Maternity can be one of the most exciting periods in a woman’s life. After nine months of expectation, you finally meet with your little one. The postpartum period which starts right after giving birth and can last for the next six to eight weeks could be one of the most challenging times to a woman’s body and psycho emotional state. But why?

Postpartum

It is mainly related to the reverse development of all the changes which have happened during pregnancy. These changes begin from the very first day of pregnancy and involve every part of the body.

Hormones.

Chorionic gonadotropin in the first week of pregnancy informs the whole body about its new state and which serves as a trigger for other hormones and processes. The prostaglandin which helps to keep pregnancy increases, hormones responsible for menstruation regulation reduce their action. All this affects the woman’s mood and can lead to different behaviors. 

Glands.

The pituitary and adrenal glands together with ovaries start releasing substances to prepare uterus and mammary glands for growth.

The nervous system.

The nervous system reacts to hormonal changes. Adaptation to pregnancy during the first trimester provokes nausea and vomiting. In the second part of pregnancy, the process of inhibition leads to fatigue, drowsiness and laziness.

The cardiovascular system.

The major changes in the cardiovascular system of pregnant women starts when the third circle of blood circulation occurs. The uteroplacental blood circle supplies the fetus with maternal blood, which increases the cardiac output and the volume of circulating blood by 20%.

The digestive system.

During pregnancy, women can experience different issues with their digestive system. Less gastric juice and blood supply to the digestive system weakens the woman’s peristalsis. In addition to that, the growing baby presses on the stomach pushing food back to the esophagus and causing heartburn.

The respiratory system.

The baby needs more oxygen as it grows so the woman’s respiratory frequency increases. At the same time, the belly presses on the woman’s diaphragm obstructing breathing.

The excretory system.

The load on the excretory system increases as well to remove toxins produced by mother and child from their blood. The daily urine volume may increase as well. At the same time, the woman’s bladder turns hypotonic due to the hormone prostaglandin which leads to frequent urge to urinate.

The musculoskeletal system.

Due to the weight of a growing baby, the woman’s lumbar lordosis becomes deeper, and the new posture can cause back pains. 

Several weeks before the birth, hormones soften the woman’s joints. It is necessary for a smooth childbirth but causes a duck gait. 

Metabolism.

A pregnant woman’s body accumulates nutrients and water, however, weight gain should not exceed 12-15% of her initial weight. Also, there is an increased need for vitamins, especially for those substances that the body cannot synthesize on its own.

Now, it is not surprising why the after birth period is challenging. In several hours after the delivery, the women’s body will start the reverse development process. These changes will affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems and others:

• The hormones prepare the woman’s body for lactation. One of the frequent complications in this period are breast dysfunctions and diseases such as galactostasis, mastitis, and nipple cracks.

• The uterus slowly returns to its original size. Frequent breastfeeding will help it to contract and recover faster.

• Due to reverse hormonal changes the bones and joints lose their elasticity. Internal organs such as stomach, bladder, intestines, lungs return to their initial position. This process can be accompanied by pain. Also, pathological fixation of some organs may occur and may lead to constant discomfort.

• The emotional state of the mother is changing too. Euphoria can be replaced by irritability or unreasonable sadness. If the woman cries or expresses regret over something in the first days after giving birth, this may be a manifestation of postpartum depression. Emotions during this period have a great impact on the postpartum recovery process as well. 

Recovery

The process of recovery is individual for each woman and if you experience any of the above mentioned symptoms it is better to look for professional help. Treatment of various postpartum conditions should start as soon as possible after the first symptoms appear. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), conducted by RANKEL Stress Scanner, may be a good help to accelerate recovery of the uterus, healing of perineum scars and treat lactostasis, lactation mastitis, cracked nipples, and low milk supply, even depression. Depending on your diagnosis you might need from eight to 15 sessions prescribed and conducted by a specialist.