How long does it take for the uterus to recover after a cesarean section? Expectant mothers who haven't given birth yet, please take a look!

For pregnant mothers who have just had a cesarean section, it is impossible for their bodies to recover quickly to their pre-pregnancy state after giving birth. After the operation, they should not only take good care of the trauma of the cesarean section, but also pay attention to the recovery of the uterus. So how long does it take for the uterus to return to normal after a cesarean section?

The ten months of pregnancy causes the uterus to grow larger, and the resulting pressure on the abdomen will stretch and loosen the linea alba in the center of the rectus abdominis. It should be noted that during the cesarean section operation, the visceral fascia and abdominal muscles (including the rectus abdominis and linea alba) that support the uterus in the abdomen are also cut and then sutured at the same time as the uterus is incised. The elasticity of these muscles and soft tissues needs to be restored after delivery/surgery, and special attention should be paid to the correction of rectus abdominis separation.

Therefore, the recovery after cesarean section is slower than that after natural birth, and it takes a certain amount of time for the uterus to recover after the operation. The length of time is not fixed and depends on the individual's care conditions. There are certain differences for each person. Under normal circumstances, it takes about two months to recover. For some people, it may take more than 42 days. You can also judge it yourself by looking at the recovery of the uterus.

1. Touch the uterus

After childbirth, the uterus can be felt with the hand and you can check the recovery of the uterus by touching the area around the belly button. If the recovery is good, you basically cannot feel the uterus in about half a month.

2. Look at the lochia

The recovery of the uterus can be judged based on the duration and color of lochia discharge. The color of lochia changes from bright red to dark red, then to dark black, light red, and finally to no color.

The length of time it takes to discharge lochia is also an important indicator of how quickly the uterus recovers. Generally, lochia will be almost gone 4 weeks after delivery, but for some mothers it will be shorter (about 2 weeks), and for some mothers it will take a few days, but under normal circumstances, the longest time will not exceed 42 days. If the lochia is not completely discharged after more than 42 days, you should pay special attention.

After all, cesarean section is not a minor operation, so don't rush and take it step by step. When you are able to move, you should move more to improve blood circulation. Try to get out of bed with the help of your family within 8 to 24 hours after the operation. In addition, in order to promote the rapid recovery of the uterus, you should avoid lying down for a long time, try to lie on your side, and avoid lying on your back to prevent excessive retroversion of the uterus. Moreover, everyone's physical condition is different, and the degree of recovery is also different. You should not be impatient about postpartum recovery.