Contents:
- Medical Video: How to recognize the signs of labor - Early labor signs
- What causes stomach cramps after giving birth?
- Cramps will be felt more when you feed your baby
- How long does stomach cramps after childbirth occur?
- How do you deal with stomach cramps after giving birth?
Medical Video: How to recognize the signs of labor - Early labor signs
There are various body changes that occur after you go through labor. These changes can make some parts of your body hurt. One of them is abdominal cramps after giving birth. Many questions arise in your mind, for example what causes abdominal cramps after childbirth and how to overcome them? Check out the review below.
What causes stomach cramps after giving birth?
Basically, abdominal cramps after giving birth is normal. The uterus, skin, abdominal muscles, and blood vessels in the abdomen stretch for 9 months, which is when you are pregnant.
After the delivery process is complete, the uterus will contract in order to restore the uterus to its original size. This contraction also causes the placenta to escape from the uterine wall, so that it finally comes out of your body. After that, the uterus will close the blood vessels where the placenta attaches. This condition results in you feeling stomach cramps after giving birth.
Interestingly, abdominal cramps usually don't hurt much for those of you who are giving birth for the first time. However, it will get more painful after you give birth to your second, third, and later child. This is because during the first birth process, the uterus or uterus is still in good condition, whereas if you have given birth more than once, stretching the muscles in the uterus tends to decrease.
Cramps will be felt more when you feed your baby
Abdominal cramps after childbirth will usually be more pronounced when you feed your child. Because, breastfeeding will stimulate the body to release the hormone oxytocin which triggers contractions in the uterus and ultimately causes cramping.
Don't worry, this is actually a good thing because cramping during breastfeeding will help the uterus to shrink faster to normal size. Therefore, the blood vessels that release the placenta will immediately be closed and can reduce the risk of anemia due to bleeding.
How long does stomach cramps after childbirth occur?
Generally, contractions that occur in the uterus to return to its original size can take around 6 to 8 weeks. However, quoted from the page of The Bump, the length of illness that each woman feels can be different. This depends on several factors such as having given birth before, having a long labor, and having a history of caesarean section.
How do you deal with stomach cramps after giving birth?
As previously explained, abdominal cramps are normal and will disappear on their own as time goes on. So, it really doesn't matter if you don't do any treatment.
However, if the cramps that you feel are getting more and more disturbing, there are several ways you can do it, namely:
- Compress your warm stomach. You can also do this while lying face down and put a compress pillow on the bottom of your stomach.
- Gently massage gently on the abdomen.
- Urinate as often as possible, don't hold it. Even though you don't feel the urge to urinate. Because the full bladder can inhibit uterine contractions.
- Start to walk as often as possible.
- If you are taught breathing and relaxation techniques during labor, try applying this again to reduce cramping in the stomach.
- Take painkillers such as ibuprofen. With a note, use this medicine according to the doctor's prescription. Because doctors will provide medicines that are safe for nursing and postpartum mothers according to your health condition
If the cramping doesn't go away for a long time or the pain is more than normal, you should consult further with your doctor. The reason is, this might lead to infection or other health problems that require medical help.
