home Folk remedies The rate of contraction of the uterine walls after childbirth affects recovery. How long does it take for the uterus to contract and recover after cesarean section?

The rate of contraction of the uterine walls after childbirth affects recovery. How long does it take for the uterus to contract and recover after cesarean section?

The uterus, the main organ of childbirth, undergoes significant changes during pregnancy, childbirth and after it. And this is not surprising, because it is she who stores feminine energy and gives strength for the birth of a new life, and is a reliable protection and cozy refuge for the unborn baby. After the baby is born, the uterus gradually contracts, returning to its previous, pre-pregnancy state, like the entire body of the young mother. How and how long does this process take?

Why does the uterus contract?

The uterus is a female organ consisting of a body and a cervix, which has the unique property of stretching due to its structure (muscle and connective fibers intertwined with each other), good blood supply and the influence of hormones.
The shape of the uterus resembles an inverted pear

When a woman is pregnant, her uterus grows along with the baby. After the birth of a child, it is in a stretched state, while being very mobile, and tissue tone is reduced. In addition to the baby, it contained the placenta and amniotic fluid, which took up a large space. Gradually, the uterus is restored, that is, it is cleansed (everything unnecessary comes out along with lochia - bloody discharge) and contracts. This occurs due to the effects of the hormone oxytocin, which is produced during breastfeeding. The uterus becomes smaller due to the resorption and death of cells that appeared during pregnancy. And although it will no longer return to its previous size, in the absence of pathological processes, after an average of 1.5–2 months it will decrease to constant parameters that will not change until the next pregnancy. Since this depends on the individual characteristics of the woman, recovery time varies from 4 to 10 weeks.

Recovery Features

The return of the uterus to its original position (in the pelvic area), its contraction to normal size is called involution. In a woman who has just given birth, it has the following characteristics:

linear dimensions are 38 cm and 24 cm, across - 25 cm;
neck diameter is about 10 – 14 cm;
weight more than a kilogram;
volume is about 5000 ml;
the location of the upper part is just below the navel, and the lower part is in the abdominal cavity;
condition inside an open wound, especially bleeding where the placenta was attached, there may be remnants of the amniotic sac and thickened blood.

The volume of the uterine cavity increases 500 times by the end of pregnancy.

In its normal state, the uterus is small: the length of the body is about 5 cm, the cervix is a little more than 2 cm. In the first days after birth, it contracts intensively, then these processes gradually slow down.

Immediately after the baby is born, the uterus is 2 cm above the level of the navel. Sometimes it shifts a little to one side. It gradually descends from the navel to the pubic area, on average by 1 cm daily. After 5-7 days it already passes into the small pelvis, and on the 10th day it returns to its original place.

The process of cervical restoration is longer. 12 hours after birth, its diameter is 5–6 cm. After a day, it greatly decreases, allowing two fingers to pass through, after three days - one, closing completely after three weeks.

The cervix is like a universal soldier; it performs different functions depending on the needs of the female body. Usually, the responsibilities include protecting the uterus from foreign microorganisms, water, tampons and other troubles. Under favorable conditions, it is along the cervix that sperm move in search of an egg. During pregnancy, it protects the baby by allowing it to remain in the uterus. During childbirth, its importance is also difficult to overestimate.

After 6–8 weeks, the external os of the uterus is formed. After a natural birth and a cesarean section, it is noticeably different, because the tissues of the organ are greatly stretched. If in nulliparous women the pharynx has a round opening, then after childbirth it is slit-like, and its shape changes - from cone-shaped to cylindrical.
A gynecologist can determine by the appearance of the cervix whether a woman has given birth or not

Healing of the inner surface (endometrium) is completed after 10-12 days, and the placenta is restored by the end of the 3rd week after birth.

Along with the size, the mass of the organ also changes. If a nulliparous woman’s uterus weighs 50 g, then immediately after birth its weight is 1 kg. One week after the birth of the baby, this parameter is 500 g, after two weeks - a little more than 300 g. At the end of the postpartum period, the weight of the uterus is about 60 g (usually a little more than before birth).
On average, after a month and a half, the uterus is completely restored

All the given figures are conditional, since the speed of organ recovery depends on various factors:

woman's hormonal background;
her age;
features of the course of childbirth.

So, after a caesarean section, the uterus takes longer to return to normal due to a violation of its integrity. If the operation is planned, then the natural mechanisms of contractile activity of the uterus were not launched. To cause them, the woman is injected into the body with the artificial hormone oxytocin.

The following factors may also slow down recovery:

polyhydramnios;
multiple pregnancy;
large weight and size of the child;
complications of pregnancy and childbirth;
inflammatory processes in the body;
injuries of the birth canal or appendages;
bending of the uterus and other pathologies of the organ.

Signs of normal contraction

If the recovery takes place without pathologies, then the woman experiences the following conditions:

discomfort at the location of the uterus;
painful sensations in the lower abdomen, reminiscent of contractions, especially when feeding the baby (at this time oxytocin is intensively produced, causing contractions of the uterus);
discomfort in the genital area;
bloody discharge that becomes yellowish or transparent over time - lochia.

These signs are most pronounced in the first week after birth, then they gradually fade away. You should consult your doctor if the following symptoms are present:

discomfort does not decrease after two weeks;
the pain is not cramping in nature, but constant, painful;
an increase in temperature is noted.

How to help if contractions are painful

Involution of the uterus is a natural process, but often painful, reminiscent of contractions. Most often it can be tolerated. If a woman feels severe pain that interferes with normal life, they resort to special means, for example:

Maintain a positive attitude. Any pain is temporary, it will pass. Moreover, the most difficult and unpleasant thing - childbirth - is already behind us.
Watch your breathing. Anything that was useful during labor will do.
Provide heat and pressure on the abdomen. You can use a heating pad for this. Lying on your stomach will also help.
Empty your bladder in a timely manner, otherwise it prevents the uterus from contracting and returning to its place.
Do a stomach massage. This does not require special skills; stroking clockwise will do.
Take painkillers for severe pain. If it can be tolerated, it is not recommended to take medications, as they can pass into breast milk.

Taking painkillers is only justified in case of severe discomfort

Popular remedies for pain relief from uterine contractions after childbirth:

The exact dosage, frequency and duration of taking the drugs is determined by the attending physician, taking into account the severity of various symptoms.

How to speed up the recovery process

Immediately after childbirth, women place a cold heating pad on their stomach, which constricts blood vessels, reduces bleeding, and accelerates uterine contractions. Subsequently, under the influence of oxytocin, the uterus should contract on its own. In the maternity hospital, this process is regularly monitored by specialists. Sometimes it takes not only time to restore the uterus, but also outside help. The following recommendations will be effective:

Sleeping on your stomach promotes rapid recovery of the uterus after childbirth

Folk remedies for uterine contraction

There are folk remedies that can ease the course of the recovery period and speed up its progress:

However, it is important to monitor the baby’s reaction to such drugs. If a child develops any skin rashes, anxiety, or problems with the gastrointestinal tract, the medication should be stopped. Before starting treatment, you should definitely consult your doctor.

Medicines

Medicines for speedy involution of the uterus contain the artificial hormone oxytocin. This:

Homeopathic medicines (Millefolium, Secale, Witch Hazel, Sabina) created on the basis of components of plant origin can also be successfully used. They have a gentler effect on the body.

Physical exercise

From the first day after childbirth, if your health allows, you can do special exercises to restore the body. Such gymnastics is carried out in a well-ventilated room at a comfortable temperature.

The exercises should be done regularly for two months, gradually increasing the load. If you experience pain, the complex should not be performed. It is also prohibited after surgical interventions and uterine ruptures. The following exercises are recommended:

The technique for doing the latter is as follows:

Lie down, put your hands on your stomach. As you exhale, squeeze the muscles of the perineum, tense, as if wanting to stop urination. Stay in this position, slowly counting to five. Then, on the count of five, gradually relax. Repeat up to ten times.
Quickly squeeze and relax the muscles of the perineum, bringing the number of repetitions to 15 times.

There are other options for performing these exercises. Having practiced, you can do them every time you have free time (sitting in public transport or standing in line), because they are completely invisible to others.

Video: all about Kegel exercises

If the uterus contracts too quickly

It happens that the uterus contracts very quickly, this is especially common for multiparous women. The process is accompanied by heavy bleeding and pain. You can cope with this by following the same recommendations as for pain relief:

physical activity;
walks in the open air;
frequent trips to the toilet;
stroking the belly in a circle.

Pathologies of contraction after childbirth

In rare cases, pathological conditions occur. The most common complications are bending of the cervix and blockage of the pharynx with blood clots.

Cervical bending in most cases is a congenital anomaly, but most often manifests itself in the postpartum period. The uterus, stretched after pregnancy, can very quickly return to its previous position, but be placed incorrectly. The cause of the pathology is sometimes:

infection in the pelvic area from the genital tract or as a result of injury;
colon or bladder disease;
the presence of an internal tumor.

When examined by a gynecologist or during an ultrasound examination, a displacement of the uterus relative to the cervix and pelvis is detected. To treat this pathology, a complex of medications, physiotherapy, and special gymnastics are prescribed.

Curvature of the cervix can lead to difficulties with conception and discomfort during intimacy

Blockage of pharynx with blood clots

A woman should be alerted to a sudden cessation of discharge early after childbirth, because this may indicate blockage of the pharynx with blood clots. In this case, pain in the lower abdomen and fever are observed. An alarming symptom is also long-term thick discharge that does not become transparent over time. They may be slimy and smell unpleasant. This condition requires immediate treatment, the regimen of which will be selected by the doctor.

Postpartum involution of the uterus causes a lot of anxiety among young mothers: is everything going right? Especially if the child was born as a result of surgery. It is important to know how the uterus contracts after a cesarean section. Indeed, in this case there are differences from what happens after a normal birth. And there are more opportunities for complications.

Read in this article

Postpartum condition of the uterus

The main female organ is in no hurry to regain its previous size. This is natural, because in its smooth muscles there are many cells that have now become redundant and are gradually atrophying. The muscles of the uterus are stretched and weakened. The inner surface is a wound, it will also suffer.

The uterus after a cesarean section has even greater features. There is a seam on it, longitudinal or transverse, it depends on the type of intervention performed. That is, the tissues are connected to each other by surgical threads, usually self-absorbing. But in any case, the body also expends energy on healing the suture, and not just the surface of the mucous wound. Nerve and muscle fibers and blood vessels must grow together, which makes the involution of the uterus more complex and lengthy.

The pain that accompanies the process due to forced injury to the organ is stronger than after a normal birth.

Organ restoration after caesarean section

Restoration of the uterus after cesarean section has 3 interrelated aspects:

A decrease in size of an organ, accompanied by contractions of its smooth muscles.
Suture healing.
Cleansing the internal space of unnecessary tissue and regeneration of the mucous membrane, which occurs with the removal of bloody secretions.

All processes occur simultaneously. But the operation performed makes them slower. It can also cause complications, so the woman then stays longer in the maternity hospital. But then the patient is discharged home, and then the opportunity to ask the doctor about anything unclear is removed. Most women are interested in how long the uterus contracts after a caesarean section. On average, the process takes up to 60 days.

Discharge

With any method of delivery, the uterus is cleansed upon completion. A woman discovers that at first it is abundant, then decreases in quantity and changes color. In the first days, and are noticed in them.

When the muscle behavior of the organ is inhibited, the secretions are retained inside for a longer period. Therefore, they will also go longer, maintaining considerable volume. But their decrease is normally still noticeable.

The seam

The suture on the uterus, naturally, is not visible, but prevents its contractions. A scar should form at the site of the incision on the organ. That is, a patch of connective tissue is formed in this area. It is stiffer than smooth muscle, stretches less well, and movements of the uterus during contraction and relaxation cause pain. The suture should turn into a scar by the 6th month after birth. That is, an independent process also takes place at the site of the incision.

The condition of the external seam on the skin of the abdomen, on the abdominal wall, is also important. The damage caused during the operation makes these muscles weaker, which also does not contribute to the rapid reduction of the uterus.

Returning the uterus to normal size

The way the uterus contracts after a caesarean section is also of great importance. The same thing happens to her as at the end of a normal birth. But since the organ is injured, the sensations during contractions will be stronger. To relieve them, women are given painkillers. But in the future, discomfort will still be felt, especially when feeding.

Movements of the uterine muscles lead to the disappearance of excess fibers and constriction of blood vessels. And on the 10th -11th birthday of the baby, the organ, despite undergoing a caesarean section, is done a little more than before pregnancy.

Possible complications due to surgery

How long the uterus contracts after a cesarean section depends on the presence or absence of , which does not occur during natural childbirth, or occurs less frequently:

significant blood loss, making the woman weaker and more passive, and the uterus susceptible to hypotonicity;
introduction of infection into the organ cavity, interfering with the restoration of its internal surface and muscle movements;
, violating the location of the organ, preventing contractions;
arising due to excessive physical activity for this stage.

How to help the organ return to normal

The movements of the smooth muscles of the uterus are controlled by a hormone. It is produced by the body independently, but only if you put effort into it. It consists of the desire to feed the child. The process needs to be established from the first days.

The more often you put the baby to the breast, the more actively the mother’s reproductive organs are restored.

There are other methods that promote uterine contractions:

you need to move despite discomfort and weakness;
several times a day you need 20 minutes;
briefly apply an ice container wrapped in a towel to the area between the navel and pubis;
Avoid bladder overflow and constipation.

Problems of the postoperative period

Difficulties are mainly related to movements. Getting out of bed, coughing, and walking are more difficult than after a normal birth. And this can cause passivity in the new mother, which means further slowing down the contractions of the uterus. The same happens for additional reasons:

accumulation of gases in the intestines due to slowed motility as a result of surgery;
difficulties with lactation, because the baby is delivered only on the 3rd day;
external seam that prevents lying on the stomach.

In addition, lochia may linger in the organ cavity, which will cause.

But despite all the difficulties, how much the uterus contracts after a cesarean section depends on its owner. Most problems with this can be solved. To help a woman - careful care of the seam, the correct regimen.

How long does it take?

Many new mothers often have concerns about how long the uterus contracts after childbirth. If there are no complications, it will take about 6 weeks. During this period, the weight of the uterus decreases from 1000 to 60 grams, the most intense changes occur in the first 6-10 days.

The uterus recovers more slowly in the cervical area. The process of its reduction lasts throughout the entire postpartum period. The diameter of the internal uterine os after the baby is delivered is 10-12 cm, which allows you to manually remove parts of the placenta. Within 24 hours it is significantly reduced, becoming passable for 2 fingers, and after 3 days for 1. After three weeks, it closes completely.

How long the uterus will contract after childbirth depends on the characteristics of pregnancy and childbirth. On average, the process lasts 1.5-2 months, but can be completed in 4 or 10 weeks. Such terms are a variant of the norm.

Reasons for non-contraction of the uterus

The timing of uterine contractions after childbirth may increase for several reasons:

pregnancy and (, etc.);
characteristics of the woman’s body, concomitant diseases;
(incision of the uterine cavity).

All these factors are taken into account when a doctor monitors the recovery process. So, with multiple pregnancies, the normal duration of uterine recovery increases by several weeks. In such situations, medication support may be prescribed.

In some cases, the uterus does not contract at all. Such a complication is possible with uterine bending, inflammation in the pelvic organs, fibroids, benign neoplasms, serious injuries to the birth canal and a violation of the blood coagulation system.

What to do if the uterus contracts poorly?

What to do to make the uterus contract after childbirth? Immediately after delivery, women place a heating pad with ice on their stomach. Reducing the temperature constricts blood vessels, helps reduce bleeding and speeds up uterine contractions.

Over the next few days, while the young mother is in the maternity hospital, the doctor checks daily how the recovery process is going. If upon examination it is discovered that the fundus of the uterus descends slowly and remains soft, then a conclusion is made about a reduced ability to contract. According to the doctor's decision, special drugs can be administered that stimulate this process (Oxytocin, prostaglandins), as well as a course of massage through the abdominal wall.

In many maternity hospitals, special attention is paid to the establishment: when the baby suckles, the woman’s body releases hormones that help shrink the uterus.

Discharge from the maternity hospital is made after the doctor is convinced that the process of uterine contraction is proceeding normally. In the next 1.5-2 months, you will need to regularly visit the gynecologist on an outpatient basis. If during the examination it is revealed that the pharynx is clogged with blood clots, or that lochia or part of the placenta remains in the uterine cavity, it will be prescribed.

What should be normal?

You can determine whether the uterus contracts poorly after childbirth or normally by looking at several symptoms.

If the recovery period passes without complications, then the woman experiences:

some tenderness in the mammary glands;
in the lower abdomen - discomfort;
bloody, and after a while yellowish vaginal discharge;
pain in the perineum;
diarrhea for 1-4 days after the baby is born.

The uterus contracts most intensively in the first 10 days after birth, it is during this period that symptoms are pronounced. At the end of 6 weeks they almost completely disappear.

Most often, discomfort in the postpartum period is tolerable, but some women have a reduced sensitivity threshold and need medical help. To reduce the pain accompanying uterine contractions, you can take No-shpa, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and use Diclofenac suppositories.

What to do to make the uterus contract faster?

It will be useful for every woman to know how to speed up uterine contractions after childbirth.

Breastfeed your baby. When nipples are irritated during this period, hormones are produced, including prolactin, which promotes uterine contraction. The earlier feeding starts, the better.
Do not go on bed rest and move as much as possible: walk, do housework, care for the baby. However, if the birth was complicated, the possibility of physical activity should be discussed with your doctor.
Sleep on your stomach, especially during the day.
Take care of genital hygiene: wash yourself several times a day (and at first after each visit to the toilet), treat wounds.
Empty your bladder at the first urge, even if it causes discomfort. The more often, the faster the uterus will contract.
Gymnastics after childbirth to contract the uterus is based on contraction of the abdominal muscles, perineum, vagina, as well as movements of the diaphragm using breathing.

There are cases when all these methods do not help, since the uterus is prevented from contracting by lochia or the remains of the placenta after childbirth; only a cleansing procedure can help. It is performed under general anesthesia using a special instrument that looks like a spoon with a hole. You should not be afraid of these manipulations; without them, the development of inflammation of the uterus and nearby organs is inevitable.

Contraction of the uterus after childbirth is the basis for the restoration of the entire body. This process should occur independently, within 1.5-2 months. But with complications accompanying pregnancy and childbirth, as well as with a woman’s poor health, the uterus remains stretched and enlarged for a long time. In these cases, medical attention is necessary. You can speed up recovery by establishing breastfeeding, observing hygiene rules and performing feasible physical activity, including special gymnastics.

Useful video about what happens to a woman after childbirth

The next 6 or 8 weeks after the birth of a child, or the postpartum period, is often called the “tenth month” because, as in the previous 9 months, important changes occur in a woman’s body. First of all, the process of involution occurs, that is, the return of all systems and organs to their normal state. The main female organ “responsible” for the growth and development of the fetus is the uterus. How much does the uterus contract after childbirth, what sensations accompany this process and what to do if it does not proceed as it should?

The uterus should contract completely around 6 weeks after birth.

Throughout the postpartum period, the size of the organ decreases. So, if after the birth of the child her weight is about a kilogram, then after 4 weeks it is about 50 grams. Why does the uterus contract with such rapid dynamics? The process is ensured by several mechanisms:

Muscle contractions are tonic, in which the muscles are shortened, as well as in postpartum contractions, in which muscle fibers are removed and the blood supply to the organ is reduced. Postpartum contractions begin around the second day after the baby is born and are usually painless and unnoticeable.
When muscles contract, the walls of blood vessels are compressed, as a result of which muscle hypertrophy disappears.
Contractions also occur during breastfeeding, in which case they are caused by the action of hormones.

The doctor can determine the degree of contraction by measuring the height of the uterine fundus. A day after birth, it is located approximately at the level of the navel, after which it lowers - by a centimeter every day. By the 11th day, the fundus of the uterus should be behind the womb, and after 6-8 weeks the organ reaches its normal size.

The external uterine pharynx also gradually contracts: after childbirth, its size is on average 10 cm, and its complete closure takes approximately three weeks. By the fourth week, the uterus acquires tone, loses mobility, and swelling of the tubes disappears.

Woman's feelings

The absolute norm is the appearance of postpartum discharge, which is called lochia. They are formed as a result of healing of the inner surface of the uterus and restoration of the epithelium. The nature of these secretions changes during the postpartum period:

in the first days the lochia is bloody;
from 3 to 10 days they have a red-brown tint;
after the 10th day, blood impurities disappear, the discharge becomes transparent;
The discharge stops after 5-6 weeks.

Involution is usually painful. More often this is a completely tolerable aching pain, but sometimes it can be very painful. In this case, injections with antispasmodics are given. How long does it take for the uterus to completely contract? Normally, this process should take no more than 1.5-2 months. You can understand that the uterus has shrunk by the following signs:

The belly has decreased (in the first days after the birth of the child, the woman still looks like a pregnant woman).
The discharge is over.
If a woman does not breastfeed, then after the involution of the uterus she begins menstruation. For nursing mothers, this criterion is not significant.
Ultrasound and are the most accurate methods for diagnosing the dynamics of involution.

After second birth and caesarean section

After cesarean section, involution occurs more slowly. This is due, first of all, to the fact that the integrity of the muscles and blood vessels is disrupted during surgery. In addition, for the first day the woman in labor is in intensive care, in a mode of limited physical activity, which also does not contribute to the process.

After 2 births, involution usually occurs not only more intensely, but also more painfully; some women in labor even compare this time to prenatal contractions. The pain is especially intensified during feeding, but it does not last long, about 2-3 days. At this time, the woman is usually in the hospital, so she can be given painkillers if necessary.

What to do to speed up the reduction

If the uterus contracts poorly, this can be determined by the nature of the discharge. For example, they are very scarce, last only a few days and end quickly, blood impurities remain in them for a long time and the total duration of lochia increases. A doctor should monitor the process in order to take measures to stimulate it, if necessary. We list the most common reasons that slow down involution:

Multiple pregnancy.
Big fruit.
Inflammatory diseases of the uterus.
Weakness of labor.
Benign tumors.
Inactivity.
Bends and some other structural anomalies.
Location of the placenta (the uterus does not contract for a long time with a low attachment).

To make the uterus contract better, the following measures are taken:

Applying cold, usually a cold heating pad, to the abdominal area.
Injections of oxytocin, which accelerates involution.
Special exercises can help the uterus contract.
It is recommended to lie on your stomach more often in the first few days.
It is worth making every effort to establish breastfeeding.

Postpartum gymnastics

In addition, the doctor is faced with the task of preventing inflammation in the absence of normal discharge. If lochia lingers in the cavity, a diagnosis of lochiometra may be made - a complication in which postpartum secretions are not removed naturally. In order to get rid of it, the gynecologist may resort to diffuse rinsing of the cavity with antiseptics or antibiotics or vacuum suction of the remaining fetal membranes.

You should immediately consult a doctor if the discharge continues for more than 6 weeks or if there is blood in it for more than 12 days.

Slow involution can lead to retention of postpartum secretions in the uterine cavity, which will cause inflammation. If this process drags on, doctors will have to resort not only to cleaning, but also to surgery.

During the postpartum period, all organs and systems of the young mother return to their original, prenatal state. Typically this period takes 6-8 weeks.

All organs that spent 9 months caring for the well-being of the baby and mother undergo reverse development. After childbirth, the uterus also goes through the process of involution.

Dimensions of the uterus after childbirth

Approximately 5-50 minutes after the birth of the child, the placenta and membranes (afterbirth) emerge from the genital tract of the woman in labor. Following this, the reverse contraction of the uterus occurs - it takes the shape of a ball.

If it were possible to weigh this important female organ immediately after delivery, one would have to agree that the size of the uterus after childbirth is quite large, because its weight is approximately 1 kg. After a week, the weight of the uterus is halved, and after two it is no more than 350 g.

In case of uterine contraction disorders, these indicators may differ slightly. If there is a discrepancy in these important parameters, an urgent consultation with a gynecologist is necessary.

After childbirth, the uterine muscles contract, some of the blood and lymphatic vessels dry out, and the muscle cells formed during 9 months of pregnancy dissolve. Upon completion of this process, the uterus returns to its normal parameters. The normal size of the uterus after childbirth (after a month and a half) is about 50 g.

Uterine contractions after childbirth

Contractions of the uterus are felt by a woman after childbirth as aching pain in the lower abdomen. During feeding, when the nipple is stimulated, the hormone oxytocin is released into the blood, which has a contractile effect. Therefore, in breastfeeding women, involution occurs by the end of the 6th week, and in non-breastfeeding women, involution occurs only at the 8th week.

After childbirth via cesarean section, the ability of the uterus to contract is much lower, so doctors recommend that women who have undergone such an operation move more and more actively to speed up the process of involution.

By how the process of uterine contraction occurs after childbirth, one can judge the woman’s condition. If the reverse development of the process occurs slowly, hormonal and immune disorders are possible in the body of the young mother.

Uterine prolapse after childbirth

Prolapse, or prolapse of the uterus after childbirth, is a fairly common consequence of injury to the pelvic floor muscles received during childbirth. The risk of this complication increases in women who have had a difficult birth or who have given birth more than once.

Normally, after the placenta has passed, the uterus is at the level of the navel. Further after childbirth, uterine prolapse occurs by approximately 1-2 cm per day. By the end of the first postpartum week, the normal height of the organ is 4-5 cm from the womb. Any deviation from this is considered a pathology and requires medical intervention.

When the uterus prolapses, the cervix is significantly lower than normal: it protrudes into the vagina or may even extend beyond the perineum. If the diagnosis reveals violations of its descent, the woman needs urgent surgical intervention. If treatment is left untreated, not only does sexual life become difficult, but there is also a high risk of developing urinary tract infections, prolapse of internal organs, and difficulties with the outflow of urine.

Causes of uterine contraction disorders

The causes of uterine contraction disorders after childbirth may be different.

First of all, the involution process is affected by a lack of prolactin, which is produced reflexively when the nipples are irritated. With its deficiency, involution slows down.

Delayed uterine contractions can be caused by the presence of remnants of the placenta attached to the walls of the uterus.

In addition, an infection suffered by a woman can reduce the contractility of the uterus.

All these cases require consultation with a specialist; self-medication in such situations aggravates the situation of the young mother.

Clots in the uterus after childbirth

The uterus after childbirth is a big wound. From the inside, it is severely damaged in the place where the placenta was attached. On its inner membrane there are remnants of membranes and blood clots.

Normally, clots from the uterus are released only for 3-4 days. Thanks to wound healing processes in a woman’s body, wound secretion, lochia, begins to be released from the uterus.

In the first days, lochia is bloody, similar to menstrual discharge; on the 3rd day it becomes serous and bloody in nature, and by the end of the 20th day after birth it becomes liquid and light-colored. Lochia completely disappears by the end of the 6th postpartum week.

When involution slows down, lochia may be released longer. However, if after 2 weeks after birth there are still clots in the uterus, an urgent visit to the doctor is necessary. This can be guessed if the lochia does not change its color and the intensity of its secretion does not decrease. This can happen due to an infection or when the uterine pharynx is blocked by blood clots.