Do your nether regions ever get back to normal after a vaginal birth?

[Gangle]

I am 23 weeks and increasingly thinking about the birth. So far I've been petrified of giving birth naturally, mainly because of the loss of control and risk of things going wrong, but also because of the potential damage to your bits. I've read several books that say that you are always a bit looser which I suppose is a natural consequence but how bad is it? Do you ever get your old body back?

Perineal massage can help also. I had an epidural with DD and did not tear/not cut and I could feel each contraction .I could therefore push her out in 2 pushes as I'd been resting for a while before she crowned.perineal massage

Wizard's sleeve! PMSL

Havent read all threads but have somehow managed to squeeze out 3 children, and altho my nethers resemble crazy paving(badly laid at that) It still works when its supposed to!!
Any problems, don't just live with them, get them seen and sorted, to try to get some normality back.

One word: Pilates.

Its magic!

Having children alters the body. That's normal.

Celebrities retain their bodies by a)giving birth by elective caesarean at 8 months, and b)having a 'tummy tuck' at the same time.

We normal mortals may have baggy, saggy bits but, as Maidamess says, we still work.

And don't let anyone tell you that childbirth can be done without pain killers, tears, cuts etc if you try, prepare or are in the right frame of mind. That's just setting yourself up for disappointment and self-doubt.

As an eminent doctor I was reading about said, "It's the CHILD's birth, NOT the MOTHER's birth."

Pilates for nether bits?!?!?!
Have to say - do Kegels, do Kegels, do Kegels.

After the first, yes.

After the second, nope!

My stomach went back, but it's got stretch marks and the skin isn't as taut as it was.

But my 'nether regions'? Never the same after the second vaginal birth.

mine didn't go abck to normal after the first vb, but I got pg again 5 months later so perhaps didn't give it time to recover! Terrible business

I was a fatty before, and I am a fatty now -- no real change. My boobs look like puppy dog ears now.

Had a cs with ds1, notied some dryness after but no real fanjo change.

Had vb with ds2, and was really surprised to find that things were mostly the same! I noticed some scarring and there is a bit of a change in the shape, but it's no looser. Dh agrees.

Try not to worry. I hope it all goes well for you.

Still snorting at Morningpaper: russian roulette with fanjos.

I had an emergency caesarian, and actually had as much problems with my pelvic floor as any other pregnant woman. I was on the squeeze every five minutes though and within a month it was all sorted. Although I do audibly fart these days which is a weird side effect. Although it entertains DD no end

my whole pelvic floor seems to have slipped down a notch or two
I occasionally PMSL and would never consider running with a full bladder...
but possibly have been a bit lazy with my exercises

and actually it doesn't matter that much, most of the time

giving birth is honestly less scary than you think
you may surprise yourself how you deal with the contractions
try not to worry about it too far in advance- when the time comes you will handle it

BTW if the OP wants some reassurance, I've just read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth and it's made me so much happier about the idea of childbirth I'm going to have a VBAC this time