Foul vaginal odor, 4 days PP?

[MillieJoan]

Hi everyone,

I gave birth to my daughter on Feb 2, via a vaginal delivery. I ended up with a 2nd-degree tear that my midwife said was "all over the place." Well, two days ago I found one of my stitches in my sanitary pad, and when the midwife checked me over at the hospital she said they're not supposed to come out that soon, and to be on the lookout for any signs of infection. Well, since last night I've noticed I smell AWFUL down there--my DH noticed it, too--even just sitting here in my pajamas I can smell myself. Everything looks ok to me in the pad--just red and pale brownish blood--but the smell is disgusting, sort of like old garbage. Have any of you experienced this?? I was going to call my midwife to schedule an appt on Monday anyway, but I'm wondering if I need to call their on-call line and let them know what's going on. I don't really want a trip to the ER with a newborn baby, though, so I was hoping to find out if any of you thought this might be normal...

Thank you!

 

[suzib76]

i had this 5 days pp with my ds, midwife took a swab which came back positive for group b strep

treatment antibiotics for me plus him (although he never had them, that was my choice)

 

[MillieJoan]

i had this 5 days pp with my ds, midwife took a swab which came back positive for group b strep

treatment antibiotics for me plus him (although he never had them, that was my choice)

Do you mind if I ask whether you were tested for group b strep while pregnant? I was tested at 37 weeks and it came back negative, but I'm assuming that doesn't mean it couldn't develop later.

 

[suzib76]

no i wasnt tested during preg, and i had to ask to be tested with my following pregnancy, which was done, but they also said it still didnt mean i would be clear by the time i gave birth

 

[katieeandbump]

u deffinately need to get in touch with your midwife. The foul smelling lochia is the main symptom of an infection. Hope it gets sorted for u x

 

[xdxxtx]

My lochia smelled funny... but it wasn't infection or anything like that - just smelled like rotten old blood like if I'd left a pad full of blood in the trash can and then went back and sniffed it a few days later... (I know, that's gross. LOL!!!) Anyway, for me it was normal. See if it goes away in a few days.

 

[cady]

I just went to the doc for the same thing. I'm 2 wks PP but have had the same for about a week. I explained it to the doc as "something crawled up there and died" she checked me out and said she didn't see any sign of infection, but put me on ATBs just in case. She said the old blood can smell awful and as long as I don't have a fever or pain I'm probably fine.

 

[x__amour]

My lochia smelled a bit off as well and I might've been infected but it wasn't. Just icky old blood.

 

[suzib76]

ladies in the majority of cases a smelly lochia isnt a problem but sometimes it can be a sign of something wrong

ALWAYS get a swab done, as above it was group b strep in my case that was causing the smell and it can be LIFE THREATENING

https://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/group_b_streptococcus_infection.shtml