Pain in the abdomen after cesarean

Some women are not recommended to give birth to their own women, because of an increase in blood pressure or a strong muscle strain, the unwanted pregnancy can occur.

Some women are afraid of upcoming bouts and they want to give birth by using caesarean section. And although the birth in this case is painless, but still many young mothers are faced with discomfort and forced to put up with some restrictions, since they have a long stomach ache after cesarean section.

In the process of surgery, a cut of the anterior abdominal wall and uterus is made, then the child is removed, after which the tissues are manually removed and sewn. The duration of the operation is 20-40 minutes.

For local anesthesia, local epidural or spinal anesthesia is used, with general anesthesia done. To reduce the pain caused by the incision on the abdomen, the mother in labor makes anesthetic injections for several days. Seams are removed only after a week.

Caesarean section does not exclude infection in the abdominal cavity of the mother, and complications occur ten times more often than with natural childbirth. Since there is no synthesis of the necessary hormones, it is more likely that a woman will have problems with lactation and postpartum psychosis will occur.

Why after a cesarean section does the abdomen hurt

All women have a stomach ache immediately after cesarean section. How long the discomfort will be felt depends on how quickly the suture heals and the uterus decreases. Pain in the abdomen is caused not only by the operation itself, but also by those changes that occurred during pregnancy. The reasons for the pain after cesarean are discussed further.

The pain provokes the seam

As the tissues coalesce, the woman will feel painful with the tension of the muscles, as the tight seam presses on the adjacent tissues. Immediately after cesarean with any sudden movements, laughter, sneezing, the muscles in the region of the incision will hurt.

During this period, a woman must avoid physical activity, so that the seam does not break. Intensive pain in the abdomen will last about a week, then it will subside. To reduce discomfort, doctors advise wearing a bandage that will reduce pressure on the adjacent tissues.

Pain from the scar

After the tissue has healed, a dense scar appears in place of the scar, which also causes a stupid or stitching pain in the abdomen. In the postoperative period, a woman should examine the seam and control, so that no signs of inflammation or, even more so, purulent exudate appear;

Before the scar is less noticeable, it will take a long time, only after a year it becomes pale

uterine contraction

During pregnancy, the uterus increases significantly in size. After delivery, to return to its place, the hormone oxytocin is synthesized. Reduction of the muscles of the uterus and causes cramping pain in the abdominal region. Pain can be irradiated and felt only in the left or right side.

The hormone produced during lactation is produced most of all, therefore the woman feels a strong discomfort in the lower abdomen when the baby is breastfed. At natural births the uterus returns former sizes and the form within several days, and after cesarean this process much longer and can be required about one month.

Changing bowel function

Anesthesia made during surgery affects the activity of the small and large intestine. It leads to increased gas formation and impairment of peristalsis, which is accompanied by pain in the abdomen due to swelling and slowing of evacuation of stool.

Often women complain of constipation and a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen. To normalize intestinal activity, it is recommended to follow a diet and, if necessary, take medications that accelerate the movement of the contents of the intestine.

Abdominal pain can also be caused by changing the location of the abdominal organs. For example, the uterus that has not yet contracted can press on the small intestine, the stomach, due to the weakening of the abdominal muscles, has shifted and squeezes the neighboring organs. Normally, the digestive tract organs return to their normal position within two days after delivery.

Disturbance of innervation

Due to the fact that the innervation after cesarean section is violated for a long time, numbness of the abdomen is felt. Only after recovery of nerve endings, numbness will pass. This process is quite lengthy and can take about a year.

How long does the stomach ache after cesarean depends on the individual characteristics of the body, and because the woman will comply with the prescription of the doctor. If the operation was successful, then after 7-10 days, acute pain at the very bottom of the abdomen must pass, only soreness remains throughout the month of the aching or dull character in the seam area.

To accelerate contraction of the uterus is prescribed intramuscularly oxytocin

Complications after cesarean

Sometimes abdominal pains result from the appearance of a pathological process taking place in the uterine cavity or adjacent areas. Therefore, a woman should take good care of her health and if she is concerned about seeking medical help.

Postpartum complications can be divided into those caused by pathologies of internal organs that arise from postoperative sutures and are associated with individual intolerance to anesthesia. Symptoms such as hard scar, numbness, swelling, bloating, or enlarged abdomen can be a sign of pathology.

Normally, a small area of ​​the abdomen near the scar is hard. This swelling will take about a year. Over the seam, a skin fold may appear, if it is painless, it is also a variant of the norm.

But if there is redness near the seam, this may be a sign of keloid scarring, suppuration, fistula, or inflammation. In this case, you must show it to the doctor.

The cause of the formation of keloid scars can be incorrect matching of tissue, infection, penetrated into the wound, hormonal disorders, reduced immunity, hereditary predisposition. The difference between the cicatrix and the normal is that it hurts, itching, rippling, skin is tightened and numbness appears.

It is important for a woman that excessive overgrowth of connective tissue during the healing of the suture and her redness is far from aesthetic. For the treatment of keloid scars, drugs that affect the formation of collagen, prescribe electrophoresis, apply pressure bandages or remove them surgically.

Because of the lack of antiseptic treatment, the infection can penetrate into the seam and cause inflammation. In this case, the body temperature rises, the area around the seam turns red and there is swelling, purulent exudate seeps. If the suture is severe, surgical intervention may be required.

After the filaments are removed from the seam, a skin discrepancy may occur. This is associated with an infection that occurs secretly and interferes with the regeneration of tissues. Provoke the divergence of the seam can and the woman herself, if she lifts weight more than 4 kg or strains the abdomen.

Within a few months after the operation, ligature fistulas can form. They appear because of the rejection of the body suture material or because of the presence of infection. Under the skin there is a condensation, which when touched causes pain, the area around the seam turns red, pus periodically seeps.

After surgery, if the blood or exudate does not resolve in the seam area, then gradually, within a few weeks, the liquid becomes thicker and replaced with a fibrous tissue, which is a kind of film that ensures the adhesion of adjacent organs - a soldering. A month later, the spikes already have capillaries and nerve fibers. Pathological formations in rare cases can cause sharp acute pain, fever, weakness, constipation.

With solderings on the uterus, patients complain of pain during sexual intercourse

If the spikes are single, they do not cause any inconvenience, but if they are formed a lot, it affects the functioning of the intestines and provokes pain. Spikes on the fallopian tube can cause ectopic pregnancy.

The adhesion therapy is carried out in a conservative way, in rare complicated cases - surgical. To avoid the occurrence of adhesions it is recommended in the postoperative period to restore the motor activity as soon as possible, there are small portions, but often.

If the cesarean section was performed under general anesthesia, then often, due to relaxation of the smooth muscles of the intestine, constipation and bloating occur. To reduce the severity of these symptoms, it is recommended that you move as much as possible and exclude from the menu products that increase gas production. The intestinal activity will be restored after 7-10 days after anesthesia.

After caesarean, more serious complications may occur, which require qualified medical care. If a woman, referring to employment and lack of sleep, ignores the first symptoms, then this can lead to serious consequences.

One such disease is endometritis, that is, inflammation of the uterus, caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms. If the process develops quickly, the signs will appear even during the stay of the woman in labor in the hospital, if not, then they may occur one week after the operation.

Symptoms of endometritis:

• strongly hurts the lower abdomen;
• febrile temperature;
• weakness, chills;
• sleep disturbance;
• lack of appetite;
• rapid pulse;
• pathological discharge from the genital tract.

To prevent sickness, young mothers are prescribed antibacterial drugs

If the stomach is ill for a long time after caesarean section and the intensity does not decrease, then you need to undergo the necessary examination and find out why the pain does not subside. When prescribing medicines, the doctor takes into account that the woman is breastfeeding and chooses the safest means for the newborn that does not penetrate the breast milk.

Motor activity can help avoid constipation and adhesions. When the pain ceases to be felt in the seam area, you can begin to do gymnastics and gently press the press to accelerate the recovery of abdominal muscles.