The inevitable lochia after childbirth is wound discharge from the uterus. After pregnancy female body is restored, and the injured walls of the uterus heal. As a result, the body begins to recover and becomes the same size as before pregnancy. His upper surface heals, and the area of ​​attachment of the vaginal wall to the placenta is tightened. Thus, the cause of lochia that appeared after childbirth is:

• restoration of the uterine cavity;
• cleansing of the membranes.

The uterus shrinks and throws out unnecessary tissues that have become toxic. The discharge is similar to menstrual flow, but is made up of other substances. These are scraps of the lining of the uterine cavity, ichorus, the remains of the placenta, mucus from the cervical canal, and blood.

lochia consult hygiene products
menstrual cycle Resumption
Development Complex degree of consequences

Immediately after delivery, the entire surface of the uterus covers big wound. Therefore, they can stand out blood clots and blood. You should not worry, because in this way the body is cleansed and restored on its own.

If the lochia differ from those that should be normal, this indicates postpartum complications. Yes, the first few days after giving birth, a woman is in the hospital, so doctors track the duration of lochia. But then she is discharged home, so she will have to monitor the nature of the discharge on her own.

Normally, postpartum lochia is observed for 6-8 weeks. Permissible deviations - 5-9 weeks. Otherwise, you need to consult a doctor. You can see photos of lochia to know how they look after childbirth.

Duration of uterine recovery

We found out how long lochia takes on average after a past birth, but they come in several varieties. It also depends on their duration.

They appear during the healing process of the inner surface of the uterus.

The active phase lasts about three weeks. During this time, several types of secretions are observed.

1. Red. It takes about 3-4 days after the baby is born. They cause discomfort to a woman, because they are very plentiful. The color of the discharge is bright scarlet, since it is present in the remains of non-viable tissues a large number of erythrocytes - red blood cells. Brown blood clots may also be released. Allocations should end on day 4. At the same time, a woman changes one pad per hour. If you have to change more often, you need to call a doctor. After childbirth, a gynecologist usually advises a woman about how long lochia goes, therefore expectant mother not hard to navigate.
2. Serous. They last from 4 to 10 days and are not as plentiful as red ones. The color of the secretions is pinkish-brown or brown, since a large number of leukocytes are present in the excreted substances. Usually, red clots no longer appear, but only sanious-serous discharge is observed.
3. White. They do not cause discomfort to the woman and last for 20 days. Normally, the discharge should be free of blood clots, pungent odor. They are yellowish or whitish in color, almost transparent, smearing character.

If after childbirth you know how long lochia will come out, then you will immediately understand when you need to contact a specialist for help. The volume of secretions begins to decrease over time, and already at 3 weeks they do not cause discomfort, therefore they are almost imperceptible and very small in volume. Usually, by the 6th week, vitreous mucus with bloody patches is released from the cervix, at which the body finishes its restoration. In this case, the duration of the discharge does not depend on whether your first pregnancy or the second.

In case of complications, you should consult a doctor

When to see a doctor

If you know exactly when the release of lochia should end after childbirth, it will be easier to track possible violations. You need to make an appointment with a doctor in the following cases.

1. Allocations last too long or their number has become quite large. Such bleeding is possible due to the fact that parts of the placenta remain in the uterus, so it cannot contract normally. In this case, the woman will have to remove the remnants of the placenta in the hospital. The procedure is painless due to intravenous anesthesia.
2. The bleeding has stopped, although you know exactly how many days after the last birth the lochia should go. Stopping discharge indicates a possible accumulation of lochia in the uterine cavity. If they are not removed, there is a risk of developing endometritis.

Endometritis develops if, after childbirth, lochia are excreted with pus, and have an unpleasant, Strong smell. A woman notices a deterioration in well-being:

• pain in the lower abdomen;
• the temperature rises.

In this case, you need to urgently call a specialist or call ambulance. Sometimes a curdled discharge appears from the vagina. This may indicate the appearance of candidiasis. If it is not healed, there is a risk of developing a severe infection.

It does not matter how long lochia has been going on after the first or second birth. If arose heavy bleeding you should immediately call an ambulance. In this case, the woman is hospitalized.

Only Attentive attitude to your health, monitoring discharges and responding in a timely manner to their changes will help to avoid serious complications. It is better to play it safe and once again consult a doctor than to subsequently be treated for unpleasant sores.

Do not ignore the rules of hygiene, which are especially important for the successful completion of the postpartum period.

If there is a relapse

Sometimes it also happens that after giving birth, lochia first ended, and then started again. If after 2 months there is a scarlet discharge from the vagina, the cause may be:

• restoration of the menstrual cycle;
• rupture of seams after strong emotional or physical exertion.

When you know how long lochia can go after the last birth, but suddenly they return after 2-3 months, you need to look at their character. Sometimes the remnants of the placenta or endometrium come out in this way. If the discharge is dark in color with clots, but without pus and sharp putrid smell, everything should end without complications.

In addition, when the discharge passes and then comes again, there is a risk of developing an inflammatory process in the uterus. Only a doctor can help you here. He will conduct an examination and find out the cause of the incident. You may be having a new menstrual cycle. But in the worst case, medical intervention is required.

Many women claim that making love for the first time after giving birth was like "the very first time."

There are lucky women in the world who, even in the hospital, dream about how they will have sex again. And, characteristically, they soon successfully realize their dream. But, alas, there are very few of them. Statistics say that about 50% of new mothers have problems in sexual relations within three months after giving birth, and 18% of these problems continue throughout the first year. How and when can they be resolved?

When?

You can start having sex no earlier than after 4-6 weeks postpartum.

This requirement is primarily due to the fact that it is during this period that the uterus gradually returns to its previous, pre-pregnancy size, the placenta attachment site heals (after all, after the placenta separated from the uterine wall during childbirth, a continuous wound remained in its place surface). If an infection gets into an unhealed wound during intercourse, the case may end with endometritis (inflammation of the uterus).

The vagina should also return to its previous state - after all, after childbirth it is stretched. Most often, by the sixth week after birth, it gradually decreases in size. In order to help him do this, gynecologists recommend performing Kegel exercises that train the muscles of the perineum and vagina.

In the middle of the last century, gynecologist Arnold Kegel invented them for women who had problems with involuntary urination after childbirth. Subsequently, it turned out that these exercises also increase sexual tone, improve blood circulation, and even allow you to control orgasm. In order to feel which muscles you need to train, try to stop the stream of urine while urinating. The muscles with which you did this are the muscles of the perineum. Now your task is to learn how to strain and relax them as much as possible, first at a slow pace, and then at a fast pace. This can be done at any time - while walking, watching TV, lying in bed, etc.

It would seem that if the birth occurred by caesarean section, then similar problems should not occur, and you can have sex almost immediately after childbirth. Indeed, the vagina did not undergo any changes in this case, but the wound at the site of attachment of the placenta should heal in the same way as after natural childbirth. In addition, a scar remains on the uterus, which heals within the same 4-6 weeks (the seam on the skin of the abdomen can heal much earlier).

Can't or don't want to?

It happens that the doctor gives the go-ahead, but the woman still does not want any sex. Do not rush to diagnose yourself with frigidity, but rather figure out why this is happening. The reasons can be both quite obvious and lying deep in the subconscious.

By and large, the dulling of sexual desire is a kind of natural reality. Indeed, as long as the cub needs constant maternal care and care, cannot survive on its own, the next cub of the mother is not yet needed. Therefore, in the body of a woman who has recently given birth, the level of estrogen (the hormone of pleasure) decreases, hence the increased dryness of the vagina, even with a sufficiently high sexual arousal. If the birth was difficult enough, then subconsciously she wants to take revenge on her partner for the suffering she has endured.

There are other reasons for not wanting sex, more conscious:

• severe fatigue (often combined with resentment against her husband, who does not help either with the child or with the housework), it is most often expressed in the phrase: “I don’t have time for sex now!”;
• feeling of own unattractiveness, indeed, after childbirth female figure loses girlish angularity, but many men find it very attractive;
• postpartum depression - this type of depression, which occurs in about 10% of women, can significantly reduce sexual desire.

And a young mother is simply scared to have sex. She may fear, for example, that:

• will hurt or that the wound has not yet fully healed. To cope with this fear, it would be good to see a doctor in advance - he will determine whether everything is in order after childbirth.
• at the most crucial moment the child will wake up. Fear leads to tension, and the woman cannot relax. A good option is not to wait for the night when you will literally fall from fatigue, but to ask your grandmother or nanny for an hour or two to take a walk with the child on the street.
• she will become pregnant again, and this is now so inopportune. Remember that contraceptive methods have not yet been canceled. You just have to choose the best way for yourself.

Contraception

For some reason, there is a widespread belief among the broad masses of the people that while a woman is breastfeeding or until her menstrual cycle is restored, it is impossible to get pregnant. This is not true. Moreover, until the cycle has begun or become regular, it is very easy not to notice a new pregnancy. Menstruation may begin as early as 28 days after birth, or may not come during the entire lactation period, but this does not mean at all that you are insured against pregnancy. What remains?

calendar method it doesn't suit you right now. Even in “peaceful” time, it is effective in only 50% of cases, and even when menstruation is irregular, there is no need to rely on it at all.

About hormonal pills doctors' opinions differ. Some argue that hormones, getting into milk, are not harmless to the child, others insist that modern hormonal contraceptives, skillfully selected especially for you, will not affect the baby in any way. It's up to you, but in no case do not try to "prescribe" a hormonal drug for yourself - only a doctor should do this. Basically, that's enough. reliable remedy- it is effective at 97-99%.

There are several options for the introduction of a hormonal drug:

• the actual pills (it is necessary to take every day, and preferably at the same time);
• an injection, which is also called a “contraceptive injection”, its indications and contraindications are exactly the same as for tablets - only the form of application changes (valid for 8-12 weeks, depending on the type of drug);
• contraceptive capsule: injected under the skin of the shoulder (valid for 5 years, and the capsule can be removed at any time).

Intrauterine device effective by 98%, but you can put it no earlier than 6 weeks after childbirth and provided that you do not have chronic gynecological diseases.

Barrier contraception(condoms, diaphragm, spermicides) are 85-97% effective. The combination of a diaphragm and spermicides is especially effective (spermicide is applied to the dome of the diaphragm before its introduction).

Like the first time

Many women claim that making love for the first time after giving birth was like "the very first time." This must be borne in mind by a spouse who is burning with passion. He now needs maximum patience and tenderness in order to resume love relationship. To begin with, he will have to share with his wife not only the bed, but also the cares of the house and the child.

For removal muscle tension massage (especially with the use of essential oils) is a good idea. To begin with, it is better to choose a position in which you will control the depth and frequency of penetrations yourself - for example, the “rider” position. To reduce vaginal dryness, you can use special gels and lubricants from an intimate store. It is very important that you do not doubt your attractiveness to a partner. Believe me, the male look is much less demanding than the female one.

They say that it is the restoration sexual relations- this is the end of the postpartum period and the beginning of a new stage of family life. May it be happy for you!

Inessa Smyk, magazine "Be Healthy"

The birth of a baby - significant event in the life of every woman. However, the joy of the appearance of a long-awaited child can be overshadowed physiological changes in the body of a young mother. It is necessary to take care not only about the successful development of the newborn, but also about your own health and recovery after childbirth.

The condition of a woman in the first hours after childbirth

After natural delivery, the patient spends the first 2 hours in the delivery room. There she is observed by obstetricians-gynecologists, controlling her pressure and monitoring possible internal bleeding. After some time, the doctor is interested in the patient's condition, checks the discharge from the genital tract and massages the uterus. At this time, a woman often has an emotional upsurge: she becomes talkative, cheerful and cheerful. This behavior is associated with the release during childbirth of endorphins - natural painkillers. Endorphins continue to act even after delivery, causing positive emotions.

If, after two hours, the woman feels satisfactory, and no deviations are found in the development of the child, the young mother, together with the newborn, is transferred to the delivery room, where specialists control the pressure and temperature of the woman in labor.

First 3 days

Colostrum appears in the first 3 days after delivery

In the ward, a woman is usually offered to lie on her stomach for the next 2 hours. The uterus will be able to contract more often, and the discharge will depart more intensively. In the first few days, pain is possible, so doctors often prescribe painkillers.

On the first day, urination can also be painful or completely absent. To solve a problem with urination, doctors stimulate the uterus or attach a catheter.

In the first 2-3 days after childbirth, even if there were no tears, a woman may feel pain in the perineum. This is due to the deformation and stretching of the tissues. There is a lack of stool, which is considered natural. Colostrum appears - a sticky sweetish liquid, which then turns into transitional milk, and then gradually becomes normal breast milk.

Day 4 to Day 14

By the end of the second week, the muscles of the perineum restore their function. At the same time, the muscle tone of the gastrointestinal tract decreases, which is why a woman may suffer from constipation.

From two weeks to a month

By the end of the third week, the placental site heals. At this time, a woman can become very irritable. There is aching pain in the chest and perineum (in the presence of stitches). If you are not breastfeeding, menstruation returns. There may be small seals in the mammary glands due to the formation of milk.

Often in the first months after childbirth, a woman may feel back pain. This is due to the fact that the mother often goes through to take the baby in her arms.

How many kilograms does a woman lose during childbirth

During childbirth, a woman loses about 5-6 kg of weight

During pregnancy, weight increases. Its increase is influenced by:

• child. The average weight is 3.5 kg;
• placenta. Weighs 600–900 g;
• uterus. Significantly increases in size, reaching 1 kg;
• amniotic fluid. Weight can reach 800g;
• milk glands. Weight - up to 0.5 kg;
• blood, interstitial fluid, body fat. Increase body weight from 5.5 to 7.5 kg.

Weight gain with a normosthenic physique during pregnancy by 11–12 kg is considered the norm. During childbirth, you can lose 5.2-5.7 kg natural way. From the rest overweight you need to get rid of yourself.

Extra pounds after childbirth

During the first month, with a normal diet and lifestyle, a woman loses excess weight in the abdomen, flanks and thighs. Part of the calories enters the milk, giving it the necessary fat content. Further, you will lose up to 1.5 kg per month even without additional physical activity. Lochia is excreted from the body - bloody issues, which in the uterine cavity during pregnancy accumulates up to 1.5 kg, as well as oxytocin, which is released during breastfeeding and shrinking uterus.

However, some of the excess weight lost after childbirth may return in the first weeks of active feeding. This is due to the fact that the hormone prolactin, produced by natural feeding, delays the excretion of salts from the kidneys. Salts absorb water, which leads to the formation of edema.

Table: full recovery of the body after childbirth

Organs	What changes did	When are they recovering
Uterus	After childbirth, the uterus weighs 1 kg and decreases by half in the first 10 days. The organ is spherical in shape. Lochia persists and leaves the body within eight weeks.	After 2–2.5 months, the uterus takes its previous shape and weighs about 100 g.
Cervix	During natural childbirth, the shape changes: from conical to cylindrical. The outer pharynx narrows.	For 3 months it is completely restored.
menstrual function	The uterus takes a natural position.	Restored by the end of breastfeeding. If the child is bottle-fed - after 3 months.
Vagina	Breaks, muscle weakness.	Recovery usually takes 2 months.
Breast	Increases in size, may lose shape.	It is not always possible to restore the previous shape, however, elasticity can be restored with regular massage in a few months.
Musculoskeletal system	Spread pelvic bones, increased elasticity of the joints, weakening of the spine.	The musculoskeletal system is restored in 3-4 months.
Stomach	Sagging.	Physical education for 1-2 years strengthens and tones the abdominal muscles.
Cordially- vascular system	An active blood supply and an enlarged fetus can contribute to the development of hemorrhoids.	It takes a month to recover.

Video: pelvic muscles of a woman after childbirth

How to recover after childbirth at home

There is an opinion that after childbirth women look younger. This is partly true - the cells undergo regeneration. At the same time, there is a general depletion of the body, beriberi, constipation, anemia, chronic hemorrhoids, etc. You can restore the body without harming your health without visiting gyms and nutritionists.

How to return the general tone

If during pregnancy you were sedentary image life, recovery will be difficult. Muscles weaken, and it is quite difficult to restore their tone after a long break. The muscles of the pelvis, back and abdomen suffer the most in 9 months, because they take on most of the load.

The abdominal muscles are especially deformed. Under the load of the growing fetus, they are strongly stretched. After 8 weeks after childbirth, the uterus returns to normal, and the stomach should also take its former shape. However, if this does not happen, you will need to perform exercises to strengthen the press in order to recover. After a caesarean section, it is necessary to restore the tone of the abdominal muscles no earlier than 8 weeks after the operation. Usually, in such cases, doctors prescribe bandages that fix the area of ​​\u200b\u200bsutures, and also recommend that the patient sleep on her stomach for better uterine contraction. Back muscles are best restored in the pool 3 months after childbirth.

AT postpartum period women often suffer from insomnia. It has to do with the desire to be a good mother. A woman has strong feelings and sleep disturbance. Negative emotions need to be dealt with. Start to cheer yourself up on your own: walk more, make pleasant purchases, remember your hobbies, read a book, watch a movie. Talk to folk medicine: chamomile, oregano or valerian will not harm you or your child.

Breathing and the work of the heart

To restore metabolism after childbirth, walk more and breathe fresh air

Due to the growing fetus, the diaphragm rises. It presses on the lungs, making it harder to breathe. That is why pregnant women cannot climb stairs without shortness of breath. After childbirth, the diaphragm immediately lowers, freeing the lungs from unwanted compression, and breathing normalizes.

The cardiovascular system after childbirth naturally also recovers on its own. The blood flow is reduced. Blood clotting improves. Full recovery lasts throughout the entire period of lactation. If after giving birth you feel pain in the chest area, cough for no reason, you should seek the advice of a doctor.

The work of the digestive tract and metabolism

Weakened pelvic muscles can cause constipation. To avoid this, eat foods rich in fiber. If during pregnancy you have gained excess weight, you should start restoring your metabolism. To do this, follow a few rules.

1. Don't starve. Lack of calories can be compensated by the deposition of fat.
2. Eat often (5-6 times a day) and in small portions. Thus, you stimulate the production of sugar in the blood, which is why the metabolism in the body will improve.
3. Eat the whites of hard-boiled eggs, drink skim milk. These foods are low in calories. Include carrots in your diet. She is rich folic acid which has a positive effect on the immune system.
4. Walk after eating. This will improve metabolism.
5. Sleep more. During sleep, a person produces growth hormone, which helps to restore metabolism.
6. Spend more time on fresh air, ventilate the rooms more often. Oxygen, penetrating into the blood, also improves metabolism.
7. Go to the bath. Cardiopalmus accelerates metabolic processes in the body. Slag comes out with sweat.
8. Visit a massage parlor.

Hormonal background

At the end of lactation, you should consult a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:

• the appearance of hair under the navel, on the chest, on the upper lip;
• a sharp set or rapid weight loss that does not recover after lactation;
• prolonged (a week or more) and painful periods, minor bleeding between cycles;
• dizziness, swelling, sleep disturbances;
• neurosis.

If you find these symptoms in yourself, take a blood test for hormones. Only special research will reveal real reason ailments. Treatment will be prescribed by a doctor. All you can do in this case is to strictly follow the recommendations, eat more foods rich in vitamins, avoid coffee and tobacco.

Muscles of the vagina

Bridge exercise is effective in recovery pelvic bones after childbirth

The timing of the recovery of the pelvic organs after childbirth largely depends on individual physiological characteristics women, as well as how carefully the young mother will follow the doctor's instructions.

It takes approximately 6-8 weeks for the pelvic bones to heal. To help your body, do a few simple exercises:

1. Lie on your back, bend your knees, and leave your feet flat on the floor. Place your palms on your stomach and as you exhale, pull it in as much as possible. Hold in this position, first for 3-4 seconds, and then for 10 seconds.
2. After exhaling, make a "Bridge" and tighten the muscles of the retracted abdomen. Press your chin to your chest.
3. Get on all fours, arch your back and pull your stomach in at the same time.

For speedy recovery Vaginal doctors recommend following these recommendations:

1. stop sexual life at the time of lochia activation.
2. Wash yourself after going to the toilet.
3. Change more often sanitary napkin(up to 5 times a day).

If there were tears during childbirth, stitches were applied, the recovery process may be delayed. To speed up healing, it is recommended:

• take more to avoid constipation vegetable oil before meals and reduce the consumption of bread. If necessary, put glycerin suppositories;
• sleep without underwear, protecting the seams from unnecessary irritation;
• lubricate the sutures twice a day with wound healing preparations;
• when resuming sexual activity, use a lubricant.

Exercises to restore the tone of the uterus and vagina should be started as early as possible. However, after a caesarean section, ruptures and cracks, it is worth postponing gymnastics for 2-3 months.

To restore the muscles of the vagina, you can perform a set of Kegel exercises. Exercise should not be neglected. They stimulate blood circulation well and promote tissue healing. Previously, such gymnastics was intended for women with urinary incontinence, and a little later it became great solution to restore the muscles of the vagina after childbirth. If you follow all the recommendations in good faith, full recovery can be achieved within 2-3 months.

How long does the navel take to heal

Usually, the umbilical cord clip falls off in babies 3-5 days after birth. At proper processing the navel heals in 2 weeks. However, this period is individual. Experts advise:

• dress the baby in clothes made from natural fabrics to avoid allergic reactions;
• daily disinfect the wound with hydrogen peroxide;
• avoid getting moisture on the wound.

The navel is considered healed if it does not bleed for several days, does not secrete fluid, and the skin around it does not differ from the rest of the skin.

Vision

Rosehip helps to restore vision after childbirth

Vision after childbirth may fall due to a lack of vitamins during pregnancy. The baby consumed most of the nutrients. A woman spends a lot of time before giving birth in a confined space, where all objects are close. As a result, the muscles of the eyes weaken, vision deteriorates.

To restore visual acuity, a series of useful exercises to train the eye muscles:

1. Find 2 distant points: one closer (for example, the window handle), and the second - further (for example, the house opposite). With a difference of 10-15 seconds, look from one object to another.
2. Raising your eyelids, close your eyes with your palms, and then open them. Repeat the exercise 10 times. It will help strengthen the muscles of the eyeballs.
3. “Write” numbers from one to nine in the air with your eyes.
4. Close your eyes.

Nails and hair

To restore hair and nails, consume more foods containing calcium. It is this element that is the main "construction" component of the body. The main symptoms of calcium deficiency are:

• fast fatiguability;
• depression;
• anxiety.

Vitamin complexes will relieve calcium deficiency. At the same time, due to a lack of vitamin D in the body, calcium may not be absorbed. Parallel to vitamin complexes must be used:

• hard and processed cheese (leader in calcium content);
• boiled shrimp;
• skimmed milk;
• black bread;
• sour cream;
• leek;
• dried fruits.

These foods will also help boost your immune system.

• to restore nails need to use cosmetics without formaldehyde, and to eliminate their fragility - creams with wax;
• to save teeth (in addition to regular brushing) you need to visit the dentist twice a year;
• to maintain healthy hair, you can use burdock oil.

How to recover mentally

Good way to avoid postpartum depression- communication with husband

According to statistics, after giving birth, 85% of women experience depression. But do not forget that tears, mood swings, psychosis are not the result of psychological trauma. The period of adaptation to motherhood can last several months. In order not to become discouraged, adhere to the following rules:

1. Keep track of your appearance. The feeling of self-attractiveness improves mood. Give yourself at least half an hour a day, pamper yourself with new clothes and cosmetics.
2. Get to know your baby better, learn to recognize his desires.
3. Don't refuse help. If relatives offer to clean the apartment or cook breakfast for you, agree.
4. Communicate more with your husband. Support of the loved one during this period is very important.
5. Expand your social circle. In addition to relatives, call up friends, invite friends to visit, have parties, attend city holidays.

Recovery after premature, artificial and repeated births

Chamomile - very effective depressant

After premature birth, the emotional background of a woman is the main object of recovery. Dealing with emotions on your own is not easy. It is worth contacting a psychotherapist. The specialist will appoint necessary procedures and medicines that will not harm the body. Caring for a newborn will help you take your mind off negative thoughts.

Often the cause of premature birth is a chronic disease: diabetes, pancreatitis, hypertension. After delivery, you need to take a blood test for biochemistry. Visit your gynecologist regularly. Without restoring the body, you will not be able to bear the next child. Avoid stress, eat right and take walks in the fresh air more often.

After artificial childbirth (abortion), the recovery rate depends on the capabilities of the body. Recovery is faster if the gestational age was short. In this case, you can also drink chamomile and valerian to normalize the emotional background. Planning a pregnancy immediately after an abortion is not worth it. Having resumed sexual life, it is necessary to be protected. Full recovery from both primary and secondary births should take at least two years. During this time, there is a normalization of all processes in the female body.

How to speed up recovery

AT good mood the recovery process is both more fun and faster

The key to a quick and successful recovery after childbirth is to follow the doctor's recommendations. A woman needs good rest. The sooner you can restore your sleep pattern, the easier it will be for you to adapt to the role of a mother. Try to eat only healthy food. Useful substances during the recovery period after childbirth are needed for both you and your child. Do not neglect the help of relatives. Ask a spouse or close family member to fill in for a few hours so you can change scenery and relax.

After childbirth, you need to communicate with the child more often, get to know him closer, breastfeed. Try to always stay in a good mood. A positive attitude is the key to health. Give yourself pleasure, enjoy life, and then the recovery time after childbirth will not only be reduced, but will also leave you with pleasant impressions for life.

With the advent of a child, a woman's life changes, and her body experiences numerous stresses and changes. Gradually reproductive system is restored and again becomes capable of bearing and giving birth, about which ...

In this article:

After childbirth, which ended successfully, every mother feels happy. An extraordinary feeling of lightness and freedom passes through the whole body. Everything is fine and you have already seen your handsome and healthy baby. However, soon the euphoria is replaced by fatigue, you need good vacation along with sound and deep sleep.

On the first day after childbirth, the uterus begins to contract several times stronger, the bleeding practically stops, as the vessels are closed by blood clots. At this time, the doctor must observe the puerperal. In the following hours, the uterus begins to become smaller in size, its walls become thicker, the lumen narrows.

Immediately after childbirth, a hand can pass through the pharynx into the uterus, in a day it will be possible to insert only two fingers, in another day only one finger. Three weeks later, the pharynx is completely closed.

Features of the postpartum period

Features of the postpartum period can be considered the fact that inner side The uterus is similar to a wound, since on the first day after childbirth there is blood in it. It turns out that all protective barriers are completely destroyed. Lochia (discharge) has an alkaline reaction, so if no security measures are taken, it may appear serious consequences childbirth. This may be an inflammatory process occurring in the genitals, or other equally unpleasant problems.

The consequences after childbirth are different for every woman. However, in all the subsequent reverse development of the uterus occurs gradually, at a slow pace. It reaches its usual weight (80g) only after six weeks. Lochia also changes slowly. The first few days they are bloody, the next day they are brown, after the tenth day they become, as they were before the birth or completely stop.

Another feature of the postpartum period can be considered a change in the functioning of work endocrine system. Fast out female body withdrawn steroid hormones, after which the pituitary gland begins the production of lactogenic hormone. Due to this influence on the fourth day after the completion of childbirth, blood flow to the mammary glands increases. These processes are considered preparation for lactation.

The first days after childbirth, the intestines do not work so well. His tone is significantly weakened, digestion becomes slower, there is a complete absence of stool. You will have to empty the bowels using an enema or laxatives. Also, the first days you need to follow a special simple diet.

What changes after childbirth?

The female body goes through many changes after childbirth. Most of them are connected not only with the internal state, but also with the external one. During pregnancy, a large number of growth hormones are released, as a result of which hair and nails begin to grow faster. However, after childbirth, a completely different situation will be observed. The hair will begin to fall out in small amounts, it will lose its shine. Nails become more brittle and dry. Of course, after a few months, all processes in the body will return to normal, and the hair with nails will gradually become the same as it was before pregnancy.

Stretch marks on the skin are considered another change after childbirth. This is an important problem that can only be solved by using additional funds or exercise. Stretch marks appear on the thighs and buttocks. It also happens that in some women in labor they disappear a short time after childbirth or become not so obvious. You should not be upset because of this, because life goes on, all the stretch marks that you have now will gradually disappear after childbirth, and you just need to deal with these problems.

Menstruation after childbirth

Most women are concerned about how and when the menstrual cycle will be restored. For most mothers, it occurs 40 days after birth. Breastfeeding women don't have them. for a long time(a few months). We can't talk about the norm here. exact dates recovery, as they will be individual for each woman.

This is due to lactation. The thing is that the body of a woman after childbirth begins to produce prolactin. It suppresses the formation and work of hormones in the ovaries, so the egg does not mature in due time. If the baby is fully breastfed, then the mother's menstrual cycle will be restored only after the introduction of small complementary foods. In the case when the child is on mixed feeding, that is, there is an alternation of feeding with complementary foods and breast milk, then menstruation will be fully restored in two, three months. During only artificial feeding, menstruation is restored in a few weeks after childbirth.

In general, recovery will be influenced by factors such as:

• The course of pregnancy and how the birth went;
• Age and condition of the mother;
• Compliance with the correct daily regimen (good sleep and nutrition);
• The presence of chronic diseases;
• Mental condition.

The process of restoration of the genital organs

Immediately after childbirth, the vagina will be swollen. This is a normal situation that goes away after a few days. This natural process may be accompanied by small blood secretions. Pain may be felt, slight retraction. Many women in childbirth note that the sensitivity of the vagina is changing.

This is manifested in the fact that a woman does not feel anything during intimacy. However, do not panic about this. This is only a temporary phenomenon, which is due to the flabbiness of the walls. intimate organs. Recovery will take a small amount of time, with the use and execution special exercises, it will be even faster.

The state of the cardiovascular system

The health of a woman after childbirth is considered unstable, but it is restored over time. Changes are observed in absolutely everything, the same applies to the cardiovascular system. Directly to feeling unwell and fatigue is added by an increased volume of blood circulating through the body. It is not uncommon for an increase in heart rate. Recovery of this system will occur within 3-4 weeks.

It is known that initially there is heavy bleeding. For this reason, the coagulation system works intensively. Because of it, in the first two weeks, the number of platelets in the blood increases significantly. No other changes in the cardiovascular system are observed.

The bladder and its activities

The postpartum condition of a woman cannot be called satisfactory, it even affects the urinary system. During pregnancy, it works as it should. After that, small changes occur that affect poor urination. As a rule, it is very painful. This is explained by the fact that urine falls on abrasions and wounds formed during childbirth. Because of this, a strong burning sensation begins.

It often happens that the puerperal is unable to control urination. She does not feel pressure and urges. Decreased sensitivity Bladder. After a short period of time, as soon as all the cracks heal, the urinary system will return to normal.

constipation

The first month after childbirth, the occurrence of constipation is not excluded. As a rule, according to the method of occurrence, two types are distinguished:

1. The first type is atonic. During this, bowel tone drops dramatically. He becomes lethargic and unproductive. This type of constipation is most often due to muscle weakness manifested after caesarean section. Such a response is considered a normal response to an intervention. During atonic constipation appear aching pain in the abdominal region. There is a feeling that the intestines are full, nausea begins;
2. The second type is spastic constipation. It occurs when the tone of the intestine is increased, and peristalsis becomes unproductive because of this. This form caused by excruciating pain. Nausea, "sheep" feces and irritability are the main symptoms.

The condition of a woman immediately after childbirth can also be complicated by hemorrhoids. This disease is a varicose vein located in the rectum, more precisely in its lower section. Its exacerbation after childbirth depends on the failure of the entire intestinal system, as well as from intestinal tone. It manifests itself in several forms: acute and chronic.

The first type develops rapidly, and its features include constant itching, burning sensation. Because of this, stool retention begins. All symptoms develop almost imperceptibly for the puerperal, but you need to deal with them already at first. If this disease occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor for a consultation and examination.

Breast and its condition

During pregnancy, the body is completely rebuilt and changes. The female breast is no exception. After childbirth, it changes greatly in size: it begins to swell, it becomes larger, the nipples darken. Sometimes painful and discomfort. This is due to the beginning of the functioning of the mammary glands.

Women after childbirth are upset because the shape of the breast is changing. It sags, stretch marks and cracks appear on it. However, you should not worry, because most of these problems will disappear on their own after a while, and the rest can be solved on your own.

Women's breasts become more sensitive and tender. For this reason, it is worth choosing special underwear for her, it is better to observe hygiene measures, and often massage. This will help to avoid its roughness and hardening. All movements should be soft and smooth.

postpartum discharge

After childbirth, the puerperal from the genitals begins to receive copious discharge having the name - suckers. At first, they have a reddish color, as they are excreted along with the blood. After a while, their color changes, becomes white, and after eight weeks, the discharge practically stops. During extraction, you will need to use disposable pads and underpants.

You can buy them at a pharmacy or other specialized store. It is better to purchase pads and panties from reputable companies to be sure of the quality of the products. These hygiene products should be soft, comfortable, and in addition should be well absorbent.

The postpartum period is the time from the end of childbirth until the complete completion of the reverse recovery changes. At this time, you should keep general recommendations. With their help, you can quickly recover, continue your usual life and lead complete care for the baby.

Most women wonder what to do after childbirth? After giving birth, you need to try to return your body to normal life as soon as possible. This will help not only you, but also your child, as he needs permanent care and attention.

For fast cleansing body:

• Do not eat anything fatty and smoked after childbirth;
• Starting from the second day, you can eat simple homemade food, exclude too fatty salads, fried or heavy foods;
• Drink juice daily
• Check your stool daily.

If after childbirth there are cracks in the vagina, then you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Do not sit on a hard surface until they are healed! If you need to sit down, then you need to put a folded pillow under you;
• After using the toilet, be sure to wash yourself with baby soap;
• Using hydrogen peroxide, treat the perineum several times a day;
• Three times a day, insert a tampon into the vagina, previously soaked in chamomile infusion.

Life after childbirth and the postpartum period are considered the most difficult in the life of every woman. For Get well soon and return to normal, you will need to follow the recommendations described above. Taking them into account, you can accelerate the reverse process of changes in the body, quickly recover. In the event of even the slightest suspicion of bad condition you should immediately consult a doctor!

Useful video about how a woman looks after childbirth

The probability of conception after childbirth is of interest mainly to those who are in no hurry to immediately acquire the next after the birth of one child. However, there are (although much less often) other situations: parents want the difference between children to be as small as possible; unfortunately, tragic circumstances occur (for example, artificially induced premature birth due to severe malformation of the fetus or high risk for mother's life). Regardless of the reasons for which you are interested in the likelihood of conception after childbirth, it is useful first of all to understand what happens to the ovarian-menstrual cycle of a woman in the postpartum period.

Even during pregnancy, the pituitary gland of a woman begins to actively produce the hormone prolactin, which prepares the mammary glands for lactation, stimulates lactation and at the same time suppresses ovulation. At the moment when the baby suckles the breast, the secretion of prolactin intensifies, and as the time between feedings increases, it falls. As a rule, while a woman is breastfeeding only, prolactin completely suppresses ovulation - lactational amenorrhea occurs (absence of menstruation during breastfeeding). However, there are, and often, cases when, with quite sufficient lactation, the menstrual cycle is restored relatively quickly.

Concerning the probability of conception, the following can be stated.

When can you get pregnant after giving birth?

Firstly, it is almost impossible to establish any patterns in the timing of the restoration of the ability to conceive. That is, of course, it is known that breastfeeding causes a delay in ovulation, but it is impossible to accurately predict the time of the first postpartum ovulation. The timing of the resumption of ovulation after childbirth is very individual. Moreover, they can be different in the same woman after different kinds, so you should not rely on your previous experience in this matter. The main indicator of ovulation recovery is the first postpartum menstruation. Non-breastfeeding women begin menstruation earlier than breastfeeding women. It is known that the earliest ovulation was registered on the fourth week after childbirth in non-lactating women and on the seventh week in lactating women. In order not to miss the first postpartum ovulation, it is recommended to use a temperature test1. Start measurement basal body temperature lactating women should be from the 6th week after childbirth, and non-nursing - from the 4th: in order not to miss the moment of its increase, indicating ovulation.

Second, anovulatory cycles (i.e. menstruation without ovulation) may occur after the return of menses.

Thirdly, the absence of menstruation does not mean at all that a woman cannot conceive a child. The fact is that the moment of conception may fall just in the middle of a newly restored cycle.

It is noticed that at the onset of the next pregnancy, the child often refuses mother's milk. It is assumed that one of the mechanisms of the child's refusal to breastfeed in this situation is the following. At the moment when the baby begins to breastfeed, the mother reflexively releases the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the contraction of smooth muscles. This leads to a reduction in the terminal ducts of the mammary gland (milk is, as it were, "injected" into the child's mouth). At the same time, the muscles of the uterus also contract. This is very useful after childbirth, but in the case new pregnancy an increase in the tone of the uterus can lead to miscarriage. Therefore, apparently, at the onset of the next pregnancy, the secretion of oxytocin is suppressed, and it becomes unusually difficult for the child to suckle. Moreover, under the influence hormonal changes in the body accompanying the onset of pregnancy may change taste qualities milk. However, there is no natural connection between the refusal of the child to breastfeed and re-pregnancy.

How long does it take to recover after childbirth

Modern medicine claims that for the complete restoration of the female body after childbirth, the interval between childbirth and next pregnancy should be at least two years, although, of course, this should be considered more of a recommendation than an immutable rule: many women have safely given birth and give birth to children of the same age.

Mom, don't rush. How long should I wait before planning my next pregnancy?

Agree, if there are certain WHO medical recommendations on the interval between births, then it was not without reason that they were developed and written? In addition, unfortunately, not all women who want to have a bunch of children can be called practically healthy. For them certain period a break between children is far from the last thing.

Why is the term measured: what should be the interval between pregnancies?

From the point of view of physiology, nothing prevents a healthy woman from becoming pregnant again literally immediately after childbirth (as you know, lactation does not prevent this at all). Often this is how it happens, and weathers are born - brothers and sisters with a difference of only a year or so. If the mother is healthy, the previous pregnancy went well, then everything will most likely go smoothly this time.

Although, probably, there are very few parents who consciously plan exactly the weather. Because, having barely given life to one baby, immediately carrying the next one is far from being a lifting burden for all modern women (and their husbands). And the reasons do not always lie in the fatigue of the body after a recent birth. The fact is that both physically and psychologically the female body at this time is not yet fully adapted to external life. A woman who has given birth, together with a child, has been in a rather closed system "mother - child" for a long time. All the forces and feelings of a woman are directed to the baby, for whom, in turn, the whole world is concentrated for a long time in one single person - mother. This relationship continues as long as the baby is breastfed, which means at least a year or two.

Officially, doctors believe that the optimal interval between births should be at least two years. Note that this is the period between births, that is, before next conception and pregnancy, the body needs to rest a little more than a year. The basis for such medical advice served a number of anatomical, biochemical, hormonal and other studies. According to doctors, the body must be given at least a year and a half (before conception) in order to finally restore the work of all organs, the vascular system, blood flow, and return to normal hormonal levels.

All the will of God?

It is quite natural that women who intend to endure a certain period of time and how to recover properly need to be protected. However, there are many in Russia who do not do this for fundamental, most often religious, reasons. Some of these women are already experiencing their sixth or seventh birth by the age of 25. Unfortunately, almost all of them are at risk. In practice, this means the threat of bleeding during childbirth and the postpartum period, the development of diseases such as anemia, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis lower extremities and external genital organs (since the veins that are at the same level with the inferior vena cava experience a constant compression syndrome).

Due to the short break between pregnancies, the uterus does not have time to build up the necessary basal layer, to which the placenta should normally attach. As a result, fetoplacental insufficiency, or impaired blood flow between the placenta and the baby, is formed. Children born to such mothers are often prone to malnutrition (growth retardation in the womb and low birth weight).

And all these problems are caused by one thing - insufficiently sustained period between births. After all, even if absolutely healthy body do not give rest, at some point violations cannot be avoided. Someone may object that earlier children were born one after another, without thinking about the timing. In general, it was believed: if a woman is able to become pregnant immediately after childbirth, this is normal. Let it be. However, it is also known that not all children survived, and many were born weakened. It would seem that in our days certain hopes are inspired by the progress of medicine. But on the other hand, the ecological situation and living conditions leave much to be desired. All this does not make a person healthier.

What questions need to be addressed before re-pregnancy

Of course, plans to expand the family are a purely personal matter. And yet, the recommendations of doctors should not be neglected. They are usually based on how your first pregnancy went. When making predictions for the future, doctors always take into account the difficulties that a woman faced the previous time. Perhaps the patient suffers from a general disease. In this case, they need to be eliminated and only then think about a new pregnancy. If serious anomalies touched labor activity, you need to carefully understand the reasons. Women who have undergone surgery during childbirth are automatically at risk. For them, there is a certain order of mandatory examinations. It also applies to those who suffer from chronic somatic diseases, blood diseases (coagulability disorder, chronic anemia). special attention require patients with nephropathy. Against the backdrop of this disease last trimester Pregnancy significantly increases the pressure, edema and adverse changes in the urine appear. If a woman is not cured, or at least has not undergone the necessary examination, her new pregnancy will be more difficult than the previous time. Old sores inevitably pile up on the problems of the new. And of course, it is better to get rid of them before the onset of the next pregnancy.

When to wait before planning another pregnancy

Getting ready to be a mom again special care a woman must show a Rh-negative affiliation. It is not uncommon for the first child to be born with positive Rh factor. And doctors do not conduct the necessary examinations, in the first 24 hours after childbirth they do not administer the anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin necessary in this situation. The consequences of such mistakes are quite serious. First, antibodies passing through mother's milk into the body of a child, can cause serious changes in the nervous system, up to nuclear jaundice. Secondly, if antibodies are detected already during the next pregnancy, it is necessary to induce artificial labor ahead of time so as not to aggravate the situation.

With a caesarean section, doctors recommend holding it for at least 2-2.5 years, in order to then conceive and deliver normally next child. Will mom be able to give birth this time naturally, depends on the reason why the caesarean was done. It's one thing if a woman had a large fetus, foot presentation, or the weight of the fetus did not match the size of the mother's pelvis. In this case, after passing the necessary examinations, she can give birth herself. If we are talking about diseases in which it is impossible to independently endure such a load as childbirth (indications of a neurologist, traumatologist or ophthalmologist), then avoid reoperation fail. It is clear that chronic diseases spine, obliquely displaced pelvis or spinal fracture is better for next birth won't.

Extensive ruptures of the cervix that occur during childbirth also limit a woman's desire to become pregnant again as soon as possible. In this situation, cervical plastic surgery and an appropriate adaptation period are necessary. Moreover, in this case natural childbirth impossible. The only thing left is a caesarean section.

In multiple pregnancy, the uterus healthy woman returned to normal at the same time as normal childbirth. However, according to the observations of doctors, mothers of twins do not soon decide on a second birth. They have a lot of workload.

If a woman has suffered diseases such as syphilis and hepatitis, then several years should pass between the present and future births.

The golden mean: the optimal break between pregnancies

The break between births should not be too long. After all, when a woman decides to have a baby 15-20 years after the first birth, it is hard for both doctors and her. Over time, as a rule, sores appear in the form of an infection, inflammatory processes in the appendages, often fibroids, mastopathy. Often, abortions are added to this. Age cannot be discounted. The woman has become older, which means that in addition to medical problems there are also psychological ones.

After so much time, they decide on a second baby, as a rule, for the sake of a new husband. It is fair to assume that a woman is tormented by questions throughout her pregnancy: how will the stepfather treat the first child, and the eldest child - to the newborn, etc. A woman is often forced to resort to the help of a psychologist.

Of course, it is better to stick to the golden mean. However, it is quite obvious that you need to prepare and plan for a new pregnancy in the same way as the previous one. Again, you will have to take the same tests and undergo all the necessary examinations.

By the way, in schools for future parents you can often meet experienced mothers who decided to have another baby in our difficult time. They want to do well this time as well.

Elena Petrovna Ozimkovskaya, chief physician maternity hospital