📖 Definition
The vaginal discharge that occurs after childbirth as the uterus sheds its lining and heals. It progresses through three stages: lochia rubra (bright red, first 3–4 days), lochia serosa (pinkish-brown, days 4–12), and lochia alba (yellowish-white, up to 6 weeks). Heavy or foul-smelling lochia warrants medical attention.