Causes of placental tissue remnants after childbirth. Placental polyp after childbirth: symptoms, treatment

Very often, after childbirth, a woman has clots in the uterus. During pregnancy and birth of a baby, this organ undergoes serious changes. After the baby is born, it is just one big wound.

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The uterus pushes the baby out with the help of muscle contractions, and then the umbilical cord, placenta, and membranes emerge from it. But sometimes after childbirth, blood clots, placental fragments and mucus remain in the uterus. They continue to come out for about 1.5 months. About.

It is worse if after childbirth the blood clots formed remain in the organ. This situation should be resolved by a gynecologist, since it is quite dangerous. But if you ask for help in time, there will be no problems.

Causes of neoplasms

Sometimes after childbirth a number of blood clots remain in a woman's uterus. This is quite common during the first days of your period. New growths appear in the first few days and are similar to normal heavy menstruation. The remains of the placenta and other “products” that were formed during pregnancy emerge from the organ. But sometimes this doesn't happen.

There are a number of reasons for the occurrence of this disease related to the functioning of the reproductive organ.

The following factors are to blame:

sluggish contraction of the organ;
a large number of placental remains;
spasm of the cervical canal.

This can happen at any age and does not depend on various problems during pregnancy. Typically, large blood clots continue to pass for 5-7 days after delivery. After some time, the discharge becomes spotting.

When blood clots continue to pass after 2-3 weeks, a placental polyp has most likely formed. This happened because the placenta did not come out completely. You need to be wary if the discharge was heavy at first and then disappeared almost completely.

At the same time, an ultrasound shows that the uterus remains enlarged. This often indicates that there are few clots left in the woman's uterus after childbirth. If the diagnosis is confirmed, immediate action will have to be taken. Blood tumors need to be given a way out, since ignoring the problem can lead to serious illness.

Sometimes there are situations when, after 2-3 days of “rest,” the ill-fated clots that remained in the body reappear. In this case, you need to monitor possible symptoms of the inflammatory process:

unpleasant odor from the vagina;
pain;
high temperature when measured not in the area of the mammary glands, but on the elbow.

You should be very careful, because the inflammatory process (endometritis) can negatively affect the reproductive function of the body. If the problem is ignored, it can cause infertility.

What to do about the problem

After childbirth, all blood clots located in the uterus come out of it on their own. If this does not happen and the blood stops draining, you should immediately consult a doctor. Obstetricians and gynecologists know how to cope with this unpleasant phenomenon and will take all necessary measures. Often the trouble manifests itself during the first few days when a woman and her baby are in the maternity hospital. Preventing pathology is simple, since doctors take a blood test from patients and check it for hemoglobin. This allows you to notice the development of the problem in time.

If you find this in yourself, consult your doctor.

It also happens that pathology appears a few days after discharge. Do not put off visiting a gynecologist, even if you are desperately short of time. Find time, otherwise you will have to spend a lot of effort and money on treatment later. Such formations can become an excellent environment for the development of infection.

If treatment is ignored, the pathology will cause the following diseases.

Inflammation of the mucous membrane (endometritis).
Subinvolution of the uterus (the organ stops contracting).
Inflammation due to infection in stagnant clots.
Blockage of the uterus.

If after childbirth a woman does not have clots, the gynecologist will refer her for an ultrasound examination to confirm the diagnosis. Once the problem is confirmed, cleaning is usually carried out. This is the only way to remove stagnant blood.

After this procedure, the neoplasms are transformed into the state in which they should be. If a patient experiences blood clots after childbirth, she is often prescribed antibiotic therapy. This is the only way to cope with a bacterial infection in the uterus.

In this case, the doctor focuses on the presence or absence of a lactation period. In any case, the woman is recommended to feed the baby before taking the medicine. It won’t hurt your baby to take bifidumbacteria to avoid side effects and support intestinal function, which may be disrupted due to medications taken by the mother.

You don’t need to decide on your own what to do if you still have clots in your uterus after giving birth. If the cause is the placenta, which has not left the uterus, vacuum aspiration will have to be performed. Experts recommend performing it under optical control. This will ensure that the tumor is gone and the procedure will not have to be repeated. There is no need to worry about discomfort during treatment procedures. Vacuum aspiration takes place under general anesthesia, so it is completely painless for the woman.

If an ultrasound examination confirms the diagnosis, and there are indeed many lochia in the uterus, but there is no placental polyp, special preparations will have to be used. The medications will “force” the uterus to contract. Experts often use Oxytocin. The drug is administered through a dropper or intramuscularly. The drug is usually used for three days. In this case, you need to be examined daily by a doctor who will monitor the size and pain of the uterus.

Periods after pregnancy

About nine days after birth there should be bleeding, but abnormalities often occur

Previously, for most women, menstruation occurred only after the end of the lactation period, but now the female body works a little differently. Soon after giving birth, the woman gets her period again, but sometimes it comes with clots.

This can often be due to poor uterine contractions. To do this, you need to take special medications to normalize the condition and not harm the remaining clots. After taking medications, blood may begin to leak in large quantities for some time. Typically, this phenomenon occurs for about one month.

To avoid this pathology, it is necessary to follow a number of preventive rules

If the problem recurs again, you need to consult a doctor again for advice. When heavy monthly discharge with clots is observed after childbirth, the cause may be remnants of the placenta that did not come out during the very first bleeding. Sometimes this condition also requires curettage. This procedure will completely clean the uterine cavity and eliminate all clots.

Prevention of disease development

To avoid having to decide what to do with clots after childbirth, it is best to carry out prevention. Following several conditions will help you avoid problems:

visit the toilet regularly;
do not lift weights;
limit strong physical activity;

Attention!

The information published on the website is for informational purposes only and is intended for informational purposes only. Site visitors should not use them as medical advice! The site editors do not recommend self-medication. Determining the diagnosis and choosing a treatment method remains the exclusive prerogative of your attending physician! Remember that only complete diagnosis and therapy under the supervision of a doctor will help you completely get rid of the disease!

The birth process ends and the recovery period begins. The reproductive organ has the amazing ability to grow during pregnancy. Immediately after the baby is born, he weighs 1 kg; by the end of rehabilitation, the weight reaches 50 g. However, successful contraction can be complicated by a number of problems, one of which is the remains of the placenta in the uterus after childbirth. The obstetrician notices a violation during examination.

Stage 3 of labor is marked by the birth of the placenta. If it does not completely recede, you will need medical assistance, which will be provided right in the delivery room. According to the norm, the period lasts 15 – 20 minutes. Contractions and pushing help expel. When the procedure is delayed, stimulants are introduced. Their use protects the woman in labor from large blood loss.

Why does the placenta not come out after childbirth?

low uterine tone. The organ contracts weakly or completely immobilizes, separation from the walls does not occur;
completely detaches, but the cervix creates obstacles to final expulsion;
part of the organ has grown too close and cannot come off on its own.

Remnants of placental tissue are observed after childbirth when it is removed through the umbilical cord. The obstetrician gives an injection and the placenta is detached. The doctor places one hand on the stomach, the other pulls the umbilical cord. Once the separation has occurred, she comes out easily. Otherwise, part remains inside.

A piece of placenta in the uterus can get stuck due to too hasty action by the obstetrician or weakness of the organ. The doctor pulled and the thin thread broke. For everything to go right away successfully, the obstetrician asks you to push during contractions. The reproductive organ sometimes contracts quickly after the baby is released, preventing the expulsion of the remains.

In some women, retained placenta is explained by a special structure. There is an additional part that is attached to the main one, a separate vessel. It does not come off on its own or, once unstuck, remains inside.

These reasons force the obstetrician to carefully examine the cavity of the reproductive organ. If a vessel break that causes concern is detected, cleaning is carried out. Sometimes a piece of the placenta remains after childbirth, when the afterbirth gets caught in the scar from a previously performed cesarean section and attaches to the fibroma. A full bladder also hinders progress to the exit. The obstetrician inserts a catheter for emptying.

Symptoms and diagnosis

When the time comes to push, the reproductive organ pushes the baby out with the help of muscle contractions. The labor activity does not end there. There is another 3rd stage ahead - the birth of the placenta. If the organ does not come out completely, and the obstetrician did not notice this, subinvolution begins to develop.

The first warning sign is bleeding. You need to point out the deviation to the doctor. Then, during the examination, the gynecologist will see the looseness of the enlarged reproductive organ. The temperature rises to 37 - 37.5 degrees. It remains like this for the entire time the disease lasts.

What comes out of the uterus after childbirth:

umbilical cord;
placenta;
membranes;
blood clots;
mucus;
different fragments.

They continue to come out for 1.5 months. It's worse if the discharge remains inside. There is a danger of developing adverse consequences. A doctor's help is simply necessary in such a situation.

Symptoms of residues:

the temperature rises;
bleeding begins;
inflammation develops;
there is a general deterioration in health.

With such signs you need to urgently contact the clinic. After the examination, the gynecologist will prescribe an ultrasound examination, during which it will be possible to see whether the placenta remains inside or not. To eliminate the consequences, cleaning is carried out under general anesthesia.

5 – 7 days after the end of labor, blood clots fall out. Then they take on a smearing character and completely disappear. If after 2–3 weeks no changes are observed, blood continues to flow out, a polyp may have formed. When the placenta does not completely come out after childbirth, an ultrasound shows an enlarged uterus. Therefore, heavy discharge should be alarming.

It happens that the blood flows out, then 2-3 days of rest occur and the process resumes. Inflammation develops. It is indicated by an unpleasant “aroma”, painful spasms, high temperature, the readings of which are recorded on the elbow. Unnoticed endometritis in time will negatively affect the reproductive function of the body. Infertility will begin to develop.

Indications for cleaning

If the placenta remains after childbirth, surgical intervention is performed in the body. It is prescribed through diagnostics, and then the problem is eliminated. Therapy is carried out according to the individual characteristics of the woman in labor and the stage of development of the consequences.

Why do they clean the uterus after childbirth:

free the inside from the remains of the placenta;
remove blood clots;
remove pathological neoplasms;
Histological material is taken for research.

When cleaning:

formation of myomatous nodular formations;
the presence of placental polyps inside the reproductive organ;
endometritis hyperplasia;
unstoppable blood flow;
suspicion of a low-quality tumor manifestation;
miscarriage;
stopped pregnancy;
complications after abortions.

During curettage, stagnation of secretions from the upper layer of the mucosa is removed. The gynecologist carefully removes the endometrium from the inner walls, cleans the cervix, and rinses the tubes. If there are infectious diseases that can spread to the unprotected endometrium, cleaning is postponed.

How is the placenta removed after childbirth? The obstetrician does a light massage of the reproductive organ. Then he grabs the abdominal wall and asks the woman to push. This Abuladze method is quite simple and painless. If there are signs of blood stagnation in the uterus after childbirth or it leaks profusely, the doctor uses manual separation. The procedure is considered complex and anesthesia is prescribed.

Complications

Is it dangerous when the placenta remains after childbirth? When a baby is put to the breast frequently, oxytocin is produced. It promotes good contraction of the reproductive organ. If the placenta does not expel completely, small pieces remain, they will come out on their own. Otherwise, inflammation will develop. You'll have to undergo a curettage procedure.

The obstetrician always conducts an examination of the placenta, even if the baby's place was not fully delivered and remains are found a day after birth. The birth canal is checked, the condition of the cervix is assessed, and the amount of blood loss is determined.

Violation of the processes of separation of the placenta and discharge of the placenta will require additional actions. When, despite the use of such measures, at the last stage of labor, the organ comes out for more than 30 minutes, the danger of opening the uterine blood flow increases. When the fragments are not removed in time, the organ may become infected.

Consequences of manual separation:

large blood flow;
the appearance of problems due to inept mechanical intervention;
hemorrhagic shock;
inflammatory process;
sepsis;
fatal outcome.

When the baby's place fails, after childbirth they take it out by hand. Severe bleeding and improper actions can lead to complete removal of the reproductive organ. If all manipulations are performed in good faith, the woman in labor will quickly recover and will be able to give birth again later.

Where does pain occur after manual cleaning:

in the area of the uterus. It contracts and returns to its original parameters;
in the vagina. During the surgical intervention, the muscle sections were stretched;
in my head. Unpleasant manifestations are associated with the consequences of general anesthesia.

By maintaining hygiene, you can avoid complications by monitoring your health and taking medications in a timely manner. When a woman notices dizziness, increased discharge, or fainting, she needs to contact a gynecologist. It is prohibited to douche or use tampons. You cannot visit the bathhouse or take a bath. You should avoid intimate relationships until recovery is complete.

Rehabilitation

For quick recovery, it is important to organize time taking into account work and rest. 8 hours should be devoted to sleep, the same amount to work, and the third part should be devoted to relaxation. Return to sports is allowed a month after surgery, provided that this does not harm the recovery process.

If labor occurred with complications, it is better to coordinate the beginning of intimate life with the attending physician. There is no need to rush into sexual relations. The woman's reproductive system should rest. It is necessary to carefully observe hygiene so that infection does not penetrate into the cavity of the reproductive organ.

If the temperature rises after cleaning, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs. They are necessary to stop inflammation that can develop inside. Medicines in this series also relieve painful spasms.

Restore the reproductive organ after cleaning with herbs. Vegetation enriched with phytoestrogens has a beneficial effect on the growth of the epidometrium. Women drink a decoction of boron uterus, red brush. They are very indicated during the rehabilitation period.

When the placenta does not move away on its own after birth, antibiotics are prescribed. Women in labor take them for 5–10 days, 1–2 tablets. The course depends on the prescribed remedy. The condition of the female body shows when to start taking it: directly on the day of cleansing, the day before. The goal of medications is to prevent bacteria from entering.

During the rehabilitation period, you should balance your diet. You don’t need to eat anything fatty, spicy, or salty. It is recommended to have breakfast with yogurt, cottage cheese, and eggs. During the day, people eat cereals, soups, and low-fat fish. In the evening - vegetables, chicken. During the day, snacks include fruit products. It is useful to introduce yams, corn, and soybeans into the diet. They are rich in phytoestrogens.

When the endometrium of the uterus is completely restored, pregnancy is possible. However, you should not rush to conceive. Rest between births should be observed at intervals of 2 years. Before trying to conceive, it is better to consult a gynecologist.

When a piece of the placenta is left in the uterus after childbirth, curettage becomes the only way to salvation. The procedure is considered traumatic, but necessary. If the gynecologist refers to it, it should not be avoided. Any evasion is fraught with unpleasant consequences. After a properly completed recovery period, no complications should appear. Any consequences are unlikely.

Curettage of the uterus (curettage) after childbirth is a gynecological procedure in which remnants of amniotic membranes and large blood clots are mechanically removed from the uterus.

In what cases is it necessary to carry out a cleaning procedure after childbirth?

After the baby is born, the placenta (afterbirth) must leave the woman’s body, namely the uterus.

Sometimes, for some reason, for example, due to a tight attachment, the placenta does not come out and remains inside the organ. Also, when the placenta is expelled, parts of it or remnants of other amniotic membranes and tissues may remain in the uterus.

Normally, all this, together with blood clots formed during postpartum healing of the uterus, should pass away in the form of lochia - postpartum discharge.

But if the placenta does not come out, pieces of tissue remain in the uterus, or large blood clots have formed that block the discharge of lochia, there is a risk of developing an infection. The remains of the placenta and amniotic membranes will begin to decompose, which will become a favorable area for the development of bacteria and lead to inflammation and purulent processes.

To prevent this from happening, a curettage procedure is performed.

By the way, after a cesarean section, the placenta always has to be removed mechanically.

How is the uterine cleansing procedure performed?

Curettage of the uterus is performed on a gynecological chair. In this case, the woman is under general anesthesia.

If the placenta does not pass immediately after birth, the doctor performs manual curettage: while the cervix is still sufficiently dilated, it allows you to remove excess tissue and blood clots manually.

If the need for cleaning was discovered later during an ultrasound, special instruments are used to perform curettage, which are used to “scrape off” the endometrial mucosa.

Before the procedure, the genitals are treated with an iodine solution and an alcohol solution. Sterility plays a big role in cleaning, since the inner surface of the uterus at this time is a large wound, prone to infection.

Postoperative period. How to behave and what not to do?

After the scraping procedure, the woman should pay attention to hygiene and treat the genitals with an antiseptic.

At this time, it is prohibited to use tampons and douching. You should also not take a hot bath or visit the saunas - during recovery you will have to limit yourself to a shower.

Sexual intercourse is also prohibited until the recovery period is completed.

After curettage, antibiotics, antispasmodics and drugs that promote the process of uterine contraction may be prescribed. Breastfeeding is usually prohibited while taking medications, so milk will have to be expressed so as not to disrupt the lactation process.

For two weeks after cleansing, you should not lift heavy objects or subject your body to physical activity.

Complications after cleaning

If an infection is introduced during curettage, this can lead to endometritis - an inflammatory process.

When bleeding, a hematomera may develop - an accumulation of blood in the uterine cavity, which appears due to problems with its outflow. If a woman has problems with blood clotting, then on the contrary, severe bleeding and loss of large volumes of blood are possible.

Normally, there is some bleeding after the procedure, but it is small and gradually decreases. If you have no discharge or a lot of bright red blood, consult a doctor.

After giving birth, a woman often feels like all her worries are behind her. But, alas, sometimes the first, happiest days or weeks of the life together of mother and baby are overshadowed by various complications, not the least of which are postpartum purulent-septic diseases of the mother.

Reasons

Postpartum inflammatory diseases are often caused by opportunistic microbes that inhabit the body of any person. They constantly live on the skin, mucous membranes, and in the intestines, without disturbing their “owner,” but under certain conditions they can cause disease. And childbirth, especially if it is accompanied by large blood loss, leading to anemia and, accordingly, a decrease in the body’s defenses, can become this favorable condition for the activation of microbes. The cause of inflammatory processes in the postpartum period can also be sexually transmitted infections (gonococci, chlamydia, mycoplasma, etc.). There are also associations of 2-3 microbes that enhance each other's pathogenic properties.

Blood loss during childbirth, anemia, vitamin deficiency, disorders in the blood coagulation system, remnants of placental tissue or membranes in the uterine cavity, surgical interventions during childbirth, cracked nipples, severe pregnancy and childbirth, a long anhydrous interval during childbirth - these are the main conditions that support the infection.

Currently, the most common postpartum endometritis (inflammation of the uterus), chorioamnionitis (inflammation of the membranes and uterus during childbirth), mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland), pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) and, much less frequently, thrombophlebitis of the pelvic veins (inflammation of the pelvic veins, often complicated by thrombosis), peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum) and sepsis (general blood poisoning).

To avoid the development of severe complications, early diagnosis of these diseases at the first symptoms is very important; it is even better to prevent them through preventive measures in a group of high-risk women.

Let us dwell on the most common postpartum complications of an inflammatory nature.

Postpartum endometritis (inflammation of the uterine cavity)

Most often occurs after cesarean section, manual examination of the postpartum uterus, manual separation of the placenta and discharge of the placenta (if independent separation of the placenta is difficult due to impaired contractile function of the uterus), with a long anhydrous interval (more than 12 hours), in women admitted for childbirth with inflammatory diseases of the genital tract (for example, due to sexually transmitted infections), in patients with a large number of abortions in the past.

There is a pure form of endometritis, which is much less common (in 15% of cases) and develops without remnants of placental tissue, and endometritis against the background of remnants of placental tissue, retained membranes, blood clots, sutures placed with catgut (one of the types of suture material made from tendons of animals, and therefore often causes inflammatory reactions. Nowadays it is rarely used) after cesarean section.

Endometritis is classified into mild, moderate and severe. As a rule, these forms differ from each other in the degree of severity, the degree of general intoxication (from the Greek toxikon - poison) - a painful condition caused by the effect of bacteria, viruses, harmful substances on the body and the required duration of treatment.

Symptoms

Increased body temperature, usually from 1 to 7 days after birth, depending on the severity of the disease. With a mild form of endometritis, body temperature usually rises only on the 5-7th day after birth, usually up to 38°C; in severe forms, the first symptoms appear already on the 2-4th day, body temperature can reach 40°C.
Pain in the lower abdomen. They can be insignificant and intermittent in the lower abdomen with mild endometritis and intense, constant, extending throughout the abdomen and lower back with severe forms of the disease.
Lochia (postpartum discharge from the genital tract) remains bright for a long time (more than 14 days after birth), then acquires a brownish-brown color, with an unpleasant odor.
The uterus contracts poorly, the height of the uterine fundus does not correspond to the day of the postpartum period.
Phenomena of general intoxication: chills, weakness, loss of appetite, headaches.

Diagnostics

A general blood test reveals an increased number of leukocytes, i.e. leukocytosis, sometimes - a decrease in hemoglobin levels. Ultrasound examination in the uterine cavity reveals the remains of placental tissue, membranes, blood clots, and subinvolution of the uterus (the uterus contracts poorly, its size does not correspond to the day of the postpartum period).

Treatment

If subinvolution of the uterus is detected, a careful expansion of the cervical canal is carried out in order to create conditions for the outflow of the contents of the uterine cavity; if the contents of the uterine cavity, vacuum aspiration or curettage is performed (Vacuum aspiration is the suction of the contents of the uterine cavity using a special device. Curettage is the removal of the contents of the uterine cavity and the surface layer of the endometrium using a special instrument - a curette).
Currently, in many clinics and maternity hospitals, the uterine cavity is washed with chilled antiseptic solutions.
Antibacterial therapy is the main method of treatment. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used, since many infections are caused by the association of several microbes. When choosing an antibiotic, it is based on which microbe most often causes a particular inflammation, whether the antibiotic is excreted in milk, and whether it affects the child. If the antibiotic does not provide sufficient effect within 2-3 days, it is changed to another one. The method of taking antibacterial drugs depends on the severity of endometritis: for mild cases of the disease, you can limit yourself to tableted antibacterial drugs; in severe cases of endometritis, antibiotics are administered intramuscularly or intravenously.
Infusion (detoxification) therapy (intravenous administration of drugs) is carried out to eliminate the effects of intoxication and improve blood circulation. Infusion therapy should be carried out for both mild and severe endometritis. To carry it out, glucose solutions (5, 10, 20%), physiological solution (0.9% sodium chloride solution), etc. are used.
For all forms of endometritis, immunocorrective therapy is carried out, which helps strengthen the body's defenses and increases immunity (drugs such as Viferon, Kipferon, etc. are used).
HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy) is a type of therapy that helps saturate the body's cells with oxygen. In infectious diseases of any nature, cells suffer from hypoxia - lack of oxygen. The therapy process consists of allowing the woman to breathe a mixture with a high oxygen content through a mask. This therapy is very effective in the initial manifestations of endometritis and strengthens the body's defenses.

Prevention

The incidence of postpartum endometritis can be significantly reduced by prophylactic antibiotics when the risk of its development is relatively high (after cesarean section, manual entry into the uterine cavity, with an anhydrous interval of more than 12 hours). Also, before giving birth (ideally before pregnancy), it is necessary to conduct an examination and eliminate the infection of the birth canal.

Chorioamnionitis (inflammation of the membranes)

Most often occurs with premature rupture of membranes. As the anhydrous interval during labor increases, the risk of intrauterine infection of the fetus increases.

Symptoms

During a relatively long anhydrous period (6-12 hours), a pregnant woman or woman in labor experiences an increase in body temperature, chills, purulent discharge from the genital tract, and an increase in heart rate. In every fifth woman, chorioamnionitis turns into postpartum endometritis.

Treatment

When signs of chorioamnionitis appear, intensive delivery is carried out (labor stimulation, and in case of persistent weakness of labor - cesarean section) against the background of antibacterial and infusion therapy.

Prevention

During childbirth or surgery, it is imperative to monitor the state of function of the woman’s vital organs, especially the state of the blood coagulation system, since due to poor contraction of the uterus and/or a decrease in blood clotting ability, severe bleeding may develop, which sometimes leads to the need to remove the uterus .

Postpartum mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland) and lactostasis (milk stagnation)

Postpartum mastitis occurs in 2-5% of cases, more often in primigravidas. 9 out of 10 women with purulent mastitis are admitted to the surgical hospital from home, since this disease most often begins at the end of the 2nd and during the 3rd week, and sometimes a month after birth.

This is a disease of nursing mothers: if there is no lactation, there is no postpartum. In 80-90% of cases it is caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Infection occurs when a microorganism penetrates through a crack in the nipple in the lactating gland. This is the main difference between mastitis and lactostasis (accumulation and “stagnation” of milk in the mammary gland), since lactostasis develops without the presence of cracked nipples. Mastitis is usually one-sided, but can occur on both sides.

Symptoms

Increase in body temperature to 38.5-39°C and above.
- Pain in the mammary gland that is local in nature.
- Redness of the mammary gland in the affected area (most often in the area of the upper outer quadrant of the mammary gland. The mammary gland is conventionally divided into 4 quadrants: upper and lower outer and upper and lower posterior), swelling.
Upon palpation (manual examination) of this area of the mammary gland, painful, dense areas are identified. Expressing milk is extremely painful and, unlike lactostasis, does not bring relief.
- Phenomena of general intoxication: chills, headaches, weakness, etc.

Diagnostics

Examination, palpation of the mammary glands.
Ultrasound of the mammary glands.
Bacteriological examination of milk.

The initial stage of mastitis should be distinguished from lactostasis. With lactostasis, there is a feeling of heaviness and tension in the mammary gland, there is no redness or swelling of the skin, milk is released freely, pumping, unlike mastitis, brings relief. The general condition of women with lactostasis suffers little; after pumping, the body temperature normalizes and the pain stops.

Treatment of lactostasis

If you have lactostasis, you can massage your breasts under the shower with a stream of warm water, after which pumping will become much easier. Physiotherapy procedures are also used (for example, warming up, high-frequency current exposure - "Ultraton", "Vityaz" devices, etc.), without inhibiting lactation, milk is expressed (20-30 minutes before this, 2 ml of No-shpa is injected intramuscularly, immediately before pumping - intramuscularly). If there is no effect from physiotherapeutic procedures in combination with expressing milk, lactation is inhibited with parlodel or similar drugs.

Treatment of mastitis

Treatment should begin at the first symptoms of the disease, which significantly reduces the possibility of developing purulent inflammation of the mammary gland and surrounding tissues. Previously, when treating mastitis, they limited the amount of liquid they drank, which is now considered a gross mistake: to combat intoxication, a woman should drink up to 2 liters of liquid per day. Nutrition should be complete, aimed at increasing the body's resistance.

Antibacterial therapy is quite effective in stages 1 and 2 of mastitis
For purulent mastitis (when an abscess develops - limited inflammation of the mammary gland - or phlegmon - diffuse purulent inflammation of the mammary gland), surgical treatment is performed (opening the abscess, removing dead tissue within healthy tissue) against the background of antibacterial therapy.
Suppressing lactation with drugs increases the effectiveness of treatment several times. No type of mastitis can be treated without suppressing or inhibiting lactation. In modern conditions, complete suppression of lactation is rarely used, only for purulent mastitis, but more often they resort to inhibition of lactation. If lactation is inhibited or suppressed by drugs, pumping should not be used, since this stimulates the production of prolactin by the pituitary gland and, accordingly, stimulates lactation. Even at the initial stage of mastitis, you cannot breastfeed a child, due to the high risk of infection, as well as the intake of antibiotics and other medications into the child’s body, and insufficient milk. The issue of resuming breastfeeding is decided individually and only after control milk culture after treatment.

Prevention

It begins during pregnancy and includes a balanced diet, familiarizing women with the rules and techniques of breastfeeding, timely treatment of cracked nipples, lactostasis, wearing a bra that does not compress the mammary glands, washing hands before feeding, air baths for 10-15 minutes after feeding.

High risk factors for the development of postpartum mastitis:

hereditary predisposition;
foci of purulent infection in the body;
mastopathy (presence of compactions and small nodules in the mammary gland);
anatomical features of nipples (inverted or flat nipples);
existing chronic diseases of internal organs, especially in the acute stage.

The birth of a child is a joyful and exciting moment. But with the birth of your baby, you shouldn’t forget about your own well-being. In the first days, a woman becomes more vulnerable. The body has experienced serious stress and needs strength to recover. Doctors pay special attention to the condition of the reproductive organ. During the first week, the uterus decreases in weight from one kilogram to three hundred grams. By the end of the recovery period (after 1-2 months) she will weigh only 70 grams. But things don't always happen like this. It is not uncommon for them to remain in the uterus after childbirth. What to do in this case? You will learn about treatment methods in today's article.

Diagnosis and symptoms of clots in the uterus

In all cases, new mothers undergo an ultrasound and gynecological examination before discharge. These manipulations are necessary to assess the woman’s condition. If a clot remains in the uterus after childbirth, then an enlargement of the organ is noted. The woman complains of pain in the lower abdomen, the temperature may rise and malaise may occur. All these symptoms indicate that the new mother needs medical attention. What to do if there are clots in the uterus after childbirth?

Manual removal of residues and massage

As you already know, every woman who gives birth undergoes an ultrasound. During the examination, the doctor can determine the location of the lumps of mucus. If there is a clot in the uterus, massage is performed after childbirth. Its purpose is to enhance the contractility of the reproductive organ to expel mucus. Massage is performed every 2-3 hours. The doctor presses on the lower abdomen, pushing the clots toward the mouth of the uterus. The procedure is considered quite painful, but it cannot be avoided.

Gynecologists also use manual separation of clots. The os of the uterus in the first three days after birth is open by 8-12 centimeters. This distance allows you to easily carry out manipulation without using expanders.

Drug treatment: drugs

If a clot is found in the uterus after childbirth, the woman must be prescribed drugs that enhance the contraction of the muscular organ. Most often these are Oxytocin, Hyfotocin, Dinoprost, Ergotal and others. Some practice prophylactic use of the described remedies. But the attitude of doctors towards this approach is ambiguous.

In addition to medications that contract the uterus, the woman is prescribed antibacterial drugs. At the same time, the issue of the possibility of further breastfeeding is resolved. The opinions of gynecologists differ here. Some experts believe that it is necessary to take antibiotics in order to prevent the inflammatory process. Other doctors say that breastfeeding should be continued because it helps the uterus contract naturally.

If a pathology is detected, it is prohibited to take antispasmodics that relax muscles.

Clearing clots in the uterus after childbirth: surgical treatment

If remains of the membranes or placenta are detected in the cavity of the reproductive organ, the woman is prescribed gynecological curettage. It is performed under anesthesia. Depending on the complexity of the operation, it can be local or general.

During the procedure, the doctor inserts instruments into the uterine cavity, which cleans the mucous membrane. This operation obliges the woman to stay within the walls of the medical institution for another 1-2 days.

Folk remedies for reducing the genital organ

Is it permissible to use grandma’s recipes if there is a clot in the uterus? After childbirth, taking various herbs can be quite dangerous, since not all drugs are allowed during lactation. Many substances can cause an allergic reaction in a child. If you are not breastfeeding, you can try to get rid of the pathology with the help of herbs. But remember that gynecologists do not advise self-medication. And prolonged presence of clots in the uterus can lead to infection or sepsis.

This plant is known to increase uterine contractility. You need to brew nettle in the amount of 4 tablespoons per half liter of boiling water. Take 100 ml infusion three times a day.
Shepherd's purse. This herb also has the property of activating the muscle organ. Boil two glasses of water and add 4 tablespoons of herbs there. Leave until cool, strain. You need to drink this amount throughout the day.
Blood red geranium. Take 2 teaspoons of herb and add 400 milliliters of chilled water. Leave the mixture overnight and strain in the morning. Drink throughout the day.

There is an opinion that large doses of vitamin C cause contractions of the reproductive organ. Therefore, if there is a clot in the uterus after childbirth, women try to eat foods that contain it. These are lemon, cabbage, parsley, oranges and so on.

What can a woman do on her own?

If clots are found in the uterus after childbirth, what should you do? By following simple tips, a woman can independently provoke the release of mucus. Ask your doctors about these methods. Here are some recommendations.

Put your baby to your breast more often. Stimulation of the nipples and the baby's sucking movements promote the production of natural oxytocin and contractions of the uterus. In the first days after childbirth this is especially noticeable. As soon as the baby begins to suckle, the reproductive muscle organ contracts.
Lie on your stomach. The abdominal wall and muscles do not immediately return to their original state after the baby is born. Therefore, a bend in the uterus may occur, which is why clots form. To prevent this from happening, lie on your stomach more often.
Lead an active lifestyle. If you have no contraindications, then you need to move more. Walk, walk, carry your baby in your arms. The higher the physical activity, the faster the uterus will contract.
Use available tools. After childbirth, if there are no contraindications, tighten your stomach. To do this, you can purchase a special bandage or use a sheet.
Do Kegel exercises. Rhythmically squeeze and unclench the muscles of the vagina and anus. It may not work out well at first. But such gymnastics not only promotes the release of clots, but also accelerates the recovery process.
Watch your stool and empty your bladder more often. After childbirth, a woman practically does not feel the urge to urinate. But you must urinate. Contractions of the bladder and intestines also increase uterine tone.

Special situations: caesarean section and induced birth

What to do if a clot is found after a cesarean section? The uterine cavities after childbirth contract in a slightly different way. The fact is that the muscle layer is injured. Therefore, in the place where the incision is made, the tone will be reduced. As a result, clots appear. But cleaning after a cesarean section can be quite dangerous. What to do in this situation is decided only by the doctor, based on the individual characteristics of the patient and the result of the operation.

Often, clots form after artificial birth in the early stages. In these cases, lactation does not improve, and a hormonal imbalance occurs in the body. Therefore, the uterus contracts poorly. During artificial delivery, a woman must be prescribed medications based on oxytocin for prevention purposes. If clots are detected, one of the correction methods described above is selected.

Let's sum it up

If a woman develops clots in the uterus after childbirth, treatment should only be carried out by a gynecologist. Never try to get rid of mucus lumps on your own. If you are breastfeeding, it is strictly forbidden to take any medications without prior medical advice. Speedy recovery to you!