Anatomy and Physiology Childbearing

Anatomy and Physiology Childbearing 1) Uterus. After giving birth, the uterus will contract (squeezing movements) to tighten the uterine wall so that bleeding does not occur. These contractions cause heartburn in the mother's stomach. Gradually the uterus will shrink to the same size as before pregnancy, shortly after giving birth the uterus will normally feel hard at 2 finger heights below the navel, 2 weeks after giving birth the uterus will no longer be palpable, after 6 weeks it will recover as before. But usually the mother's stomach still looks bloated and curved white or brown lines appear, this is due to excessive stretching of the stomach skin during pregnancy, so it takes time to recover, postpartum exercises will really help tighten the stomach muscles again. 2) Birth canal (cervix, vulva and vagina) The birth canal experiences enormous pressure and stretching during the process of giving birth to a baby, which causes loosening of this organ and even tears that require stitches, but God willing, it will recover after 2-3 weeks (depending on whether it is elastic or how often you give birth), although it will still be looser than before give birth to. Keep the feminine area clean to prevent infections (signs of infection in the birth canal include foul odor, soreness, heat, redness and pus). 3) Postpartum blood (Lochea) Postpartum blood until the second day consists of fresh blood mixed with amniotic fluid, then blood and mucus, after one week the blood gradually changes to a brownish yellow color and then the mucus becomes cloudy until clear fluid comes out at the end of the postpartum period. Postpartum blood that smells very fishy or rotten can be an indication of an infection in the uterus. 4) Breasts The breasts become large, hard and black around the nipples, this indicates the start of the breastfeeding process. Immediate breastfeeding of the baby shortly after birth (even if the milk has not yet come out) can prevent bleeding and stimulate breast milk production. On the 2nd to 3rd day, colostrum or jolong milk will be produced, namely cloudy yellow breast milk which is rich in anti-bodies and protein. Some mothers throw it away because it is considered dirty, on the contrary, this breast milk is very good for babies. 5) Urinary system The first day mothers usually experience difficulty urinating, apart from worrying about stitching pain, it is also due to narrowing of the urinary tract due to pressure on the baby's head during the birthing process. However, try to continue urinating regularly, get rid of fear and worry, because a bladder that is too full can inhibit uterine contractions, resulting in bleeding. 6) Digestive system Changes in hormone levels and lack of body movement cause decreased intestinal function, so that mothers do not feel the need or have difficulty defecating. Sometimes hemorrhoids or hemorrhoids appear in mothers after giving birth, this may be due to errors in pushing during childbirth as well as prolonged constipation before and after giving birth. By increasing fiber intake (fruit and vegetables) and postpartum exercise, God willing, this will reduce or even eliminate hemorrhoid complaints. 7) Blood circulation White blood cells will increase and red blood cells and hemoglobin (keeping blood) will decrease, this will return to normal after 1 week. The pressure and amount of blood to the heart will be higher and return to normal in up to 2 weeks. 8) Weight loss After giving birth, the mother will lose 5-6 kg of body weight which comes from the baby, placenta, amniotic fluid and labor bleeding, another 2-3 kg through urine as the body's attempt to remove fluid deposits during pregnancy. The average mother returns to her ideal weight after 6 months, although most will still be heavier than before. 9) Body temperature Body temperature after giving birth usually increases slightly and after 12 hours it will return to normal. Be careful if it happenshigh fever, because it is feared as a sign of infection or other danger signs. 10) Emotional changes Emotional changes (easily sad, worried, suddenly happy) are caused by various factors, including hormonal changes, maternal fatigue, lack of family attention, lack of knowledge about how to care for a baby and conflict in the household. These changes have various forms and variations and will gradually become normal until the 12th week after giving birth. What you need to remember is that the postpartum period does not mean that the mother is completely separated from the values of worship, dhikr is a form of verbal and heart worship that is quite effective in making the mother feel calm, patient and strong during this postpartum period.