Why do you have red eyes after giving birth?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by an eye doctor - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

1. Why are the eyes red after giving birth?

Unlike a cesarean section, during a normal birth, the mother will have to push hard to push the baby out of the uterus in a natural way. Sometimes, pushing too hard during the second stage of labor can rupture the small blood vessels (capillaries) in the eye, causing bleeding in the eye that causes the red eye to collect on the conjunctiva.
Normally when the baby comes out of the uterus, there will be mucus going through the vagina so there is not much obstruction. However, there are still cases where the fetus gets stuck somewhere, causing the pregnant mother to push harder to push the baby out. Pushing too hard will put pressure on the veins in the head, especially in the eyes, causing blood vessels to burst, creating blood clots in the eyes. Fortunately, there are very few such cases, usually only in people with eye problems.
There are some pregnant mothers due to the wrong way of pushing, so they have red eyes after giving birth. The pregnant mother should have pushed down to push the fetus out, but the pregnant mother pushed back up. This is a common condition in women who have given birth for the first time, inexperienced.

Usually, when entering the delivery room, the doctor will guide the pregnant mother to know how to push properly to avoid this situation. However, at that time, pregnant women are struggling with severe pain caused by uterine contractions, so it is difficult to accept, understand and do exactly what the doctor instructs. Also, postpartum red eyes can also be the result of coughing, vomiting, lifting heavy objects, or anything else that strains the eye muscles.
You are more likely to have red eyes after giving birth if you have high blood pressure or take anticoagulants. However, it is also a common condition that can affect anyone. So you don't need to worry too much if you encounter this phenomenon.

2. How to stop red eyes after giving birth?

Postpartum redness does not need treatment, because the redness will disappear on its own when the body reabsorbs the bleeding. You should not use over-the-counter eye drops - used to treat red eyes caused by dryness or irritation, because these medicines not only do not help the blood to be reabsorbed faster, but on the contrary, can slow this process, causing your eyes to stay red for longer.

3. How long will red eyes after birth last?

Immediately after the rupture, the blood vessels will begin to heal. However, it takes 1 to 2 weeks for your eyes to return to normal, which is the time it takes for your body to absorb the bleeding.

4. Are bloodshot eyes a sign of a serious problem?

Postpartum redness in postpartum women due to bleeding in the conjunctiva does not affect vision as well as health, even mothers do not have any strange feelings about the eyes. This part of the blood clot will dissolve on its own in 1-2 weeks without any treatment or intervention.
However, call your doctor if you notice that you bruise easily or have additional bleeding in other parts of your body as this could signal a more serious problem.
To ensure the health and safety of both mother and baby during childbirth, it is best for women to attend prenatal classes to gain experience and grasp the correct birth technique. Birth technique is very important, if pregnant women know this, they can avoid many unwanted risks during childbirth. Specifically, the technique of breathing and pushing to give birth is correct, the position is easier to give birth.... When mastering these techniques, the risk of red eyes after birth will be reduced.
Newborns in general are prone to respiratory diseases, respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections if they are introduced to solid foods early or the storage and preparation of milk is not guaranteed. To protect children's health, parents should do well to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months (if possible) and vaccinate on schedule. As soon as a child shows symptoms such as anorexia, fatigue, and crying, the child needs to go to the hospital to be consulted by a specialist for monitoring and treatment.

Pediatrics department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in With a system of facilities, modern medical equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread, Vinmec will bring satisfaction to customers. Products and is highly appreciated by experts in the industry with:
Gathering a team of leading doctors and nurses in Pediatrics: including leading experts, with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctors). , masters), rich experience, worked in big hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are well-trained, professional, have a heart - reach, understand young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull, stem cell transplant blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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Reference source: babycenter.com