Why does the stomach hurt after childbirth, what to do if there is a discrepancy in the muscles and pulls in the lower abdomen. Unpleasant sensations after childbirth. Postpartum pain. Why does the perineum hurt? 10 days after birth it hurts

Throughout the entire period of bearing a child, the female body adapted to changing conditions. The uterus enlarged as the fetus grew, the location of the internal organs changed, and the blood vessels and nerve plexuses were compressed.

Childbirth is a sudden loss of 4-5 kg, and sometimes much more weight, as well as a decrease in abdominal volume. The organs must return to their original state, so it can be accepted as normal that the lower abdomen hurts after childbirth. In most cases, this is an indicator of the physiological course of the postpartum period.

When is this considered normal?

Throughout pregnancy, the main hormone of the female body was. It reduced the tone of the uterus until the moment of birth and suppressed the secretion of prolactin. But by the day of delivery, its concentration decreased, but active production of oxytocin and prolactin began. Oxytocin controls the contractility of the smooth muscles of the uterus, but it is also necessary in the postpartum period, as well as throughout lactation.

Contractions of the uterine muscles are necessary during childbirth not only to open the cervix and expel the fetus. After separation of the placenta, the uterine walls are a continuous wound surface with bleeding vessels. For hemostasis, activation of the coagulation system alone is not enough. A spasm of blood vessels and a decrease in their lumen should occur. Oxytocin ensures further contraction of the uterus after the birth of the child, allowing bleeding to stop.

The size of the uterus decreases very quickly in the postpartum period. The doctor evaluates them daily during a walk around the height of the day. The following are considered normal rates of reduction:

immediately after birth - 4 cm above the navel (or 20 weeks of pregnancy);
the end of the first day - at the level of the navel;
on the second day - one finger width below the navel;
on the 3rd day – 2 fingers below the navel;
4 days – in the middle of the distance between the pubic symphysis and the navel;
on the 6th day – up to 9 cm above the pubis;
on the 10th day – protrudes slightly above the womb;
by 6-8 weeks corresponds to the state before pregnancy.

They are very painful, but postpartum contractions cannot be called pleasant. Most often they are associated with breastfeeding.

Two hormones are involved in the mechanism of milk formation and secretion. Prolactin ensures milk synthesis in the alveoli. Its excretion is regulated by oxytocin. When a baby is put to the breast, nipple irritation occurs, which stimulates the release of oxytocin by the pituitary gland. The hormone affects not only the myocytes of the mammary gland, its stimulating effect also extends to the myometrium. In the first few days, with each breastfeeding, a woman experiences cramping pain that resembles that during childbirth.

How long does your stomach hurt after childbirth?

This is a physiological process, it depends on the individual characteristics and speed of uterine contraction. In most cases, after 2 months the discomfort stops.

Also, do not forget about those who gave birth via cesarean section. In this case, physiological pain in the lower abdomen will be a natural reaction to a violation of the integrity of the anterior abdominal wall. The pain is post-operative. But it doesn't last long. In a hospital setting, narcotic analgesics are used to relieve pain, because they have a more pronounced analgesic effect. After about two days, you can switch to pain relief with an analgin solution, which in small doses will be safe for the child.

Signs of a pathological process

If after childbirth the stomach hurts for a natural reason, this condition is not characterized by additional symptoms. In the presence of a pathological process, pain can have a different nature and be accompanied by changes in the general condition.

Endometritis

During the first day, discharge from the genital tract should become brown, mucous, and less and less reminiscent of blood. But sometimes the bleeding does not decrease, but suddenly increases. At the same time, nagging pain appears in the lower abdomen. Additional signs are the following:

temperature increase;
signs of intoxication;
purulent discharge from the genital tract;
signs of uterine subinvolution;
tachycardia.

These symptoms are characteristic of postpartum endometritis. The condition most often develops after a cesarean section, but can also occur as a result of natural childbirth. Endometritis is an infectious postpartum complication and requires immediate medical attention.

The cause is a violation of contractility, which is associated with retention of parts of the placenta or fetal membranes. While they are in the uterus, it is not able to contract normally, which means the pathological process will progress.

Endometritis threatens to turn into parametritis - inflammation of the periuterine tissue, pelvioperitonitis - damage to the pelvic part of the peritoneum, peritonitis - an infectious-inflammatory process in the abdominal cavity. In this case, abdominal pain will only increase.

Symphysitis

In some cases, only a radiologist together with a traumatologist can determine why the lower abdomen continues to hurt even in the long term after childbirth. The cause is often symphysitis - separation of the bones of the pubic symphysis.

The prerequisites for the appearance of this pathology are associated with physiological reasons. The same progesterone is to blame, as well as the hormone relaxin secreted by the placenta. It leads to softening and divergence of the symphysis pubis. This is necessary so that the birth canal can adapt as much as possible to the parameters of the fetus.

Normally, the distance between the two bones of this joint does not exceed 1 cm. The symphysis pubis is a semi-movable joint. This means that a minimum amount of displacement of its surfaces relative to each other is allowed. During the birth of a child, the joint may diverge by an additional 5-6 mm. But sometimes pathological processes come into play, then the displacement reaches a critical value and leads to pain localized in the lower abdomen.

Degrees of discrepancy:

1st degree – discrepancy 5-9 mm;
2nd degree – 10-20 mm;
Grade 3 – more than 20 mm.

Postpartum pain caused by symphysitis most often appears 2-3 days after birth. A woman lying in bed cannot lift her legs up; walking causes pain. An accurate diagnosis can be made only after X-ray diagnostics.

Constipation

Postpartum abdominal pain may be associated with a more common cause. The intestines do not always quickly return to normal after pregnancy and childbirth. Sometimes it takes a while to get it going. But all this time, feces will accumulate, expanding the sigmoid colon and rectal ampulla. This is accompanied by a nagging, aching, bursting pain in the abdomen, which manifests itself approximately a week after delivery. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, constipation will become extreme.

For some women after childbirth, going to the toilet is associated with a certain fear of damaging the existing sutures on the perineum or hemorrhoids. At the same time, stagnant processes in the intestines are aggravated: liquid from the stool is gradually absorbed back into the intestines, it becomes dry and can lead to greater damage to the lower part of the intestines.

The presence of stool disorders harms not only the digestive tract. This causes displacement or compression of the uterus, and can lead to subinvolution.

Placental polyp

Retention of parts of the placenta in the uterine cavity will most likely lead to bleeding in the early postpartum period. But sometimes small parts, microscopic chorionic villi allow the uterus to fully contract, and signs of pathology appear after a long time.

The clinical picture appears after 4-5 weeks. Pain in the lower abdomen is not a characteristic sign of pathology; bleeding comes first, resulting in a decrease in hemoglobin, weakness, dizziness, and tachycardia. Uterine pain after childbirth appears after infection and the development of endometritis. Further, the clinical picture will develop according to the classic pattern of uterine inflammation.

Osteochondrosis

During pregnancy, a woman's posture changes. This is due to weight gain and its redistribution to the abdominal area. If the pregnant woman did not use a special support bandage, the pain syndrome will be severe.

After delivery, not everything immediately falls into place. Sometimes during pregnancy, compression of the nerve plexuses occurs, and after childbirth this can manifest itself as signs of osteochondrosis or neuritis. Pain in the lower abdomen will be combined with irradiation into the abdominal cavity.

When to see a doctor

The duration of the period of pain depends on individual characteristics and the speed of uterine involution. In most cases, during the first two weeks, the physiological discomfort associated with feeding the baby gradually decreases. The pain no longer appears at every feeding; its intensity decreases. When the uterus contracts completely, this symptom will disappear.

But there are signs that indicate a possible pathological process. If they appear, do not delay your visit to the doctor:

temperature may be low at first and then rise to 39°C;
disturbance of general well-being - weakness that does not go away after rest;
nagging pain in the lower abdomen that is constantly present;
chills as a symptom of fever;
headache;
bloody discharge from the genital tract (it may intensify and change in character from mucous to more liquid, reminiscent of scarlet blood);
cramping pain resembling spasms, after which blood clots are released;
absence of stool for more than two days;
inability to lift your heels off the bed when lying down;
change in gait to a waddling, “duck” gait;
sudden onset of bleeding over a long period after discharge from the hospital.

With a placental polyp, bleeding is usually intense and begins a month or two after the birth of the child. At the same time, it can be differentiated from menstruation: during menstruation, the nature of bleeding changes daily, it becomes less intense. In the case of a placental polyp, the discharge is scarlet and only intensifies.

You can contact a gynecologist for any changes that a woman considers different from physiological.

Ways to improve the condition

If there is a pain syndrome reminiscent of abdominal pain, as during menstruation, it is necessary to establish the cause of this condition. Obligatory steps are an examination by a doctor. It allows you to assess the size of the uterus, how well they correspond to the term, consistency, mobility of the organ, and the prevalence of pain.

An ultrasound is also required. With its help, you can notice the enlarged uterine cavity, the presence of clots, and remnants of the placenta. If the cause is a placental polyp, a mass formation will be noticeable. An inflammatory infiltrate around the uterus speaks in favor of the development of an inflammatory process.

Additional diagnostics depend on the information obtained in the first two stages. Laparotomy and x-ray diagnostics may be required.

It is possible to improve a woman’s condition and reduce pain depending on the causes of pain.

In the postpartum period, medications should be used with caution; most of them pass into breast milk. Those minimum concentrations for a small fetal weight may be enough to cause adverse reactions.

Pain associated with the natural process of uterine involution is not relieved with antispasmodics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Labor-like contractions are a natural process and only appear when the baby is breastfeeding. They are short-term and do not interfere with general well-being. When they appear, you need to make several calm breathing movements. Gradually these symptoms will disappear on their own.

Subinvolution of the uterus, which has not yet led to the appearance of endometritis, is treated by removing the remnants of the fetal place from the uterine cavity. Further tactics are to prescribe reducing agents and antibiotics to prevent infection.

If pain is associated with inflammation, it is necessary to assess the severity and prescribe appropriate treatment. For endometritis, antibiotic therapy is carried out, which prevents the infectious process from spreading further, and detoxification using intravenous infusion solutions.

After relief of acute inflammation, to prevent adhesions, which leads to the appearance, it is necessary to prescribe physiotherapy:

magnetic therapy;
laser therapy;
diadynamic currents;
medicinal electrophoresis.

Constipation after childbirth must be treated with diet and laxatives. We recommend products that act gently in the intestinal lumen. Sometimes a spoon of castor oil is enough to start the intestines. Lactulose is also used, which is sweet to taste and without an unpleasant odor. It is safe for newborns.

A diet for constipation includes foods that are rich in fiber and have a laxative effect. You need to eat several dried apricots or prunes a day, a boiled beet salad or beetroot soup. But you should not overdo it, abuse of a laxative diet will lead to a pronounced acceleration of peristalsis and cramping pain in the abdomen.

The divergence of the symphysis pubis takes a long time to treat; bed rest is necessary. If possible, the woman is not in a traditional bed, but in a special hammock that helps bring the pelvic bones together. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for pain relief.

To alleviate the condition, it is necessary to wear a bandage; a cane is used to evenly distribute body weight. Physiotherapy procedures are very helpful in restoring blood circulation and fusion of the symphysis.

Many believe that during the period of bearing a child, a woman’s body is renewed and rejuvenated. But this opinion is more likely to be a misconception. During pregnancy, the female body experiences enormous stress; it adapts to the needs of the child, sometimes to the detriment of the mother. After giving birth, she needs a period of recovery, which is not always painless. But it is necessary to distinguish physiologically acceptable pain from signs of pathology in order to consult a doctor in time and prevent the development of complications.

During the postpartum period, the mother's body recovers from stress associated with pregnancy and childbirth. These processes are especially intense in the first four to seven days from the birth of the child. If after a month after birth, pathology must be excluded. In this case, you need to consult a gynecologist.

The entire maternity process consists of three periods:

smoothing and opening of the cervix;
birth of a child;
birth of a child's place.

During pregnancy, the reproductive organ increases in accordance with the growth of the fetus, the muscles stretch. During childbirth, they contract rhythmically, expelling the fetus and then the placenta from the uterine cavity.

Physiological reasons

After childbirth, the uterus reverses its development - it becomes smaller in size, the muscles contract, and their volume decreases several times. The most active muscle contraction occurs in the first hours and days. This process is accompanied by the presence of pain in the lower abdomen after childbirth of a pulling nature, but this should soon pass.

The process of reverse development occurs under the influence of the hormone oxytocin. It affects the muscles of the uterus, bladder, abdominal wall, and pelvis, promoting their contraction. Under its influence, breast milk begins to be produced. The release of oxytocin increases when the baby is latched to the breast. The nipple and the area around it are abundantly dotted with receptors, upon irritation of which a large amount of oxytocin is produced, the muscles of the uterus contract more strongly under its influence.

When a baby is born by caesarean section, recovery is more difficult and takes longer. The reason for this is the presence of a wound on the wall of the abdomen and uterus.

Pathological causes

Most often, a month after childbirth, the reproductive organ is restored, the painful sensations disappear. This process is delayed when complications arise:

the presence of pieces of the baby's place in the uterus;
inflammation of its mucous membrane;
inflammatory process of the appendages;
transition of inflammation to the abdominal cavity;
vertebral displacement;
divergence of the bones of the pubic symphysis;
intestinal pathology;
bladder dysfunction.

A number of reasons why the stomach hurts after childbirth go away on their own within a month and do not cause significant harm to the woman’s health. However, the occurrence of inflammatory complications can be dangerous to the health of the mother.

Symptoms

Pain in the lower abdomen after childbirth in all women. At first, nagging, unpleasant pain appears in the lower abdomen. Each time during breastfeeding, they intensify and may become cramping, but tolerable. At first they are more pronounced, later the above symptoms will go away on their own as the discharge disappears. If complications occur, the pain does not go away until 4 months.

Symptoms of endometritis and inflammation of the appendages

Blood is an excellent breeding ground for the growth of pathogenic microbes. If pieces of the placenta remain in the uterus, the uterus cannot fully contract; bacteria rise from the vagina into its cavity through the open pharynx. During a caesarean section, infection can enter through the surgical wound.

Symptoms of inflammatory complications:

If the child was born through surgery:

the seam and the skin around it turn red;
become hot;
mucus and pus begin to come out of it.

If a mother continues to breastfeed her baby, he becomes restless, constantly cries and kicks his legs. The baby's stool may become liquid with an unpleasant odor, and regurgitation or vomiting may occur.

Symptoms of mastitis

If the infection has entered the mammary glands of a nursing mother, she may experience lower abdominal pain and a change in the nature of the discharge. This often happens in a situation where 2 months have not passed since birth.

The patient will be bothered by pain and discharge of pus from the chest, aching pain in the lower abdomen, and a rise in temperature.

Symptoms of peritonitis

The transition of the inflammatory process to the abdominal cavity can occur from the source of inflammation in the uterus or its appendages when seeking medical help late. In this case, the patient’s condition worsens:

the whole stomach hurts;
intensifies when touched;
becomes unbearable the moment the hand is removed from the stomach;
body temperature jumps to the highest possible numbers;
pressure decreases;
pulse quickens.

If two months have passed since the birth of the child, there is no longer any discharge; when such a complication develops, it appears again and becomes greenish with an unpleasant odor.

Symptoms of vertebral displacement

If the pain does not subside after 4 months of the baby's birth, you need to think about vertebral displacement. It is typical for him:

the pain is acute;
localized in the lumbar area;
intensifies when turning to the sides, bending, trying to lift the child;
“jamming” may occur.

When “jammed,” a woman cannot straighten up after an unsuccessful bend or turn. In severe cases, the substance of the spinal cord is pinched. Then the woman will be bothered by numbness in one or both legs.

This complication will not go away on its own. The patient should consult a neurologist.

Symptoms of intestinal pathology

As the fetus grows, the uterus pushes the intestines upward. He is in a compressed position throughout the pregnancy. After childbirth, women often experience constipation. On average, up to 4-6 months are needed to normalize intestinal function.

In this case, the patient bloats it. The stomach may hurt when you want to go to the toilet, the pain may go away after a bowel movement.

Diagnostics

When 2 or 3 months have passed after childbirth and the pain persists, the doctor conducts a series of studies:

examination on a chair;
examination of vaginal contents;
examination of discharge from a suture on the abdomen;
X-ray of the spine and pelvic bones;
urine and blood analysis.

Such studies help detect pieces of the placenta in the uterus. At the same time, the reproductive organ remains large in size, its wall will be loose. Pathogenic microbes are found in the discharge. A blood test shows inflammatory changes.

An X-ray of the spine and pelvic bones will detect displacement of the vertebrae or divergence of bones in the symphysis area.

Treatment

The treatment program depends on the cause of the pain. In case of inflammation, antibiotics are prescribed, solutions are dripped into a vein to reduce the manifestations of intoxication, and drugs are administered to contract the muscles of the uterus.

For intestinal diseases, a diet that includes fermented milk products and natural yoghurts is recommended. Vegetables and fruits are allowed depending on the child’s age and reaction to their consumption. If peritonitis occurs, surgery is performed. The patient also receives antibiotics.

In the first time after childbirth, at the first urge to go to the toilet, a woman should recover. Each restraint leads to the development of constipation.

Do not use synthetic pads or tampons. They must be made of natural fabric. Such pads need to be changed as they become saturated with secretions, but at least every two hours. You need to wash yourself using special products. At first, at least 4 times a day.

You need to put your baby to the breast at his request. The remaining milk needs to be expressed. The chest should be kept warm at all times.

If, a month after giving birth, the lower abdomen hurts, the patient should consult a gynecologist.

The perineum is the area between the vagina and anus. During a natural birth, there is a lot of pressure and strain on it, because it is stretched so much that the baby’s head can fit through the hole. Sometimes its diameter increases 15 times. Because the tissues have stretched so much, women in labor feel pain in the perineum after childbirth.

In this article we will talk about how to cope with unpleasant sensations, what dangers there may be and how long the heaviness in the vaginal area lasts.

Girls who have not had incisions are very surprised when they feel heaviness and discomfort in the vulva area. And they ask logical questions about... If the process of relieving the child has passed without additional intervention from doctors, then the muscles of the vulva will tighten for about 7-8 days after the birth of the baby. This is a normal recovery process when your body returns to its previous forms. The pain is similar to that of a bruise.

Sometimes swelling of the labia majora and even slight blue discoloration may occur.

Also, if a woman has little fatty tissue in the genital area, she may feel that after childbirth the bones between my legs hurt. But there is no need to be afraid: the bruise simply radiates to the surrounding areas.

In order to alleviate suffering, you need to:

On the first day after discharge from the hospital, provide yourself with bed rest. The most correct position in this case will be “in the star pose”: the girl should lie without pants or underwear on the bed on a special hygienic diaper, with her legs spread so that the wounded area is ventilated. This will ensure speedy healing.
Do not touch the sore spot, wash yourself as carefully as possible, directing a warm (in no case hot) stream of water to the bruised area.
(they are cotton without fragrances or texture). It needs to be changed every 2-3 hours in order to prevent friction.
Do not use toilet paper - wash carefully with warm water.
You can put a pack of sanitary pads in the freezer for a short while. Then the gasket will give off cold and the discomfort will subside.
If you feel discomfort when sitting, buy a special orthopedic pillow and place it under your buttocks.
You can take baths with chamomile decoction. 5-10 minutes in warm water with medicinal herbs in the morning and evening will significantly reduce your suffering.
For the first 3 days you can take ibuprofen (with your doctor's permission).
If the discomfort does not go away for more than 10 days, you need to visit a doctor. He will conduct an examination and if he does not find any pathology, he will prescribe you an anesthetic or a special cooling gel.

Cuts, tears and seams

Natural resolution does not always go smoothly: often the fetus is too large, and the woman’s pelvis is not adapted to such expansion. In order not to injure the baby or cause unnecessary pain to the mother, the obstetrician makes an incision, widening the exit so that the head fits through without problems.

The incision is made to avoid rupture, since smooth tissue is easier to stitch than a lacerated wound, it heals faster and there is less risk of bleeding. This area is then sutured with non-absorbable threads. Essentially, this is a mini-surgery. Answering the question about how long does the perineum hurt after childbirth, we can say that if you have had such stitches, within 3-4 weeks you will feel pain after childbirth vaginal area.

Internal sutures will also cause you discomfort if ruptures occur during the birth process and the doctor has to stitch up mini-wounds on the cervix or in the womb. Such scars heal quickly, and the threads are then completely absorbed by the body or come out piece by piece through the vulva. Such stitches bring less trouble to a woman and pain between legs after childbirth much less. In terms of intensity and time - up to 21 days.

How to care for a seam

First of all, hygiene is important when caring, because the danger of scars is that pus may leak or infection may occur. And infection of the vulva is dangerous because the virus can go further into the uterus and cause. Therefore, here are the basic rules for seam care:

Wash the tripe 2 times a day with warm water and antibacterial soap.
Wear special pads to prevent arguments and provoke itching in the perineum.
Wash with warm water after each visit to the toilet.
In the first three days, morning and evening, treat the scar with an antiseptic. Peroxide, Miramistin or any other substances that do not cause burning or irritation are suitable.
If the seam is broken in the womb, you can treat it with cotton wool completely soaked in a disinfectant.

You should urgently contact your treating gynecologist if you notice:

An increase in temperature not caused by any obvious external factors.
Copious discharge of pus.
An unpleasant yellow-green discharge from the womb that has a bad smell of rot.
Increased edema and swelling.
Dehiscence of wound edges.

Delay and self-medication in such situations can cost you too much.

How to relieve pain

Regardless of how long does the perineum hurt after childbirth, a sewn-up area brings a woman a lot of suffering. If you strictly follow basic hygiene requirements, you will be able to speed up wound healing and prevent complications.

But how to reduce discomfort during the recovery period, because you cannot drink strong painkillers, but it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle with a newborn.

Here are the basic tips:

On the first day, you can apply a special bag with cooled gel or a cool towel to the wounded area. This will relieve swelling and temporarily reduce the sensitivity of your nerve endings.
When the surgeon makes a large incision and places more than 3 stitches, the woman in labor is usually prescribed pain medication. Women who are breastfeeding are allowed Ibuprofen and Paracetamol; they do not contain any substances harmful to the baby, unlike Aspirin or drugs based on it. Women who do not have lactation or who for some reason have given up breastfeeding can take any strong drugs.
Do not sit or stand for more than half an hour. If it is not possible to lie down (if you are cooking or ironing), change your position from standing to sitting and vice versa every 20 minutes. Whenever possible, lie down. It is better to feed your baby while lying down.
Do not sit directly on the buttocks, try to sit sideways so as not to put pressure on the scar.
Ventilate the wound often.
Try to avoid constipation. As you push, you may inadvertently break the threads. Balance your diet and, if there are any problems,...

Listen to your body, don’t self-medicate if something goes wrong, and enjoy the joys of motherhood.

Possible causes Treatment Tips

The rehabilitation period after the birth of a child is different for all women. Many people experience stomach pain after childbirth, and this frightens young mothers. In fact, if these sensations are short-lived and quite tolerable, they are considered normal.

The muscles and internal organs have been subjected to enormous stress, and the body has been in a state of stress for some time. This is what determines the pain during this period. However, if they do not go away for too long and cause unbearable discomfort to the woman, this cannot be tolerated. Therefore, it is so important to understand the causes of these painful and unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen.

Possible reasons

If the lower abdomen hurts after childbirth, this phenomenon can be due to both physiological and pathological reasons. If you determine in a timely manner why this happens and what causes these pains, they can either be avoided altogether or reduced to a minimum. Among the most common causes, doctors name the following factors.

Nagging, cramping pain in the lower abdomen after childbirth is caused by the body’s active production of oxytocin. This is a hormone that provokes active contractions of the uterus. During this period, her muscles are in good shape, as this organ returns to its former shape and size (read more about the restoration of the uterus here). This is the main cause of pain in the lower abdomen after the birth of a baby. The second factor that explains why the stomach hurts after childbirth is breastfeeding. During lactation, a woman’s breast nipples become irritated, and this provokes even greater production of oxytocin. Accordingly, the uterus begins to contract even stronger and more actively, causing pain. Severe abdominal pain after childbirth, which does not stop after a month, is already a serious pathology, the causes of which can pose a danger to the health and life of the young mother. And one of them is the remains of the placenta in the uterus. It simply might not have been completely removed from there after the birth of the child. In this case, its particles become stuck to the wall of the uterus. This provokes the formation of blood clots and the process of rotting. The next reason is endometritis (inflammatory process of the uterine mucosa). It is most often diagnosed in women who gave birth not naturally, but by cesarean section. During this operation, infections and microbes often enter the uterus. As a result, after childbirth, the lower abdomen hurts greatly, the temperature rises, and there is bloody discharge with purulent clots. Salpingo-oophoritis (postpartum inflammation of the appendages) is another cause of discomfort after the birth of a baby. If it is present, at first there are mild but nagging pains in the lower abdomen, which do not go away over time. If the pain is unbearable and is accompanied by high fever, the cause may lie in peritonitis - a dangerous infectious disease that will require immediate treatment. If the lower abdomen and lower back hurt, radiating to the spine, we may be talking about a postpartum injury, namely, a displacement of the vertebrae. As a rule, such sensations can be disturbing even six months after childbirth, and they usually manifest themselves during physical activity or when walking, when a large load is placed on the spine. Sometimes a woman may find that her lower abdomen hurts a month after giving birth: the cause may be improper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Most often this happens due to a lack of dairy products and fiber in her diet. This leads to fermentation and gas formation processes, which create unpleasant painful sensations in the abdominal area. If the pain in the lower abdomen after childbirth is characterized by burning and rawness, this is due to the process of urination, which returns to normal within 3-4 days after the birth of the child. Over time, these unpleasant sensations pass. In some cases, the stomach may hurt due to severe divergence of the hip joint during labor. The process of its recovery can be quite long - up to 5 months, depending on the individual characteristics of the woman’s body.

This is why after childbirth the stomach hurts, just like during menstruation: everything is explained by normal or pathological physiological processes occurring in a woman’s body. If they are short-lived and pass quickly, there is no need to worry or panic. If a week has passed since giving birth and the pain still persists, you should definitely consult a doctor. You may need to undergo a course of treatment to avoid complications.

Treatment

If pain in the lower abdomen after childbirth is due to pathological causes and is not normal, the doctor will prescribe treatment. It will depend on what kind of disruptions occurred in the woman’s body after the birth of the baby.

If after childbirth your stomach hurts a lot due to the placenta remaining in the uterus, this problem can be solved with the help of surgical treatment. Blood clots and placenta particles are scraped out to avoid postpartum infection. After this, antibacterial therapy is prescribed. If severe pain in the lower abdomen is caused by beginning and developing endometritis, complex conservative treatment will be required. It includes antibacterial, infusion, detoxification, sedative, desensitizing and restorative therapy, and the use of uterine contractions. To limit inflammation, a therapeutic and protective regimen is prescribed to normalize the central nervous system. You will also need good nutrition, which will contain a lot of proteins and vitamins. If a lot of time has passed, and the pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the spine, makes itself felt (this may be after 3, 4 months), you need to contact a specialist to check whether the vertebrae were displaced during childbirth). In this case, manual therapy will be required. If peritonitis has been diagnosed, immediate surgery is required. For problems with the gastrointestinal tract, doctors usually recommend a special diet. Since pain in the lower abdomen due to this reason can manifest itself 1 or even 2 months after childbirth, a woman needs to include more dairy products and those rich in fiber in her diet from the very beginning.

So the treatment of such painful sensations after childbirth is determined by the reasons that caused them. But what to do if unpleasant, cramping abdominal pain after childbirth is the norm (caused by natural contractions of the uterus), but prevents you from enjoying the birth of your baby in the first days after the long-awaited birth? A few helpful tips will help you deal with them.

To smooth out painful sensations in the lower abdomen after childbirth, try to follow simple recommendations:

try to determine their cause, and for this you need to know how long the stomach hurts after childbirth: no more than 5-7 days, if it is a natural contraction of the uterus, and the nature of the pain should be pulling, cramping, but tolerable; if this continues for too long (1, 2, 3 months or even longer), this is not the norm, and you need to seek diagnosis and treatment from doctors as soon as possible; the seams are treated daily with green paint to speed up their healing; In order for the uterus to quickly acquire its previous shape, you need to perform special exercises; On the 5th day after discharge from the maternity hospital, you must visit an antenatal clinic.

If you know why the lower abdomen hurts after childbirth and how long it can last within the normal range, this issue will not cause concern for the young mother and will allow her to enjoy communication with her baby. Timely measures taken will reduce pain and prevent the risk of unwanted complications and consequences that are dangerous to the health and life of a woman.

Childbirth is a very complex process, during and after which significant changes occur in the body. Unfortunately, many women in the early postpartum period are deprived of the opportunity to devote sufficient time to their health, since all their attention is focused on the newborn baby. Therefore, they practically do not pay attention to pain in the lower abdomen after childbirth, considering them to be a normal phenomenon. Usually this is true, but in some cases such pain can become symptoms of a dangerous disease.

During childbirth, tissue ruptures and ligament sprains often occur. In some cases, doctors have to stitch the woman in labor, which causes discomfort for a long time.

The main reason why a woman experiences pain in her lower abdomen after childbirth is contraction of the uterus. Spastic phenomena intensify when the baby is breastfed, since the oxytocin produced during this process causes intense contraction of the uterine muscles. Therefore, the more often a woman breastfeeds her baby, the faster the uterus will recover. In the first time after the birth of the baby, uterine contractions during feeding are so strong that they resemble labor pains. But their intensity decreases sharply in the interval between latching the newborn to the breast. Such cramping pains continue on average for 1.5–2 weeks after childbirth.

During the period when the uterus contracts, thereby causing pain, do not forget that the internal organs located next to it also affect this process. For example, a full bladder, putting pressure on the uterus, can increase pain in the lower abdomen, which is why doctors recommend going to the toilet at the first urge.

If delivery is carried out by cesarean section, then after it a scar remains on the uterus. Like any postoperative suture, it reminds itself for a long time: it tugs and causes aching pain. Typically, a cesarean section scar heals within a month to a month and a half after the operation. To prevent it from breaking apart and becoming inflamed, the young mother should carefully observe personal hygiene and follow the recommendations of doctors.

Nagging pain in the abdomen after childbirth can be a consequence of uterine curettage. In the maternity hospital, all women must undergo an ultrasound examination 2–3 days after birth. It allows you to determine whether there are pieces of the placenta, fertilized egg, or dead epithelium left in the uterine cavity.

If the examination shows the presence of any clots in the uterus, the doctor prescribes a drip to the woman with drugs that increase contractions of the uterus and help “cleanse” it. When it turns out that these measures are not enough, a decision is made to perform aspiration. This procedure is quite unpleasant and painful, it is performed under local or general anesthesia (depending on the type of curettage), and for a long time it reminds you of abdominal pain.

An injury to the pubic bone during childbirth can cause abdominal pain. This pain goes away on its own after a certain period of time.

Alarming symptoms

Usually, when a woman has a stomach ache after childbirth, this is a completely natural and harmless process. But it should be understood that all pain should become less noticeable and short-lived over time.

Ideally, a month after giving birth, a woman in labor should not experience abdominal pain. Why does it happen that even after 1.5–2 months a woman is still bothered by unpleasant sensations? Perhaps the cause of the pain lies in the development of a hidden disease or in the exacerbation of a chronic problem. In any case, this symptom requires examination and appropriate medical correction.

Often the cause of abdominal pain is caused by disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. Stress, lack of sleep, and changes in diet, especially during breastfeeding, cause intestinal problems. First of all, a young mother should adjust her diet, excluding from it foods that are difficult to digest, as well as everything that can cause bloating and indigestion. If there is no relief within a month, you will need to consult your doctor again. A very dangerous symptom is an increase in body temperature and increased pain in the lower abdomen in combination with the appearance of bloody discharge, especially if this occurs a month after childbirth. Around this time, endometritis may develop in the uterine cavity, caused by a bacterial or fungal infection introduced during a cesarean section or cleaning. Gradually increasing abdominal pain may indicate inflammatory processes in the tubes and cervix. Pieces of the placenta and amniotic membrane remaining in the uterus can trigger the process of decay, which will require mandatory hospital treatment under the supervision of a doctor. Sharp pain radiating to the spine can be caused by injuries or pinched vertebrae. In this case, it is necessary to diagnose the spine to identify the cause of the pain. After which the doctor will prescribe a course of procedures and, if necessary, medication.

A woman should definitely seek help from a doctor if she has the following symptoms:

duration of pain more than 1.5–2 weeks; increase in pain intensity; increase in body temperature; poor health, weakness.

As practice shows, all women experience pain in the lower abdomen after childbirth.

This is a natural process caused by physiological changes in the mother's body.

However, every mother should be attentive to her health and ensure that, against the background of minor pain, the development of hidden diseases does not begin. After all, a problem identified in time is much easier to cure than an advanced disease.

Very often, after childbirth, a woman faces the problem of pain in the lower abdomen.

There may be several reasons for this phenomenon. Some of them are physiological in nature, some are associated with certain pathological conditions. Let's look at them in more detail and try to understand why the stomach hurts after childbirth, how it hurts and how long these pains can last.

Causes of abdominal pain after childbirth

Pain in the lower abdomen of a cramping nature is associated with the fact that after childbirth the uterus still continues to contract, and this is a completely natural process. Doctors perceive complaints about this kind of pain positively. This is explained by the fact that after the birth process, a large amount of oxytocin, the hormone responsible for uterine contractions, is released into the blood. This hormone regulates labor pains.

These pains continue until the uterus returns to its previous state. After all, from the size of a large ball it should decrease to the size of a fist.

These pains can become more severe when a woman begins to breastfeed her baby, since during this physiological process there is also increased production of oxytocin, which leads to increased uterine contractions.

Typically, such pain in the lower abdomen persists after childbirth for 4-7 days. To reduce pain, you can do special exercises. If after childbirth your stomach hurts very much, you should definitely consult with your doctor about prescribing painkillers.

The lower abdomen hurts after childbirth even after a cesarean section. This is also a variant of the norm. After all, after any surgical intervention, pain remains at the incision site for some time. In such a situation, a woman needs to monitor the condition of the seam and maintain hygiene. After a certain time, the pain will stop.

The lower abdomen also pulls after curettage, which is done if after childbirth a woman has traces of placenta. After this, the woman feels pain in the lower abdomen for quite a long time.

If a woman had ruptures during childbirth, the stitches may hurt. Moreover, pain from the perineum can move to the lower abdomen. In such a situation there is also no reason to worry, since such pain goes away as the sutures heal.

Another reason for abdominal pain of a physiological nature is that after childbirth you have to re-establish the process of urination. At first this is accompanied by a raw pain and burning sensation, but then everything returns to normal and the pain goes away.

All of the above-described causes of abdominal pain after childbirth are natural, and there is no point in worrying about them.

Pathological abdominal pain after childbirth

But it also happens that abdominal pain can be caused by certain pathological changes in the body, which are worth paying special attention to.

Such changes include endometritis - inflammation of the endometrium - the layer lining the uterus. It can occur after birth by cesarean section, when pathogens enter the uterus. With endometritis, abdominal pain is accompanied by fever, bloody or purulent discharge.

Sometimes the cause of pain can be an exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases. In this case, you need to try to adjust your diet. You should eat little, but quite often, and drink more fluids.

Very often after childbirth a woman loses her appetite. Eating as needed and resulting in constipation can also cause abdominal pain. Therefore, the nutrition of a woman who has given birth to a child should be complete, regular and balanced.

If symptoms of pathological conditions occur, it is very important to consult a doctor in a timely manner to prevent complications of the disease.

The birth of a child is the most powerful test that women have to experience. The birth of a new person radically changes a mother’s life, and therefore is never easy. However, the joy of the birth of a baby is so great that this alone makes up for all the torment experienced.

Unfortunately, the trials don't end there. Often a woman also has to endure a variety of pains after childbirth. And here you need to understand what is a physiological process and what should be alarming. After all, sometimes pain is a signal that foreshadows not entirely pleasant consequences...

Normal postpartum condition

The first thing a woman in labor should understand is that immediately after the baby arrives, she does not immediately become the same. Childbirth is a physiological process, but it is associated with enormous risks. The body undergoes the greatest stress. Even the birth process, which took place classically without any complications, injures many organs.

For example, the inner surface of the uterus. After the baby is born, it is a bleeding wound. After all, the placenta was attached to it for a long time by many vessels, which were damaged during childbirth. Therefore, it is quite natural that all women have a stomach ache after childbirth. And this is accompanied by bleeding in the first three to four days.

Secondly, the uterus begins to contract and recover, clearing itself of everything unnecessary. And this process also cannot be completely painless. Often, a nursing mother has to endure sharp spasms similar to contractions. Often they intensify precisely at the time when the baby begins to suckle the breast or she has to express milk. This is quite normal and even useful. In this case, the recovery of the mother’s body occurs faster than that of those who do not have the opportunity or desire to breastfeed the child.

Often pain prevents a woman from moving because it is associated with postpartum trauma. Due to the displacement of the vertebrae, discomfort in the lower back occurs periodically during physical activity. The pain can “radiate” to the lower back, to the tailbone. Sometimes she seems to be “pulling” her leg, her crotch. Gradually these unpleasant painful sensations pass. Due to the fact that the hip joints are greatly separated during childbirth, pain in the lower abdomen and back can cause anxiety for a woman for quite a long time. Sometimes the recovery process takes up to six months. But this is also quite natural.

A chair is not only a piece of furniture...

The uterus is very close to the rectum. Feces, especially their accumulation in large quantities, put pressure on her. This interferes with her normal recovery. In order for the uterus to contract faster, you need to regularly empty the intestines. And doing this after childbirth can be quite difficult. And very often, instead of answering the woman in labor’s question: “Why does the uterus hurt?”, the doctor asks when the last stool was and how hard it was.

It is very important to restore normal bowel function as soon as possible. This determines not only how quickly the belly will disappear and the figure will become the same, but also how long the painful sensations in the uterus will go away. And normal stool of a woman in labor often guarantees the health of the baby. This is especially important for a nursing mother. Since the use of medications and products with a laxative effect can affect the baby’s condition, it is better to consult a doctor about this.

Constipation and hard stools can cause hemorrhoids. Although this disease often manifests itself in some women immediately after childbirth - from severe overexertion. In both cases, the symptoms of this disease cannot be called pleasant and painless. In addition to a balanced diet, women can benefit from cool baths, cooling lotions, and antihemorrhoidal creams.

Important! You should not take hot baths during inflammation of the anus. This may make the condition worse.

Poor nutrition can cause more than just constipation. Causing increased gas formation, provoking fermentation in the intestines, it causes discomfort, puts pressure on the uterus, interfering with its normal recovery. Because of this, pain and an unpleasant feeling of bloating occur in the abdomen. Typically, eliminating certain foods (dairy, fiber, yeast-containing foods) from the diet will help relieve these symptoms.

Just like constipation, frequent loose stools are harmful for a young mother. It can cause dehydration, weakness, and anemia. And, of course, this is also accompanied by increased pain.

That is why every woman in labor should be very attentive to her feelings and remember that a chair is not just a piece of furniture. The health of a woman and her baby depends on its qualitative and quantitative characteristics.

Sometimes pain in the lower abdomen is associated with urination. It is accompanied by rawness and burning. This is also a physiological process. Usually after a few days this all goes away without a trace.

When is abdominal pain dangerous?

It is clear that usually the physiological process of recovery of the body in the postpartum period is accompanied by pain. And this is a completely tolerable condition. It is caused by contraction of the uterus and cleansing of its cavity. If the pain is strong enough and does not stop a month after the birth of the baby, you should sound the alarm. This can be a very dangerous symptom.

One of the causes of pathology is the remains of the placenta in the uterus. Particles of the baby's place sometimes stick (grow) to the uterine cavity. After childbirth, such dead pieces of flesh cannot come out spontaneously; they begin to rot inside. This is fraught with infection.

Usually the process is accompanied by bloating, pain, fever, nausea, and malaise. In addition to these symptoms, you should pay attention to the discharge. They may contain blood clots and pus. There is also a specific smell.

If the doctor diagnoses placenta remains inside the uterus, a decision is usually made to perform a “cleansing”. Although modern medicine already has the ability in some cases to correct the situation with medication.

Important! If particles of dead tissue are observed in the uterine cavity, this is a very serious violation of the postpartum process. You cannot correct the situation on your own at home; you can only significantly worsen the situation.

With this pathology, you cannot take medications that open the cervix, use alcohol, or use a hot bath. These procedures can cause bleeding so severe that even doctors cannot stop it. You shouldn't risk your health and life.

Severe pain in the lower abdomen may also indicate the onset of an inflammatory process in the uterine mucosa. This disease is called endometritis. Most often it is observed in women who were forced to undergo surgery - a “caesarean section”. During the operation, germs and infection enter the wound. In addition to pain, patients also have a high temperature, the discharge is heavily stained with blood and there is the presence of pus in it.

Peritonitis is a very serious pathology. This infectious disease is also accompanied by unbearable pain and fever.

Tears during childbirth

They are especially often observed in firstborns and when a large child appears. Tears, cracks and cuts can be on the labia, on the cervix. Sometimes obstetricians apply stitches. In any case, these are additional injuries, which, naturally, are not felt by the woman in the most pleasant way. The wounds sting and sometimes cause nagging pain.

The most unpleasant thing is that they can become infected. Therefore, the first rule: keep it clean!

After each urination, you should wash the perineum with warm water, possibly with the addition of potassium permanganate. During the first days, it is recommended to use baby soap for regular washing after visiting the toilet. Twice a day it is recommended to lubricate the external seams and tears with a strong (brown) solution of potassium permanganate. If the seams hurt after childbirth , it is recommended to apply cool compresses to this area. You should not sit down at first, especially if you feel pain. If necessary, you can use a special pad. You cannot lift weights, run, walk a lot, or make sudden movements. It is recommended to change the pad after each urination. It is strictly forbidden to use tampons after childbirth until the onset of your first menstruation!

Correct discharge guarantees normal recovery

The first week after childbirth is associated with the greatest discomfort for a woman. When the uterus contracts, blood and lochia are released. But there is no need to be afraid of this. Rather, you need to worry if they are absent. This pathological condition is called lochiometra. It is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and often its enlargement, a feeling of fullness.

Important! If you notice that the pad remains completely clean already in the first week, you should urgently consult a gynecologist.

Discharge accompanies uterine contractions for 42-56 days. Their color gradually changes. Lochia by the end of this period is less abundant, similar to “daub” in the last days of menstruation, lighter and more transparent than what was at the very beginning. And if, a month after giving birth, a woman is still leaking copious amounts of bloody discharge, which is accompanied by abdominal pain and cramps, this should not be left to chance. Surely this condition is associated with pathology. Therefore, a visit to the doctor in this case is mandatory.

The recovery process should be gradual. Every day the stomach should shrink, lochia should become less abundant, and the pain should subside.

Important! If you notice that the process is going in the opposite direction (the abdomen increases, additional pain appears, unpleasant sensations of fullness inside, foreign odors), you should not try to get rid of the symptoms on your own.

This may be an infectious disease that cannot be cured at home. Is it worth repeating that the later the patient goes to a medical facility, the more severe the consequences?

Just like too scanty lochia, excessively abundant discharge is dangerous. Usually they are also accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen. These symptoms can be caused by a variety of infections, the onset of an inflammatory process, or increased physical activity, stress, or injury. A woman must understand that her body is very vulnerable after childbirth. What goes unnoticed before pregnancy, without consequences, can now cause a serious illness. And not only herself, but also the person most dear to her - her child.

Symphysiopathy – what is it and how to treat it?

When talking about the pain a woman has to endure after childbirth, we cannot fail to mention the pubic joint. It is the pubic bone that often begins to hurt for many people during pregnancy. And these painful sensations do not leave some even after childbirth.

The symphysis is the connection of the pelvic bones in front. It consists of cartilage and ligaments. During pregnancy, the pubic joint withstands enormous loads. Sometimes the joint is very stretched. The process of childbirth itself contributes to this. Women with a narrow pelvis and a large fetus are especially susceptible to this. The ligaments of the symphysis are not very elastic, so the recovery process is extremely slow.

It is impossible to cure symphysiopathy. Recovery usually occurs over time. A doctor can only help reduce symptoms and relieve severe pain syndromes. Sometimes symptoms of symphysiopathy appear after several years, for example, with increased physical activity. Sometimes pain in the pubic joint occurs as a result of wearing high-heeled shoes, uncomfortable positions (for example, during yoga), injuries, or cycling. This can be quite unpleasant and painful, but it has virtually no effect on your overall health.

If a woman continues to have pain in her pubic bone after childbirth, she is recommended:

regular intake of medications with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D; consumption of foods containing calcium and magnesium; daily sunbathing or walking outdoors; changing body position every half hour; reducing physical activity; wearing special bandages (prenatal and postnatal); taking acupuncture courses; massage; electrophoresis; ultraviolet irradiation.

For very severe pain, the doctor may prescribe inpatient treatment with medications. Sometimes, in particularly severe cases, surgery is required.

Back pain

Very often, after the birth of a child, a woman is tormented by pain that does not seem to be directly related to the process of the birth of the baby. Well, how can we explain that now that there is no fetus inside and the load has decreased significantly, the lower back continues to hurt? It turns out that this is not a pathology at all, but a natural process.

The stomach and back hurt for a long period after childbirth. This happens because during pregnancy the abdominal muscles diverge and become deformed. These changes resulted in the formation of a “hollow” in the lower back. Incorrect body position resulted in pinching of the intervertebral nerves. Gradually these symptoms will pass, but at first it is quite normal for a woman to experience some discomfort.

Since the spine ends at the tailbone, it can also bring suffering to a woman. Women who had spinal curvature before pregnancy are especially often asked why their tailbone hurts. Usually, during pregnancy, although pain in this department is felt, it is perceived as something inevitable. And it goes without saying that after giving birth everything will go away by itself. However, the birth of a child does not reduce the pain, but even increases it.

The reason for this may also be stretching of the pelvic muscles. A large fruit will provoke these symptoms. This situation is especially clear in women giving birth with a narrow pelvis. Many complaints also come from those who were not physically prepared for these tests. That’s why it’s so important to do gymnastics and physical education long before deciding to become a mother.

Birth injuries are often a problem. As a result, there is a displacement of the vertebrae in the area of the sacrolumbar region and hip joints. And if you also take into account the changes in hormonal levels, then it becomes completely clear why the joints hurt. During pregnancy, cartilage becomes softer and more mobile, otherwise the woman would not be able to withstand such a load. After childbirth, a redistribution of the center of gravity occurs. All this cannot but affect the general condition of a woman. Gradually the organs will take their places. But the process is long and, alas, far from painless.

Even internal organs often change their places during gestation, for example, kidneys. They can go down or turn around. And after childbirth, you will feel dull pain in the lower back for a long time, which can radiate down, for example, in the perineum and leg.

But it should be noted: overweight ladies and those who did little physical training before pregnancy suffer the most.

Why does my chest hurt?

After childbirth, lactation occurs - the formation of milk in the glands. And often women begin to suffer from unpleasant sensations associated with this process. An interesting fact is that chest pain can also occur in women whose lactation is very weak. Yes, the baby does not have enough milk for nutrition, and it feels like the breast is simply bursting!

In any case, the woman must determine the cause of the unpleasant symptoms. What exactly causes discomfort?

There may be several reasons:

stagnation of milk in the glands (lactostasis); inflammation (mastitis); stretching of the skin and deformation of the pectoral muscles; cracks in the nipples.

Lactostasis

This pathology is observed in most women, especially in primigravidas. The causes of this pathology are:

improper attachment of the baby; incomplete expression of the remaining milk from the breasts; tight bra; hypothermia; bruises; sleeping on the stomach; hyperlactation; narrow ducts; dehydration; lack of sleep of the woman; stress; overwork; abrupt cessation of feeding the baby.

Symptoms of lactostasis are:

severe tingling pain in the chest; fever up to 38 degrees and above; severe engorgement of the mammary glands, heaviness; redness of the nipples; formation of lumps.

Important! A nursing woman should measure her temperature not in the armpit, but in the elbow. Otherwise, an incorrect result is guaranteed due to milk flow.

Mastitis

Inflammation (mastitis) occurs against the background of lactostasis or due to microbes (streptococci, staphylococci) entering the cracks.

Symptoms of mastitis are:

very high condensation of the mammary gland; purplish tint of the skin; temperature above 38 degrees; severe pain in the chest area; distension in the mammary gland; pus is observed in the nipple discharge.

Important! It is better not to treat lactostasis and mastitis on your own, but to consult a doctor at the first signs. With timely and correct diagnosis, these diseases can be treated with medication. With advanced processes, surgical intervention is sometimes necessary.

Stretched skin and cracked nipples

These are simpler pathologies that can often be corrected at home. Usually their symptoms are not associated with elevated temperature and are local in nature. But if a crack in the nipple, for example, is deep enough and it is not possible to cope with it, contacting a specialist will be the best way out in this situation.

Usually, when damage occurs on the skin, it is recommended to lubricate the wound with brilliant green and hydrogen peroxide. Wound healing ointments help well. But here you should be careful: these should not be medications that can harm the baby if they get into his mouth. And they should not taste bitter or have an unpleasant aftertaste.

Today, the industry produces special latex covers that protect nipples from damage during feeding. If the wounds are so painful that it is impossible to do without them, it is worth considering this option.

In order to avoid chest pain, a woman must understand that the most important thing during this period is healthy sleep, good nutrition, walks in the air, calmness and a good mood. Of course, proper expression of the remaining milk, underwear that does not tighten or squeeze the breasts are the basic rules of a nursing mother.

Important! Don't neglect bras at all. Swollen breasts become quite heavy. Without the support of the bodice, she will not only quickly lose her shape, which then cannot be restored, but also stretch marks, pain, and diaper rash will appear under the breasts.

And every woman should start preparing her breasts for the birth of a baby even during pregnancy. This usually involves massaging the nipples with a terry towel. The skin should roughen a little. But here there is a rule: do no harm! You should act carefully so as not to injure the delicate epithelium; massage rather than tear off the skin.

A woman’s body goes through a recovery stage after childbirth. This period, according to most doctors, is equal to the period of pregnancy. Therefore, you need to be patient, calm, and not get nervous over trifles. But, at the same time, one cannot be carefree and imprudent. Only wise attention to your feelings, knowledge of the functional features of the postpartum process will help you stay healthy, beautiful and, in addition, become happy, raising a beloved and healthy child.

After childbirth, literally all women have a stomach ache, and in most cases this is a completely normal phenomenon. Naturally, if you had a caesarean section, you will suffer from post-operative pain, however, natural childbirth means that you will have pain, and you will not escape from it.

Causes of abdominal pain after childbirth:

The abdominal muscles do a lot of work during pushing. Some women describe their postpartum sensations as very painful, as if the mother was beaten during childbirth, muscles hurt like a bruise or other injury. Of course, just imagine how they had to work, with what force they had to contract. If the abs were not pumped up before childbirth, there is nothing surprising in these inherently sports pains. After childbirth, the stomach hurts from muscle poisoning with lactic acid and microtraumas of muscle tissue, tears received due to great tension.

This pain will persist for 3-5 days and then go away. To avoid such unpleasant sensations, you just need to prepare for childbirth; if the muscles are initially strong and accustomed to stress, this will prevent pain and help give birth much faster and easier.

However, this is not the only reason why your stomach hurts after childbirth.

Even if you have been actively involved in sports, you still cannot avoid discomfort in the first days, at least while feeding your baby. The fact is that the uterus remains highly sensitive to oxytocin, the hormone that causes contractions, for quite a long time, and in a woman’s brain, when the nipples are irritated, this hormone is always released, the uterus responds to stimulation and causes abdominal pain after childbirth when feeding the baby.

These sensations are reminiscent of the contractions you just experienced; you feel a painful contraction of the uterus when the baby suckles. In this case, an increase in vaginal discharge may be observed, the uterus is actively getting rid of contents. So these pains in the lower abdomen are not only not dangerous, they are useful, as they contribute to the rapid contraction of the uterus after the birth of the baby.

However, if your lower abdomen hurts after childbirth and outside of feeding, the pain is accompanied by a change in the nature of the lochia, their smell is not musty and weak, as it should be, but sharp and unpleasant, the color has changed, this may be a sign of a complication, inflammatory disease of the uterus, endometritis. Then you just need to inform your gynecologist about this.

For excessive pain in the lower abdomen, antispasmodics are sometimes prescribed, but most postpartum women do not need this at all, the pain is quite tolerable, and only brings benefits, shortening the period of lochia after childbirth.