Every woman who hasn’t given birth yet has wondered about this: does vaginal birth make the vagina loose? It’s a natural thought for all women before having their first child, and it’s not difficult to hear this question in conversations among women. To answer this, let’s understand a bit about the structure of the female body and how it works, including the vagina, of course.
What Is the Pelvic Floor?
The pelvic floor muscles are muscles that control everything from the urinary tract to the anus. They also act as a support network for the baby, uterus, and all the pelvic cavity organs1. This means they’ll bear a great amount of weight during pregnancy. Like any other muscle in the body, they lose elasticity over time, becoming more flaccid. That is, even if a woman never has children, she can end up with a “loose vagina”.
Pelvic floor looseness can cause some health issues for women, such as urinary incontinence (leaky bladder), pain during sex, or even a different appearance. In pregnancy, aside from the birth itself, these muscles experience other effects, like hormonal changes and increased weight in the area. And it doesn’t matter whether the baby is delivered by vaginal birth or cesarean section; these factors affect the pelvic floor’s elasticity.
What Happens During Childbirth?
During labor the baby will move into position at the cervix, which is the gateway from the uterus to the vagina. The cervix will gradually thin and dilate until it reaches 10 cm; this is how doctors know when the baby is ready to be born. The uterus will then contract strongly, and when this happens, the doctor will ask you to push. The birth canal—also known as the vagina—will then stretch as much as needed for the baby to be born2. The usual diameter of the vagina is only 1 to 2.5 cm and the average diameter of the baby’s head is about 11 cm. When the baby is considered large, the diameter of their head can reach 16 cm.
Labor is a time of preparation for delivery, with your whole body working to help expel the baby. During this time it’s important for the woman to stay calm, in control, and try to relax as much as possible, and also to have a light diet so that everything goes smoothly.
Does Vaginal Birth Stretch the Vagina?
The body was designed for childbirth. The vaginal tissues and surrounding areas stretch and give way. After birth, it is normal for the vagina to be larger than before. The truth is, most of the time, childbirth does not actually change the size of the vagina as many people think, because the muscles go back to normal some time later.
Of course, in some cases, the nerves and musculature in the area can be damaged, enlarging the vaginal canal. This happens mainly to women who’ve had more than one vaginal birth. Several other factors can also influence this: genetics, size of the baby, whether you exercised your pelvic floor, or if an episiotomy was needed. No matter how wonderful the birth experience, having a baby is a major event for the body. It needs time to recover and return to normal.
Is There Anything I Can Do to Prevent It?
As mentioned above, several factors can contribute to having a loose vagina, but many women say that doing vaginal exercises before and after birth helps keep the vagina just like it was before3.
Vaginal exercises offer a series of benefits for the body such as:
- Better bowel function
- Prevention of vaginal infections
- Reduced effects of menopause
- Greater sexual pleasure.
During pregnancy, vaginal exercises help prepare and strengthen the muscles for delivery, preventing vaginal stretching and also making this time easier for the woman, as she will know how to control how much force to use at each moment.
How Are Vaginal Exercises Done?
Vaginal exercises, also known as intimate gymnastics, Kegel exercises or pelvic muscle training, are simple and can be done anytime and anywhere. But ideally, you should see a pelvic physiotherapist, who will evaluate you to see which, and if, exercises should be done.
Usually they work like this: First, you can locate the muscles you use to urinate. To do this, stop the flow while urinating (ATTENTION: do not do the exercise while using the bathroom, as it can cause a urinary tract infection. This is just to locate the muscles you will be working). Next, try squeezing and holding these muscles for 5 to 10 seconds. Relax the muscles for the same time you contracted them. Repeat the exercise 3 times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening), every day.
Why worry if vaginal birth makes the vagina loose?
The main reason women want to know if vaginal birth makes the vagina loose is related to sex life. After all, especially after the first pregnancy, a woman’s world becomes a new world, full of surprises and challenges. Important reminder: only do these under the guidance of a pelvic physiotherapist.
Your body changes, and you go through a series of adjustments in your life. It’s important to remember that after birth, a woman should wait to have sex for a period of 30 to 40 days, always following her doctor’s advice. That’s because there’s a risk of infections and discomfort, as the area is still healing. After that time, the woman and her partner need to talk about the different situations that may affect her at this stage, such as lowered libido, anxiety, pain, and even the possibility of the vagina becoming wider.
Pregnancy is a wonderful stage, when a woman discovers the miracle of nurturing new life. You don’t need to be worried about whether vaginal birth will make the vagina wide. So, if a woman takes care of herself in advance, with a healthy diet and Kegel exercises, there’s no reason to worry about vaginal birth making the vagina wide. Just enjoy this stage with peace of mind!
See also: Postpartum Care After Maternity
Photos: pxhere
