- Afterpains are vigorous uterine contractions that arise at intervals during puerperium.
- These are mostly seen in multiparas when compared to primiparas.
- This is because the puerperal uterus of primiparas remains tonically contracted.
- These afterpains increase in severity as parity increases.
- They tend to worsen when the infant feeds on the mother's breast because of release of oxytocin, which increases the uterine contraction.
- By the third postpartum day, these afterpains decrease in severity and become mild.
