After childbirth, a mother's body enters the postpartum recovery phase. This recovery means that the mother's body must restore all aspects of her body, including her reproductive organs, that have changed due to pregnancy and childbirth. Here, we will introduce how to recover the four most intimate areas after childbirth.
Private area 1: How can the uterus return to its original size after childbirth?
Q: Ms. Huang from Hangzhou: Does the uterus return to its original size immediately after childbirth? If not, how long does it take to recover?
A: From the moment a fetus, nurtured for 10 months, is born, the baby begins its own life. However, the little house inside the mother's body—the uterus—cannot immediately return to its original state. Now that its sacred mission is complete, it needs even more care and attention to recover its health as soon as possible.
After delivery, as the placenta is expelled, the size and weight of the uterus will gradually return to their original state. However, this process takes about 6 weeks.
As the uterus recovers, unwanted tissue is expelled. This discharge is called lochia and lasts for about 3-4 weeks. Initially, it is reddish blood discharged from the placenta, turning brown after a few days, and then yellow after several weeks. The color change is unpredictable because the amount of blood loss varies during this period. Small blood clots are most common. Normal lochia does not have a foul odor. If you find large clots, persistent or extreme bleeding, or a foul odor, you must tell your midwife or doctor. This indicates an infection inside the uterus and treatment is necessary.
To ensure a good recovery of the uterus, new mothers should pay attention to the following aspects:
1. Postpartum women should urinate promptly.
Postpartum women should urinate promptly to prevent their bladder from becoming overly full or constantly distended.
2. During the postpartum period, prolonged bed rest should be avoided.
Six to eight hours postpartum, once the mother's fatigue has subsided, she can sit up and get out of bed the next day. This is beneficial for the recovery of her physiological functions and physical strength, and helps the uterus to heal and for the discharge of lochia.
When resting in bed, try to lie on your left or right side and avoid lying on your back to prevent the uterus from tilting backward. If the uterus has already tilted backward, you should use the knee-chest position to correct it.
3. Postpartum women should breastfeed.
Breastfeeding is not only very beneficial to the baby's growth and development, but the baby's sucking stimulation will reflexively cause uterine contractions, thereby promoting uterine recovery.
4. Pay attention to genital hygiene
Postpartum women should pay attention to genital hygiene to avoid reproductive tract inflammation, which could further affect uterine recovery.
Private area 2: How to recover the vagina and pelvic floor tissues after childbirth?
Q: Ms. Wang from Shanghai: I really want to know what changes occur in the vagina and pelvic floor tissues after childbirth? Can they return to their pre-pregnancy state? A: Due to pregnancy, it is inevitable that the vulva, vagina, and pelvic floor tissues undergo certain changes. The changes and recovery will be explained one by one below.
1. Changes and recovery of the vulva
After childbirth, mild vulvar edema may occur, which usually disappears on its own within 2-3 weeks. With proper local cleaning and care, minor perineal tears or perineal incisions generally heal within 4-5 days. However, severe perineal tears or wound infections can cause the incision to reopen, increasing the mother's pain and potentially requiring 2 weeks or even a month to heal.
2. Changes and recovery of the vagina
During childbirth, the vaginal walls are stretched as the baby passes through, resulting in swelling and numerous tiny wounds. Stinging sensations may occur when urinating for 1-2 days postpartum, but this usually subsides within a week. Generally, the enlarged vagina will tighten up within one day postpartum.
After childbirth, the vagina widens, the vaginal wall muscles relax, and tension decreases. The vaginal mucosal folds disappear due to excessive stretching during delivery. During the puerperium, vaginal muscle tone gradually recovers, but it does not fully return to pre-pregnancy levels. The mucosal folds begin to reappear approximately 3 weeks postpartum.
3. Changes and recovery of pelvic floor tissues
Private area 3: How to recover breasts after childbirth
Q: Ms. Zhou from Beijing: On the second day postpartum, I felt extreme swelling in my breasts, along with significant tenderness. Sometimes the lymph nodes under my armpits also become swollen and painful, and my breasts are sagging. What's causing this? How can I prevent it?
A: To prevent breasts from becoming soft and losing their firmness after childbirth, the key is for new mothers to take good care of themselves.
Some people believe that breastfeeding causes their breasts to sag, but the opposite is true. Studies have shown that breastfeeding actually promotes breast recovery.
However, it should be noted that the breastfeeding posture must be correct.
1. Do not let the baby get too close to your chest. When he is in the correct position and begins to suckle, you will notice his temples and ears twitching slightly. If the baby is in the correct position, you will not experience nipple pain.
2. Place one hand flat on your ribs below your chest to support it. Avoid compressing the top of your breasts, as this could change the direction of the nipples and cause blocked milk ducts.
3. Use a different breast for each feeding. Feeding your baby at different times and from different breasts helps prevent excessive pressure on one side of your breast.
4. Before breastfeeding, sprinkle some warm water on your breasts to help with milk production. This way, the baby won't have to strain to suckle from the hard and painful nipple.
5. If the breasts become hard, you can express milk by hand to make it easier for the baby to suckle.
6. After breastfeeding, wiping the breasts with a cold towel can constrict blood vessels and reduce breast swelling.
7. Gently squeeze the swollen nipple; this is a simple and effective method.
8. Wearing a suitable bra can make your breasts feel comfortable. It's important to maintain a state close to your pre-pregnancy condition; otherwise, they won't return to their original shape.
Private Area 4: Changes and Recovery of Pelvic Muscles After Childbirth
Q: Ms. Zhou from Changchun: I've heard that after childbirth, the pelvic muscles become weak due to extreme expansion, so it's important to exercise these muscles as much as possible. But how can I help these muscles regain their strength?
A: To answer the question above, let's first briefly understand the structure of the pelvis.
The pelvis is a basin-shaped structure made of bones, including two large hip bones: the ilium and the ischium, and the pubis. Below the sacrum, there are four smaller bones that make up the coccyx.
The primary function of the pelvis is to support the body's structure while protecting the uterus and bladder. The base of the pelvis is formed by a layer of muscle called the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are divided into three layers: an inner layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer, extending from the pubis to the coccyx and passing through the hip bones on either side.
There are three openings in the pelvic muscles. One is the urethral opening, which extends from the bladder and is located in front; another is the anal opening, which extends from the large intestine and is located in the back; and the third is the vaginal opening, which extends from the uterus and is located in the center.
A ring called a sphincter forms at the exit of the outer layer of muscles in the pelvis. The sphincter can keep these exits tightly closed, especially when straining the abdomen, laughing, coughing or sneezing.
During pregnancy, the pelvis supports the weight of the fetus, placenta, and some extra fluid within the expanding uterus. After childbirth, these muscles are extremely stretched and vulnerable, so it's important to exercise them as much as possible to help them regain their strength.
Some women who have undergone lacerations or episiotomies worry that tightening these muscles will cause pain. This worry is completely unnecessary. Tightening and relaxing these muscles increases blood circulation and promotes the healing process. Exercise will not harm these wounds, so it's best to resume activity as soon as possible.
(Editor: Ruan Wenling)
