Lochia
• The lochia refers to the sloughing of the uterine decidual tissue
• Occurs in the early post-partum period
• Quantity and color progressively changes as the puerperium progresses
• Red in the first few days and called lochia rubra. After 3 to 4 days, it becomes pale – lochia serosa – and by the 10th day, it becomes whitish or yellow – lochia alba. The lochia may persist for up to 4 weeks and in some cases beyond.
• The superficial layer of the endometrium becomes necrotic and replaced by the newly regenerated layer from the basal layer.
• The basal layer is never shed and remains intact