Why women need time to recover from childbirth

The birth of a baby, despite all the emotions provoked by the event, is a fiery test for a woman’s body. And while young mothers, when there are no complications, are discharged from the hospital within 2 or 3 days, some within 24 hours of delivery, the process to full recovery takes much longer.

O awesome.club decided to investigate the changes experienced by women during childbirth and how long it takes to fully recover.

During pregnancy, the subcutaneous fat of the abdomen that protects the baby from external influences can increase significantly. This happens due to hormonal changes and the disproportionate nutrition of the expectant mother. Therefore, the state of the abdomen in the postpartum period depends on the amount of extra pounds a woman has during pregnancy.

After delivery, the muscles in the abdomen contract again in 6 or 8 weeks. After a cesarean, they take a little longer to get back to normal, because of the postoperative sutures. If diastasis (separation of the rectus abdominis muscles) does not occur, which requires medical intervention, the mother can start exercising 1.5 or 2 months after giving birth, so that the figure gradually returns to its old shape. As long as the exercises are done regularly, the abdominal muscles will recover completely in 1 or 2 years.

During breastfeeding, the breasts increase in size because the lobules are stretched by the milk. Tendons and muscles cannot hold the breast tissue, whose weight increases by 2 or 3 times in the postpartum period compared to before pregnancy. In this context, breast ptosis can occur. The nipples and areolas also enlarge, and their color becomes darker. The skin of the breast becomes thinner, and its hue may become bluish, transparent, making the network of blood vessels more visible. The more milk there is, the heavier the breast will be, and in order to withstand the overload, it needs more support and care.

The younger the mother, the more elastic the tissue, and the more trained the pectoral muscles, the faster the breast will recover from lactation. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to restore the skin’s original shape and elasticity. But if you don’t neglect the process from the start, you can get very good results.

Adequate nutrition, vitamins from groups A, B and C, gentle massages on the breasts, wearing comfortable clothes and exercising preserve the beauty of the breast and the elasticity of the skin.

During pregnancy, a woman’s locomotor system is overloaded, and the body produces the hormone relaxin, which is responsible for the elasticity of vertebral ligaments and muscles. This causes changes in the spine, lower limb joints, pelvic bones and back muscles.

The center of gravity during this period undergoes a change and the spine is displaced, causing a lot of pain. After delivery, progesterone and estrogen levels drop significantly, which slows down metabolism. This leads to an increase in adipose tissue.

The recovery period of the musculoskeletal system after the birth happens gradually, taking from 3 to 4 months. During this time, joint pain syndromes, bone pain, and muscle cramps may occur. The use of a postpartum belt and the practice of specific gymnastics help to combat lower back pain, as they strengthen the back muscles. The aforementioned changes can disappear without a trace, as long as the woman did not have problems with her musculoskeletal system before. Unfortunately, it is now common to see girls with disorders such as scoliosis already in school.

During pregnancy and after childbirth, the uterus undergoes numerous changes. In a woman who has never had children, the weight of the organ varies between 40 and 60 grams. Already in one that has already given birth, it reaches about 80 grams. But right after childbirth, the weight of the uterus is approximately 1 kilo. These changes happen due to the hypertrophy of the muscle membrane that occurs during pregnancy. The lower part of the uterus is approximately at the level of the navel, and for the first few days after the child is born, it will appear that the mother has not yet given birth.

After separation and delivery of the placenta, the uterus becomes an injured surface, which needs 9 or 10 days to heal. In the first 3 to 7 days, heavy uterine bleeding occurs, which gradually subsides. Later, between 6 to 8 weeks after delivery, a blood flow called lochia appears. When the uterus recovers normally, in 10 days its weight is reduced by half. In up to 2 months after delivery, the organ is completely restored, returning to normal weight: 50 to 80 grams.

The cervix also undergoes changes. Immediately after birth, he is about 10 to 12 cm dilated. On the tenth day after delivery, the cervix closes completely. Already 21 days after the baby is born, the uterine pharynx also closes. After delivery, the cervix changes its shape forever, changing from conical to cylindrical, and the external pharynx takes on the shape of a groove.

This is a gynecological characteristic inherent in all women who give birth, and only visible to the gynecologist. Obviously, these changes do not occur after a cesarean. Three months after giving birth, the cervix is ​​already functioning as before.

Many factors influence the process of restoring menstrual function in the woman who has given birth. It depends on how the pregnancy took place, whether there were complications during childbirth, the age of the mother, her diet, the presence of chronic diseases, the amount and quality of sleep and many other factors.

Generally, if there are no significant abnormalities, in the case of non-breastfeeding mothers, as well as some breastfeeding mothers, the first period (not lochia) occurs between 6 to 8 weeks after birth. In most breastfeeding women, the cycle may not return to normal until late in lactation. This is due to the breastfeeding process, and is neither a rule nor a pathology. Restoration of the menstrual cycle is individual for each woman.

During lactation, there is the production of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates the production of breast milk and also suppresses the formation of new hormones in the ovaries, egg maturation and ovulation. Ovulation, like the menstrual cycle, is restored after breastfeeding is stopped. But this does not necessarily mean that a new pregnancy cannot occur during this period.

The vagina is a muscular organ, which also undergoes a series of changes during childbirth. Muscles stretch, elasticity and tone weaken. But it’s a totally normal process in this situation. Many women worry about the matter, thinking that their vagina will be forever bigger after giving birth, fearing that it will negatively affect the quality of their intimate life. In reality, there is no reason to worry, as the loss of vaginal shape is temporary.

Inflammation improves in 3 or 4 days after birth. Two weeks later, the lesions heal, and the vaginal walls regain their pinkish hue. Only the surface of the walls will change forever: in all women who have had children, they are smooth, while in those who have not had biological children they are more pronounced. This is what can end up creating the illusion of an increase in the size of the vagina.

The time required for the vagina to recover after the birth of a baby is relative, but it takes, on average, between 6 to 8 weeks. This process depends on possible complications and individual characteristics of the body. In any case, during the recovery period, it is necessary to avoid vaginal intercourse, in order to allow the injured surface of the uterus to heal, preventing infections. In order for the muscles of the vagina to get back into shape faster, it is good to practice Kegel exercises: contract and then relax the pelvic muscles 15 to 20 times, 5 times a day.

In the postpartum period, many young mothers experience emotional changes: anxiety attacks, fatigue, changes in mood. The woman experiences a psychological overload, worries constantly about the health and development of the child and does not get enough sleep. In addition, tiredness leads to a decrease in psychomotor reactions.

In more severe cases, depression can arise. The mother may feel guilty because she feels that she is not giving enough attention to the newborn, or that the baby is responsible for her feeling useless, etc. In such a situation, the intervention of a specialist is necessary, even if it is a consultation with a psychologist, so that the woman can overcome the problem as soon as possible, being able, finally, to enjoy motherhood.

In general, a woman who has just become a mother really needs the help, understanding and support of relatives. Regular outdoor walks, a rich and balanced diet that compensates for the nutrients lost during breastfeeding are also very important.

The American Laura Fry published on her Facebook page an illustrated example of how the recovery process of women after childbirth occurs. She showed that a dish with a diameter of 22 cm (8.6 inches) is equal to the average diameter of the placenta, which leaves a wound in the uterus after the child is born.

Do you have kids? How do you deal or have you dealt with the postpartum period? Comment!