How does the vagina change after childbirth?

Childbirth is a miraculous thing and brings with it many changes, both to your life and your body – one such change is the natural change of your vagina after giving birth. Your vagina may feel wider, sore or dry for a while after childbirth, but there are ways you can help speed along your recovery and ensure a healthy body throughout. The baby travels through the vagina, also referred to as the birth canal, during this time, so the entrance to the vagina must stretch to accommodate the child – the skin between your vagina and anus, known as the perineum, may also tear or need to be cut in order to let the child out. This is known as an episiotomy. This entire process can lead to you feeling dry or sore for some time.

It’s no surprise that childbirth puts a lot of strain and pressure on your vagina, so you will no doubt feel sore and bruised for a few days after your baby is born. You may also feel wider than you did before. It’s likely that your vagina will not ever return fully to its pre-birth state but you can tone up the area by performing pelvic floor exercises to tone the muscles. This will not only help you to feel tighter and more tones, which will improve the vagina’s sexual function, but will also help reduce the risk of developing incontinence.

The lower levels of oestrogen in your body compared to when you were pregnant can lead to you feeling drier than before. This goes double for those who are breastfeeding, as this lowers the levels even more. Though this will improve with time, if you’re worried you can speak to your GP who can advise you further. There are many lubricants on the market to help your sexual activity – if you’re using latex condoms, be sure to opt for a water-based lubricant.

Soreness is natural after giving birth, and generally improves within six to twelve weeks following the birth. Again, pelvic floor exercises can help with this. When it comes to having sex after childbirth, there’s no right or wrong time – it’s whenever feels right for you. If you feel some discomfort, it may be advisable to speak to your GP or health visitor who can check there isn’t anything to be concerned about.