Vaginal looseness is just one of the physical changes a woman may experience after childbirth. The double board-certified Urogynecologists at Vaginal Health Center provide treatment solutions for the after-effects of bringing new life into the world.

Women experience many changes after giving birth, emotionally and physically. Most expect the emotional and lifestyle changes a new baby brings, but many are not prepared for the way their own body changes. While your body goes through tremendous change during pregnancy, those changes don’t stop after childbirth. We are here to guide and help you prepare for the after-effects of what your body might experience after bringing new life into the world.

Many women’s biggest concern with childbirth, “what will happen to my vagina?” and that’s perfectly normal. Common questions include:

Many women’s biggest concern with childbirth, “what will happen to my vagina?” and that’s perfectly normal. Common questions include:

1. Will my vagina ever be the same?
2. Is my vagina going to be forever changed?
3. Does it make a difference if I have a C-section or a vaginal delivery?

While women who have had C-sections can experience some of the following effects, most of the common changes occur after a vaginal delivery. The vagina is resilient and is created by design to handle childbirth, but that doesn’t mean pushing a baby out of your vagina is a small feat. Childbirth takes a big toll on the vagina, and it can take almost a year for a vagina to go back to its pre-birth state. Every woman is different, and every laboring experience varies, some things may never be quite the same no matter the circumstances.

If you give birth vaginally, here are some changes you might experience in your vagina after birth:

1. Your vagina and perineum will be sore.

The perineum is not technically part of your vagina, it’s the area between your vagina and anus, but it is still prone to tear during a vaginal delivery. Majority of women with vaginal deliveries, between 53 and 79 percent according to ACOG, will experience some degree of tearing. There are four degrees of lacerations, with each level increasing on the ones before it. For most women, these tears are minor and heal quickly.

Four Types of Tears

1. First-Degree: These are the smallest tears, involving skin around the vaginal opening or perineal skin. These don’t always require stitches to repair and may heal on their own.
2. Second-Degree: These tears involve the perineal muscles. These muscles are between the vagina and anus.
3. Third-Degree: Third-degree tears involve the area from the perineal muscles to the muscles around the anus. These can require surgical intervention to repair and can take months to heal.
4. Fourth-Degree: Fourth-degree tears are the most severe of all tears. These tears involve the perineal muscles, the anal sphincter, and the tissue around the rectum. These tears often require surgical repair.

With any degree of tearing, you will be sore. If your baby is large or gets stuck on the way out, a doctor may need to do an episiotomy (an incision). If an episiotomy is done, there will be soreness as it heals as well.

2. Your vagina may be wider after delivery.

After stretching during childbirth, your vagina will typically shrink back down. A few factors contribute to how much your vagina will bounce back, including:

• Having a big baby
• Having a baby with a big head
• Several vaginal deliveries

The chances of your vagina going back to its pre-birth state depends on your personal labor experience, but many women do say this occurs.

3. Your vagina may be looser after giving birth.

Vaginal looseness is a common problem for women after childbirth. In fact, you may have heard other women saying, “My vagina feels loose!” after having a baby. What’s they’re experiencing is weaker vaginal muscles. After vaginal birth or even C-sections, many women notice their vaginal muscles feeling loose. Pregnancy and birth put a lot of pressure on women’s pelvic floor, which can cause stretching of the muscles. More times than not, those muscles don’t improve on their own. Kegel exercises and pelvic floor therapy can help re-strengthen these muscles. If those at-home solutions aren’t working, Vaginoplasty can dramatically improve a loose vagina.

For information on treatments on vaginal looseness or to learn more about vaginoplasty, call or talk to your Urogynecologist.

Having scar tissue in your vagina and on your perineum after delivery is completely normal, especially if you had a tear or episiotomy. Your sex life might be affected from the scar tissue at first, but usually heals over time. Sex should be more comfortable as time goes on, and if it doesn’t, talk to your doctor. Corrective surgery is available to remove the scar tissue and make the pain manageable.

There’s no need to suffer with pain from scar tissue. Call us at 770.721.6060 to schedule an appointment with one of our double board-certified Urogynecologists.

During pregnancy, your hormones are similar to a rollercoaster, so it may take extra time after childbirth for your periods to come back. Especially if you are breast feeding, which can alter menstruation by causing low levels of estrogen.

Once your period does start again, it might not be the same as it was before childbirth. Some women experience heavier menstruation, while others are lighter. For example, if your estrogen is generally lower it was before you got pregnant, you might have a lighter period. On the other hand, if your estrogen is higher, you most likely will have a heaver period.

After giving birth, you will experience lochia. Lochia is the residual blood, mucus, and tissue that comes from the vagina and can last four to six weeks after childbirth. Typically, the color begins as a bright red to a pink or brown hue before eventually becoming a yellowish color, this changes over time. Many women have needed to wear heavy pads to help with the steady flow, and you might notice an odor, but don’t worry as this is normal. Passing a few blood clots is also normal, but if you see any larger than a golf ball, contact your doctor and explain your symptoms.

While you’re pregnant, your estrogen levels are elevated. After giving birth, your estrogen drops. This quick change of levels can lead to vaginal dryness, because estrogen helps to keep your vagina tissue moist with clear lubricating fluid.

Keep in mind that if you are breastfeeding, your estrogen levels can stay low which can make you dry the whole time you’re nursing. Once you stop nursing, your vagina should go back to its normal and hydrated state. If you’re not breastfeeding, you can expect your vaginal moisture to go back to normal within a few weeks after childbirth. If vaginal dryness continues to be an issue, contact your doctor for help.

Vaginal and C-section deliveries can weaken your pelvic floor. Your pelvic floor consists of muscles and other tissues that help keep your uterus, bladder, and bowel in the correct positions, so they function properly.

As well as childbirth affecting your pelvic floor muscles, the muscles and nerves that control your bladder and urethra (the tube through which urine leaves your body) are also affected. The weakening of these muscles can lead to bladder leakage- especially when walking, running, laughing, coughing, or sneezing. Up to half of all women will experience some sort of incontinence in their lifetime, and sometimes the urinary incontinence improves over time, but not always.

When the issue is mild, at home Kegel exercises and pelvic floor therapy may help reinforce your pelvic floor and combat urinary incontinence. If symptoms don’t improve, seek help from a Urogynecologist, who is trained specifically to help women improve incontinence and other pelvic prolapse conditions.

During an orgasm, muscles of the vagina and uterus produce strong, rhythmic contractions. If your pelvic floor has weakened after childbirth, those contractions may no longer be as powerful, so you might not feel orgasms as strong as they were before. Whether you had a C-section or vaginal birth, you can experience a change in orgasm since it is due to a change in the pelvic floor.

Many women notice a color change in the vulva, specifically the labia and perineum and especially women who experience scar tissue and tearing. Women with lighter skin often notice blotches or darker pigmentation.

Some of these changes can be difficult to experience but know that they are all very common. It’s important for women to remember nothing is wrong with their bodies, it is a normal part of the journey and miracle of childbirth.

Childbirth causes the vagina to go through a completely natural change after doing something quite amazing. We want you to never feel embarrassed or shy to bring any questions or concerns up with your doctor. Your health is our highest priority.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at 770.721.6060 or request an appointment online.