Folk recipes and easy activities for uterine recovery after childbirth

 After the birth of a child, recovery processes take place in the female body. All organs of the reproductive system undergo changes. The uterus after childbirth is very much injured.

The uterus is like an inverted pear. It is a hollow organ made up of smooth muscles. It stretches due to the interlacing of muscle fibers and the action of hormones during pregnancy.

Useful video on the topic: Why you need to tie up your stomach after childbirth and how to do it

Condition of the uterus in the postpartum period

The hollow organ consists of the body, which in the prenatal state is about 5 cm, and the cervix is ​​2.5 cm in size. When a child is born, the tissues stretch and grow with the fetus.

Recovery (involution) of female organs after childbirth is a natural process. If the delivery was natural, then the uterus is restored and reduced within 2 months.

The postpartum period is :

1. early - 2 hours after the birth of the placenta;
2. late - up to 8 weeks after delivery.

Scars on the uterus after childbirth are normal. Severe damage is in the placenta attachment zone. In this zone there are most of the vessels that are thrombosed.

Blood clots in the uterus after childbirth and the remains of the placenta will leave the body within three days. These secretions are called lochia.

Epithelialization (restoration of endometrial tissue) occurs by 10-12 days after birth. And the scar at the site of attachment of the placenta heals by the end of the first month.

The uterus after childbirth is a sterile organ. For 3–4 days, processes such as phagocytosis and proteolysis take place in the hollow organ. During them, the bacteria in the uterine cavity are dissolved with the help of phagocytes and proteolytic enzymes.

The first days after the birth of a child, the hollow organ is too mobile due to sprains and insufficient tone of the ligamentous apparatus. This is noticeable with a full bladder or rectum. The tone is acquired in a month.

How long does the uterus shrink after childbirth?

The contractions of the uterine cavity feel like contractions. On the first day after delivery, they do not have a aching character.

The release of the hormone oxytocin during breastfeeding causes muscle spasms. During the contraction of muscle tissue, blood and lymph vessels are compressed, and some dry up - obliterate.

Tissue cells that appeared during pregnancy die and dissolve, while the rest decrease in volume. This contributes to the recovery of the uterus after childbirth.

Organ mass change :

• after childbirth - 1 kg;
• after 7 days - 500 - 525 grams;
• after 14 days - 325 - 330 grams;
• at the end of the postpartum period - 50 - 65 grams.

To speed up contractions, immediately in the delivery room, after the birth of the placenta, ice or a cold heating pad is placed on the stomach.

Postpartum parameters of the uterus:

• the organ is 15–20 cm long;
• its transverse size is 12–13 cm;

The bottom of the hollow organ after the process of childbirth drops sharply, not reaching the navel by 2.5 cm, and the body tightly touches the abdominal wall. The uterus has a dense structure and often shifts to the right.

Due to contractions, it drops by 1 cm daily. At the end of the first week, the bottom reaches the distance between the navel and the pubic area. Already on the 10th day, the uterus is below the pubis.

The cervix recovers more slowly: 12 hours after birth, its diameter will be 5-6 cm. By the middle of the second week, the internal pharynx closes, and the external one forms at the end of the second month after birth.

The pharynx is not restored to its original form, since the tissue fibers are too stretched. On this basis, the gynecologist can determine whether a woman gave birth or not.

Initially, the pharynx has a round hole. After childbirth, a transverse gap remains on it. The shape of the cervix changes: if earlier it had the form of a cone, now it is a cylinder. Gradually, all organs return to normal.

The easiest

To restore the work and tone of the pelvic floor muscles, they must be trained. This can be done when all damage to the genital organs (tears, abrasions) has healed, but not earlier than a month after childbirth. Any physical activity will do - and of course, if there are no contraindications to it. For example, when walking with a baby in a stroller, be physically active: walk, not sit on a bench. Yes, specifically, the pelvic floor muscles are not trained here, but the overall tone of the body increases.

And you can also do Pilates, yoga, even the most common exercise therapy (exercise therapy) - as a rule, in all these complexes there are exercises that at least indirectly involve the muscles of the pelvic floor. Of course, ideally, training should be supervised by a specialist. You can also do Kegel exercises (special gymnastics for intimate muscles), however, here you also need to be sure that you are doing it correctly.

Atony and hypotension

The hollow organ needs to be restored after childbirth, the uterus cannot always contract on its own. Some women have this situation.

In these cases, medical intervention is indispensable. This condition is called uterine atony. If the contractions are very weak - hypotension.

Common causes for atony :

• second birth;
• first pregnancy;
• multiple pregnancy; More about multiple pregnancies→
• large weight and size of the child;
• various complications;
• polyhydramnios;
• trauma to channels or appendages.

The bend of the uterus after childbirth or the pathology of its development can contribute to the absence of contractions.

The most modern

Well, is there something particularly effective for training the pelvic muscles, something that acts on them directly? There are, and these are not home-grown techniques of various "specialists" in intimate gymnastics, which are now a dime a dozen on the Internet, but modern medical technology - biofeedback therapy (biofeedback method).

This method teaches not just to restore weakened muscles, but to restore them correctly and efficiently. The doctor inserts a special sensor into the vagina that detects contractions of the pelvic floor muscles. The woman tenses and relaxes the corresponding muscles, the sensor receives an electrical impulse from them, and the data is displayed on the computer screen.

If a woman trains muscles incorrectly or even accidentally uses muscles in completely different parts of the body (as is often the case with self-training), the doctor, looking at the screen, corrects her movements. In a few sessions, you can master the correct technique and strength of exercises, and only then do it at home on your own.

How to accelerate uterine contraction after childbirth?

Recovery speed depends on the following factors:

• hormonal background;
• woman's age;
• child parameters;
• number of past pregnancies;
• type of labor activity;
• polyhydramnios;
• inflammation of the genitals.

Nature has thought out the female body to the smallest detail. Restoration of a hollow organ occurs according to the standard dimensions of 1–2 cm daily. But if minor deviations from the norm begin to be noticed, you can resort to accelerating the reduction process.

Recovery of the uterus after childbirth involves the following actions:

• If the uterine fundus is soft, then the uterus will contract more slowly. An effective method is to massage the surface of the abdominal wall from the outside.
• To reduce the organ after childbirth, a cold heating pad or ice is applied to the stomach. Spasm-stimulating drugs may be used.
• Observe the hygiene of the genitals. The penetration of infections and various complications affect the ability to contract.
• Active walks.
• Do not allow the bladder and rectum to fill.
• Lactation. Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which causes uterine contractions. Nursing mothers restore the uterus faster.
• Postpartum gymnastics, stimulating contraction of the muscles of the uterus.

Restoration of the uterus should take place under the strict supervision of a physician. Any deviation from the norm is a pathology and requires surgical intervention.

Clinical picture

A small uterus may be discovered by chance, during a pelvic exam, or on a pelvic ultrasound. A woman may not even suspect that she has a pathology. But in some cases, going to the gynecologist is caused by problems with the cyclical nature of menstruation, when they do not occur in girls during adolescence, or the cycle does not stabilize for a long time.

The size of the uterus varies during certain periods of development of the female body. This reproductive organ grows as the girl matures, with active growth occurring during puberty. Development is influenced by hormones, the general condition of the body. The uterus reaches its normal size by the age of 16-18.

The size is determined by ultrasound and it happens: longitudinal 7-8 cm, transverse 4-5 cm. The thickness of the muscle layer is of great importance in order to become pregnant and bear a child, it should be within 2-3 cm. A decrease in these indicators can speak about pathology. The size of the uterus in different girls may differ, it depends on the constitution. So, low asthenic girls may have a small uterus, but this will not prevent them from becoming pregnant and bearing a child.

postpartum discharge

Blood in the uterus after childbirth is formed due to wounds on the surface. The secretions are called lochia. The secret of 3-4 days is red. At this time, lochia have a sweet smell of blood.

For 20% they consist of the fluid of the uterine glands, and the rest is unchanged blood. Restoration of the mucous tissues of the uterus begins immediately after delivery.

Further, the lochia becomes paler, similar to the ichor. After 20 days, the discharge becomes light in color and has a liquid consistency. Normally, lochia comes out within 6 weeks. After that they stop.

If the discharge lasts longer than the specified period or has an unpleasant odor, be sure to consult a doctor.

This may happen for the following reasons :

• bending of the cervix;
• weak contractions in the uterus;
• blockage of the pharynx with blood clots.

This condition is dangerous, as it may indicate an inflammatory process. If the lochia ended in the fifth week or go longer than the ninth, you need to contact a gynecologist.

Process flow without deviations :

1. Vessels burst in the cavity, as a result of which spotting for 2-3 days has a bright red color.
2. During the first 7 days, the remnants of the placenta and atrophied endometrium come out - discharge with clots.
3. After 7 days, liquid lochia has a pinkish tint.
4. Mucus gradually comes out - the result of the activity of the fetus inside the womb. They stop within a week.
5. After a month and a half, lochia disappears, spotting appears.

What complications may arise

After the birth process, various complications can occur.

postpartum hemorrhage

It can begin immediately after delivery. Bleeding is not accompanied by pain, and is very strong. A woman's life without surgery can be in jeopardy.

Causes of bleeding :

• violations occurred during the separation of the placenta and membranes;
• trauma during childbirth;
• impaired uterine contraction.

Medicines and donated blood are used for treatment. Because of the risks of bleeding, the woman is always left for several hours in the delivery room.

Subinvolution of the uterus

As a result of the delay in postpartum secretions, the organ is poorly reduced. Often this disease appears on the 6-7th day: clots in the uterus after childbirth or part of the fetal membrane block the cervical canal.

endometritis

Inflammation of the uterus is called endometritis. It appears due to infection of the cavity.

The occurrence may be due to the following factors :

• severe birth process;
• the placenta did not separate properly during childbirth;
• diseases of the genital organs during pregnancy;
• abortions;
• decrease in immunity.

Symptoms of endometritis :

• heat;
• after childbirth, the uterus hurts;
• rotten smell of postpartum discharge.

To make an accurate diagnosis, an ultrasound of the uterus is performed after childbirth. With endometritis, the cavity is removed, washed or scraped from the contents. After surgery, antibiotics are prescribed. Read more: postpartum endometritis→

Prolapse

It may happen that after childbirth the uterus sank. This occurs as a result of injury to the muscle tissue of the pelvic floor. This complication often affects women who are carrying a second child.

Normally, the uterus after childbirth at the exit of the placenta is located in the navel. The bottom sinks 1–2 cm daily.

Any deviation from the norm is considered a pathology. In severe forms, there may be a prolapse of the uterus after childbirth into the vagina and go outside.

It is necessary to treat prolapse in a timely manner so as not to be at risk of infection, prolapse of the internal organs of the urinary system. When the uterus is prolapsed, sexual activity is prohibited.

To identify possible pathologies at 6–9 weeks after childbirth, it is recommended to visit a gynecologist. Even if you feel good, there are no pain and discomfort.

The main reasons for the increase

If a woman of fertile age has a uterus that does not correspond to the phase of the menstrual cycle, the gynecologist, first of all, assumes pregnancy. In its absence, various conditions and diseases of the reproductive system are diagnosed.

Cyclic hormonal changes

Estrogen and progesterone have a great influence on the changes that occur in the female body during the menstrual cycle. Menstruation is the shedding and removal of the endometrium (the inner layer of the uterine cavity).

Cyclic changes after menstruation lead to an increase and growth of the endometrium, to its loosening. The uterus at the same time slightly increases in size, its neck is shortened.

premenopause

With the extinction of the reproductive function, the hormonal level of the female body fluctuates. Under the influence of a decrease in the level of estrogen, the menstrual cycle loses its regularity, the uterine cavity slightly expands.

In addition, a woman feels pressure surges, emotional instability, bouts of heat throughout her body.

fibromyoma

Benign formations in the thickness of the walls of the uterus, inside its cavity (submucosal fibroids) and under its serous membrane (intramural fibroids) can significantly increase the size of the organ. At the same time, it reaches a significant size, compresses nearby organs, and provokes the appearance of the following symptoms:

• Bleeding between periods, an increase in their volume;
• Pain in the lower abdomen;
• Bloating
• Constipation;
• Violation of urination;
• Compaction of the myometrium, diagnosed by palpation.

When the uterus is enlarged to a size corresponding to 12 weeks of pregnancy, an operation is performed to remove the tumor. If the fibroid has led to a slight increase in the organ, hormone therapy is prescribed.

During menopause, this problem may disappear without treatment, as a decrease in estrogen levels leads to a spontaneous decrease and disappearance of fibroids.

endometriosis

With the spread of endometrial cells throughout the reproductive system and beyond, a woman is diagnosed with endometriosis.

The areas of the inner functional membrane on the neck, in the peritoneum, in the ovaries, in the vagina are subject to cyclic changes in the same way as the inner functional layer. Endometriosis is accompanied by an enlarged uterus and the following symptoms:

• Violation of the menstrual cycle;
• Vaginal discharge is brown;
• Lower abdominal pain;
• History of infertility;
• Pain during intimate contact.

In some cases, endometriosis stimulates the development of oncological pathology.

Cancer of the body of the uterus

If the uterus is enlarged, in search of the cause of this condition, it is important to show oncological alertness, since cancer of the body or neck of this organ responds well to treatment in the early stages of the disease.

The development of a malignant tumor of the reproductive system occurs at any age, but most often it forms after 50 years

during menopause. Main symptoms:

• An increase in the size of the organ;
• Pain during intimate contact;
• Bloody vaginal discharge;
• Violation of urination.

If cancer of the body of the uterus is suspected, the doctor prescribes an analysis of the discharge from the vagina and cervical canal for liquid cytology, diagnostic curettage and histological examination of the material. When the diagnosis is clarified, surgical or hormonal treatment is prescribed.

Recovery of the uterus after childbirth

All women are interested in how the uterus looks after childbirth. Its cavity decreases from 40 to 20 cm, and is restored by 1-2 cm daily. In order for the contractions to be normal, it is necessary to periodically examine the gynecologist. There are many methods for restoring the uterus.

Traditional medicine

Nettle has a good effect on uterine contraction. Three tablespoons of the plant insist in 0.5 liters. boiling water. Let stand and cool. Drink 1/2 cup 3 times a day.

In the pharmacy you can buy a tincture of water pepper. It also promotes uterine contractions.

The flowers and grass of the white lamb are used in the decoction and help to restore the hollow organ. The decoction does not cause an increase in pressure. It can be drunk with hypertension.

With bleeding, the shepherd's purse plant helps well. In a day, you can use tea leaves 3-4 tbsp. tablespoons of herbs per 400 ml of boiling water.

Also, with abundant bloody lochia, red geranium helps. Drink cold tea from 2 teaspoons of a dry plant in 2 cups of boiling water. The liquid must stand overnight. Drink small portions throughout the day.

Postpartum cleansing helps to speed up May birch leaves. Three tablespoons of leaves are brewed in 600 ml of boiling water. Add a pinch of soda and drink 200 ml 3 times every day. The remedy is effective from 12 days after the birth process.

Physical recovery methods

Feeding a baby releases oxytocin, which affects uterine contractions.

From the first day, you can do light physical exercises - postpartum recovery exercises. Charging should be carried out in a well-ventilated area at an optimum temperature of 18 to 20 degrees.

If pain is felt, physical exercises should be stopped or another set of exercises should be chosen for oneself.

All complex measures aimed at restoring the female body must be carried out within 10-12 weeks. Before training, it is recommended to go to the toilet. Gynecologists do not advise exercising with a full bladder. Also, exercise should be done after breastfeeding.

If there were complications, surgery or childbirth after uterine rupture, physical exercises must be agreed with the gynecologist.

To avoid complications during childbirth, during pregnancy, you need to regularly visit a gynecologist. The recovery period for each woman is different, but if there are deviations from the norm, you need to see a doctor.

Author: Khatuna Gabelia, pediatrician, specially for Mama66.ru

Prevention measures

Fluffy uterus during pregnancy can be prevented by following these guidelines:

• before the planned conception of a child, carefully check women's health;
• do not have abortions, but use effective methods of contraception to prevent pregnancy;
• take the choice of a partner seriously, regularly check for infections of the genital area;
• do not take any hormonal drugs on your own, their use is possible only after the examination;
• women with a history of miscarriages or abortions should be given special attention to the identification and treatment of possible pathology;
• visit a gynecologist in a timely manner throughout pregnancy and undergo the necessary examinations;
• regularly do Kegel exercises, which will strengthen the muscles of the perineum and help the uterus maintain the necessary tone;
• strengthen immunity (eat right, take vitamins, play sports, spend more time in the fresh air and harden).