Most people often talk about the sleepless nights to expect once you have a newborn baby, but rarely do they talk about the postpartum changes, especially in your vulva. If not well understood, the postpartum physical changes can lead to a depressed and unhappy mom. A significant thing to remember while navigating all these changes is that they’re not happening to you alone and women experience this all the time after a vaginal delivery. Once you understand what to expect, it can become easier to process.
Meet the Expert: Dr. Diana Rangaves writes for 21Ninety’s as a health and wellness expert. She is a pharmacist, philanthropist, and ethics professor turned writer, holding a Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of California. She also serves as the Executive Editor and Chief Content Officer for Healthcare Worldwide Central and has published several works in medical and pharmaceutical publications, academic books, as well as, scholarly articles.
What Happens To Your Vagina During Childbirth?
As you count down the days to delivery, you spend most of your time watching videos, researching, and wondering if you are ready for labor and childbirth. Being anxious is normal as you approach your due date, and you may start experiencing false labor. This is when you feel some contractions and rush to the hospital with your already packed bag, only for the doctor to tell you that you are experiencing false labor. It is common for women to experience false labor, especially as the due date approaches.
Just before childbirth, the amniotic sac ruptures, commonly known as “water breaking,” releasing the amniotic fluid that is clear and odorless. This happens before you go into labor or at the beginning of labor. Contractions then follow, which is the tightening and relaxing of the uterus, which helps push the baby out. The cervix, which opens into your vagina, starts to dilate.
Dilation is the opening of the cervix, and you are only ready to give birth when the cervix opens to 10cm. As the baby passes through the vagina, this causes stretching of the skin and the muscles. Because the vaginal tissues are soft and flexible, in some cases, you may experience vaginal tearing, which in most cases heals within a few weeks.
What To Expect From Your Vulva After Giving Birth
After birth, this is where you start feeling the changes in your body, which, if not well-informed and managed, may contribute to postpartum depression. Some of the changes to expect are soreness and bruising of your vulva. The soreness will fade, but you may feel it more intensely if you cough or sneeze. It may last three to five weeks but varies depending on each person.
You may also experience vulva dryness, which is caused by low estrogen and progesterone levels. It may also be accompanied by itchiness, especially if you have a vaginal tear as it heals. As your periods resume, your vaginal lubrication should come back. Most women experience vaginal bleeding and discharge after childbirth. The bleeding may last between two weeks to eight weeks. It is heavier right after birth, and the amount reduces over time. However, if you experience excessive heavy bleeding for an extended period, please ensure to reach out to your medical provider for further assessment.
As your vulva heals, so do your pelvic bones. You may realize that your bladder has become looser, making it easy to pee on yourself when you laugh, cough, or jump. This will also improve over time as your body heals. If you are one to look at your vulva occasionally, you may notice some appearance changes. Some of these changes include seeing as though your vagina is swollen, more open, and some color changes. These will go away after some time and are normal after childbirth.
Tips On How To Manage These Changes
These changes may affect you in other ways. For example, after resuming sex, which is advisable to do four to six weeks post-delivery, you may experience painful sex. You may also have trouble having bowel movements (pooping) right after a vaginal birth.
To manage these changes, for heavy bleeding, especially during the first days, consider using adult diapers. They are more comfortable and you do not have to worry about them moving as you sleep. You can then change to maxi pads as the flow reduces. For vaginal soreness management, sitting on a sitz bath (warm water in a basin) will promote vaginal recovery. Our vaginal muscles might have also weakened, and the best way to manage these changes is by exercising and maintaining a healthy weight.
After a vaginal birth, some of these changes are inevitable. However, they are manageable, and everything will improve with time. Upon delivery, the first thing to do is to check in with your medical provider. A phone call two weeks post-delivery can be grounds for a check in on how you are doing and any symptoms you may be unsure of. You should visit a healthcare facility six weeks after birth for the medical provider to complete a body exam. The exam will include checking how your vagina is healing and your baby’s growth.