The journey of your uterus after childbirth

Your baby is born, the placenta is delivered, and now begins the impressive journey of your uterus to return to its original size. After delivery, the placenta left behind a wound, and the child created a temporary space in your body. This space is essential, as it allows the uterus to contract, enabling it to return to its familiar place in your pelvis. As the uterus retracts, the other organs will also find their original positions again—a profound but natural recovery process.

The wound left by the placenta causes postpartum bleeding. Initially, you may notice large clots of deep, bright red blood, along with smaller clots and increasingly darker red blood. The uterus will contract (afterpains) to prevent the wound from bleeding excessively. For the first few days after delivery, you may need two large maternity pads (special sanitary pads) to absorb the blood. You should change them every time you go to the toilet (preferably every three hours). If you notice your pads filling up every half hour, let your maternity nurse know immediately. If she is not there, always call the midwife, even in the middle of the night. Over time, this bleeding will decrease; you will notice that the flow becomes less intense over the days. Towards the end, you may notice some colored or colorless discharge, which is a normal part of your healing process. This change takes approximately six weeks. This varies from woman to woman.

During this recovery period, it is important that you do not take a bath or go swimming. There is a chance that the cervix will reopen due to the water and the relaxation of your body. During this reopening, the placental wound may also start bleeding again, which can cause bleeding with associated consequences. The water can also introduce infections that can enter the uterus when the uterine wound opens.

This entire process can feel overwhelming and emotionally charged, and that is completely understandable. It is important to remember that what you are experiencing is entirely normal. Rest assured, it is okay to have these feelings; your body is undergoing a profound change, and it is completely natural to feel vulnerable during this period of recovery.