Giving birth to a baby is indeed a hard work and when it’s a vaginal delivering the mother undergoes crucial pain and pressure that is hard to imagine. Nowadays, most doctors opt for C section delivery to rule out many types of complications and labor hazards; but vaginal delivery has its set of advantages as you can heal much faster in this method.
The baby moves out making its way through the birth canal from the vaginal opening and your body prepares for this moment by releasing the required pregnancy hormones right from the first month of your pregnancy. The hormone Estrogen enhances blood circulation in the folds of vagina to make the elastic connective tissues stronger and expandable, while Relaxin hormone relaxes and loosens up the joints and ligaments of pelvis region.
One important question often pops up in the minds of the expecting moms – will the vagina be like before after the delivery? Well, it takes time but the healing process of vagina can be made faster and smoother following the list of tips given below –
1. Witch Hazel Solution Compress
Just after vaginal delivery, you will experience soreness and pain in the area. The birth canal and vaginal opening undergoes ultimate stress while letting the baby out and some of the skin might tear and doctors will stitch those parts.
This discomfort can be healed if you take a medium sized contained full of Witch Hazel solution and soak a maxi pad in it. Wear that pad loose for some time to lessen the pain and soreness as the herb has anti-inflammatory properties to comfort the tender skin of your vagina. Try this process everyday twice for about 15 minutes.
2. Do not Use Tampons but only Soft Pads
This is an important note to all mothers as bleeding can occur after delivery from two to six weeks. It depends on the amount of blood production that happened during pregnancy. The normal blood volume of your body gets doubled during pregnancy and it will flow out after delivery – usage of tampons can lead to infections and disturb the stitches. Use maxi pads that do not sit very tight on you and have cottony cover.
3. Go for Vaginal Check Up After a Week from Delivery
Bending down to see and examine the area is next to impossible during this time; thus let the vagina heal on its own for a week and then you visit the doctor to check if everything is going just fine. If the vaginal bleeding increases, there might be cervical lacerations – treatment is self absorbing stitches. The physician will check the vagina and perineum and clean it with antibacterial soap or saline solution.
4. Self Cleaning of Vagina is Important
Once your doctor has cleaned the area for the first time and asked you to do the next phase of cleaning at home, try it out carefully with frequent sitz baths. You can do it by soaking the wounded vagina in a tub of lukewarm water for around 20 minutes for several times in a day. Compulsorily do this after every urination and bowel movement. Make sure to dry the area with a soft cloth and check if there is any unusual discharge. A blotting paper, tissue paper or hair dryer can also be used.
5. Use Stool Softeners if Needed
Often it is seen that women confronting third and fourth degree lacerations get wounded in the rectal and anal openings. Ask your doctors to prescribe stool softeners to prevent further injury to the area. Use it for more than a week.
6. Pain Relieving Medications
If the pain is unbearable you can ask the doctor to prescribe some anti-inflammatory medications that are non-steroidal. Medicines like ibuprofen (Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are very effective in treating vaginal wounds and its associated pain.
Try to abstain from sexual intercourse until the vaginal healing is complete, doctors usually say to avoid it for about 4-6 weeks. Start doing pelvic floor exercises slowly after 2 weeks from delivery (Kegel exercises); do it under the supervision of some trainer. Go for perineal massage during the last month of your pregnancy, this also helps in vaginal child birth and post delivery vaginal recovery. Take proper rest and careful postures while walking, sitting is also a point to keep in mind.
