Recovery after childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth are an important stage in the life of every woman. Experiencing painful sensations during the process of childbirth, she later thinks about whether it is worth going through the same ordeal again, because even some time after the birth of the baby, mothers feel how much this affected their physical and psychological state. How quickly does the body's recovery process occur? What can I do to speed it up?

Recovery time after childbirth

It is believed that the recovery process after childbirth lasts 40 days. This is also connected with popular beliefs - in the old days, it was for 40 days that a woman was forbidden to enter the church due to bleeding. In fact, it is difficult to name the exact time during which the mother fully recovers after the birth of the baby, because it depends on two main factors:

1. What route did the delivery take? If a woman gives birth herself and there are no complications during the process, for example, uterine bleeding or perineal rupture, then on average it takes 4 to 6 months to restore tissue and hormonal balance. If the baby is delivered by caesarean section, full recovery will take up to 8 months.
2. The type of birth a woman had is of considerable importance - after the second, rehabilitation occurs more quickly.

During pregnancy The level of hormones in a woman’s blood rises sharply, but even after childbirth, her hormonal levels undergo great changes due to the production of prolactin and oxytocin - they are very important during breastfeeding. External factors can also aggravate the situation - difficult childbirth, stress, constant lack of sleep and many other reasons that affect the psychological state and sex life.

Hormonal imbalance after childbirth is a common phenomenon, usually the situation returns to normal after a few months, but if even after finishing breastfeeding you feel apathy, decreased libido, sweating and constant mood swings, this is a reason to contact an endocrinologist who will prescribe the necessary hormonal medications.

Recovery after childbirth where to start

In the first months after the birth of a child, many women feel depressed and overwhelmed. They are depressed by the thought that they no longer belong to themselves. The situation is aggravated by the child’s constant crying, getting up at night, colic, and chronic fatigue. The changed figure doesn’t add anything positive either – flabby abdominal muscles, extra pounds and swollen breasts.

First of all, in order not to fall into depression, you need to realize your new situation, because with birth baby life does not end, but takes on a new meaning. The figure will recover over time, the baby will grow up and will delight his parents with his achievements. Often, to find a comfortable mental state, a mother needs several months, as well as the constant support of loved ones. In extreme cases, you can consult a psychologist.

As for the physical condition, they have not yet invented a quick method to return to their former shape after childbirth in record time. Everything takes time and effort. To get started, try to follow these recommendations:

1. If possible, be sure to breastfeed your baby. This will benefit both the child and the mother, because during this process a woman can lose from 200 to 600 kcal per day.
2. At first, active physical activity will not be available to you. Just try to move more, walk with your baby 2-3 times a day, carry him in your arms, bathe him and entertain him. Caring for a baby in itself is a kind of fitness for mothers.
3. Stick to it healthy eating. It is not necessary to starve yourself; it is enough to exclude unhealthy foods, sweets, fatty foods and processed foods from your diet.
4. To quickly restore your body, eat more vegetables and fruits, take a vitamin and mineral complex.

Restoring the body after childbirth

Doctors say that full recovery of the body after the birth of a child will take a little more than a month - about 40 days. What physiological changes occur during this period?

In the first days after childbirth, a woman may feel pain in the lower abdomen. The uterus, contracting, returns to its previous size. There is discomfort and pain in the perineal area, and problems with urination and bowel movements often occur. The vagina secretes blood clots - lochia, they are similar to regular periods, but more abundant than during menstruation. As a rule, lochia appears immediately after delivery and lasts about a month, gradually decreasing. 

The mammary glands swell and become sensitive, already in the first hours after birth, colostrum is released from the breast, in subsequent hours it fills with milk, and lactation gradually improves.

From days 4 to 14, the volume of discharge decreases, and its color changes from bright scarlet to brownish. During this time, you must use sanitary pads, but in no case tampons. If a woman has a perineal incision during childbirth, she should carefully monitor the condition of the sutures, and the genitals should be regularly washed with anti-inflammatory agents.

Lactation improves, swollen nipples become less sensitive, and by the end of the second week, milk flows become regular.

By the beginning of the third month, the uterus regains its previous size, and the release of lochia stops. Postpartum recovery is coming to an end, all body systems are returning to normal.

During this period, the woman needs to undergo a comprehensive examination by a gynecologist, who will prescribe tests, ultrasound, and during the examination check for the presence of pathology and inflammation.

Recovery of the cycle after childbirth

Almost the main sign of recovery of the body after childbirth is the return of critical days. Unfortunately, this process does not always go smoothly.

Typically, the normal functioning of the endocrine glands resumes 7-8 months after the birth of the child. Gradually, all changes associated with the functioning of the endocrine, nervous, and reproductive systems disappear. The uterus is actively contracting and by the end of the 8th week it returns to its previous size and menstruation can begin at any time.

It's okay if it happens a little earlier or later. The main task is to understand whether these are physiological characteristics of a woman or pathological disorders. You should pay attention to the amount of bleeding, the regularity of menstruation and the intensity of pain.

The following factors may influence the restoration of the menstrual cycle:

• weakness of the body;
• unfavorable course pregnancy and childbirth;
• presence of chronic diseases;
• irregular meals;
• fatigue, lack of sleep, stress;
• age, number of pregnancies and births.

Restoring your figure after childbirth

Carrying a baby and giving birth does not leave its mark on your figure. The sooner you start working on weakened abdominal and chest muscles, the better the effect will be. If no complications arise during the delivery process, you can start some types of activities already on the first day after birth. After a cesarean section, the body needs much more time to recover—about 2 months. Contraindications to sports are perineal ruptures, chronic diseases and birth injuries.

Key areas to pay attention to:

1. A set of exercises to maintain breast shape - during pregnancy and lactation, the mammary glands lose their elasticity and may simply sag, and due to the loss of elasticity, stretch marks may appear on the skin.
2. A loose belly after childbirth worries most mothers. It is necessary to direct all efforts to strengthening the abdominal press so that unpleasant folds do not spoil the appearance.
3. During lactation, a woman does not have the opportunity to go on strict diets and significantly limit herself in nutrition. To get rid of extra pounds that don’t go away after childbirth, you should choose a special program exercises for nursing women.
4. A set of exercises developed by the French obstetrician-gynecologist Arnold Kegel will help to effectively strengthen weakened muscles of the vagina and pelvic floor.
5. After childbirth, back problems often arise; in this case, heavy loads are a contraindication, but gentle exercises aimed at restoring muscle tone in the lumbar region will come in very handy.
6. If you have problems with the respiratory tract, you can add a special program to the training program. breathing exercises. Regular exercise helps enrich the brain and other organs with oxygen.

Exercises for recovery after childbirth

In the absence of contraindications, you can start doing exercises to strengthen the muscles of the chest and pelvic floor, as well as breathing exercises, already in the first days after childbirth.

1. Breathing exercises. If your baby was born naturally, the tone of the abdominal muscles should be restored in the maternity hospital. To do this, take a lying position and place your feet on the surface, resting your full foot. Inhale through your nose, tightening your stomach, and hold your breath for a few seconds. Exhale sharply through your mouth and inflate your stomach. Then relax, rest a little and perform a few more approaches, each time increasing the training time. A little later, you can add a new element - when pulling in your stomach, lift your buttocks, make sure that your lower back remains in its original position.
2. Try strengthening weakened vaginal muscles with using Kegel exercises. This gymnastics is as accessible as possible, because it can be performed anywhere and at any time. Simply squeeze your pubococcygeus muscle for 4-5 seconds, then release and repeat these steps about 30 times. Perform 10-12 approaches per day.
3. Classic breast exercises can be performed as early as two weeks after the baby is born. However, if you are breastfeeding, gymnastics will have to be postponed until the end of lactation. The most famous exercise is to raise your elbows to shoulder level, squeeze your palms so that tension is felt in the chest area, and remain in this position for 10 seconds. Clutching the hands in a “lock” is also effective. Try to break the "lock", but do not use too much force.
4. It is possible to relieve tension and get rid of discomfort in the lumbar region with the help of ordinary torso twists, which should be performed 10 times. Yoga classes will be an excellent solution in this situation.
5. Cardio exercises will help you lose excess weight immediately after giving birth - running and jumping, they will help you warm up and sweat properly. Long walks with your baby in the fresh air can be an excellent replacement. Please note that when breastfeeding, jumping should be performed with great care - such intense exercise causes inflammation of the mammary glands.

Doctors recommend starting to do a set of abdominal exercises no earlier than a couple of weeks after the happy event. To achieve the desired result, you need to work 7 days a week, 2-3 times a day.

Vaginal reconstruction after childbirth

Very often, women are faced with the problem of weakening the muscles of the vagina and pelvic floor. This is explained by the fact that during childbirth child, passing through the birth canal, it significantly expands them, and the muscles do not always tone up and return to their former elasticity; the situation can be aggravated by numerous ruptures or the use of episiotomy (surgical incision of the perineum). Because of this, the young mother feels inferior and intimately unsatisfied.

To correct the situation, regularly perform a set of Kegel exercises. The muscle that needs to be trained can be easily found during urination - try to pause the process and then resume it, it is the pubococcygeus muscle that will allow you to do this.

Breast reconstruction after childbirth

After the birth of a child, the breasts begin to swell and become rough. In the process of putting the baby to the breast, blood circulation in the glandular tissues increases, the skin at this moment is subject to stretching and the appearance of stretch marks.

When a woman stops lactation, the breasts gradually, over 8-9 months, return to their previous condition. However, there are few women who would be completely satisfied with the shape and condition of their mammary glands after childbirth - the breasts can sag significantly, and the skin often loses its elasticity. The severity of these changes depends on many factors - individual characteristics of the body, physical condition, genetics, body weight and lifestyle.

To prevent and eliminate unpleasant consequences, follow some rules:

1. Breasts after childbirth will not be flabby if you wear special supportive underwear during pregnancy.
2. Learn how to properly express excess milk and avoid abrupt weaning.
3. Reduce the content of fats and carbohydrates in your food, giving preference to protein foods.
4. Perform a special set of exercises that are aimed at strengthening the chest muscles, for example, push-ups, dumbbell flyes, and pull-ups.
5. Perform self-massage of the breast, use masks and creams containing collagen and elastin. Take a contrast shower.