Your second baby has just been born, and now your body is undergoing special changes called the recovery process after the second birth.

Recovery after second birth

Recovery after the second birth is a process of reverse development of the uterus and all pelvic organs, as well as a gradual restoration of the figure, especially in the abdominal area, and loss of body weight. On average, the recovery process takes from six months to a year, although often girls who have given birth to second children complain that after the second birth it is more difficult to lose weight.

The process of postpartum recovery begins from the moment the placenta leaves due to active contractions of the uterus and its reduction in size. At the same time, the skin on the abdomen tightens and the muscles gradually contract, which will reduce the size of the abdomen.

Contraction of the uterus after the second birth

During pregnancy, the uterus increased in size tens of times, reaching a weight of approximately 1 kg by the time of birth. After the baby is born, the uterus should return to its almost previous size within a certain time, shrinking to 70-80 g.

The question of how long the uterus contracts after the second birth depends on many factors - the weight of the child and the degree of stretching of the uterus, the age of the mother and the presence of various pathologies, hormone activity, breastfeeding and much more. On average, the process of restoration of the uterus lasts no more than 6-8 weeks during the second birth; at first, the process is also accompanied by discharge - lochia, which arises as a result of the renewal of the endometrium - the inner lining of the uterus. It is difficult to say exactly how many days the uterus contracts after the second birth for each particular girl. But it is known for sure that in the first days it should actively contract, falling by about 2 cm daily. At the same time, girls note more painful contractions of the uterus after the second birth, due to the fact that the uterus is already contracting more actively and faster, and returns to its original shape.

In the first days of breastfeeding, pain can be felt quite clearly, reminiscent of labor pains, only less intense. You should not be afraid of this; if you have questions, you should ask them to the doctor, the doctor will examine the uterus and, if necessary, massage it can be carried out so that the walls contract more actively. Gradually, contractions of the uterus will be felt less and less, and it will gradually return to its original size and shape.

How to get your figure back after your second birth

Naturally, immediately after leaving the maternity hospital, your figure will be far from ideal, and during the second birth, girls note that their belly does not go away for quite a long time. This is explained by severe muscle stretching and weakening of the tone of the anterior abdominal wall during childbirth. Gradually, as strength is restored, it will be possible to begin the fight against this phenomenon.

Answering the question of how to remove belly fat after the second birth is not so simple - it is important to restore the tone and original anatomical structure of the muscles. Immediately after the birth of your second baby, it is recommended to wear a postpartum bandage that will tighten and support the muscles and skin. You also need to move more and, as you recover, after about 6-8 weeks of natural childbirth, begin feasible abdominal exercises.

No less worrying is the question of how to lose weight after the second birth. Typically, weight loss occurs more actively when breastfeeding and consuming food without exceeding calorie content. But weight loss will not occur immediately, but gradually, as the baby grows, the woman actively begins to lose weight by about six months of the baby’s life. You need to take care of how to regain your figure after the second birth after the maternity hospital. It is important to organize proper nutrition and an active lifestyle, walk with children and move more often, exercise and not exhaust yourself with strict diets. It is important to remember that losing weight should be smooth and gradual; muscles do not gain tone immediately. Therefore, there is no need to rush, everything will be restored during the first year of the baby’s life.

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's very convenient!

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's 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.

The first month after childbirth is often called the tenth month of pregnancy, thereby emphasizing its importance for the woman’s body. Strictly speaking, the first month after childbirth is only part of the postpartum period, the duration of which is the first 6-8 weeks after childbirth. The postpartum period begins from the moment of birth of the placenta and continues until the end of involution (i.e., reverse development) of all organs and tissues of the woman’s body that have undergone changes during pregnancy. During the same period, the formation of the function of the mammary glands occurs, as well as the formation of a sense of motherhood and associated fundamental changes in the psychology of a woman.

What happens in the body

In the postpartum period, the normal tone of the cerebral cortex and subcortical centers is restored. Pregnancy hormones are removed from the body, and gradually the function of the endocrine system returns to normal. The heart takes its normal position, its work becomes easier, as the blood volume decreases. The kidneys are working actively, the amount of urine in the first days after childbirth is usually increased.

The changes are most significant in the reproductive system. The uterus contracts and decreases in size every day; during the postpartum period, its weight decreases from 1000 g to 50 g. Such a significant and rapid contraction is due to several mechanisms. Firstly, contraction of the uterine muscle, both constant tonic and in the form of postpartum contractions. In this case, the walls of the uterus thicken, it takes on a spherical shape. Secondly, contracting muscles compress the walls of blood and lymphatic vessels, many of them collapse, which leads to a decrease in the nutrition of muscle elements and connective tissue, and as a result, the hypertrophy of muscle tissue that occurred during pregnancy disappears.

These processes are called involution of the uterus and are most accurately expressed by the height of its fundus. By the end of the first day, the fundus of the uterus is at the level of the navel, then daily it drops by approximately 1 cm. On the 5th day it is already in the middle of the distance between the womb and the navel, by the end of the 10th day it is behind the womb. By the end of the 6-8th week after birth, the size of the uterus corresponds to the size of the non-pregnant uterus.

Along with the reduction in the size of the uterus, the formation of its cervix occurs. The formation of the pharynx occurs due to contraction of the circular muscles surrounding the internal opening of the cervical canal. Immediately after birth, the diameter of the internal pharynx is 10-12 cm; it will completely close by the end of the 10th day, and by the end of the 3rd week, the external pharynx of the uterus will also close, acquiring a slit-like shape.

The inner wall of the uterus after separation of the placenta is an extensive wound surface; there are remnants of glands on it, from which the epithelial cover of the uterus, the endometrium, is subsequently restored. During the healing process of the inner surface of the uterus, postpartum discharge appears - lochia, representing wound secretion. Their character changes during the postpartum period: in the first days, lochia is bloody; from the 4th day their color changes to reddish-brown; by the 10th day they become light, liquid, without any admixture of blood. The total amount of lochia in the first 8 days of the postpartum period reaches 500-1400 g, from the 3rd week their number decreases significantly, and by 5-6 weeks they stop altogether. Lochia has a peculiar musty odor, which gradually decreases. With slow involution of the uterus, the release of lochia is delayed, and the admixture of blood lasts longer. Sometimes there is a partial retention of discharge in the uterine cavity.

In the first days after birth, the mobility of the uterus is increased, which is explained by stretching and insufficient tone of its ligamentous apparatus. The uterus easily moves to the sides, especially when the bladder and rectum are full. The ligamentous apparatus of the uterus acquires normal tone by the 4th week after birth. As the uterus involutions, the fallopian tubes also return to their normal position, and their swelling disappears. The ovaries also undergo significant changes. The regression of the corpus luteum, which was formed at the very beginning of pregnancy, ends, and the maturation of the follicles begins. For most non-breastfeeding women, menstruation begins in the 6th to 8th week after childbirth; more often it comes without the release of an egg from the ovary. However, ovulation and pregnancy may occur during the first months after birth. For breastfeeding women, the onset of the first menstruation after childbirth may be delayed for many months.

The tone of the pelvic floor muscles is gradually restored. The tone of the vaginal walls is restored, its volume is reduced, and swelling disappears. Abrasions, cracks, and tears that occurred during childbirth heal. The abdominal wall gradually strengthens, mainly due to muscle contraction. The stretch marks on the skin are still purple, they will lighten by the end of the first year after giving birth.
Unlike most organs, which undergo reverse development after childbirth, the mammary glands, on the contrary, reach their peak. Already during pregnancy, they begin to secrete a thick yellowish liquid containing protein, fat, and epithelial cells from glandular vesicles and milk ducts. This colostrum, which the baby will eat for the first couple of days after birth. It is rich in proteins, vitamins, enzymes and protective antibodies, but has fewer carbohydrates than milk. On the 2-3rd day after birth, the mammary glands become engorged and painful, and under the influence of the lactogenic hormone of the pituitary gland, the secretion of transitional milk begins. The process of milk formation largely depends on the reflex effects associated with the act of sucking. From the second to third week after birth, transitional milk turns into “mature” milk, which is an emulsion of tiny droplets of fat found in the whey. Its composition is as follows: water 87%, protein 1.5%, fat 4%, carbohydrates (milk sugar) about 7%, salts, vitamins, enzymes, antibodies. This composition may vary depending on the nature of the mother’s diet and regimen.

Feelings

Immediately after childbirth, almost all new mothers report severe fatigue and drowsiness. And already from the second day, with the normal course of the postpartum period, the woman feels good. Body temperature is usually normal. In the first days, pain in the area of ​​the external genitalia and perineum is possible, even in the absence of ruptures. This is due to the strong stretching of tissues during childbirth. Usually the pain is not very intense and goes away after a couple of days, in case there were tears or cuts in the perineum, up to 7-10 days. If a caesarean section was performed, there will be pain in the area of ​​the postoperative sutures.
Uterine contractions occur periodically, feeling like weak contractions. After repeated births, the uterus contracts more painfully than after the first. Contractions intensify during breastfeeding, this is due to the fact that when the nipple is stimulated, the level of a substance that promotes uterine contractions, oxytocin, increases in the blood.
On the first day after childbirth, a woman does not feel the urge to urinate. This is due to a decrease in the tone of the abdominal wall, swelling of the neck of the bladder as a result of its compression by the fetal head. A psychological block plays a certain role when a woman is in a horizontal position, as well as an unpleasant burning sensation when urine comes into contact with the area of ​​tears and cracks. To stimulate the bladder, you need to move more, sometimes the sound of water flowing from a tap helps. If there is no urination within 8 hours, it is necessary to empty the bladder using a catheter.
In the first days after childbirth, a woman may experience constipation. Their cause is most often relaxation of the abdominal wall, limitation of physical activity, poor nutrition and fear of the sutures in the perineum coming apart. There's no reason to worry about seams. You just need to move more and adjust your diet.
From the second or third day after birth, there is a sharp increase in the amount of milk in the breast. At the same time, the mammary glands enlarge, harden, become painful, and sometimes the body temperature rises. Sometimes the pain radiates to the axillary region, where nodules are felt - swollen rudimentary lobules of the mammary glands. To avoid severe engorgement, it is recommended to limit fluid intake to 800 ml per day from the third day after birth and try to feed the baby more often. Within 1-2 days, with proper attachment and feeding regimen, engorgement gradually disappears.

Psychology of the postpartum period

Could anyone be happier than a woman who gives birth, feeds and kisses her baby? Why do we so often see tears of despair on the faces of young mothers who have been waiting for their baby for so long? Why are they depressed, irritable and exhausted? Let's try to figure it out. During pregnancy, the level of female sex hormones reaches its maximum values ​​in a woman's entire life. Immediately after the birth of the placenta, the level of these substances decreases significantly. A drop in hormones in a woman’s blood is observed every time before the onset of menstruation, “thanks to” this, many women monthly have a mini-depression in the form of the so familiar premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Now let’s multiply PMS ten times (in comparison, this is how much hormone levels drop after childbirth) and we get “postpartum blues” - the psychological state of a new mother. It is not surprising that 70% of women after childbirth report irritability, a feeling of unreality of what is happening, devastation, unrelenting anxiety about any reason, and sleep disorders. These phenomena occur on the third or fourth day after birth and reach their apogee on the fourth or fifth day and disappear without any medical intervention after two weeks. In 10% of women, these phenomena drag on and become painful.
It is impossible to prevent the occurrence of postpartum depression. The most important thing is to remember that this will soon pass. The worst advice that can be given in this situation is the advice to “pull yourself together.” There is no need to fight with yourself, much less blame yourself for being a bad mother. Your body has done a lot of work, you are physically and mentally exhausted and have every right to rest. No need for parental feats! Let the baby sleep on the balcony, and the sink is overflowing with dishes, use any extra minute to sleep. Accept any help from your loved ones, do not pay attention to the fact that they will do something not exactly the way you read in a respected magazine or book. Everything will gradually get better. Be sure to find minutes to clean yourself up and chat with your husband on topics not related to the child.
If symptoms of depression persist for more than two days, this may be a sign of a medical condition for which it is better to seek professional help. Signs that depression is getting out of control include:
– acute feeling of fear, fear of the next day;
– apathy, refusal to eat, desire for complete loneliness;
– constant hostile attitude towards the newborn;
– insomnia, recurring nightmares;
– a constant feeling of one’s own inferiority, a feeling of guilt in front of the child.
For such severe depression, drug therapy may be needed. And in mild cases, the best medicine is love. Love for your baby, in whose eyes the whole world is reflected for the mother

Possible deviations from the norm

Unfortunately, the first month after childbirth does not always go smoothly. Situations may arise when medical assistance is necessary. Monitor your health and regularly measure your body temperature, as an increase in temperature is most often the first sign of complications in the postpartum period. All complications of the postpartum period can be divided into several groups:

1. Complications from the uterus.

The most dangerous complication of the first day after birth is postpartum hemorrhage. They begin immediately after childbirth, are not accompanied by any pain and are very abundant, so they can pose a danger to a woman’s life. The causes of bleeding are various injuries during childbirth, disturbances in the separation of the placenta and membranes, as well as disturbances in uterine contraction. To treat bleeding, various surgical interventions, medications and donated blood products are used. In order to monitor the woman, she is left in the maternity ward during the very dangerous first couple of hours after giving birth. In the following days, the risk of bleeding decreases, but other problems arise.
Subinvolution of the uterus– decreased rate of uterine contraction due to retention of postpartum discharge in the uterus. The disease most often occurs 5-7 days after birth, due to the closure of the cervical canal by a blood clot or a piece of membranes, as well as kinking of the uterus due to relaxation of the ligamentous apparatus.
Infection of the contents of the uterus can lead to inflammation of the uterine mucosa - endometritis. Predisposing factors for the occurrence of endometritis are difficult childbirth, disturbances in the separation of the placenta during childbirth, genital tract infections during pregnancy, immunity disorders, and abortions. Symptoms of the disease are: increased body temperature, unpleasant odor in lochia, aching pain in the lower abdomen. To clarify the diagnosis, an ultrasound examination and, if necessary, surgery are performed, during which the contents are removed from the uterine cavity (washing or curettage of the uterus). After surgery, antibiotics are required.

2. Complications from the mammary gland.

Lactostasis– stagnation of milk in the mammary gland. In this case, the breast swells and becomes painful, pockets of compaction appear, and a short-term rise in body temperature is possible. Lactostasis itself is not a disease, requiring only careful pumping of the breast, limiting fluid intake and frequent feeding of painful breasts. However, when an infection attaches, it turns into lactation mastitis, requiring immediate medical attention, antibiotic therapy, and sometimes surgery. The question of the possibility of breastfeeding with mastitis is decided individually, depending on the stage of the disease.
Another complication of the breast is the appearance cracked nipples. The main reason for their appearance is improper attachment of the baby to the breast, when the baby grasps only the nipple, and not the entire areola. Such a grip is very painful for the mother - and this is the main danger signal. Feeding your baby shouldn't be painful. Breastfeeding consultants provide good advice and practical assistance for lactostasis and cracked nipples. Treatment of cracks involves treating the nipple with wound-healing preparations.
Hypogalactia– insufficient milk production. In order to increase the amount of milk, a mother needs to increase the frequency of feedings, not skip night feedings, offer the baby both breasts at one feeding, drink more, eat well and sleep a lot.

3. Complications from the tissues of the cervix, vagina and skin.

Inflamed wounds of these tissues are called postpartum ulcers. When infection occurs, these wounds swell, become covered with purulent plaque, and their edges are painful. For the purpose of treatment, they are treated with various antiseptics, sometimes requiring surgical treatment.

4. Complications from the venous system.

Hemorrhoids (varicose veins rectum) also cause pain. When pinched, they enlarge, become swollen, tense and painful. Careful hygiene (showering after each visit to the toilet) and applying ice to the perineum helps reduce pain. Some medications can be used as prescribed by your doctor.
Thrombophlebitis– a venous disease characterized by inflammation of the venous wall and thrombosis of the vein. After childbirth, thrombophlebitis of the pelvic veins most often occurs. This disease usually occurs in the third week after childbirth. The symptoms are very similar to endometritis, but require different treatment. Surgeons treat complications from the venous system.
Complications after childbirth require immediate treatment, as they can lead to generalization of the process - postpartum peritonitis or sepsis. Therefore, if anything bothers you about your condition, be sure to consult a doctor.

Rules of conduct

During the first week after birth, while the woman is in the hospital, she is monitored daily by a doctor and midwife. They assess the general condition of the postpartum woman, measure pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, determine the condition of the mammary glands, involution of the uterus, and the nature of lochia. In most cases, after a normal birth, you can do without medications; only with very painful contractions is it possible to use painkillers. In case of complications in the postpartum period, the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment. A postpartum woman is discharged on the 5-6th day after an uncomplicated birth.
One of the most important rules a new mom needs to follow is getting enough sleep. Its total duration should be at least 8-10 hours a day. This amount of sleep will allow you to recover after childbirth and give you strength to care for your baby. Naturally, it is impossible to ensure long sleep at night, because you will have to feed the baby repeatedly, so try to devote any free minute to sleep during the day.
People are asked to get out of bed after a normal birth within six hours of delivery. At first, get out of bed carefully, avoiding sudden movements, otherwise you may feel dizzy. Already on the first day after birth, you can do breathing exercises and help contract the uterus using self-massage. To do this, you need to lie on your back, relax your stomach as much as possible, carefully feel the bottom of the uterus (just below the navel) and gently stroke from the sides to the center and up. It is better to sleep and lie down for the first 2-3 days after birth (before the milk arrives) on your stomach. Periodic application of a heating pad with ice to the lower abdomen also helps with contraction. To avoid hypothermia, the heating pad should be wrapped in a diaper and kept for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
On the second day after birth, you can proceed to therapeutic exercises. Perform gentle exercises to squeeze and relax your pelvic floor muscles daily and often. This will help get rid of involuntary urination and promote the healing of sutures in the perineum. To train your abdominal muscles, alternately lift and abduct your feet, as if pressing the pedals of a bicycle. Exhale and draw in your stomach, holding your breath; then relax. You need to perform these simple exercises several times every hour when you are awake. They are also recommended for women who have had a caesarean section. From the second week, expand the set of exercises, adding turns, bending the torso, and by the end of the month, abdominal exercises.
It is very important to carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene. You are still too weak to resist the microbes around you well, so get rid of them constantly. It is necessary to wash yourself with soap, especially if there are stitches on the perineum, after each visit to the toilet. Twice a day, the seams are additionally treated with special antiseptics. It is necessary to ensure the cleanliness of the gaskets. Best suited for this period special postpartum pads, in extreme cases, ordinary ones, but with a cotton surface. In the maternity hospital, you cannot use pads with a top layer of synthetic material. Regardless of how full it is, it is necessary to change the pad every 2-3 hours. Be sure to take a shower 2 times a day, and then wash the mammary gland with soap. There is no need to wash your breasts after each feeding; just leave a drop of milk on the nipple and let it dry in the open air. You should not take a bath in the first month after giving birth. Underwear and bed linen should be cotton. We change underwear daily, bed sheets at least once every three days.
Stool should be present within the first three days after birth. If there are stitches on the perineum, the first voiding causes fear that the stitches may “come apart”. This fear is completely unfounded, but during defecation you can hold the suture area with a napkin, which will reduce tissue stretching and defecation will be less painful. To facilitate this process, include dried apricots and prunes in your diet, and drink a glass of mineral water without gas or kefir on an empty stomach. If there is no stool on the 4th day, then you need to use a laxative or give a cleansing enema.
The diet of a nursing mother should be high in calories (2500-3000 kcal). In the first 2 days after birth, food should be easily digestible. From the 3rd day, a regular diet with a predominance of lactic acid, cereals, fruits and vegetables is prescribed. Spicy, fatty, smoked foods, canned food, alcohol and potential allergens for the child should be excluded from the diet. The amount of protein should be about 100 g, mainly from animal proteins, fats 85-90 g, of which a third are vegetable, carbohydrates - 300-400 g. Try to drink milk or kefir (at least 0.5 l) every day. there is cottage cheese (50g) or cheese (20g), meat (200g), vegetables, fruits (500-700g each), bread and vegetable oil. With established lactation, you should drink an additional 1.5-2 liters per day of pure water.
Sexual activity after childbirth can be resumed after 6 weeks. By this point, the woman’s body has already completely returned to normal. During the same period, you must undergo a medical examination at the antenatal clinic or with your doctor. You will be weighed, your blood pressure taken, a urine test taken, and your breasts examined. A vaginal examination will be performed to determine the size and position of the uterus, check how the stitches have healed, and take a smear from the cervix. The doctor will advise you on contraception.
To fully recover after childbirth, at least two years must pass before the next pregnancy.

Contraction of the uterus after childbirth occurs over several weeks. And the speed of the body’s recovery, regaining its former figure and improving well-being depends on how effectively this happens.

After childbirth, the uterus is a bleeding organ weighing about 1 kg. The height of the bottom of its standing is reduced to approximately the level of the navel. In the first 20-30 minutes after birth, a woman in labor is placed on her stomach with a cold heating pad. This is necessary in order to strengthen uterine contractions. When the uterus contracts, remnants of the endometrium come out. And it’s good if this process proceeds quickly, since otherwise there is a risk of infection of internal organs.

To avoid this, the mother in labor must carefully observe personal hygiene. Be sure to wash yourself at least 2 times a day. And change sanitary pads often.

It has been noticed that after childbirth, the uterus contracts poorly in women who, for whatever reason, rarely breastfeed their children. Since when a child suckles at the breast, women release a hormone in large quantities, which promotes both milk production and uterine contraction.

In addition, in many maternity hospitals, it is instituted to give women intramuscular injections of oxytocin twice a day for 3 days after birth, which also helps speed up the recovery of the uterus. This is especially necessary for women who have experienced various complications during pregnancy and childbirth. If there was gestosis, multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, etc.

After discharge from the maternity hospital, and usually this happens 5 days later (later after a cesarean section), lochia (postpartum discharge) becomes less abundant and more spotting. And every day there are fewer and fewer of them, they become lighter and should completely disappear in 30-40 days. How long the uterus contracts after childbirth is very individual. Some women recover very quickly. Bloody discharge completely stops after 2 weeks, and the stomach takes on its pre-pregnancy shape.

But sometimes it happens that a woman suddenly begins to bleed heavily. In this case, you must urgently seek medical help. There can be two explanations for this: either there are pieces of the placenta left in the uterus (which should not be the case; after childbirth, the doctor and nurse examine the baby’s place for its integrity), or it is hypotension of the uterus. The second option is the most likely. But why doesn’t the uterus contract after childbirth or does it not do so effectively? Most likely, the matter is due to the severe course of pregnancy and childbirth. We mentioned the risk criteria earlier.

If you suddenly start bleeding, call an ambulance. Self-medication is not the best option. If the problem is uterine hypotension, drugs that reduce it (oxytocin) and hemostatic agents (for example, Vicasol) will be prescribed. It is definitely recommended to do an ultrasound, since if the cause of bleeding is a placental polyp, it is necessary

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

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

Dimensions of the uterus after childbirth

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

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

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

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

Uterine contractions after childbirth

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

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

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

Uterine prolapse after childbirth

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

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

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

Causes of uterine contraction disorders

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

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

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

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

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

Clots in the uterus after childbirth

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

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

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

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