Contraction of the uterus after 3 births. Restoration of the uterus after childbirth

The postpartum period can drag on for several weeks or even months. At this time, the female body is reconstructed, gets used to the role of a young mother, all processes accompanying pregnancy stop and everything returns to normal.

The biggest changes occur in the place where the baby was - in the reproductive organs. The baby's former place of residence should become small again. How much does the uterus contract after childbirth and how to relieve pain from this procedure? Every woman asks this question.

When conception occurs, the maternal mode is activated in a woman’s body. The body is now focused on bearing and developing the fetus. The mammary glands slowly increase in size, and the site of formation of a new person stretches.

After the baby is born (naturally or by caesarean section), the uterus contracts for a certain amount of time. It is important to remember that she has experienced enormous stress and now resembles a large wound, and her weight reaches up to 1.5 kg.

For some time she bleeds, blood clots and the remains of the placenta come out of her. This is a completely natural process that lasts on average up to three days. Next, the young mother will discover a discharge called lochia. From bloody, they change to yellow, then turn pale and completely disappear within 6-9 weeks.

If the body stops cleansing itself, then a failure has occurred and you need to urgently seek help.

Due to great stretching and tension, the genital organ becomes mobile. There is a possibility that this will cause discomfort when the bladder is full. But don't worry, the muscles will tone up in the next few months.

Contraction of the uterus after childbirth without complications, under normal conditions and following the doctor’s recommendations, is carried out within two months.

Recovery

It is the degree of change in the hormonal background of the female body that affects the speed of restoration of this part of the reproductive system. But at the same time, there is a list of points that also have an impact on this process, namely:

• weight and size of the fetus;
• mother's age;
• number of pregnancies;
• method of birth of a baby.

How long does it take for the uterus to contract after childbirth? Having reached its maximum size and weight, every day after the baby is pushed out, she loses weight. So, from two kilograms, with the completion of the recovery period, the reproductive organ decreases to 50-75 grams. And the neck decreases from 12 centimeters to 2-4. Its bottom is at the level of the navel and descends 2 centimeters every day for 10 days.

The myometrium, also known as the muscle layer of the womb, reduces its cells within 1.5-2 months. This process is most clearly expressed in the first few days after the birth of the baby.

Many are wondering if everything will return to normal. There is only one feature by which doctors can distinguish a patient who has given birth from a nulliparous patient during examination. The external pharynx of the canal is not able to completely close and takes on a transverse shape, since its fibers have suffered serious stretching, while the internal one is completely contracted by the 10th day.

Several months must pass after childbirth before the body gains strength and energy, but the specific time frame for each woman in labor is different.

Normal rehabilitation

Every new mother should consult with her gynecologist to know what metamorphoses are occurring in her body and how exactly they proceed.

First-time mothers may have many questions when faced with the consequences of pregnancy. You shouldn’t panic ahead of time, it’s important to monitor your condition and understand how it should be and how it shouldn’t. Thus, normal rehabilitation includes:

• painful, pulling sensations in the lower abdomen;
• loose stools, diarrhea in the first days;
• bloody lochia, which lose their pigmentation and decline;
• pulling sensations in the mammary glands.

It is especially important to take care of yourself in the first week, this is the most dangerous time for a young mother.

Emergency rehabilitation

How long the uterus contracts after childbirth depends on the condition of the mother, but if it proceeds very quickly, you need to focus on this and listen to your well-being. When postpartum recovery takes less than a month, this can cause some undesirable consequences:

1. Thus, lactation will lose its quality and quantity, and there will be less milk. The child will refuse to consume it and will need to be switched to artificial feeding.
2. Due to irregular feeding or refusal of it, the woman regains the ability to conceive. It will be necessary to take additional precautions so as not to conceive another baby, because the body is not yet ready for such a load.
3. due to the fact that the hollow organ does not have time to clear itself of bloody clots and remnants of the placenta.

How to help yourself

To ensure that everything goes well, does not delay or speed up, you can resort to some tricks that will help mommy get back on her feet as soon as possible without complications.

And they must be regular. So, how can you help your body recover with minimal effort?

1. The doctor can determine that the uterus has acquired a soft bottom. This is the reason for its slow update. In such cases, it is advised to contact professional massage therapists who will restore tone by massaging the surface of the outer abdominal wall.

2. It is important to refuse and. As you know, overheating leads to blood flow to the pelvic organs, which provokes bleeding. On the contrary, you should apply cold heating pads to the lower abdomen. There should be a cloth between the body and the lotion so as not to catch a cold.

3. Walking in the fresh air never hurt anyone. It’s especially nice to do this with your baby, knowing that this way the muscles contract even faster after childbirth.

4. Overflow of the rectum, difficulties with bowel movements, and constipation should be avoided. Also, the bladder must be emptied on time.

5. Hygiene is one of the key points. Cleanliness and freshness must always be present and at a high level. This way, infections will not be able to enter through open channels and complications in the form of inflammation will be prevented.

6. in these difficult times. It will fix everything in its place and recovery will go faster.

7. the same natural process as the birth of a child itself, and it is dishonest to deprive the baby of mother’s milk. It not only helps him develop faster and ensures good health for future years, but also contributes to the speedy recovery of the nurse.

8. It is this position, according to health workers, that helps prevent bending of the neck, which can lead to bad consequences.

9. Gymnastics. But only after the doctor's consent. In order not to harm yourself, you need to take step-by-step instructions from a specialist and act on them.

10. Taking prescribed medications. These medications are approved for nursing mothers and will not harm the baby in any way.

ethnoscience

It often happens that alternative medicine is able to help. Our grandmothers also used such methods and became mothers of many children.

Nettle promotes rapid muscle contraction. It needs to be infused in boiling water in a ratio of 3 tablespoons of dry plant to 0.5 liters of hot water. Take half a glass orally three times a day.

When spotting goes beyond what is permitted, red geranium and the shepherd's purse plant come to the rescue. They are infused all night and drunk in small sips throughout the day.

Complications

No one is immune from unplanned complications. If your uterus continues to contract for longer than expected after the baby arrives, it is important to seek help. The absence of lochia indicates blockage of the cervical canal. This problem must be solved so that inflammation does not start.

You cannot do without the help of a gynecologist.

If the afterbirth lingers in the mother's body, the baby is born. This will help the involution process.

It is important to pay attention to the nature of the bleeding. If they are intensified and last longer than expected, this may be a signal for a delay in involution. The cause is often disturbances in placental rejection and trauma. Doctors may resort to surgery and blood transfusions.

Inflammation of the reproductive system, called endometritis, is included in the list of complications. The source is difficult childbirth, abortion, reduced immunity, and diseases of the reproductive system. These symptoms are directly dependent on each other. It is important not to delay treatment if suspicions arise.

One of the most dangerous difficulties a woman can encounter is prolapse, and subsequently loss of the reproductive organ (prolapse). Often found in mothers who have carried two children.

To prevent the disease, you need to visit a gynecologist for a preventive examination at 6-9 weeks.

Individual cases

C-section

How long does it take for involution to occur in representatives of the fair sex who have a small scar on their beautiful bellies? Within 60 days. The reason for the slowdown is the cutting of the muscle layer (myometrium), blood vessels and fibers. Doctors prescribe medications that help the body contract muscles.

Sometimes a blockage of the cervical canal occurs, which can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Not my first pregnancy

How many days does contraction last after the second or third birth? The number of pregnancies does not affect contractile processes. They depend directly on the current pregnancy and delivery.

But in some cases, women noted that after the birth of their second baby, the pain in the chest and perineum was more intense. Multiparous women may need to take painkillers.

Carrying multiple children

When the parents' joy doubles or even triples, the mother's body suffers the same shocks. Thus, the genital organ is stretched very strongly and its recovery takes longer than usual. Very often, they resort to drug treatment and special gymnastic exercises.

Abortion

When a pregnancy is terminated, the body goes into a stupor, which is due to the long term. It all depends on the quality of the procedure performed. Recovery usually lasts 2-3 weeks.

Conclusion

How long does the uterus contract after childbirth? This question does not have a clear answer, as it is a purely individual process. There are only approximate calculations of how long it takes and how exactly it happens. But it is better to discuss all the points with a specialist to be sure of success.

This article will discuss the changes that occur in the uterus after the birth of a child. The uterus undergoes massive changes after childbirth. Its volume and contents are sharply reduced. This entails significant changes among the organs surrounding it. It is the condition of the uterus and the speed of its contraction that is the most important criterion for the recovery of the body as a whole. Any illness or illness will affect the recovery of the uterus.

Let's take a closer look at these changes. This will help you understand why sports and weights are prohibited in the postpartum period, as well as why constipation occurs in the first days after childbirth.

Immediately after birth, the uterus is stretched, enlarged, and has a volume of about 5 liters. Its inner surface is bleeding. In order to return to normal, it needs to shrink.

Contractions of the uterus stop bleeding. The uterus contracts on its own and during stimulation of the nipples. The hormone of happiness - oxytocin, which is generously released into the blood during feeding of the baby, promotes uterine contractions. They are also called postpartum contractions. Such contractions can be quite painful.

Tell your doctor if you cannot bear the pain. He will help ease it.

It is difficult to answer the question of how long the reductions will continue. They can continue for 2-2.5 months - until the uterus is completely restored and the hormonal levels stabilize. This happens differently for every woman. Moreover, while breastfeeding, contractions may resume with the onset of a new pregnancy or before the return of menstruation.

It happens that after childbirth the uterus contracts poorly or does not contract at all. This happens extremely rarely and leads to massive bleeding. Uterine atony (lack of contraction) often ends in the death of a woman, especially if the birth takes place outside an obstetric hospital.

Discharge after childbirth

Postpartum bleeding (lochia) is guaranteed by pregnancy itself. Over the previous nine months, maternal blood volume had increased significantly. After the birth of the baby, the need for additional blood disappears and part of it is successfully used for postpartum washing of the uterus. This protects it from infection.

Lochia continues for almost the entire postpartum period. At first they have the scarlet color of blood, then gradually they acquire the color and smell of normal menstrual flow. After a while they turn pale, discolored and turn into ichor, rich in leukocytes.

Such discharge continues for an average of 6-8 weeks. Each woman has her own characteristics and to say that lochia will end in 45 days is the same as saying that all women have 3-day menstruation.

The diagram below clearly shows how the color of the lochia changes during the first 28 days.

• The Y axis is the percentage of women experiencing one or another type of lochia
• X axis: days after birth
• Bright red - bright red
• Red/brown - red-brown
• Pink/red - red-pink
• Pale pink - pale pink
• Cream - creamy
• Variable - changeable
• None - absent

As you can see, the options for the norm are quite vague. However, if lochia ends before the fifth week or continues after the eighth, be sure to visit your doctor.

Also, contact your gynecologist if the lochia takes the form of meat slop (water in a bowl after washing the meat) and has an unpleasant (foul) odor.

The sudden cessation of red lochia is a reason to urgently seek medical help.

A small piece of placenta remaining in the uterine cavity can “confuse all the cards” and prolong the period of bleeding (scarlet blood). It can also interfere with the development of breastfeeding - milk simply will not come for 3-4 days, but there will still be colostrum. Cleaning may be necessary to eliminate it.

In the first ten days, the maca shrinks, returns to its pre-pregnancy size and hides behind the pubis. The uterine os is finally restored in the period from the 4th to the 6th week or later. The cervix will no longer have a round entrance - the “pupil”, but a slit-like one.

The uterine epithelium will recover unevenly. It will be the last place to recover at the placenta attachment site.

It is this uneven recovery that explains the possibility of menstruation occurring a month after childbirth, against the background of ongoing lochia. If after 4-5 weeks you notice an increase in lochia or the return of a bright color, this may indicate both pathology and the beginning of the menstrual cycle. This happens rarely, but it does happen.

To summarize this section, let's reconsider the situations in which you need to consult a doctor:

• The largest pad lasts less than 1 hour.
• Lochia appears scarlet after the 4th day.
• Increased body temperature.
• The discharge has an unpleasant (fetid, putrid) odor.
• Sudden cessation of discharge.
• Sudden increase in discharge or return of scarlet color.
• Several clots larger than a walnut in size came out.
• Discharge stops before the 5th week after birth.
• The discharge continues for more than 8 weeks.

Due to the presence of a wound surface (in the uterine cavity) and the natural postpartum stretching of the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments that support the internal organs, heavy lifting and vaginal sex are sharply limited until the discharge stops.

Organs surrounding the uterus after childbirth

Now let's turn our attention to the structures surrounding the uterus.

During the process of growth, the uterus gradually raised and moved the surrounding organs to the sides. You can see this process very clearly in the video.

After childbirth, the uterus sharply decreases in volume, and the surrounding structures are released from its pressure. It would seem that everything should be fine - everything is back in place. But no! Not so simple. It takes time for the surrounding organs, like the uterus itself, to take their places.

Remember how hard it was to breathe while standing after giving birth. And all because the diaphragm suddenly lost support from below! Same with other organs.

The loops of the small intestine sharply fall down, the large intestine, like the diaphragm, loses its close neighbor (the usual tone disappears) and cannot immediately come to its senses - constipation occurs. Fortunately, breastfeeding (oxytocin helps the intestines contract), diet, and walking can help relieve constipation.

The pelvic floor muscles were under a lot of pressure for the entire 9 months. During childbirth they stretched even more. This can cause the bladder and rectum to become dislodged, making it difficult to control urination and bowel movements.

It is the stretching of the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments that support the internal organs that makes the use of a postpartum bandage undesirable. Tightening your stomach may create an outwardly neat figure, but it will lead to chaos inside. It will be difficult for the organs to return to their rightful places, and the “lower floor” - the uterus, vagina, bladder and rectum may descend.

Conclusion

The uterus and other organs undergo significant changes after childbirth. Contractions can be unpleasant, almost unnoticeable, and may even be painful. But they are always necessary for a full recovery.

As always, such changes require a caring and attentive attitude towards yourself and your health.

It is important to devote the postpartum period to establishing breastfeeding, rest and recovery. Walking and simple exercises that can be performed soon after giving birth will help tidy up your figure.

Thanks for sharing the article on social media. All the best!

Sincerely, Elena Dyachenko

From the moment the child is born, when the period of gestation and childbirth has already passed, the final stage of postpartum recovery begins in the woman’s body, lasting 6–8 weeks. The cardiovascular, endocrine and genitourinary systems should return to their normal (pre-pregnancy) mode of operation. The woman’s future health directly depends on this.

Restoration of the uterus after childbirth - involution

The uterus undergoes the most intense changes during the postpartum period. For nine whole months it stretched as the child grew, until its weight reached 1000 g. Now every day it decreases to the original 50 g. This is due to the rapid contraction of the uterine muscle. Its walls thicken, its shape becomes spherical again, and the hypertrophy of muscle tissue formed during pregnancy disappears.

Uterine involution is the process of reverse development of the uterus after pregnancy and childbirth. It begins after the placenta has been delivered and lasts 6 - 8 weeks. The determining indicator of uterine involution is the change in the height of its fundus:

• already on the first day after birth, the fundus of the uterus is at the level of the navel, then prolapse occurs by about 1 cm per day;
• on the fifth day the bottom is in the middle between the womb and the navel;
• on the tenth day it is already behind the womb;
• after 6 - 8 weeks the position and size of the uterus reaches its non-pregnant state.

Changes in the uterus after childbirth

Subinvolution, or disruption of the uterine contraction process

After the placenta is separated, the endometrium (epithelial lining of the uterus) is damaged, forming a wound surface. During its healing process, postpartum discharge - lochia - appears. In the first week they are as abundant as possible and have a bloody character, then their number gradually decreases, they become light (without blood), and by 5 - After 6 weeks they stop altogether. If the normal discharge of lochia is disrupted, the cervical canal may close with a blood clot or a piece of membranes, and then postpartum discharge will accumulate in the uterus and reduce the rate of its contraction. This deviation is called uterine subinvolution or “lazy uterus”. It is worth noting other factors that can affect the rate of uterine contraction:

• large fetal weight or multiple pregnancy;
• low attachment of the placenta;
• weak labor activity;
• complicated pregnancy (for example, nephropathy or hypertension) or childbirth;
• passive, sedentary behavior after childbirth.

There are times when the uterus does not contract at all. The reason may be:

• bending of the uterus due to relaxation of the ligamentous apparatus;
• injury to the birth canal;
• polyhydramnios during pregnancy;
• inflammatory process of the uterus and its appendages;
• benign tumors - fibromas;
• blood clotting disorder.

Symptoms of uterine subinvolution may include:

• copious discharge (bleeding) of a dark color with an unpleasant odor;
• an unreasonable increase in temperature from 37 0 C to 38 0 C;
• an increase in the size of the reproductive organ, heterogeneity of its inner shell.

During their stay in the postpartum ward, I would advise new mothers to take responsibly all the proposed procedures and examinations, and not refuse anything. I remember how difficult it was every time to go to the treatment of stitches or the next ultrasound. But timely examinations and tests helped to exclude any deviations in the first days after birth.

How to stimulate uterine contractions?

To solve the problem of a “lazy uterus,” there are a number of measures, including special gymnastics, medications and folk remedies.

Kegel exercises

To strengthen the vaginal muscles and restore the tone of the uterus, a system of exercises developed by gynecologist Arnold Kegel is perfect. To perform it correctly, you first need to determine the location of the pelvic floor muscles. To do this, you can try to stop the stream of urine while urinating. The muscles involved at this moment need to be trained.

A set of Kegel exercises consists of several types of techniques:

• Squeezing the pelvic floor muscles for 5 seconds - relaxation.
• Rapid contraction of the pelvic floor muscles without delay.
• Slight straining, as during childbirth or defecation.

You should start training by performing each technique 10 times, 5 approaches per day. Gradually increase to 30 times a day.

Detailed instructions for performing Kegel exercises: video

In order to remember to do Kegel exercises, I installed a special application on my mobile phone. It is very comfortable!

Gymnastics

It is better to start more active types of exercise after the postpartum discharge has stopped, especially if the birth was not without complications. However, you shouldn’t give up gymnastics completely. You just need to start with light exercises and increase the load gradually. For example, you can:

• While lying on your back, bring your legs together, then slowly bend them at the knees and straighten them.
• While lying on your back, straighten your legs and stretch your toes towards you.
• Tighten and relax your feet, curl and relax your toes.
• Breathe deeply, connecting the abdominal wall. Raise the abdominal wall as you inhale and lower it as you exhale, while helping yourself with sliding movements of your hands to the pubic bone from the navel.
• As you exhale, squeeze your pelvic muscles, pull your navel as close to your chest as possible and hold your breath for ten seconds.
• Sitting on a gymnastic ball, perform circular movements with your pelvis, swing in different directions.
• Sitting on the ball, squeeze your intimate muscles and in this position raise your leg for ten seconds, then repeat with the other leg.

The main thing is to perform all the exercises regularly, without sudden movements, and not to overwork. Then even the simplest gymnastics will bring good results.

Medications

Among the medications used to stimulate uterine contractions, the artificial hormone oxytocin is widely used. More often it is prescribed in the form of injections. And if a woman is very weak after childbirth (for example, after a caesarean section), an IV may be prescribed. But the use of oxytocin makes sense only in the first four days after birth. Then the uterus loses sensitivity to its action.

If the contraction of the uterus is too painful, then No-shpa is prescribed to alleviate the woman’s condition.

Folk remedies

Don’t forget about time-tested folk remedies. All these herbs are easy to find in any pharmacy:

• White lily - pour 2 tablespoons of plant flowers with cold boiled water (500 ml) and leave overnight. Take 100 ml of strained tincture 3-4 times a day.
• Shepherd's purse - brew 4 tablespoons of herb with 2 cups of boiling water. Wrap it up, leave it in a warm place, strain. Take the entire prepared dose during the day.
• Field jar - brew 2 tablespoons with one glass of boiling water, leave overnight, strain. Take one teaspoon 5 times a day.
• Blood-red geranium - pour 2 teaspoons of the herb into 2 cups of cold boiled water, leave overnight. Take the entire prepared dose during the day.

Pharmacies also sell ready-made water pepper tincture. This is a very effective remedy for stimulating contractions of the uterine muscles and reducing bleeding. It is recommended to take the tincture 3-4 times throughout the day, 30-40 drops, course - 5 - 10 days. But often the doctor sets the dose and duration of treatment individually.

water pepper tincture

It is important to always remember that before taking any herbs or tinctures, you should always consult your doctor.

How to understand that the uterus has begun to contract

Recognizing uterine contractions is quite easy. They feel like weak contractions if the birth was the first, and more intense with repeated births. During breastfeeding, the hormone oxytocin, which increases the tone of the uterus, is produced, and therefore contractions can be felt more clearly.

Other signs of normal uterine contraction include: pain in the mammary glands, the presence of lochia, discomfort in the lower abdomen, pain in the perineum, diarrhea (but only in the first 1 - 4 days after birth).

Normal contraction of the uterus after childbirth is an extremely important stage in the overall recovery process in a woman’s body. It is worth paying attention to any deviations that arise, because the future health of the entire reproductive system, as well as the possibility of having children in the future, depends on this. There are enough methods for treating uterine subinvolution, both medicinal and traditional. But it is best to avoid this problem. And the easiest way to prevent it is regular physical activity in the form of easy-to-perform exercises. In addition to the benefits, they will give strength and energy, so necessary for a young mother.

From the moment the baby is born, the postpartum period begins for the mother. It is usually divided into two groups: early (for two hours) and late (about 8 weeks). This is an important period in the life of every new mother. During this time, the body returns to normal, and the changes associated with pregnancy and childbirth reverse. The matter does not apply only to the mammary glands, which, on the contrary, activate functions for normal lactation. The most important and obvious changes occur in the reproductive system, specifically in the uterus. Contraction of the uterus is the main stage of recovery. After all, she should return to her previous size and weigh about 70 grams, and not 1 kg, as happens after childbirth.

Postpartum period: uterine contraction

During gestation, the uterus acts as a “container for the fruit.” Therefore, in order to return to the previous shape that was before pregnancy, or at least almost the same, it undergoes many changes.

After the birth of a baby, the uterus sharply decreases in size. Immediately after the baby is born, the uterus should become firm - this is a sign that it has begun to contract. The bottom of the organ becomes approximately two centimeters above the level of the navel. Quite often it can be shifted to the right side and the cavity fills a little with blood.

Many women ask the question: how does the uterus contract? With each subsequent day, the bottom of the organ shifts by about two centimeters; already on the fifth to seventh day, the uterus should completely take its shape and descend into the pelvis.

Changes also occur on the inner surface of the endometrium. After childbirth, this surface is like a wound, especially in the place where the placenta was attached. The endometrium is completely restored within 12 days, and the attachment site is restored by the end of the third week after labor.

The uterus contracts faster than the cervix. Only after 12 hours the diameter becomes smaller by about 5 centimeters. On the 10th day, the internal pharynx closes, and the external pharynx is finally formed after 13 weeks after birth. The previous form is unlikely to be restored. This is explained by the fact that during childbirth, overstretching of the fibers occurs.

How the uterus contracts: a woman’s sensations

During the involutionary period, the size of the organ decreases. Therefore, if at the time of birth the weight is approximately 1 kilogram, then after a month it is already 70-50 grams. Many mothers wonder why the uterus contracts so quickly?

The recovery process includes several stages:

• The muscles contract. They shorten during postpartum contractions, muscle fibers are removed, and blood supply also decreases. Contractions after childbirth begin approximately in the second half; as a rule, they are not felt and are painless.
• When the muscular part contracts, the walls of the blood vessels are compressed, and muscle hypertrophy subsequently disappears.
• Also, contraction occurs when a woman breastfeeds, hormones already act here.

To determine the degree of contraction, the doctor can measure the height of the fundus of the organ. It is imperative that after 6, maximum 8 weeks, the uterus should return to its place.

How does a new mother feel during this period? Postpartum discharge - lochia - is considered an absolutely normal phenomenon. The first 3 days are blood clots. By the end of the week after giving birth, the discharge should become less abundant and have a red-brown color, then a slight spotting appears. On day 10 they may be yellow-brown, then become transparent. Lochia has an unpleasant specific odor and an alkaline environment. As a rule, the discharge should stop by 6 weeks after the birth of the baby.

As a rule, the involution period is painless. Of course, there are tolerable pains that are aching in nature, sometimes severe pain is possible, and spasm of the uterus occurs (dense uterus). In such a situation, injections with antispasmodic drugs may be given.

The main question for every woman is: how much does the uterus contract and over what period does complete contraction occur? It is considered normal when this time takes no more than two months.

The following signs will help you understand that the uterus has already contracted:

• The belly becomes smaller (since for the first time after the birth of a baby, a woman looks like a pregnant woman).
• Vaginal discharge has stopped.
• If a woman does not feed, then after a complete contraction she will begin menstruation. This does not apply to nursing mothers.
• To be sure, you need to visit a gynecologist and perform an ultrasound.

Why does the uterus contract poorly and what to do?

Of course, situations such as slow contraction of an organ are known to obstetricians and gynecologists in practice. If the uterus contracts poorly or does not contract at all, this indicates subinvolution.

Reasons that slow down the process:

• large child;
• multiple pregnancy;
• low attachment, one of the features of the location of the placenta;
• difficult pregnancy with complications;
• difficult childbirth;
• dysfunction in the endocrine and nervous systems;
• passive activity after childbirth.

Important! In the event that there are already formations or inflammations in the uterus or ovaries, the organ is severely injured after childbirth or there is a bend, the woman has impaired coagulation, and other circumstances may influence such that the uterus will not contract at all.

For a normal and timely contraction, a woman should adhere to some recommendations immediately after the birth of a child:

• put the baby to the breast as often as possible to activate the production of oxytocin;
• apply cold to the lower abdomen;
• They can also inject oxytocin additionally.

On subsequent days:

• regularly attach and feed the baby;
• often lie on your stomach;
• taking into account your well-being, move as much as possible - walk;
• Do not keep your bladder and intestines full.

Drugs to restore the functioning of the uterus

If the organ still cannot cope, then drugs that contract the uterus are prescribed. As a rule, they are used during the first three days, if the woman does not feel pain in the abdomen and lochia has not appeared. In this case, it is administered using a dropper or injections are made with Oxytocin.

There are also a number of drugs that contain this hormone:

• "Ergotal";
• "Demoxytocin";
• "Pituitrin";
• "Hyphotocin."

In the postpartum period, tablets with homeopathic properties can be used for reduction; they are softer and used in small doses.

These include:

• "Sabina";
• "Sekale";
• "Witch hazel";
• "Millefolium".

Prostaglandin in gynecology

Prostaglandin preparations are used to treat labor disorders, as well as in processes that correct infertility and the normal menstrual cycle. This substance does not cause severe adverse reactions in the body, both in the mother and the fetus in the womb.

For example, if induction of labor is necessary, this substance can be administered intravenously through a drip with an isotonic solution or glucose. It is also possible to administer the drug vaginally, orally and rectally.

Therefore, prostaglandin is an important enzyme in the body that performs a wide range of functions and has an effect on all body systems as a whole, especially on the reproductive system (ovulation, menstruation, abortion, pregnancy and childbirth).

Herbal preparations and postpartum gymnastics

Many new mothers are interested in: how can you contract the uterus yourself? Plant-based preparations can contribute to the process, so let’s take a look at traditional medicine.

The most effective recipes:

1. Nettle infusion: take 4 tbsp. l. dried flowers, chop. Pour 500 ml of boiling water over the herb, let it brew and cool. Take 100 ml 3 times a day.
2. Infusion with cold water: take 2 tbsp. l. dried flowers of white damselfish and 500 ml of pre-cooled boiled water. Soak dried flowers overnight. In the morning, drain the water and strain thoroughly through double-folded cheesecloth. Drink 100 ml 4 times a day.
3. Geranium infusion: take 2 tsp. blood-red dry geranium herb and water, previously cooled and boiled 500 ml. Similarly: steam, drain, strain. Take 4 times.

There are also many other recipes from plants and herbs such as: shepherd's purse, field grass, birch may leaves, raspberry leaves and viburnum juice.

It is not always possible to stimulate uterine contractions only with injections or medications. If the birth went well and without complications, you need to turn over and lie on your stomach as often as possible. You can also sleep on it.

Massage is allowed during this period. Of course, only the medical staff does it: with gentle movements, but persistently pressing on the stomach in the area where the uterus is located.

If you have already been discharged home, then you need to set aside time every day for simple postpartum exercises.

Exercises:

1. Bring your legs together, slowly bend them into horse positions and straighten them.
2. The feet also need to be tensed and relaxed, pulling the toes towards you.
3. Stand in front of a mirror, inhale and as you exhale, strongly draw in your stomach, using the walls of your abdomen. This exercise can be done lying on your back with your hands on your diaphragm.
4. As always, Kegel exercises are effective.
5. A fitball (a large gymnastic ball) will be a great help. You need to sit on it steadily and move your pelvis to the right, left, forward, backward.
6. Side plank. The woman lies on her side, that is, she has a straight line from the top of her head to her pelvis, with her knees slightly bent. The supporting hand supports the head. As you exhale, focus on your hand and raise your pelvis, holding for 3 seconds. We start the repetition from 5, increasing to 20 times on one side.

Of course, all your actions must be agreed upon in advance with your doctor, taking into account the general condition of the body and the peculiarities of the course of childbirth.

The female body does not return to normal after childbirth immediately: gradually over several months. The uterus, which “grows” together with the baby, “gets” the most (this organ can increase more than 500 times), so it is injured the most. To restore the uterus after childbirth, proper care, time, and supervision by a gynecologist are required.

The uterus gradually begins to contract after the birth of a child, and this process is purely individual for each woman, since each body needs “its own” time to recover.

What is the uterus like after childbirth?

From the inside, the uterus after childbirth looks like a huge wound, which is maximally damaged at the placenta attachment site. In addition, blood clots and remnants of the fetal membrane remain on its inner surface. The uterine cavity should normally clear out during the first 3 days after birth.

After childbirth, the uterus stretches and increases in volume. Lochia (postpartum discharge) is released from it, bloody in the first days, lighter by the 4th day, by the end of the 3rd postpartum week they become more and more liquid and lighter and disappear completely by the 6th week.

We can talk about the restoration of the inner lining of the uterus after childbirth no earlier than the 3rd week, and about the placenta attachment - at the end of the postpartum period.

The fundus of the uterus after childbirth is located 4-5 cm below the navel and, like its upper part, has the greatest thickness.

How long does it take for the uterus to contract after childbirth?

Usually this process takes 1.5-2.5 months, and it is most active during the first postpartum days. For example, the diameter of the uterine os immediately after childbirth is approximately 12 cm, as a result of which the gynecologist can insert his hand into the uterus to remove any remaining placenta. But by the end of the first two days, this “entrance” gradually narrows, due to which only 2 fingers can be inserted into the uterus and 1 on the third day.

Complete closure of the external uterine os occurs around the 3rd week.

The weight of the uterus after birth is 1 kg. On the 7th day, she already weighs about 500 grams, on the 21st - 350 grams, and closer to the end of the postpartum period, the uterus returns to its prenatal size (approximate weight 50 grams).

During the process of contraction of the uterus after childbirth, women feel slight cramping pain in the lower abdomen, which is more intense and pronounced after repeated births. If these contractions are accompanied by severe pain, you should first consult a doctor, after which he will be able to prescribe the necessary antispasmodic or analgesic to reduce the pain. But if possible, it is better to endure everything and do without medications.

Atony and hypotension of the uterus after childbirth

Unfortunately, not all women in labor have a contraction of their uterus after childbirth. This condition is called uterine atony (in other words, it is a direct consequence of the fatigue of its muscles), as a result of which it does not contract and uterine bleeding occurs. Atony most often occurs in multiparous women, also during the birth of a large fetus, or with multiple pregnancies.

In the case when the uterus contracts after childbirth, but very slowly, the mother in labor is diagnosed with hypotension. This is a condition in which contractility and contractility are sharply reduced.

Both of these conditions of the uterus after childbirth are equally dangerous for the health of the mother in labor, as they can provoke massive bleeding or cause a number of other complications.

Reasons for non-contraction of the uterus after childbirth

There are a number of factors that can prevent or promote faster uterine contractions after childbirth.

The most common among them are:

• multiple births;
• location of the placenta;
• general condition of the woman;
• difficulties encountered during pregnancy or after childbirth;
• high fetal weight.

There is no spontaneous contraction of the uterus after childbirth in cases of its underdevelopment or bending; at ; for injuries of the birth canal; with inflammatory processes in the uterus itself or its appendages; in the presence of a benign tumor (fibroma); for bleeding disorders, etc.

What to do if the uterus contracts poorly after childbirth?

Immediately after the baby is born, a cold heating pad should be applied to the mother's belly, which will help speed up uterine contractions and stop bleeding.

During the first days after giving birth, the young mother is in the maternity hospital under the constant supervision of doctors, who must regularly check the condition of the uterus, as well as the level of its contraction. A low ability of the uterus to contract can be diagnosed by a gynecologist based on the condition of its fundus, which in this case should be soft during a routine examination. Until then, the doctor cannot discharge a woman from the maternity hospital until he is completely sure that the uterus is contracting normally.

If the uterus cannot contract on its own, the gynecologist should prescribe special medications (oxytocin or prostaglandins) that enhance the contractile activity of its muscles. Massage of the fundus of the uterus (externally) can also be prescribed.

But the most important impulse that stimulates uterine contractions after childbirth is breastfeeding, so start breastfeeding as soon as possible.

Do not neglect the rules of personal hygiene: regularly wash and treat wounds.

Empty your bladder on time, which also has a great influence on the degree of uterine contraction. Even if you have had internal stitches and urination has become painful, try to go to the toilet as often as possible.

The uterus contracts better and faster after childbirth in those women who have not avoided light physical activity throughout their pregnancy, so walks in the fresh air are beneficial for pregnant women. Don't avoid simple homework. Simple gymnastic exercises will not be superfluous either.

If there are lochia left in the uterus, part of the placenta, or the uterine pharynx is clogged with blood clots, you should resort to cleansing, without which an inflammatory process may begin.

Especially for Anna Zhirko