Birth Changes Your Vulva and Vagina. Here's What To Expect.
When moms think about "bouncing back" after birth, they often don't think about their vulvas and vaginas. Here's a quick summary of what to expect.
The body goes through many changes during pregnancy and postpartum, but physical changes to the vulva and vagina are rarely discussed. It's important to understand the short- and long-term changes so that moms can know what’s normal and when to go see their doctor.
1. Changes to Appearance
During pregnancy, the vulva swells due to the increased blood flow in the area. This leads to the tissue having more of a red coloring and the labia becoming larger. An increase in estrogen can also lead to a darker appearance of the labia.
After birth, the vulva continues to be hypervascularized and swollen for 6-10 weeks. It also takes about 6-10 weeks for the estrogen levels to decrease and the coloring of the labia to return to “normal.”
Although some visual changes are temporary, some are more permanent due to a combination of genetics, tissue healing, and hormones. Common changes include elastic or wrinkly labia and labia size differences.
2. Sensation Changes
A drop in estrogen after giving birth causes reduced natural vaginal lubrication. This can make the vulva and vagina feel dry and uncomfortable throughout the day. It can also cause itching, burning, and pain during sex. Prolactin, the hormone responsible for breast milk production, suppresses estrogen, so dryness typically persists for as long as you are nursing.
A Vaginal tear or episiotomy can take up to 12 weeks to heal. In some cases, the scar tissue can cause persistent pain, in which case a doctor should be consulted. Scar massage and pelvic-floor physical therapy can promote elasticity of the tissue and improve pain.
3. Strength Changes
Pregnancy can lead to pelvic-floor muscle weakness postpartum, which can cause incontinence. Mild incontinence should resolve in the first four weeks postpartum, but if it persists, seek out a pelvic-floor physical therapist.
Overall, the vulva may take up to a year to heal and look like it did before. If there are persistent changes or physical discomfort, talk to your doctor about available treatments, such as pelvic-floor therapy.
Read more (via Pop Sugar)
