Cleaning the uterus after childbirth consequences. Why is it necessary to clean the uterus after childbirth, how does it happen, what are the consequences of it? In what cases is it necessary to clean the uterus after childbirth?

Childbirth takes place in two stages - the birth of the child and the release of the placenta. If the baby's place does not come out on its own, there is a suspicion that parts of the placenta and membranes remain in the uterus, so curettage or vacuum cleaning is indicated. This is a simple but rather painful procedure, as a result of which it is carried out after preliminary anesthesia immediately after childbirth, over the next 24 hours, the first or second postpartum months. Why can’t you do without cleaning, and what are the possible complications after it?

In what cases is cleaning necessary after childbirth?

It happens that during childbirth the placenta comes out partially or remains completely in the uterus. In this case, the obstetrician immediately decides to manually scrape the uterine cavity or perform vacuum aspiration to clean the muscular organ. Before being discharged from the maternity hospital (on days 3-5), young mothers undergo a control ultrasound.

The reasons why parts of the placenta remain in the uterus are low activity of the walls and bending of the muscular organ. When the examination shows the presence of blood clots and placental remnants, signs of an inflammatory process, cleaning is also carried out. The young mother remains in the hospital for another 1-2 days.

Failure to perform timely curettage will sooner or later lead to hospitalization. This is fraught with the following consequences:

  • uterine bleeding with a drop in hemoglobin levels, weakness, inability to care for the baby;
  • inflammation of the endometrium;
  • sepsis - a general infection of the blood, which leads to infection of the uterus.


The best time to cleanse is immediately after giving birth. However, it also happens that it is prescribed 6-8 weeks after natural delivery or cesarean section due to the appearance of spotting or bleeding.

Cleaning technique

Cleaning the uterus after childbirth, while its throat is open, is the optimal period for intervention. In this case, manual cleaning is possible, which involves instrumental curettage under anesthesia. In some cases, vacuum aspiration is performed. After such a procedure, the young mother stays in the maternity hospital for 1-2 days.


If the obstetrician is sure that after birth the baby's place is completely out, a heating pad with ice is placed on the stomach. Then, every day at the clinic, intramuscular injections of oxytocin are given. The substance provokes active contractions of the uterus, allowing the organ to quickly return to its prenatal state. In this case, the doctor feels the abdomen every day and inquires about the volume of postpartum discharge. A control ultrasound before discharge shows whether curettage is necessary.


If, according to the results of a control ultrasound, cleaning after childbirth is necessary, the woman will stay in the maternity hospital for a couple of days. The procedure algorithm is no different from an abortion:

  • use of general or local anesthesia;
  • treatment of the external genitalia with antiseptics;
  • mechanical expansion of the cervical canal;
  • carefully removing clots and parts of the placenta from the uterine cavity using a sterile curette.

The uterus is cleaned for no more than 15-30 minutes; the young mother recovers gradually from modern anesthesia, without headaches or other side effects. To enhance uterine contractility, injections of oxytocin or similar drugs are indicated. Normally there should be no bleeding, only lochia. The volume of discharge will gradually decrease, and over time it will turn pale.

In a state maternity hospital, the cost of cleaning is covered by compulsory medical insurance. In a private hospital you will have to pay from 7 to 20 thousand rubles for the procedure. (depending on the level of the institution, the anesthesia used and drug treatment during the recovery period).

Cleaning the uterus can be replaced by lavage, which begins the day after delivery. The course includes 3-5 procedures. The task is to remove the remaining clots and carry out antiseptic treatment of the cavity of the muscular organ. The manipulation is carried out under local anesthesia after exposing the cervix using mirrors. Lavage is carried out in two ways:

  • Aspiration. A silicone tube is connected to the intravenous infusion system, through which a washing solution (antiseptic, enzyme, antibiotic, anesthetic) is pumped into the cavity. The contents are extracted using an electric aspirator through an expanded channel.
  • By gravity. Instead of a silicone tube, a rubber catheter is used. The contents of the uterine cavity come out by gravity.


Rehabilitation period and ways to speed up recovery

The recovery period after curettage is about 2 weeks and coincides with the rehabilitation period after delivery. The condition of the young mother is monitored by a doctor; his task is not to miss the onset of the inflammatory process.

During recovery, the use of anti-inflammatory, painkillers, antispasmodics and other drugs is indicated. The doctor selects the type of medications, their dosage and course of administration individually. The weakened condition of the patient after childbirth, the level of hemoglobin in the blood, and general well-being are taken into account. During therapy, breastfeeding is temporarily stopped. Lactation is stimulated through breast massage and pumping. This will help quickly establish feeding the baby after discharge from the hospital.


In order for the recovery process to be successful, the young mother should take into account the following recommendations:

  • do not visit the sauna, bathhouse, or take a bath for 3 months;
  • observe the rules of intimate hygiene;
  • exclude swimming in open waters;
  • do not use tampons, only pads, which need to be changed regularly;
  • exclude intimacy and physical activity for 1.5 months.

If cleaning is carried out correctly and in a timely manner, there is no need to be afraid of complications. The main thing is to follow the doctor’s recommendations and be sure to undergo a follow-up examination.

Possible complications after curettage

The main criteria for a successful curettage:

  • absence of inflammatory process. what the ultrasound results confirm;
  • normal body temperature, which does not rise above subfebrile values ​​(37.5);
  • the general satisfactory condition of the young mother, slight dizziness and weakness are possible as a result of the interventions performed;
  • a nagging, mild pain in the lower abdomen that gradually goes away;
  • absence of scarlet bloody discharge; normally, lochia may be present - minor discharge that becomes paler over time and completely disappears within 6 weeks.


Complications and the need for additional medical intervention are indicated by:

  • severe uterine bleeding, in which sometimes it is necessary to make a decision about hysterectomy;
  • hematometer - absence of lochia after cleaning (indicates a poorly performed operation and accumulation of secretions in the organ cavity);
  • decreased contractility of the uterus;
  • an unpleasant odor of discharge is a sign of tissue infection;
  • high body temperature, feverish condition.

The doctor performs curettage after a cesarean section with particular care, taking into account the fact that the integrity of the muscular organ is compromised. For this reason, the uterus recovers more slowly and contracts worse. It returns to its previous state 2 weeks after birth, and the stitches take a little longer to heal.


Ultrasound on the 3rd day after surgery allows you to assess the condition of the muscle organ. Swelling of the postoperative scar may indicate endometritis, which is treated with medication. Despite the fact that during a cesarean section, doctors carefully clean the uterine cavity, sometimes an ultrasound shows the presence of clots. If placenta particles or endometrial growth are detected, cleaning is performed under anesthesia. It is recommended to plan the next pregnancy after 3 years.

Poor scraping can lead to health problems in the future. It negatively affects future fertility and leads to adhesions in the pelvic area. Subsequently, there may be difficulties with conceiving and bearing a baby, hormonal imbalances that lead to fibroids, cysts and other gynecological pathologies.

No one is immune from complications during manipulation. The risk of their occurrence can be reduced by having the operation performed by an experienced doctor using modern equipment. In this case, the endometrium will quickly recover, and a new pregnancy is possible in the next ovulatory cycle. During lactation it is difficult to miss, and if the spouses do not plan to have children, it is better to take care of contraception.

Childbirth takes place in two stages - the birth of the child and the release of the placenta. If the baby's place does not come out on its own, there is a suspicion that parts of the placenta and membranes remain in the uterus, so curettage or vacuum cleaning is indicated. This is a simple but rather painful procedure, as a result of which it is carried out after preliminary anesthesia immediately after childbirth, over the next 24 hours, the first or second postpartum months. Why can’t you do without cleaning, and what are the possible complications after it?

In what cases is cleaning necessary after childbirth?

It happens that during childbirth the placenta comes out partially or remains completely in the uterus. In this case, the obstetrician immediately decides to manually scrape the uterine cavity or perform vacuum aspiration to clean the muscular organ. Before being discharged from the maternity hospital (on days 3-5), young mothers undergo a control ultrasound.

The reasons why parts of the placenta remain in the uterus are low activity of the walls and bending of the muscular organ. When the examination shows the presence of blood clots and placental remnants, signs of an inflammatory process, cleaning is also carried out. The young mother remains in the hospital for another 1-2 days.

Failure to perform timely curettage will sooner or later lead to hospitalization. This is fraught with the following consequences:

  • uterine bleeding with a drop in hemoglobin levels, weakness, inability to care for the baby;
  • inflammation of the endometrium;
  • sepsis - a general infection of the blood, which leads to infection of the uterus.


The best time to cleanse is immediately after giving birth. However, it also happens that it is prescribed 6-8 weeks after natural delivery or cesarean section due to the appearance of spotting or bleeding.

Cleaning technique

Cleaning the uterus after childbirth, while its throat is open, is the optimal period for intervention. In this case, manual cleaning is possible, which involves instrumental curettage under anesthesia. In some cases, vacuum aspiration is performed. After such a procedure, the young mother stays in the maternity hospital for 1-2 days.


If the obstetrician is sure that after birth the baby's place is completely out, a heating pad with ice is placed on the stomach. Then, every day at the clinic, intramuscular injections of oxytocin are given. The substance provokes active contractions of the uterus, allowing the organ to quickly return to its prenatal state. In this case, the doctor feels the abdomen every day and inquires about the volume of postpartum discharge. A control ultrasound before discharge shows whether curettage is necessary.


If, according to the results of a control ultrasound, cleaning after childbirth is necessary, the woman will stay in the maternity hospital for a couple of days. The procedure algorithm is no different from an abortion:

  • use of general or local anesthesia;
  • treatment of the external genitalia with antiseptics;
  • mechanical expansion of the cervical canal;
  • carefully removing clots and parts of the placenta from the uterine cavity using a sterile curette.

The uterus is cleaned for no more than 15-30 minutes; the young mother recovers gradually from modern anesthesia, without headaches or other side effects. To enhance uterine contractility, injections of oxytocin or similar drugs are indicated. Normally there should be no bleeding, only lochia. The volume of discharge will gradually decrease, and over time it will turn pale.

In a state maternity hospital, the cost of cleaning is covered by compulsory medical insurance. In a private hospital you will have to pay from 7 to 20 thousand rubles for the procedure. (depending on the level of the institution, the anesthesia used and drug treatment during the recovery period).

Cleaning the uterus can be replaced by lavage, which begins the day after delivery. The course includes 3-5 procedures. The task is to remove the remaining clots and carry out antiseptic treatment of the cavity of the muscular organ. The manipulation is carried out under local anesthesia after exposing the cervix using mirrors. Lavage is carried out in two ways:

  • Aspiration. A silicone tube is connected to the intravenous infusion system, through which a washing solution (antiseptic, enzyme, antibiotic, anesthetic) is pumped into the cavity. The contents are extracted using an electric aspirator through an expanded channel.
  • By gravity. Instead of a silicone tube, a rubber catheter is used. The contents of the uterine cavity come out by gravity.


Rehabilitation period and ways to speed up recovery

The recovery period after curettage is about 2 weeks and coincides with the rehabilitation period after delivery. The condition of the young mother is monitored by a doctor; his task is not to miss the onset of the inflammatory process.

During recovery, the use of anti-inflammatory, painkillers, antispasmodics and other drugs is indicated. The doctor selects the type of medications, their dosage and course of administration individually. The weakened condition of the patient after childbirth, the level of hemoglobin in the blood, and general well-being are taken into account. During therapy, breastfeeding is temporarily stopped. Lactation is stimulated through breast massage and pumping. This will help quickly establish feeding the baby after discharge from the hospital.


In order for the recovery process to be successful, the young mother should take into account the following recommendations:

  • do not visit the sauna, bathhouse, or take a bath for 3 months;
  • observe the rules of intimate hygiene;
  • exclude swimming in open waters;
  • do not use tampons, only pads, which need to be changed regularly;
  • exclude intimacy and physical activity for 1.5 months.

If cleaning is carried out correctly and in a timely manner, there is no need to be afraid of complications. The main thing is to follow the doctor’s recommendations and be sure to undergo a follow-up examination.

Possible complications after curettage

The main criteria for a successful curettage:

  • absence of inflammatory process. what the ultrasound results confirm;
  • normal body temperature, which does not rise above subfebrile values ​​(37.5);
  • the general satisfactory condition of the young mother, slight dizziness and weakness are possible as a result of the interventions performed;
  • a nagging, mild pain in the lower abdomen that gradually goes away;
  • absence of scarlet bloody discharge; normally, lochia may be present - minor discharge that becomes paler over time and completely disappears within 6 weeks.


Complications and the need for additional medical intervention are indicated by:

  • severe uterine bleeding, in which sometimes it is necessary to make a decision about hysterectomy;
  • hematometer - absence of lochia after cleaning (indicates a poorly performed operation and accumulation of secretions in the organ cavity);
  • decreased contractility of the uterus;
  • an unpleasant odor of discharge is a sign of tissue infection;
  • high body temperature, feverish condition.

The doctor performs curettage after a cesarean section with particular care, taking into account the fact that the integrity of the muscular organ is compromised. For this reason, the uterus recovers more slowly and contracts worse. It returns to its previous state 2 weeks after birth, and the stitches take a little longer to heal.


Ultrasound on the 3rd day after surgery allows you to assess the condition of the muscle organ. Swelling of the postoperative scar may indicate endometritis, which is treated with medication. Despite the fact that during a cesarean section, doctors carefully clean the uterine cavity, sometimes an ultrasound shows the presence of clots. If placenta particles or endometrial growth are detected, cleaning is performed under anesthesia. It is recommended to plan the next pregnancy after 3 years.

Poor scraping can lead to health problems in the future. It negatively affects future fertility and leads to adhesions in the pelvic area. Subsequently, there may be difficulties with conceiving and bearing a baby, hormonal imbalances that lead to fibroids, cysts and other gynecological pathologies.

No one is immune from complications during manipulation. The risk of their occurrence can be reduced by having the operation performed by an experienced doctor using modern equipment. In this case, the endometrium will quickly recover, and a new pregnancy is possible in the next ovulatory cycle. During lactation it is difficult to miss, and if the spouses do not plan to have children, it is better to take care of contraception.

Many women who have given birth to a child are faced with the need to cleanse the uterus. However, not all types of this procedure are painful. In addition, there are traditional methods of cleaning the uterus after childbirth.

In what cases is it necessary to clean the uterus after childbirth?

The most important organ responsible for the successful course of pregnancy and the birth of a child is the uterus. It is she who bears the heaviest load during these processes.

After childbirth, the uterus begins to clear itself of the membranes that have surrounded the fetus throughout pregnancy. This is called the birth of the placenta. The afterbirth, which includes the umbilical cord and membrane of the fetus, must come out completely. If this does not happen, immediately after the birth process, the obstetrician-gynecologist can perform manual cleaning of the uterus to remove the remaining remains. Complete cleansing of the uterus occurs in 7–8 weeks and is a process similar to menstruation.

Before being discharged from the maternity hospital, each woman is checked with an ultrasound machine for the presence of blood clots in the uterus and, if they are found, cleaning is prescribed. A woman should under no circumstances refuse her.

Timely monitoring of postpartum cleansing of the uterus is important and can prevent the development of complications:

  • all residues in the uterus can begin to decompose, creating favorable conditions for the development of bacteria;
  • the clot can adhere to the uterus, causing the development of endometriosis.

Cleansing the uterus prescribed to a new mother will most likely delay discharge from the hospital by several days. Carrying out the procedure in the next three days after birth makes it less painful, because the cervix has not yet had time to fully contract and will not have to dilate.

If in the maternity hospital the new mother was not checked for the presence of clots in the uterus, then it is worth contacting the clinic at the place of residence or a paid clinic

If the maternity hospital did not check you with an ultrasound machine for the presence of clots, go to your local clinic or a paid clinic to have your uterus checked.

How to clean the uterus after childbirth

Cleaning the uterus after childbirth is usually carried out according to ultrasound indications within 3–5 days after birth:

  1. Before the procedure, the woman is given general or local anesthesia.
  2. Then the patient’s external genitalia and inner thigh are treated with iodine or another antiseptic, and the vagina and cervix are treated with ethanol.
  3. Using dilators of different sizes, the cervix is ​​opened and the uterus itself is cleansed.

The entire operation lasts no more than 25 minutes. After cleaning, a repeat ultrasound of the uterus is prescribed to monitor its complete cleansing.

Depending on the type of instruments used, uterine cleaning is divided into several types:

  • vacuum cleaning;
  • manual (mechanical) cleaning;
  • washing (lavage).

Vacuum cleaning of the uterus

Vacuum cleaning - cleansing the uterus from blood clots or placenta residues using a special device - a vacuum pump. This effective method allows you to avoid injury to the cervix and uterine walls.

The procedure is most often performed under local anesthesia, so the woman does not experience pain. During the operation, the patient may only feel the unpleasant sensations of curettage. Before cleaning, the obstetrician-gynecologist examines the woman’s birth canal and then treats it with antiseptics. Next, with the help of special dilators, the cervix is ​​gradually opened and the organ itself is cleansed.

The principle of operation of a vacuum pump is similar to that of an ordinary vacuum cleaner. With the help of this device, negative pressure is created in the uterus, which allows excess elements to come out.

The procedure lasts from twenty minutes to half an hour and is performed only in a medical facility by experienced personnel.

Vacuum cleaning of the uterus is a gentle cleaning method

Cleaning the uterus using a vacuum pump is the most painless method of cleaning for a woman who has just given birth.

Manual (mechanical) cleaning of the uterus

If a small number of blood clots are found in the uterus after childbirth, the doctor may try to get rid of them without surgery by pressing on the patient's abdomen with his hands. In other situations, manual (mechanical) cleaning of the uterus is prescribed.

The process of manual cleaning of the uterus is carried out using a special obstetric instrument - a curette.

All preoperative measures for manual cleaning of the uterus are identical to those for vacuum cleaning. The process of cleansing the organ itself is carried out using a special obstetric instrument - a curette. Sometimes the obstetric curette may be serrated. The procedure for manual cleaning of the uterus does not last long, usually no more than twenty minutes. During the operation, blood clots are scraped out, after which a new healthy mucous layer grows in the uterus.

Three days after giving birth in the maternity hospital, I had an ultrasound, which also revealed the presence of a small number of blood clots. The obstetrician-gynecologist and part-time ultrasound specialist began to clean the clots with her hand, pressing on my stomach with the other. This manipulation did not last long - about 1–1.5 minutes. It was painful and unpleasant. Several clots came out immediately during the procedure. I was left in the maternity hospital for one more day. The next day the procedure was repeated, after which several blood clots came out again. Then they checked me again with an ultrasound, said that everything was fine, and sent me home. I did this mini-cleaning in the maternity hospital, glad that I didn’t have to undergo a full-fledged operation.

Video: how to clean the uterus with a doctor’s hand

Lavage (washing) of the uterus

Lavage (washing) of the uterus is a procedure performed after childbirth to cleanse the body of the uterus from unreleased blood clots or particles of membranes.

A special thin tube is inserted into the uterine cavity, through which an antiseptic solution is injected:


Uterine lavage is performed using two main methods:

  • gravity rinsing. A rubber tube is inserted into the genital tract, through which antiseptic drugs are infused into the uterine cavity. The contents of the uterus spill out spontaneously. For the best effect of the procedure, an ice compress may be placed on the stomach;
  • aspiration method. A silicone tube is attached to the intravenous injection complex, through which a disinfecting cold liquid is poured into the body of the uterus. Blood clots and fluid are removed using an electric aspirator.

The washing itself goes through the main stages:

  1. The patient's genitals are treated with an antiseptic.
  2. A speculum is inserted into the vagina and the cervix is ​​located.
  3. To achieve the best washing effect, a tube is inserted into the uterine cavity as deeply as possible.
  4. A cooled antiseptic solution is injected into the uterine cavity under low pressure to create a stream. This washing lasts no more than 25 minutes.
  5. The injection pressure of the solution is reduced and the procedure is continued for another 100–120 minutes.

To achieve maximum effect, it is necessary to carry out up to 4-5 rinsing sessions. It all depends on the degree of uterine congestion. If the number of blood clots is small, one session may be sufficient.

To carry out lavage, antiseptic drugs are used:


Novocaine or Lidocaine is used as an anesthetic. During one lavage session, about three liters of liquid are poured into the uterine cavity. The antiseptic solution must be cooled to 5 o C, which creates an additional effect of reducing sensitivity. After the procedure, patients are prescribed an antibiotic to avoid complications.

Consequences of cleaning the uterus

If the doctor has prescribed cleaning of the uterus, then undergoing the procedure is mandatory, since complications will occur not because of the cleaning, but because of the refusal to undergo it. After the operation, the endometrium (inner mucous membrane of the uterine body) will gradually recover. The uterus will be covered with a new healthy layer of epithelium.

However, the consequences of cleaning the uterus cannot be completely excluded. In some cases, the following may occur:

  • uterine bleeding. This phenomenon occurs rarely after cleaning. It usually affects women who have previously had problems with blood clotting;
  • hematometers - retention of liquid blood or blood clots in the genitals. This pathology after cleansing is quite rare and occurs due to severe compression or spasms of the muscles of the cervix or vagina. To avoid hematomas, obstetricians-gynecologists can prescribe Aspirin or No-shpa. These drugs help relieve muscle spasm, ensuring free cleansing of the female genital organ;
  • endometritis - inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus. It can occur due to the penetration of bacteria and microbes into the wounded surface of the uterus. To exclude the occurrence of endometritis, it is necessary to take a course of antibiotics.

With proper and delicate cleaning, the risk of negative consequences after the procedure is reduced to zero. Therefore, you should not be afraid of the operation and its consequences. Agree to medical intervention.

Traditional methods of cleaning the uterus after childbirth

You can speed up the recovery of the female reproductive organ with the help of herbs that help stabilize hormonal levels and contractions of the uterus. The action of such herbs stimulates muscle tone and improves immunity.

Drinks that help cleanse the uterus include:

  • nettle infusion. Nettle is very popular as a folk remedy due to its availability. To prepare the infusion, add 5 tablespoons of dry nettle to 500 ml of boiling water and let it brew until cool. You can drink half a glass of liquid up to 3-4 times a day. Nettle promotes uterine contractions and also has an anti-inflammatory effect;

    Nettle infusion has an anti-inflammatory effect

  • infusion of young birch leaves. It must be prepared from young May birch leaves. The product has an antiseptic effect and also helps to increase the tone of the uterus. To prepare the infusion, add 3 tablespoons of crushed leaves to 600 ml of boiling water and let it brew for about three hours. The cooled drink must be filtered and taken 200 ml 3 times a day. You can start using this product only two weeks after birth;
  • infusion of shepherd's purse. It promotes uterine contractions after childbirth, stimulates blood circulation and has an invigorating effect. It is necessary to pour 30 grams of herb into 600 ml of boiling water and let it brew until cool. Afterwards, strain the drink and drink half a glass 3-4 times a day;
  • viburnum juice. To prepare the product, you must use only fresh berries. The juice must be drunk immediately after preparation, without leaving it for next time. To increase the tone of the uterus, you need to drink 3-4 tablespoons of fresh viburnum juice per day.

In addition to herbs, the following help tone the uterus and remove clots:

  • moderate physical activity;
  • frequent emptying of the bladder.

How to avoid uterine cleansing after childbirth

When I was in the hospital, I was advised to go to the toilet frequently to urinate and do reasonable exercise to stimulate the passage of clots. To activate uterine contractions, an oxytocin drip was given. After discharge, she was prescribed to take a course of pepper water extract (knotweed), which increases the tone of the uterus, stimulating its contractions. I took 30 drops orally 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment was 5–7 days.

The release of blood clots after childbirth is normal and even necessary. However, if there are few clots or, according to the results of an ultrasound, the woman has seen stagnation of blood clots, you can perform certain actions that promote the release of excess blood and help, in some cases, to avoid cleansing the uterus:

  • apply cold or ice to your stomach;
  • Breastfeed your baby more often and for longer. This promotes the production of the hormone oxytocin, which leads to uterine contractions;
  • move actively, perform acceptable physical exercises allowed for new mothers;
  • lie on your stomach;
  • Empty your bladder more often.

After a cesarean section, there may also be problems with removing blood clots from the uterus, since:

  • physical activity is contraindicated;
  • Breast milk may come in slowly.

Therefore, young mothers who have undergone a CS are prescribed injections or drips of oxytocin while still in the maternity hospital.

Curettage of the uterus (curettage) after childbirth is a gynecological procedure in which remnants of amniotic membranes and large blood clots are mechanically removed from the uterus.

In what cases is it necessary to carry out a cleaning procedure after childbirth?

After the baby is born, the placenta (afterbirth) must leave the woman’s body, namely the uterus.

Sometimes, for some reason, for example, due to a tight attachment, the placenta does not come out and remains inside the organ. Also, when the placenta is expelled, parts of it or remnants of other amniotic membranes and tissues may remain in the uterus.

Normally, all this, together with blood clots formed during postpartum healing of the uterus, should pass away in the form of lochia - postpartum discharge.

But if the placenta does not come out, pieces of tissue remain in the uterus, or large blood clots have formed that block the discharge of lochia, there is a risk of infection. The remains of the placenta and amniotic membranes will begin to decompose, which will become a favorable area for the development of bacteria and lead to inflammation and purulent processes.

To prevent this from happening, a curettage procedure is performed.

By the way, after a cesarean section, the placenta always has to be removed mechanically.

How is the uterine cleansing procedure performed?

Curettage of the uterus is performed on a gynecological chair. In this case, the woman is under general anesthesia.

If the placenta does not pass immediately after birth, the doctor performs manual curettage: while the cervix is ​​still sufficiently dilated, it allows you to remove excess tissue and blood clots manually.

If the need for cleaning was discovered later during an ultrasound, special instruments are used to perform curettage, which are used to “scrape off” the endometrial mucosa.

Before the procedure, the genitals are treated with an iodine solution and an alcohol solution. Sterility plays a big role in cleaning, since the inner surface of the uterus at this time is a large wound, prone to infection.

Postoperative period. How to behave and what not to do?

After the scraping procedure, the woman should pay attention to hygiene and treat the genitals with an antiseptic.

At this time, it is prohibited to use tampons and douching. You should also not take a hot bath or visit the saunas - during recovery you will have to limit yourself to a shower.

Sexual intercourse is also prohibited until the recovery period is completed.

After curettage, antibiotics, antispasmodics and drugs that promote the process of uterine contraction may be prescribed. Breastfeeding is usually prohibited while taking medications, so milk will have to be expressed so as not to disrupt the lactation process.

For two weeks after cleansing, you should not lift heavy objects or subject your body to physical activity.

Complications after cleaning

If an infection is introduced during curettage, this can lead to endometritis - an inflammatory process.

When bleeding, a hematomera may develop - an accumulation of blood in the uterine cavity, which appears due to problems with its outflow. If a woman has problems with blood clotting, then on the contrary, severe bleeding and loss of large volumes of blood are possible.

Normally, there is bleeding after the procedure, but it is small and gradually decreases. If you have no discharge or a lot of bright red blood, consult a doctor.

During the process of childbirth, the female body is subjected to enormous stress and in some cases complications may arise that require additional medical intervention. Cleansing after childbirth is a medical procedure based on removing blood clots or placental remains from the mucous layer of the uterus, which helps prevent complications and preserve women's health.

The birth process occurs in two stages: first the baby appears, and then the afterbirth comes out - the membrane that surrounds the child for 9 months of intrauterine development. However, in cases where childbirth occurs in an unnatural manner, with complications, curettage is performed. Reasons that explain why this procedure is necessary may be:

  1. After the birth of the child, the placenta did not come out or came out partially.
  2. Presence of infection in the vagina.
  3. Insufficient contractile activity of the vaginal muscles.
  4. Excessively tight attachment of the placenta to the walls of the organ.
  5. C-section.

The remaining pieces of the placenta can provoke inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus, which can lead to a serious illness - endometritis.

Therefore, in no case should you neglect the recommendations of doctors, and if there is a need for surgical intervention, then it is better to agree to it!

How it happens

In frequent cases, women in labor are injected with oxytocin to stimulate contractile activity of the uterus. This drug is administered to speed up the process of separation and removal of the placenta. This is a standard procedure that does not have a negative effect on the body of the woman and the newborn. But sometimes this is not enough, and doctors have no other option but to cleanse.

When a woman after giving birth (especially if it is her first) hears: “It is necessary to cleanse,” she is seized with panic. She doesn’t understand why this procedure is needed, and most importantly, how it happens and whether it hurts.

Before being discharged from the maternity hospital, the woman in labor is examined in a gynecological chair. Screening may also be performed after the baby is born. If blood clots are detected as a result, then vacuum or manual cleaning is prescribed after childbirth.

Like any surgical intervention, curettage requires preparation. Typically, this procedure is prescribed on the eve of the start of natural menstruation. Before the operation, the patient undergoes a thorough examination and undergoes a series of tests. On the day when the operation is to be performed, she is advised to refuse to eat and try to consume as little liquid as possible.

Manual cleaning after childbirth is carried out by scraping, the placenta is removed from the mucous tissue, that is, done mechanically, and vacuum cleaning is done using a special device, its tube is inserted into the vagina and operates on the principle of a vacuum cleaner. Of course, the curettage procedure is very painful, but modern science has made great strides forward, which allows the use of a wide range of painkillers. Therefore, gynecological curettage is performed under anesthesia - general or local.

Before this manipulation, the external organs are lubricated with an iodine solution, the cervix and vagina are disinfected with a solution of ethyl alcohol. The cervical canals are then enlarged and special instruments are inserted to remove the clots. The total duration of the operation is no more than 20 minutes.

Contraindications and consequences

Cleaning the uterus after childbirth, like other surgical interventions, cannot be performed if any inflammatory processes occur in the woman’s body, other than those that caused this manipulation.

As a rule, there are no serious consequences of curettage in women. But it is worth remembering that the guarantee of a successful result of this gynecological operation is that it must be carried out in an official medical institution, by qualified specialists.

Most women experience spotting after curettage, which may resemble menstruation. The duration of bleeding is different for everyone, which is determined by the individual characteristics of the body and the rate of regeneration of the mucous membranes. It is normal if blood is released from the vagina for no more than 10 days in moderate quantities and without an unpleasant odor. As during menstruation, the amount of discharge gradually decreases and completely disappears. You may also feel nagging pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.

However, if the surgical intervention was performed incompetently or negligently, then the woman may face consequences such as:

  1. Bleeding for more than 10 days. The cause may be: tissue remains in the genital organ; if surgery is performed in the middle of the menstrual cycle, hormonal imbalance.
  2. Tears of the cervix or damage to its walls, with the formation of through defects, occur when the forceps are not firmly fixed due to the low elasticity of the organ. A surgical suture may be applied.
  3. Hematometra is a disease caused by blockage of the uterine cavity with blood clots due to the closure of the cervical canal. It has the following symptoms: fever, severe pain in the lower abdomen, cessation of natural bleeding after gynecological manipulation.
  4. Endometritis is an infectious disease caused by the activity of streptococci and other pathogens due to poorly processed surgical instruments and tissue particles left behind. Accompanied by bloody discharge with a pungent odor, pain in the lower abdomen and fever.
  5. Infertility is the most terrible consequence that can be caused by negligence or insufficient professional qualifications of medical personnel.

After the operation, the following recommendations should be followed;

  • avoid intimacy for a month;
  • do not use vaginal tampons;
  • do not lift heavy objects and avoid excessive physical activity;
  • do not take blood thinning medications;
  • refrain from visiting the pool, do not steam or take hot baths.

How to treat the consequences

It is quite possible to avoid cleaning after childbirth. Doctors may prescribe IVs or injections that stimulate the contractile activity of the organ, during which all blood clots and remnants of the placenta will be released. But if this medication method turns out to be ineffective, then you will have to resort to surgical intervention.

In some cases, the consequences of curettage require additional attention and treatment. If intrauterine bleeding occurs, it must be stopped immediately to avoid the development of anemia. To do this, the doctor prescribes medications that stop the bleeding and contract the uterus. If the consequence is the development of infection, the patient is prescribed a course of antibiotics. Repeated scraping is also not excluded. Hormonal imbalances are treated by an endocrinologist through medication.

In addition to taking medications,

Namely: beef liver, beets and beet juice, pomegranates, avocados, nuts, honey.

Upon completion of the procedure, the patient should adhere to all recommendations received from the doctor regarding the medication regimen and observe the rules of personal hygiene of the intimate area. You also need to carefully monitor your well-being; if your temperature rises or severe pain occurs in the lower abdomen and lower back, you should immediately consult a doctor.