Does fresh lochia smell bad, if there is infection...?

[hbomb83]

Hi all. I'm 10 days post partum, and I've noticed that after a couple of hours, my sanitary towel doesn't smell great.. However, I'm feeling OK, slight tummy tenderness but due to muscles being sore I think. Uterus shrinking back down nicely, no temperature etc.
If I had an infection in my uterus etc, would my loss smell bad when it was fresh..? Because the lochia on the loo roll when I wipe, just smells like normal blood. Is that reassuring? Is it just sanitary pad funkiness that's making my loss smell dodgy after a few hours..?
My loss isn't heavy at all, its tailing off.
Thanks everyone. X

I've had four children and in my experience, yep...lochia smells funky. I can't say its the same "funky" as you're experiencing, and if you're worried, spike a fever or any of the other infection signs I'd urge you to see your GP or midwife if she's still involved but otherwise - I personally think it has a distinct and very different smell to menstruation or other vaginal secretions. Congrats on your new baby!

Ah thanks tiredandafraid :)
Yup, fourth baby for me too, but I can't remember what loss smelled like for the others! Think I just forget stuff when it's over lol.
I assume that if you have an infection, the loss smells unpleasant as soon as it comes out, as an indication.. Hopefully some ladies who have had an infection will be able to clarify this. :)
Congrats on your brood too! 😚

Hi, I had an infection a week after my DS, but I didn’t have a temperature. It did smell bad but I think it was only when I went to the toilet that it was noticeable. I was quite poorly and in hospital a week so just keep an eye on things. Do you have any post natal checks coming up where you can ask for peace of mind?

Thanks Star8181, did it smell bad when it was fresh?

I've been checked over by the midwife, and she's happy that my uterus doesn't feel swollen and I don't have a temp, but she was pretty vague about the whole lochia smell

I had temperature and midwife wanted to see my stitches. She said straight away that it smells like infection down there. I got antibiotics and was fine soon.

Lochia smells like death 😷 I would say if fresh on toilet roll doesn't smell it's not infected but if you have any doubts get checked out!

Thanks all
DwangelaForever ah good, well that's reassuring. It definitely doesn't smell offensive on the paper, it must just go funky when it's been exposed to the air for a while..
I'm full of worries this time round! My first three labours (all boys), were straightforward and as easy as labour can be lol. Number four, my only girl, was a bit scary, she was in a bad position so had emergency ambulance to hospital, spinal injection, ventouse delivery and stitches, the works! Think I'm a bit traumatised to be honest, and on hyper alert for symptoms etc. :-/
Sigh. Least babies are worth all the fear and stress...

It sounds like everything is okay, just see how it goes. Think it was pretty bad smelling when fresh blood. As I said, I had no temp but just felt unwell.

Hey I have a concern please somebody help. I’m two weeks postpartum My lochia has a scent I can’t explain I’m not having any fever tummy ache or anything no type of pain but the smell is unpleasant so it gets me worried it even smells when I wipe

I'm exactly the same now, do you have an update? I don't know what smell is meant to be normal, I couldn't remember if I was same with my first baby. I have no other symptoms of infection other than smell 🙃 I'm in two minds just to book in with nurse to get checked 😅