So baby is finally here. There is an upheaval of hormones. There is joy in the air. There are baby blues. There is excitement. There is anxiety. And then there is the vagina. Yes, the real MVP that delivers both baby and pleasure. See below five important things that every mom should know about her vagina after a vaginal delivery.
- Your vagina may be wider. Word!!! Your vagina stretches a lot for a vaginal delivery and normally will shrink back down. However, having a baby with a big head or multiple vaginal deliveries makes it less likely for it to return to its former state.
- Your vagina may have scar tissue. This usually occurs if you had a tear or episiotomy (a surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth), which could make having sex extremely uncomfortable. Scar tissues will heal over time.
- Your vagina may dry out. After children, your estrogen levels are known to drop. Estrogen keeps the vagina moist. Lack of this moisture causes the vagina to dry out. Adding lube during sex helps relieve the dryness.
- Your periods may become heavier or lighter. After pregnancy, if your estrogen levels are lower your postpartum period may be lighter. If the estrogen levels are higher, your periods may become heavier postpartum. Breastfeeding may cause estrogen levels to drop. I was once given some estrogen booster by my doctor while breastfeeding but chose not to use it for fear of losing my breastmilk supply (especially during the early weeks of establishing my supply).
- Your orgasms may become weaker. Because muscles surrounding the pelvic floor are weakened before and after pregnancy, your contractions are weaker down below causing less forceful orgasms. Practicing kegel exercises help tighten the vaginal muscles and great for restoring function to the pelvic floor.
Are there any changes you have noticed in your vagina after having a baby or multiple babies?