Why does the lower abdomen bloat after childbirth?

For pregnant women, they believe that even if they feel uncomfortable during pregnancy, all the discomfort will disappear after the baby is born. In fact, many mothers also encounter many troubles in their daily lives, especially physical discomfort, such as a noticeable feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen. So the question is, what is the reason for postpartum abdominal distension?

In the early postpartum period, uterine contractions are relatively strong. Strong uterine contractions and the process of uterine recovery often cause obvious lower abdominal pain, which is often paroxysmal and severe. This is called postpartum uterine contraction pain.

Most uterine contraction pains occur 1 to 2 days after delivery and usually last for 2 to 3 days before disappearing naturally. During this process of uterine involution, abdominal pain is often more obvious in multiparous women. Especially when breastfeeding, stimulation of the nipples causes a sharp increase in the secretion of reflex oxytocin, making the pain more obvious. Some people can also clearly feel the rounder and harder uterus in the lower abdomen. During this process of uterine involution, the physiological uterine contraction pain does not require special treatment or medication.

However, if the abdominal pain is persistent and not paroxysmal, and it is ruled out that it is caused by cold or eating cold food, and the doctor finds clear tenderness at the bottom of the uterus, then there may be an inflammation problem of the uterus. In particular, if such lower abdominal pain occurs four or five days after delivery, or gradually worsens, and keeping warm and resting do not relieve the pain, then it is considered to be an inflammatory problem. It must be checked and treated as soon as possible. Otherwise, the inflammation is likely to gradually worsen and seriously affect the health of the whole body, or lead to pelvic abscess, or secondary infertility and other problems.

Therefore, the most severe swelling and pain in the lower abdomen after childbirth depends mainly on the time, frequency, and degree. Not all pain is a disease.