How does your vagina change after giving birth?
Your body may feel and look different after giving birth to a baby…
So, what happens to your V-Zone and vagina after birth?
It’s natural for your V-Zone and especially your vagina to change after you’ve given birth. That’s because for a baby to travel through the cervix and vagina (also known as the birth canal), the entrance to the vagina needs to stretch. The sides of your vagina also separate and widen, almost like opening an umbrella. Sometimes, the bit of skin between the vaginal entrance and anus (known as the perinieum) may tear, or even be cut by a doctor or midwife to allow the baby to come out, which is called an episiotomy. The idea of an episiotomy can be daunting, just remember that you will be asked for your consent, offered pain relief (usually local anaesthetic to numb the area) and will be given stitches afterwards. [1]
Up to 9 in every 10 first time mothers who have a vaginal birth will experience some sort of tear, graze or episiotomy, [2] so it’s an extremely common occurrence that the majority of women have experienced as part of delivery. Though the idea of tearing, cutting and bruising can be scary, it can help to talk to women around you who have given birth and gone through it all before, to help comfort you. You can also discuss this at any medical appointments leading up to the birth to get reassurance on what might happen, and how you will recover from it.
Your vagina may feel a little wider
Your vagina might feel drier
Your vulva might be sore
What will your postpartum belly and body look like?
It’s not just your V-Zone (the vagina, vulva and V-shaped front you can see) that changes after giving birth. Your entire body has to transition from growing new life to nurturing it outside of your body. Here’s a couple of completely natural changes you might notice in the mirror:
Your stomach after birth
A few stretch marks after pregnancy
Stretch marks appear when the skin is stretching and the middle layer of your skin becomes broken in places. They can be pink, red, brown, black, silver or even purple, depending on your skin type, and appear on your belly, upper thighs and breasts. It happens to 8 in 10 pregnant women [4], so you’re not alone. They may gradually fade to become paler, and become less noticeable as time goes on. Think of stretch marks as beautiful reminders of you of how strong and worthy you are.
Medical disclaimer
The medical information in this article is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your doctor for guidance about a specific medical condition.
[References]
note-1[1] https://www.nct.org.uk/labour-birth/you-after-birth/episiotomy-during-childbirth
note-2[2] https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/tears/tears-childbirth/
note-4[3] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/loss-of-libido/
note-5[4] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/stretch-marks-pregnant/