During pregnancy, a woman’s uterus grows to accommodate the fetus, and after birth, it returns to its normal size and releases lochia. A cesarean delivery can cause more blood loss and require stitches. Healthcare professionals monitor the uterus and may provide medication or surgery if necessary.
The uterus is the most instrumental part of the body when it comes to growing and delivering a newborn, and a pregnancy causes many changes to the organ. A woman’s uterus enlarges and changes during pregnancy to accommodate and support the growing fetus. Soon after birth, the postpartum uterus begins to return to its normal pre-pregnancy size and condition. It tightens and contracts as it shrinks. The postpartum uterus also releases lochia, a discharge of blood and fluid that begins immediately after delivery and often continues for several weeks.
By the ninth month of pregnancy, a woman’s uterus has grown to about five times its normal size. A mother carrying twins, two or more babies may experience an even greater increase in the size of her uterus. This dramatic change in height, length, depth, and overall shape allows the organ to house one or more full-term infants, as well as the placenta, membranes, and amniotic fluid. The birth of the baby followed by the placenta causes the postpartum uterus to start shrinking. After a week, the size of the uterus has shrunk by half, and within six weeks, it has generally returned to its normal pre-pregnancy measurements.
Another normal feature of the postpartum uterus is the release of blood, mucus, and other various fluids. When the placenta detaches from the uterine wall, it leaves an open wound that bleeds into the uterus. This process causes the lochia to be heavy and bright red during the immediate postpartum period. Postpartum bleeding will likely continue for about six weeks after birth, and a woman most commonly observes a change in color and flow as the bleeding subsides and the detached placenta site heals.
A cesarean delivery, in which the baby is surgically removed through an incision in the uterus, can come with additional challenges. Cutting through the uterus causes more blood loss than a vaginal birth, and stitches are needed to close the wound and prepare it for healing. Recovering from a cesarean section can be difficult, and women who experience fever, redness around the incision, and abnormal pain or discomfort should contact a doctor. A healthcare professional can determine if a new mother exhibiting such symptoms is suffering from a postpartum uterus infection.
A woman who has just given birth will likely have the condition of her uterus monitored by her team of health care professionals. Nurses or midwives often massage the organ, encouraging it to contract and start shrinking back to its normal size. If the doctor or midwife observes a slow response in the postpartum uterus combined with an excessive amount of bleeding, medications may be given. In rare cases, surgery may be needed to stop the bleeding.
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