Your V and body after birth

[Amelia24]

Hi guys,

I’m a first time young mum, I’m 20 years old and I’m currently 20 weeks. I have heard horror stories about what happens afterwards down there. I want to know the truth from mums about whether everything goes back to normal and it’s normal tightness or whether it does truly stretch and does get loose! I’ve heard because I’m young my body will bounce back quicker but I don’t believe that to be true as everyone is different. I plan to have 3 kids before I’m 30 and I wanted to see if anyone experienced what I would like to experience and have kids before this age or similar. I have 1000 questions as it is my first time lol. Congratulations to all the mummy’s on here that are expecting or already have their children, they are a blessing

A lot of posters are going to be wary about describing their vaginas to strangers on the internet at midnight OP. (Unfortunately we get the odd pervert around here and they can read everything on the site.)

Have you got a really good pregnancy book? Or maybe your midwife could recommend a resource? Try not to worry too much.

I had an ELCS, so I can't speak to the vagina part, but I'm 32 and lazy and my body was back to exactly how it was before by the time DS was a year old. I was wearing my least forgiving non-stretch, pre-baby jeans at his first birthday party

I've had 3 natural births and currently pregnant with number 4 and down there is still the same as it was before I ever had a baby, only difference was with baby number 1 I had to be cut to get her out and it took a good 5 months to get any sensation back during sex but luckily it did come back and sex is still just as good. I wouldn't worry about it as chances are everything will go back to normal for you x

Start doing pelvic floor excercises now. And forevermore. I didn't, but have now furiously started squeezing 😂

Depends a lot what interventions etc you need. Stretch marks and skin stretching are quite variable so you could ask your mum what she got. For both body and privates you can reduce the impacts by staying healthy during pregnancy - exercise, pelvic floor work, eat well and dont gain too much weight

I was stitched after both my son’s and I am definitely tighter now than I was before.

I've only had one child so far (at 30) and I'm now pregnant again. After pregnancy my boobs were saggier as they got huge at the end of pregnancy so the skin stretched but I didn't notice this till my baby started breastfeeding less after starting solids when my boobs were less constantly full of milk. My vagina feels normal except the scar from my episiotomy (I had an assisted delivery with ventouse) but it doesn't bother me. My stretch marks disappeared and my stomach went back to normal.

Hey op, i was young (18) when i had dd. I had to have an episiotomy as she was a decent size (8lb 6oz).
Upon advice from my midwife i did my pelvic floor exercises. It's honestly no different, just a small scar where i was stitched.

As for my stretch marks, ive got loads unfortunately! However they do fade, I've e heard genetics play a part. I used oil/creams and still got them!

Well I had a c section so everything same down there (you still have to practice squeezing your muscles there no matter what age you are). Pelvic floor exercises- always good to practice.
Body was a bit of a struggle, but I was 38 when I gave birth and my baby despised her pram and carrier as she got a little older. I’d definitely recommend taking baby out in a pram as much as you can.
My friends have had tears, which obviously took awhile to heal and looked pretty bad when they first gave birth so don’t panic if things look awful initially. After a while it all heals up, some say tighter /same as before. They are younger than me admittedly.
Everyone is different though, just eat healthily, exercise if you can. I used the perineum oil, plus lots of mama mio oil on my bump and bum and a secret saviours pregnancy band. No stretch marks and I put on a fair bit of weight, despite eating quite healthily apart from chocolate and crisps oops!!
Good luck with your pregnancy, I’m sure you’ll be fine xx

I had four children by 30, all vaginal births with no tearing. Things felt a bit different after the fourth but not much. before then I couldn't feel any difference.

I'm 29 and had a episiotomy and forceps with DS in January. Everything's down there is pretty much the same as before apart from a scar. My body hasn't quite returned to what it was. I'm blaming lockdown and me being lazier/too tired than I thought I'd be. If I pulled my finger out and lost some weight I'd feel a bit better. Your baby will 100% be worth it don't worry.

I’ve had 3 vaginal deliveries at 28, 30 and 37. I had a 2nd degree tear with the 1st that needed stitches. As far as I can tell it all looks pretty much as it always did. Sex feels the same and I have no stretch marks.