lochia /lō″kē·ə/ [Gk, lochos, childbirth] , the discharge that flows from the vagina after childbirth. During the first 2 to 4 days after delivery, the lochia is red or brownish red (called lochia rubra) and is made up of blood, endometrial decidua, fetal lanugo, vernix, and sometimes meconium, and it has a fleshy odor. About the third day the amount of blood diminishes. The placental site exudes serous material, erythrocytes, lymph, cervical mucus, and microorganisms from the superficial layer called lochia serosa. During the next 10 to 14 days bacteria appear in large numbers along with mucinous decidual material and epithelial cells, causing the lochia to appear whitish yellow (lochia alba). This may continue for 3 to 6 weeks into the postpartum period.
