How long does it take for the uterus to contract after childbirth? Painful contractions of the uterus after childbirth and discharge: timing

Pregnancy and the birth of a baby are always a long-awaited and important time in the life of any woman. What happens to a young mother’s body after childbirth, and how soon will the uterus return to its prenatal state? Let's look into this issue.

How much does the uterus contract?

During the process of childbirth, there are 3 states of the uterus: the period of dilation, expulsion of the fetus and postpartum. The latter normally lasts no more than half an hour. During this time, the afterbirth is separated, in place of which a wound is formed. Then mucus and blood clots, called lochia, begin to emerge from the uterus, which are first bloody in color, and then they become serous-sanguineous. The discharge ends completely after 6 weeks. During this time, the endometrium is completely restored.

During the same 6 weeks, the uterus completely returns to its prenatal size and shape. It is most active in the first few days after the baby is born. During this period, the cervix closes and its weight decreases, decreasing by 20 times.

If some kind of pathology develops, then the process of organ contraction proceeds very slowly, or even stops altogether. This condition is very dangerous for a woman’s life and can lead to death if medical assistance is not provided on time.

Why does the uterus contract poorly after childbirth?

The process of returning the uterus to its prenatal state is influenced by many reasons. These include:

Possible complications during pregnancy. For example, a pregnant woman had hypertension or nephropathy.
Multiple pregnancy.
The attachment inside the uterus is too low.
The baby was very large.
Severe exhaustion of the mother's body.
Labor contractions were not active enough.

The reduction process is largely influenced by the behavior of the young mother after childbirth. If you spend all your time in bed and are inactive, the organ will contract weakly.

In some cases, the reduction does not occur at all. This is caused by various pathologies that arise during pregnancy and childbirth. For example, inflammation, bending of the uterus, ruptures and cracks of the birth canal, the presence of a benign tumor or poor blood clotting.

What to do to make the uterus contract

A young mother must be examined by a doctor several times after labor is completed to determine how well the uterus is contracting. Monitoring is carried out regularly throughout the entire time that the woman is in the maternity hospital. If insufficient contraction of the organ is detected, the woman will have to stay there longer. In this case, all measures will be taken to help the uterus decrease in size.

To improve the process, the woman is prescribed medications that facilitate this process. For example, oxytocin is administered. For the same purpose, a uterine massage is prescribed, which is performed externally.

It is very important for good contraction of the organ to frequently breastfeed the baby, then oxytocin is formed naturally in the woman’s body and accelerates the process of returning the uterus to its original state. It is also important to maintain personal hygiene. It is necessary to wash and treat stitches in a timely manner if they have been applied. The uterus immediately after birth is an open wound and is very susceptible to infection.

In some cases, lochia remaining in the organ cavity due to poor contraction can clog the uterine os. As a result, an infection develops, the presence of which is indicated by the characteristic smell of discharge. In this case, for the health of the young mother, she has to clean out the uterus. If, despite all the efforts of doctors, contraction of the uterus does not occur, then a decision will be made on surgical intervention. In especially severe cases, the organ is even removed.

Exercises to contract the uterus after childbirth

To speed up the process of restoring the tone of the uterus, it is recommended to do special gymnastics.

The breathing exercise is best done while lying on the floor. In a supine position, bend your knees slightly. Now inhale deeply and slowly through your nose, while your stomach should inflate. Exhale also slowly, but through your mouth. Now do the same, but when you inhale, your chest should rise. Make 5 breathing movements with your chest and stomach.
The next exercise is a well-known exercise: it is necessary to squeeze and unclench the vaginal muscles alternately. This exercise is useful not only for the involution of the uterus, but also for the vagina. With its help, you can significantly reduce the width of this organ and generally return the vagina to its prenatal state. The good thing about the Kegel exercise is that you can do it anywhere, anytime, without anyone around you noticing.
The last exercise is aimed at the abs. Of course, such an exercise cannot be performed in full, but it is necessary to begin preparation. It is performed from a supine position. Inhale and rise up and lean on your bent arms. Exhale and return to the starting position. This exercise must be repeated 5 times.

During pregnancy, metamorphoses occur throughout the body. The uterus, as one of the most important organs, is no exception. As the fetus grows, so does it.

This organ is distinguished by its unique properties, because during pregnancy it increases significantly, and after the baby leaves it, it gradually returns to its standard size.

It is difficult to say how long it takes to return to its previous size, because every woman’s body is unique. There are several factors that can speed up or, conversely, slow down this process.

How does the uterus contract after childbirth?

After the fetus leaves the womb, the uterus looks like a large wound. Particularly severe damage is observed in the area of the placenta, because there are many clogged vessels there. At this time, there are blood clots and parts of the fetal membrane in the cavity.

Cleansing occurs within 3 days after delivery. In this process, an important role is played by phagocytosis - the dissolution of bacteria by leukocytes, and extracellular proteolysis - the dissolution of bacteria by proteolytic enzymes.

These processes contribute to the release of wound secretions - those same lochia. On the first day they look more like blood, and on the 3rd-4th they become serous-hysterical with leukocytes. At the end of the third week, they are normally light and liquid, and by the sixth week they are completely gone.

The restoration of the epithelial layer occurs over about 20 days, and the placenta attachment site heals by the end of the postpartum period.

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

The average period is from 1.5 to 2.5 months. It is worth noting that the highest activity is observed in the first few days after delivery.

Immediately after the baby leaves the mother's womb, the cervix measures 12 cm in diameter. If necessary, the doctor can insert his hand there to clear the cavity of any remaining placenta.

But at the end of the first day, the cervix narrows so that only a couple of fingers can be inserted, on the third day - 1. The external pharynx closes completely in the third week.

As for the weight of the organ, immediately after the birth of the baby it averages 1 kg, after a week - 500 g, after two - 350 g, and at the end of the postpartum period, after 2-3 months - 50 g, that is, it reaches its prenatal weight .

The contraction process is always accompanied by minor cramping pain in the lower abdomen. It is worth noting that they are most pronounced after repeated births. For some women, this phenomenon causes severe discomfort, so the doctor may prescribe certain painkillers or antispasmodics, but it is recommended to refrain from them, especially if you are breastfeeding a newborn baby.

However, sometimes it happens that after childbirth atony is observed - the uterus does not contract, or the process progresses very slowly. Both phenomena pose a great danger because they can provoke postpartum hemorrhage and a number of other complications.

Why are there no cuts?

A slowdown in the process can cause:

Multiple births;
Low attachment of the placenta;
Large fruit;
Complications during childbirth (eg weak labor);
The state of health of the woman herself, for example, the body can be severely depleted.

Their complete absence occurs in the case of uterine bending, trauma to the birth canal, organ underdevelopment, inflammatory processes in the uterine cavity itself or its appendages, including those in the anamnesis, fibroids (benign tumor), polyhydramnios or bleeding disorders.

Slow recovery of the uterus after childbirth

Even in the delivery room, a heating pad filled with cold water is placed on the mother's belly. This event helps stop bleeding and promote the contraction process. While the mother and child are in the maternity hospital, doctors regularly check the condition of the uterus and monitor the process of its recovery.

The gynecologist will be able to establish a slow recovery during a routine examination. In this case, the bottom of the organ will be soft. The woman is left within the walls of the maternity hospital until the doctor makes sure that the contractions are progressing at a normal pace.

If independent contractions are not observed, special drugs are prescribed that provoke the onset of this process - prostaglandins or oxytocin. The complex of therapy may include external massage of the fundus, which is carried out through the abdominal wall.

In addition, breastfeeding can serve as an impetus, so it is recommended to feed the baby as often as possible. A woman should move more, and it is recommended to rest and sleep on her stomach.

The contraction is affected by emptying the bladder, which should occur regularly. Very often this fact is missed, especially if stitches were placed that cause pain when urinating. But you should still visit the toilet more often.

If the methods described above do not produce results and the uterus does not contract, cleaning is performed. The need for such an event arises due to the fact that lochia or parts of the placenta may remain in the organ cavity. In addition, the cervix may be blocked by blood clots.

In the case when postpartum discharge or pathological clots remain, inflammation necessarily occurs, which affects not only the organ itself, but also adjacent tissues. Sometimes even cleaning does not bring the expected result, then surgical intervention is necessary, which may involve removing the uterus.

Delayed contraction is medically called subinvolution. Typically, this organ returns to its previous size approximately 5-7 weeks after delivery, and after 8 for those who do not breastfeed.

Normally, a rapid contraction is observed immediately after the birth of the baby. Only by the size of this organ can one judge the condition of the mother. When contractions occur normally, the process goes smoothly. Otherwise, the postpartum period is fraught with immune disorders and hormonal imbalance.

It is worth noting that in women who gave birth to a child by cesarean section, this process occurs much more slowly than in those who gave birth to a child naturally, but in such a situation this is considered the norm. But such mothers, despite the inconvenience, should get out of bed earlier and move more immediately after the side effects of anesthesia pass. Movement will promote contraction, and passivity will cause muscle flaccidity.

Norm of muscle contraction dynamics

After the placenta comes out, the fundus of the uterus should be located at the level of the navel. Prolapse of the uterus after childbirth without complications is approximately 2 cm per day. On the sixth day, when most women are discharged from the maternity hospital, it is normally located about 5 cm above the womb. A delay of at least a day is considered a pathology.

Causes of subinvolution:

Lack of prolactin. The production of this hormone, which is responsible for the arrival of milk, provokes the release of oxytocin, which contracts muscles. Prolactin is produced when the nipples are irritated, that is, reflexively, so in women who are breastfeeding, recovery is faster. Accordingly, a lack of this hormone leads to disorders;
The cervix, clogged after childbirth, and the remains of the placenta in the cavity prevent the body from recovering. If the placenta is not completely separated, the organ cannot function fully;
Postpartum infection. Basically, this pathology is a continuation of a process that began during pregnancy. Postpartum endometritis is a complication after chorionitis - inflammation of the membranes. The inner surface of the organ is damaged and cannot respond to the production of oxytocin. The uterine tissue becomes flabby and activity decreases.

The causes of subinvolution are determined in the maternity ward. Treatment in all cases involves hospitalization.

The main function of the queen bee is to lay eggs. There is only one fertile individual in the family. Bees take care and protect their mother. She has her own retinue, which provides her with nutrition (royal jelly).

The queen bee, or “Queen” as beekeepers call her, is the parent of all the bees living in the hive. In nature, its lifespan can reach up to 8 years., but in beekeeping the queen is usually replaced with a young one after 2 years. This is due to the fact that active sowing of eggs occurs in the first two years, then reproduction decreases. The beekeeper can change it earlier if it does not give good results.

Now let's talk about what a queen bee looks like. It can be easily distinguished from worker bees by its shape and size. It has an elongated body, reaching a size of 2-2.5 cm. Its abdomen, unlike other bees, protrudes beyond the wings. There is a sting at the end, but it is used for protection from other queen bees.

Has smaller eyes. Weight - 0.025 g, and barren - 0.020 g. Weight and size depend on the age of the bee and the breed. Uterus can be fertile or infertile. The first ones sow with worker bees, while the second ones sow with drones.

How long does it take to hatch queen bees from scratch naturally?

Let's look at how and how many days the queen bee hatches? For those beekeepers who are seriously involved in apiary work, this knowledge is necessary for the following reasons:

To replace an old individual with a young one.
For breeding work.
To prevent bees from swarming.
To control seedings.
Helps identify tinder.

The queen bee hatching process begins with the sowing of an egg. The fertilized egg hatches into a queen, which subsequently breeds worker bees. Polypores emerge from infertile seeding.

The queen sows eggs into a bowl built on honeycomb. From it a larva develops, which is cared for and protected by bees. The larva of the future queen is fed with royal jelly and the queen cell continues to be pulled out of the bowl. On the 7th day they seal it.

Before sealing it, they fill it with food for the larvae. It is royal jelly. For those beekeepers who collect it for sale, this is the most convenient time for collection.

How many days does it take for the queen bee to hatch and emerge from the queen cell? Before leaving the queen cell, the larva, feeding on milk, grows and turns into a pupa. From pupa to uterus. It still ripens for some time in the queen cell. On the 16th day there is an exit from the queen cell., by gnawing it out.

Beekeepers involved in breeding queens should know that the darker the queen cell is below, the older it is. The first queen that emerges will destroy the remaining queen cells. Control of queen cells and the release of individuals will allow beekeepers to prevent a swarming state in the hive. Guess the time of the possible departure of the swarm. It will help to form layering on mature queen cells.

During the first time after leaving the queen cell, the young queen gains strength and eliminates the remaining queen cells. At the same time, they are divided into fetuses and polypores. Those individuals that fly around and mate with drones within 7 days become fertile. The whole family is involved in this process. If this happens, after 3 days the hive should be seeded with worker bees.

The uterus can live 5 years, but for honey production it is not practical to keep it for so long. After 2 years it should be replaced with a young one, because after this time seeding decreases. Autumn sowing ends early, and spring sowing begins later. If the queen has not flown around, then a drone infestation will appear in the hive. Such a family is doomed to death. The polypore should be removed and a fertile individual should be introduced.

Cycle, stages and timing of larval development in the queen cell by day

Queen bee hatching schedule.

Bees live according to their own laws and all development periods often depend on the microclimate in the hive, the strength of the colony and weather conditions. Therefore, the exit of the uterus may be a day earlier or later. Hatching time for queen bees stretch from 26 days to 30 or more.

Without mating with drones, it is impossible to obtain a fertile queen. But the number of drones in the hive must be constantly monitored. How does a drone develop?

The drone is formed in the same way as the worker bee, but has a longer development cycle. If you look closely at the honeycombs, the cells with drones in the honeycombs are larger. They have a convex, loose lid. It takes 24 days from egg to adult. The drone will be ready to mate on the 33rd day. Therefore, it is important to look at the calendar and not miss this time.

How is a queen hatched without a larva?

A simple method that beekeepers use to get a young queen without buying. Popular in private apiaries and accessible to beginners. To succeed in breeding a uterus, you should choose a strong family. If more queens are required, then several families are selected.

In the central part of the body, more precisely in the space between the frames, an insulator is installed where egg-laying will take place. If the insulator is not available, then they can be replaced with honeycombs. At the stage when larvae appear in the honeycombs, they are planted in the prepared layering.

Keeping two queens in a hive is a controversial issue, since under natural conditions only one queen lives in a family. When the second one appears, the strong one will kill the weak one. But some beekeepers strive to maintain two queens in families and thereby double or even triple the size of the family. Thanks to the powerful growth of colonies, a larger amount of honey can be pumped into the main honey flow. Beekeepers strive to pump out 40 kg of honey per colony every week.

Further actions of the beekeeper

After 6 hours, the honeycombs with the laid eggs are taken. They are taken out of the hive.
Using a heated knife, a strip with laid eggs is cut out.
On one side, cut to half the height. Of the three cells, one will remain.
On the remaining cells with larvae, use a stick to carefully widen the holes (artificially make bowls). Queen cells will be lined up here.
A strip prepared in advance is attached to an empty honeycomb frame.
A hole is made no more than 5 cm high (parallel to the block located on top).
The strip is glued with melted wax or wooden pins. It is taken into account how many queens are required and the same number of holes made.

Raising a queen bee

The queen is raised where the larvae are selected. The frame is placed in the place of the one that was removed before. There will be a cluster of worker bees who constantly monitor order, the timely delivery of royal jelly and the alignment of queen cells.

Thus, the family turns into educators. Before the appearance of the uterus, the queen cell is cut out and placed in a nucleus or cells. In this way, the individual is raised without transferring the larvae.

Basic breeding rules

The queens are raised at the same time as the drone brood (thus producing mature drones).

A fertile individual appears with good honey collection.
The queen grown from large larvae is better than from small ones.
For hatching, larvae that are 12 hours old are used.

Two-queen maintenance of a bee colony

Two-queen maintenance of bee colonies allows you to increase the hives to the main honey flow and this way you can increase honey collection by 50%. It is advisable to maintain this method in central Russia and its northern regions, since the honey collection period in these areas is short and most often ends in July.

Advantages of two-queen keeping bees in multi-hull hives:

in winter, feed consumption is reduced (due to mutual heating);
sowing increases;
Bee activity increases;
honey collection increases.

Flaws:

bulky and heavy hives;
deterioration of ventilation;
difficult to prevent swarming;
When viewing the frames, you need to disassemble the entire structure.

In double-hull hives

This method is used in hives with two bodies (12 frames) and two magazines. During the flowering of the willow, the nest is expanded with wax. Thus, by the beginning of May, 8 seeded frames appear. If bees lay queen cells on them, the body is removed and installed nearby.

Instead, they put a housing with half the frames and a source. It is closed with a blank partition and a body with a uterus is installed on top. The entrance should be turned in the other direction.

After 4 days, the queen cells are removed from the lower body. Cells turn in one direction. There are now two “queens” working in the hive. They are kept until honey collection.

During the main honey collection, the septum is removed. Since there is only one queen in a hive, when families unite, the strong one kills the weak one.

In multi-hull hives

With the help of two-queen colony maintenance, beekeepers in multi-hull hives build up strong colonies for the main honey harvest. To do this, in the first ten days of May, the queens begin to hatch. From the second half of the family, they occupy two or three buildings and organize a branch in the upper one. A barren individual and a queen cell are placed in it. At the end of the month, sowing of the honeycombs begins.

Now work begins on actively growing families with two queens. On layerings of 6-8 frames, a dividing grid is placed for 1-2 days. After the body is filled with frames with foundation. Place a separating grid and a housing on top. The old "queen" is removed. A new layer is made on it.

These colonies do not swarm and have a larger number of worker bees that emerge from the upper buildings. Thus, the mass of collected honey increases.

In sun loungers

For some, keeping bees in hives with two queens is more convenient.

With this method, you take a sunbed with 16 frames, which are divided by a dividing grid. In each department there is a family with a uterus. In this form they overwinter and grow in size in the spring.

In the summer, a general store is installed, a building with bars. As families grow, shops are added. Thus, the honey yield increases.

From all that has been said, it is clear that the queen plays the main role in the hive. As you can see, breeding a queen bee is not difficult if you know the matter. The main thing is to adhere to the specified scheme and then you can breed the individual from scratch. It determines how much honey you harvest. With skill and knowledge of handling the queen of the hive, you can increase the productivity of the apiary.

The recovery time after childbirth is often called the tenth month, because, as during the period of bearing a child, various changes occur in the female body. First of all, the changes affect the uterus - the most important reproductive organ, a kind of “cradle” in which the baby grew and developed. And although the postpartum period proceeds differently for each woman, it is important to have a general idea of how long the uterus contracts after childbirth and what the recovery process depends on.

Condition of the uterus after the birth of a child

After the birth of a child and the release of the baby's place, the new mother begins a difficult recovery period. During gestation, the female body underwent numerous and multi-stage changes. For example, only the uterus could gain weight more than 20 times, and it also went through stretching and lifting. This reproductive organ in a woman who has given birth may look like this:

The uterus is greatly enlarged in size and in most cases corresponds to the twentieth week of pregnancy;

Its weight reaches 1-1.5 kilograms;  width of the uterine os – approximately 10-14 centimeters;

The uterine fundus is now located approximately 2-4 centimeters below the navel;

The inner surface of the uterus resembles a continuous wound, and the most damaged area is the area where the placenta is attached;

Blood clots and remnants of the fetal place remain in the uterine cavity.

It is important for mothers in labor to understand what happens to the uterus after childbirth. After labor, “self-cleaning” of the uterus occurs, which takes about three days. These days, the most important processes occur in the uterine cavity - proteolysis (decomposition of proteins and peptides) and phagocytosis (destruction of foreign particles).

The consequence of these processes is lochia - postpartum vaginal discharge. On the first day they are bloody, then an ichor appears containing many white blood cells. Gradually the lochia turns yellow, and after a month and a half they completely disappear. The area where the baby's place is attached will heal completely in 20 days.

How does the uterus contract?

The rate of contraction of the reproductive organ depends to a great extent on the hormonal levels that have changed after childbirth. The following factors also influence this process:

Age of the woman in labor;

Number of pregnancies and births in history;

Weight and height of the child.

A certain pattern is noted: the higher these parameters, the longer the process of uterine contraction will become. In addition, if the child was born as a result of surgery, the contraction of the reproductive organ will also slow down.

Important! When asked how long it takes for the uterus to contract after childbirth, experts answer that everything happens individually, but most often this process takes from 1.5 to 2 months.

Postpartum restoration of the uterus occurs due to compression of the size of the cells of the uterine muscle layer - the myometrium. Moreover, the greatest activity of this process is observed in the first week after delivery:

On the first day, the diameter of the uterine cervix decreases from 12 centimeters to 2-4;

After 3 days, the cervical canal is already so narrow that only one finger can be inserted into it, but the entire external pharynx will close only after 14 days;

If in the first days the reproductive organ weighed more than a kilogram, then after 7 days it was already 500 g, after 14 days - 350, and after 8 weeks - 50 g (returns to normal).

Of course, the cervix will not return to its prenatal appearance, since the muscle tissue is greatly stretched. It is by this symptom that obstetricians determine whether a woman has given birth.

Signs of normal uterine contractions

Any woman needs to understand whether the process of restoration of the reproductive organ is proceeding correctly, so as not to worry unnecessarily about her health, but to devote all her strength to caring for the child.

Signs of normal recovery include the following:

Unpleasant, but quite tolerable sensations in the mammary glands (associated with the establishment of the lactation process);

Pain in the lower abdomen and perineum;

Bloody vaginal discharge, which then becomes increasingly clear;

Loose stools in the first few days.

The above-described signs are most intense in the first 7 days after the birth of the child, then the severity decreases, and after a month and a half it completely disappears.

(reklama2)

The pain of postpartum uterine contractions is usually tolerated by women normally, however, with a reduced pain threshold, the doctor may prescribe antispasmodic drugs (No-shpa, Drotaverine), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen). In especially severe cases, the doctor prescribes lidocaine injections.

Rapid contraction of the uterus

The presence of undesirable consequences depends on how the uterus contracts. In some situations, recovery takes less than a month, which should not please the young mother, but at least alert her. Quite often, such rapid contractile activity of the uterus after childbirth leads to some complications:

In such a short period of time, blood clots formed as a result of the death of the endometrium and placenta do not have time to come out completely, which is fraught with inflammatory processes and suppuration;

Due to hormonal imbalances, lactation disorders occur, accompanied not only by a decrease in the volume of breast milk, but also by a deterioration in taste, which leads to the child’s refusal to breastfeed;

- a decrease in recovery time increases the likelihood of another conception, but the female body is completely unprepared for such stress.

If the recovery process occurs too quickly, you should consult a doctor. Usually, doctors do not prescribe specific treatment, making do with only a routine examination and prevention of undesirable consequences. The recommendations are simple - walk more, eat well and take precautions.

Long recovery process

Often, uterine contractions are prolonged, lasting longer than the normative 6-8 weeks. In such a situation, contacting a gynecologist is mandatory! The first symptoms should alert a woman - the absence of lochia on the first day after childbirth.

To speed up the process of contraction of the reproductive organ, doctors prescribe special medications, medicinal plants, or prescribe a special set of physical exercises. All these methods are described in the literature and on the Internet, but using them yourself is strictly prohibited.

In general, the easiest way to help all women, regardless of how long the uterus contracts after childbirth, is breathing exercises. The attending doctor develops exercises and gives recommendations for their implementation.

Special situations

There are certain cases when the contractile activity of the uterus differs slightly from the standard process. These situations are associated with the characteristics of the birth itself and multiple pregnancies.

1. Second birth

In multiparous women, contractile activity of the uterus after expulsion of the fetus is usually more pronounced than in “new” mothers. At the same time, the discomfort in the chest and perineum is much stronger, which may require taking painkillers. They can be used only after consultation with a medical professional, so as not to disrupt lactation.

2. Caesarean section

Contraction of the uterus after surgery lasts up to 60 days. The reproductive organ is in no hurry to contract due to the dissection of the myometrium, uterine vessels and nerve fibers. Sometimes special drug treatment is required, that is, taking medications that stimulate the contractile activity of the uterine muscles.

3. “Twin” birth

During a multiple pregnancy, the uterus stretches very much, so the likelihood of a postpartum decrease in contractile activity is quite high. In addition, carrying twins often causes heavy bleeding during childbirth. Therefore, medical supervision is mandatory; taking medications and doing exercises is often necessary.

4. Artificial birth

When terminating a pregnancy in the later stages, the female body often becomes “confused,” so the process of uterine contraction occurs with some errors. Typically, recovery takes up to 2-3 weeks, but much depends on the success of the operation and the characteristics of the individual woman.

So, despite the individuality of each specific female body, nature has conceived a certain sequence of restoration of the uterus in the postpartum period. A woman in labor should compare the timing of this process with standard indicators; in case of any violations or deviations, she must immediately contact a doctor.

The entire female body is involved in the process of bearing a fetus; over the course of nine months it completely changes. The uterus experiences the main changes, because this organ increases in size along with the baby. Gradually after childbirth, it returns to its original size, that is, it shrinks. How long the uterus contracts after childbirth depends on the individual characteristics of the girl.

How does this happen?

Structure of the uterus

Immediately after labor, the uterus looks like a large open wound, in particular in the area where the placenta was attached, because there are a large number of capillaries there. After delivery, blood clots, mucus, and particles of epithelium in the uterus accumulate in it. Within three days, the organ is cleansed when the blood comes out. In this case, a physiological process occurs when leukocytes and various enzymes dissolve pathogens.

During the first month and a half, the young mother observes bloody discharge from the vagina. In medicine they are called lochia and indicate normal contraction of the uterus after childbirth and restoration of the reproductive organ. After the birth of a baby, the organ suddenly becomes almost half its size, then its size decreases every day by a couple of centimeters. If during labor the weight of the uterus reaches one kilogram, then by the end of the month its weight is only 50 g.

Important! The neck of the organ should contract much more slowly compared to the body. This part will never fully recover; after the first birth, the uterine cervix looks like a cylindrical shape.

Many women wonder how long it takes for the uterus to contract after childbirth. This question cannot be answered unambiguously. The average recovery time is two months.

Process duration

Contraction of the uterus may be accompanied by painful sensations

Contraction of the uterus after childbirth takes some time, which depends on many factors, both internal and external. The fastest recovery process occurs in the first days after childbirth. The indicators of muscle reduction are quite good, the weight of the organ is halved, just as externally it lowers its bottom by several centimeters at once and becomes slightly higher than the navel in location.

How long does it take for the cervix to shrink? The cervix closes completely only towards the end of the month, around the third week. During this period, it is especially dangerous to have unprotected sex. It is worth noting that the contraction process is always accompanied by discomfort:

lower back pain;
lower abdominal pain;
general weakness.

How long does the uterus contract after childbirth? Doctors call the average period during which an organ shrinks – one and a half to two months. However, everything is purely individual, sometimes the process happens much faster, and in other cases problems occur.

The duration of the process of uterine contraction is purely individual

Reasons for the lack of reductions

Several factors influence the slowdown of the process.

Multiple pregnancy. Since the uterus expands twice as much, the recovery period takes slightly longer.
Low attachment of the placenta.
Large fruit. The same case as with multiple pregnancies.
Weak labor.
Exhaustion of the body before childbirth.
Inflection.
Injuries of the birth canal.
The uterus is underdeveloped.
Inflammation in the reproductive organs.
Neoplasms in the organ.
Polyhydramnios.
The blood doesn't clot.

Already in the maternity hospital, doctors provide assistance to the woman in labor to restore the uterus. Midwives apply ice to the abdomen and inject oxytocin when the placenta comes out. In the future, the process is controlled by the woman herself. If the reproductive organ does not contract, although various methods have been taken that could have a positive effect on the current situation, then cleaning of the cavity or removal of the uterus is prescribed if inflammatory processes are observed.

In some cases, uterine contraction is not observed after childbirth

Possible problems

Not all mothers who give birth recover the organ without problems. What complications arise in the female body during the postpartum period?

Poor uterine contraction after the second birth and even the first.
Endometritis and other infections.
Bleeding.

Often these stages are interconnected. For example, the cause of bleeding is a slowly contracting uterus. To prevent complications from occurring, it is necessary to take preventive measures, carefully monitor hygiene and your own health, and regularly visit a gynecologist. If there are problems, the doctor will recommend injections of oxytocin or antibiotics, depending on the nature of the disease.

How to speed it up?

Using ice will help speed up the process.

The very first way to make the uterus contract faster is to apply ice to the lower abdomen. This is usually done by midwives in the maternity hospital after the birth, if the doctor gives such an order. So after the process of expulsion of the placenta stops bleeding, the uterus can quickly get rid of blood clots.

As a rule, doctors discharge mothers from the walls of the maternity ward with normal dynamics in the restoration of the reproductive organ. Otherwise, hormonal therapy or massage is prescribed. During this period, it is especially important to breastfeed the baby, since during feeding the hormones that have a positive effect on uterine contractions are produced in the right quantities.

Regular visits to the toilet play an important role. Frequent emptying of the bladder is the key to rapid contraction of the organ; positive dynamics appear in just a few days. Even if the stitches are placed in such a way that at first they cause pain when urinating, you should not ignore the urges of your own body. The situation is the same with the intestines, which also need to be cleaned constantly and on time so that the uterus contracts faster.

Important! Movement is life. To make the muscle contract faster, you don’t need to lie in bed all the time. Regular walks with your baby in the fresh air, simple exercises in the morning will not only give you a boost of energy, but will also contribute to the rapid recovery of the uterus.

The longer the reproductive organ takes to recover, the greater the chance a woman has of cleaning the cavity from blood clots that cannot come out on their own. If this is not done, then inflammation may begin, then the woman in labor will lose her entire uterus due to surgical intervention in order to save the patient’s life. We can definitely say that these are extreme measures and before carrying out such an operation, doctors weigh all the risks and disadvantages of this decision.

Physical activity will speed up uterine contractions

What does uterine contraction depend on?

There are situations that naturally affect the period during which the reproductive organ must recover.

Artificial birth. Sometimes it happens that labor needs to be interrupted at a late stage. In this case, the body can become confused and the uterus can shrink in three weeks.
Repeated births. The birth of a second and subsequent child also affects how long it takes for the uterus to recover. And, in addition, the discomfort in the lower abdomen intensifies, the new mother is bothered by headaches and sometimes dizziness. Doctors often recommend taking painkillers.
The birth of twins or twins. Such a pregnancy is an increased stress for the body. The muscle is stretched even more than usual, so it must contract longer than usual. During childbirth, there is a lot of blood loss, so you need to take a course of medication.
C-section. Often, after surgical childbirth, doctors immediately prescribe a course of pills for mothers to take, which would speed up the process of uterine restoration. This happens because the body spends its main efforts on ensuring that a large wound heals as quickly as possible. We can talk about full recovery only after two months, but not earlier.

It should be remembered that the female body does not always come to its senses after pregnancy and childbirth in a standard time frame; much depends on the lifestyle and health status of the mother.

After the birth of twins, the body needs more time to recover

Fine

By the day a woman in labor is discharged from the hospital, her uterus should be at a level no higher than five centimeters, above the womb. If other indicators occur, then we are talking about a pathological process.

Normally, the uterus shrinks quite quickly, by about two centimeters per day. This is also influenced by breastfeeding, during which a substance such as prolactin is produced, which has a positive effect on the contraction of the organ. It is important that the placenta comes out completely, and that its remains come out within the first three days after the baby is born.

If some kind of infection arose during pregnancy, then during such a dangerous period it will certainly begin to develop, so if the anamnesis was about inflammation, an experienced doctor will definitely take this fact into account and begin an immediate course of treatment.

First aid for the restoration of the uterus is provided in the maternity ward; if doctors cannot positively influence this process within several days, then the woman is then treated in a hospital.

Contraction of the uterus and a decrease in its size to the original size that was before pregnancy occurs in the postpartum period, which can be early and late. The early one lasts for two hours after birth, and the late one lasts almost two to two and a half months. Bloody clots come out in the form of discharge (lochia), they indicate that the organ is contracting normally. The wound on the uterus, where the placenta was attached, heals within half a month after labor. To speed up the recovery process of the muscle, it is necessary to visit the toilet on time and breastfeed the newborn.