Herbs that cause uterine contractions are actively used in modern gynecology. These are natural preparations with almost no side effects and contraindications, which do their job perfectly, do no harm to other organs and systems of the body, and also save money. The most important reproductive organ needs recovery after childbirth or spontaneous abortion, with severe bleeding during critical days and in some other situations. Herbs for uterine contractions can help in these cases.
Changing the size of the uterus during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the weight of the uterus increases from 50 grams (100 g in women giving birth) to 1000-1200 grams, excluding the weight of the baby, amniotic fluid and membranes. With multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios or a large fetus, the size of the organ can be even larger. By the end of pregnancy, the volume of the uterine cavity increases approximately 500 times. The organ will return to its original size within about six to eight weeks after the birth of the baby.
A bit of physiology: periods of labor
Doctors distinguish three periods in labor activity. Childbirth can begin with contractions, that is, contractions of the organ that cause the neck to open. This is facilitated by the pressure of the fetal bladder, which descends before birth. The signal for the onset of labor is the outflow of water. Usually the water leaves at the end of the first stage of labor, but in some cases (25-30%) this can happen prematurely, that is, before or at the same time as labor begins. Another process of the birth of a baby can begin with the passage of the mucous plug, which throughout pregnancy blocked the entrance to the uterus.
The first period of labor lasts from four to ten hours. Contractions can drag on for 20-22 hours. Usually, at the birth of the first-born, the opening is slower than during the second and subsequent births. The second period is the birth of the fetus. With the neck fully open, you can begin to push. The second period in a primiparous woman lasts, as a rule, about 30-40 minutes, in a multiparous woman - 10-15.
Childbirth does not end after the baby is born. While neonatologists are engaged in the child, the "birth" of the afterbirth occurs. The placenta and fetal membranes are rejected and come out with a little effort. In this case, a woman in labor loses about 300 ml of blood. A significant wound surface that bleeds remains in the uterine cavity. In the first two hours after giving birth, a woman should remain in the maternity ward so that doctors can take urgent measures if heavy bleeding occurs.
Uterine contraction immediately after birth
In the future, the uterine mucosa will gradually heal, getting rid of unnecessary tissues. This is accompanied by spotting. First, the discharge has a bright red color. Over time, the volume of secretions decreases, their color fades. Uterine contractions contribute to the detachment of unnecessary muscle organ cells and recovery after childbirth.
After childbirth (while the woman is in the maternity ward), the midwife does massage through the abdominal wall, applies ice to contract the uterus. In the postpartum ward, it is recommended that you lie on your stomach for at least one to two hours. This contributes to the release of blood clots and the reduction of the genital organ. Intensive uterine contraction also contributes to the active regime, that is, independent hygiene procedures, moving around the ward, caring for the baby.
The main signs of uterine contractions
The normal muscle activity in the first five to seven days after childbirth is felt by the woman in the form of cramping pains in the lower abdomen. In the future, the pain weakens, but can be felt during feeding. The fact is that during feeding hormones are released that stimulate the activity of the muscular organ. Also, contractions are accompanied by discomfort in the mammary glands. The process is accompanied by bloody discharge, which gradually decreases quantitatively and brightens. Allocations cease by the sixth-eighth week after childbirth.
Allocations after childbirth: norm and pathology
Postpartum discharge (lochia) normally has a bright red color and is quite plentiful (volume per day - about 400 ml or more). The most intense discharge is in the first hours after birth. At this time, the uterus is actively contracting, "pushing" the blood and secretion of glands out through the genital tract of women. Normal watery lochia, and with an admixture of clots or mucus are considered normal.
One to two weeks after birth, the discharge becomes dark. This is an important criterion for assessing the normal condition of a woman. Subsequently, the discharge gradually brightens, their volume decreases. In six to eight weeks, the uterus is completely cleansed of the layer that formed during pregnancy. It is necessary to consult a doctor if lochiae are secreted for more than eight weeks.
A woman should be alerted by a sharp change in the color of the discharge, the appearance of an unpleasant or putrid odor, an increase in profusion and the like. A pathology is the termination of discharge on the seventh-ninth day after childbirth, that is, before the end of the recovery period. Physiologically, the uterus cannot recover faster than 40 days. The cessation of lochia can be triggered by a low activity of uterine contractions or “obstruction” of the cervical canal.
Herbal treatments for uterine contractions
It is recommended to drink these funds for women both for prevention and with other methods of therapeutic effect with low contractile activity of the organ. Recovery after the birth of the baby can be "supported", as well as gently and without harm to health, hurry. The influence of medicinal herbs helps to normalize the balance of hormones, increase the immunity of a young mother, stimulates muscle tone, gives strength and starts the renewal processes. If the gynecologist does not see contraindications, then you can drink a collection of herbs that reduce the uterus after childbirth.
Many medicinal plants will help. You can use herbs to reduce the uterus after childbirth, such as a shepherd’s bag, field yarot, white crayfish, nettle broth, infusion of red geranium, birch leaves, raspberry leaves, viburnum juice. These are the most common remedies. Herbs that cut the uterus are also a laurel leaf, a bird and highlander, a spring primrose, rosemary, calendula, St. John's wort, tansy, roots and bark of barberry, sage, tansy, senna grass and so on. Components can be combined.
Uterus recovery
To restore the normal functioning of the genital organ will help not only herbs, but also compliance with some recommendations. Most of them relate to the first few days after birth. A woman should:
- sleep on your stomach (during pregnancy, expectant mothers have time to “miss” such a comfortable position, so this does not cause any difficulties);
- apply an ice pack pre-wrapped in a towel to your stomach;
- Avoid overflowing of the bladder and constipation (you need to go to the toilet “little by little” every three hours; this is recommended even if there is no urge to urinate);
- breastfeed, because during the process of feeding hormones are produced that stimulate uterine contractions;
- wear a postpartum bandage.
As for activity, you need to rely on the advice of a doctor. In order for the uterus to recover faster and contract correctly, modern gynecologists recommend that women who have given birth give birth to hygiene procedures on their own, more often to get out of bed and take care of the baby within a few hours after delivery. In the presence of complications, bed rest may be recommended.
Homeopathic Remedies
Herbs that cause uterine contractions can be used both in the form of decoctions or infusions of one's own preparation, and in the form of homeopathic remedies. But it is necessary to use any medications while breastfeeding the baby and in the responsible postpartum period with caution and only after consulting a doctor. The drugs are used, as a rule, not to facilitate contractions of the uterus (like herbs), but when the woman has no gobies and abdominal pains in the first or third day after delivery. If there is pain, then this indicates a hormonal disorder, in which natural medicines do not help. In such cases, injections of Oxytocin.
There are homeopathic remedies that contain this hormone and other additives necessary to start the process of restoration of the genital organ:
- The Sekale. It contains an ergot medicinal extract, gives strength and weakens bleeding.
- Millefolium. It is made on the basis of yarrow. Stimulates uterine renewal, tidies nerves and reduces bleeding.
- "Sabina." A medicine based on Cossack juniper, which gives strength, normalizes metabolic processes, relieves pain and helps restore the body.
- "Hamamelis." The drug does not allow severe bleeding, relieves the inflammatory process and stimulates the normal activity of smooth muscles.
Contraction of the uterus after cesarean section
KS is a rather serious operation, after which a recovery period is inevitable. After the operation, the woman’s body expends her strength not only on ensuring normal contractile activity of the organ, but also on healing the suture. The restoration of the uterus is longer and more difficult, because the vessels, muscle and nerve fibers must grow together. Pain in this case is stronger than after EP.
With any method of labor, the uterus is cleansed. Discharges with an admixture appear, which eventually come to naught. This process on average takes about 60 days. Prevents uterine suture contractions. After surgery, a woman needs more time to recover, so that she becomes passive, which also does not benefit from the activity of contractions. Recommendations after cesarean section for women are the same as after EP.
Herbs for contraction of the uterus after childbirth by CS can be used all the same as in natural childbirth. A doctor’s consultation and regular monitoring of a woman’s condition is mandatory. What herbs cause uterine contractions? This is motherwort, sage, red geranium, field yarok, spring primrose, laurel leaf, birch leaves and so on. Medicinal herbs can be taken in the form of decoctions, infusions, tea.
In what other cases are herbs used?
It is recommended to drink herbs for uterine contractions not only after EP or CS, but also in some other cases. It is advisable to use infusions and decoctions in the following situations:
- With heavy menstruation that takes too long, intermenstrual bleeding.
- When an unwanted pregnancy occurs to stimulate a miscarriage.
- In the second period of the birth process.
- In some gynecological diseases, with myoma (herbs for uterine contractions in this case must be taken together with painkillers, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agents).
- After a spontaneous miscarriage, if the remains of the embryo did not come out naturally.
- To enhance lactation.
Any collection of herbs for contraction of the uterus or single-component compounds is prohibited to use on their own. In any case, a doctor’s consultation is required. In some cases, acting on the issue of choosing herbs for uterine contractions after cesarean can cause serious complications or even lead to death.
The use of herbs in the second stage of labor
Many methods are used for obstetric care. This is proper breathing, and certain postures, and acupressure. There are herbs to reduce the uterus, which will help transfer the birth easier. But the fact is that if something goes wrong at this stage (attempts are ineffective, a woman cannot push hard and do not follow the instructions of the midwife), it may take urgent intervention, that is, there is simply no time to drink decoctions.
Sometimes doctors advise drinking decoctions immediately before childbirth, which will facilitate the further process. But these are not the same fees that are used to stimulate uterine contractions. Bay leaves, red geraniums, senna grass, shepherd's purse, white nettle, field yarot and other medicinal plants during pregnancy can cause premature birth or miscarriage, so you can not drink them.
Decoctions for heavy menstruation
Heavy menstrual bleeding can be a feature of the body or indicate a health problem. In any case, this gives the woman discomfort and reduces the quality of life. Fortunately, not only pharmacological preparations, but also herbal preparations can be used to normalize the menstrual cycle. Herbs that reduce the uterus during bleeding are safe, but only if the discharge is indeed menstrual.
Here it is worth mentioning how to distinguish menstruation from pathological bleeding. If bleeding from the genital tract began no earlier than 21 days after the previous menstruation, the blood is brown in color, and inclusions in the form of clots are present in the secretions, then we can talk about heavy periods. With uterine bleeding, the blood is liquid, bright scarlet, flows out in a trickle. In this case, you need to call an ambulance.
What herbs reduce the uterus? With abundant periods, you can use an infusion of nettle and / or yarrow, infusion of a mountaineer pepper, a decoction of common lilac, cherry decoction or a decoction of Rhodiola rosea. You need to start drinking a natural medicine 2-3 days before the expected menstruation and until the end of menstruation. Before taking, you must definitely familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications and consult a doctor.
Treatment after spontaneous abortion
After a miscarriage, gynecologists advise women to also use infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs so that the body recovers faster. The use of herbs to reduce the uterus after a miscarriage is advisable only if an ultrasound scan showed that parts of the embryo remained in the organ cavity. This will help to avoid the dangerous consequences of spontaneous interruption of gestation.
With a frozen pregnancy, which is diagnosed by ultrasound, a medical, vacuum or manual cleaning is performed. Medication is carried out only for up to six weeks, vacuum cleaning - up to a full seven weeks. Curettage is carried out up to 12 weeks, after this period dilatation and evacuation methods are shown. In practice, this is used up to 16 weeks. At a later date, hormonal stimulation of labor is preferred. A so-called small cesarean section can be performed (up to 24 weeks of pregnancy).
For any type of abortion in an aborted pregnancy, the doctor may recommend the use of herbs that reduce the uterus for miscarriage. This allows you to carry out the procedure with the least harm to the health of the woman herself. Herbs are also used to reduce the uterus after cleaning, if mistakes were made in the process, that is, the fetus is not completely removed.
Termination of an unwanted pregnancy
What herbs cause uterine contractions and miscarriages? All the same as listed above: motherwort, bay leaf, nettle, white nettle, shepherd’s bag and others. But it is unacceptable to take infusions and decoctions on your own in an attempt to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy, because the risk to reproductive health and even the woman’s life is very high. You can drink something only after a recommendation and under the supervision of a doctor. And, of course, it is natural that women who want to maintain pregnancy should not drink herbs to reduce the uterus for miscarriage.
Medicinal herbs to enhance lactation
The process of uterine contraction after natural birth occurs more actively and faster if a woman is breastfeeding. The fact is that the same hormone is responsible for stimulating contractions of the muscular organ and the production of breast milk. For this reason, while feeding a baby, a woman may experience minor pulling pains in the lower abdomen - a sign that the uterus contracts and clears.
The mechanism works "in the opposite direction." That is, when using infusions and decoctions that stimulate uterine contractions, milk production increases. But you must be careful, because there can be a lot of breast milk. In this case, lactostasis occurs - stagnation of milk. For the same reason, lactating mother is not recommended to use broths in hot form.
Recipes for making infusions and decoctions
Decoctions of herbs are prepared in the same way: one tablespoon of raw materials needs a glass of boiled water, the composition must be infused for ten minutes. Some plants need to be brewed in a special way:
- Fifty grams of a shepherd’s bag is brewed with 0.5 l of boiling water and insisted for 3-5 hours, white carafe insisted for about ten hours.
- The field yacht should be infused during the day. It should be taken 50 ml of broth three times a day.
- Red geranium should be poured in the following proportion: 35 grams of dry raw materials need to be poured 350 ml of hot water. The broth should be infused for 10-12 hours. Then you need to drink the drug several times during the day.
- May leaves are better to use birch leaves. Grind and dry the raw materials, pour 25 ml of boiling water over 25-30 grams. You need to add a pinch of salt and leave the composition for two to three hours. Liquid to drink during the day.
- Raspberry leaves not only help the uterus contract, but also facilitate labor by softening the uterine neck. You can use both dry and fresh leaves. If you use fresh, then need foliage and 0.5 l of boiling water. Twenty minutes later, tea can be drunk. If the leaves are dry, then you need 30 g of dry raw materials. Pour 300 ml of hot water and leave for twenty minutes. For successful delivery, this remedy can be used from the 30th week of pregnancy. For 30-34 weeks, you need to drink 250 ml of the chilled composition once a day. At 35-36 weeks, a woman can drink the same amount of broth, but already in the form of slightly warm tea. Drink no more than once a day. At week 37, drink twice a day. Tea temperature should be no more than 36-38 degrees Celsius. At 38 weeks, drink a warm broth three times a day. From the beginning of 39 weeks until delivery, you can drink 250 ml of a hot drink 3-4 times a day. If a decoction of raspberry leaves is used for other purposes, up to enough 200-250 ml twice a day.
- Viburnum can be used in different ways: juice from berries or bark extract. To stimulate the uterus, you need to drink one tablespoon of fresh juice three times a day. To stop bleeding and eliminate pain during critical days, tincture is used. The product must be prepared within seven to ten days. You will need bark and alcohol in a ratio of one part to ten. It is recommended to drink one teaspoon twice a day before meals. You can make a decoction of 50 g of bark and 400 ml of boiling water. Drink two tablespoons three times a day.
All medicinal plants can be purchased at a pharmacy at an affordable price. Any raw materials for the preparation of decoctions can be collected at the cottage site and dried independently. In this case, you will be sure of the quality of the collection. But be sure to consult a gynecologist before use. Reviews of doctors about such folk remedies are positive.