✓ Uterine bites: what they are and how they are treated

Source: Shutterstock

Uterine bites

I uterine bites they are equivalent to physiological contractions of the uterine muscles, which affect the woman immediately after childbirth, and serve to bring the uterus back to its normal size. Here, specifically, what they are, how long they last, why they come and how to alleviate them.

Read also: Breastfeeding without problems 19 PHOTOS

Breastfeeding: EVERYTHING you need to know

go to the gallery

From the benefits for mothers and babies to strategies to get off to a good start and reduce the risk of breast problems, from the rights of the nursing woman to advice on lifestyle, from physiology ...

Uterine bites, what are they

Uterine bites are completely physiological contractions of the uterine muscles, which affect the woman immediately after childbirth. Unlike contractions of labor, which involve alternating between contraction and release of the muscles, uterine bites are characterized by a continuous contraction, even if they are felt more at certain times.

Uterine bites, how long they last

They are most intense in the first few days after birth and then gradually decrease, until they run out within 40 days of the birth of the baby.

Uterine bites, why they come

"After childbirth, it is necessary for the uterine muscles to contract, both to bring the uterus back to its normal size (even if after a pregnancy the uterus never returns to its original size), and to allow cessation of the bleeding that occurs after the afterbirth (ie after the placenta comes out) "explains Manuela Wally Ossola, Head of Pregnancy Pathology at the Clinic in our city. "After the afterbirth, in fact, some open vascular outlets remain, which contractions, making the muscle fibers progressively shorten, help to close".

Uterine bites, they are felt especially when breastfeeding

A feature of uterine bites is that they are felt especially during breastfeeding. Sucking in fact stimulates the production of a hormone, oxytocin, which in turn stimulates uterine contractions. One more reason to start breastfeeding your baby as soon as possible, in order to immediately induce contractions which, although annoying, are very useful. It should be noted that contractions also occur in women who are not breastfeeding, even if sucking, so to speak, gives a 'help' that speeds up the process.

Uterine bites, more intense in the second birth

Uterine bites are felt more mildly - some women don't even notice - after the first birth, while they are more intense with subsequent deliveries. "This is because the fibro-muscular component of the uterus is different from that of a woman who has never given birth before, therefore the contraction produces greater pain" comments the gynecologist.

Uterine bites, how to relieve pain

These are usually bearable pains, similar to menstrual pains. Only if the discomfort is particularly pronounced, can mild analgesics such as paracetamol be used. To use antispasmodics more sparingly, because they could inhibit contractions that instead have a specific beneficial function.

11 PHOTOS

The positions for breastfeeding

go to the gallery

How to find the correct position for both mother and baby for breastfeeding? Apart from the four traditional positions, recommended by the consultants of La Leche League, here they are ...