white villous tissue, and during a natural miscarriage, it is essential to identify villous tissue in the pregnancy tissue in order to confirm a natural miscarriage. Besides the villous tissue, due to decidualization changes in the endometrium after pregnancy, the tissue expelled during a miscarriage also contains a certain amount of decidual tissue. Therefore, the material expelled in a natural miscarriage mainly includes the villous tissue, followed by uterine decidual tissue.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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How long after a natural miscarriage can one have sexual intercourse?

After a natural miscarriage, it is generally advisable to abstain from sexual intercourse for at least one month. Following a natural miscarriage, there are wounds inside the uterine cavity that need to heal through a restoration process continuously repairing the endometrium. Engaging in sexual intercourse too soon can increase the risk of infection. One month after a miscarriage, with a doctor's guidance and upon confirming that the body has recovered well through examinations, sexual intercourse can be resumed. Within the first month, it is crucial to prohibit sexual activities, including sitz baths and swimming, to reduce the chances of infections. Post-surgery, there should also be appropriate advisement. Both partners must take this matter seriously to avoid impacting future health.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Does a natural miscarriage require a uterine cleaning (D&C)?

When a miscarriage occurs, whether a uterine cleaning is needed depends on whether there are any remnants in the uterine cavity as shown by a follow-up ultrasound examination, that is, to see if the miscarriage was complete. If the examination reveals significant remnants in the uterine cavity after the miscarriage, then a uterine cleaning treatment is required. Most women do not need a uterine cleaning after a natural miscarriage, as typically the bleeding will stop around 7-10 days post-miscarriage. Therefore, women should focus on resting, improving their nutrition, and enhancing their body's resistance to prevent any potential complications after a natural miscarriage.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
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How long does a blighted ovum naturally miscarry?

There are two situations regarding a pregnancy with an empty sac. One situation is that the embryo does not develop well and remains an empty sac. In another situation, it is possible to wait for another 4 to 5 days or a week and then recheck with an ultrasound. It might be that the development is just occurring later than usual, and thus, no embryonic bud has developed at the time of the initial ultrasound, displaying an empty sac. As for how long it will take for the empty sac to be expelled, there is no definite timeframe. In some cases, it is not necessary to wait for it to be expelled naturally; active measures such as medication treatment or surgical abortion can be taken.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What to eat after a natural miscarriage

After a natural miscarriage, it's important to pay attention to dietary adjustments, ensuring a balanced intake of both meat and vegetables, and reasonably incorporating nutrients. The diet should include more protein-rich foods, such as eggs, lean meats, dairy, and bean products, all of which can help replenish the body's energy. Additionally, it's important to consume foods rich in iron, since women may experience bleeding after a miscarriage, leading to iron loss. Therefore, eating more iron-containing foods, including eggs, animal organs, animal blood, and jujube, is advisable. Moreover, consuming more vitamin-rich foods to enhance the body's immune system is recommended. Eating fresh vegetables and fruit can strengthen the immune system, promote digestion and absorption, prevent constipation during pregnancy, and facilitate physical recovery.