Stretched out vagina

Question: I gave birth to a 9-pound baby four weeks ago. My vagina is still very stretched out. Will it ever return to its original size?Answer: Whether or not your vagina returns to its original size depends on a number of factors: the size of your baby, the number of children you've had, and whether you do Kegel exercises regularly. After giving birth vaginally, it's normal for the vagina to be larger than it was before, and this effect generally is more pronounced after the birth of a large baby. (Nine pounds definitely qualifies as a large baby!) This is caused by relaxation of the pelvic floor musculature.

These muscles will lose their tone with each successive birth, although pelvic floor exercises known as Kegels can help you tighten them up.If you haven't already done so, I strongly recommend that you begin to do Kegels. Kegels involve perineal tightening and help to restore the tone of the muscles that surround the opening of the urethra, vagina, and anus. Since this includes the muscle that you use to stop and start the flow of urine, you can check if you've identified the right muscle by testing your Kegel technique while urinating — if you can stop the flow of urine when tightening, then you know that you're contracting the correct muscle. But don't actually do your exercises while urinating, just use that as a check of your technique.As with any exercise, start doing Kegels a few at a time, a number of times each day. As your muscles start to feel stronger, gradually increase both the number of Kegels you do each day and the length of time you hold each contraction. Do the Kegels in sets of ten and try to work up to three or four sets about three times a day. Some women find that associating the exercise with certain activities (for example, while stopped at a red light, talking on the phone, or nursing the baby) helps them remember to do their Kegels. Besides improving vaginal tone, pelvic floor exercises help prevent urinary incontinence later in life. source- babycenter.com

Breastfeeding

Question: I just had a baby and I'm not breastfeeding -- will my breasts dry up on their own?

Answer: If you let nature take its course, in a week to ten days, your breasts will typically dry up and feel like they did before pregnancy. Most women find they are most uncomfortable when their milk comes in — around day three after delivery. There are some measures you can take, though, to ease the discomfort caused by engorgement and hurry the process along.
• Wear a snug-fitting bra to "bind" your breasts.
• Avoid nipple stimulation, which encourages your breasts to produce milk.
• Don't pump, even to relieve engorgement — it encourages milk production.
• Apply cold compresses to your breasts a couple of times a day.
• Place a large, fresh, slightly crushed green cabbage leaf inside each of your bra cups, changing the leaves when they wilt, until your breasts are soft again (it may take 48 hours or so). No one knows for sure why cabbage leaves are so soothing. Some lactation experts speculate that there's an anti-inflammatory agent in cabbage that helps ease pain and reduce swelling.
• Drink two to three cups of sage tea each day (sage discourages milk production).
• Take a mild pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as needed.

Is it normal for labia to be swollen after giving birth?

It's perfectly normal for your labia to be swollen and sore after a vaginal birth. The miraculous process of giving birth does tend to traumatize the tissues in the vaginal area. Fortunately, your body's ability to bounce back is equally miraculous.The tender treatment you're probably already giving your perineum — ice packs for the first 12 to 24 hours and warm, soothing sitz baths after that — will do wonders for your labia, too.Within a few days to a week after having your baby, the swelling and soreness of your labia should begin to subside. And two weeks postpartum, you should definitely be on the mend. If you haven't noticed significant improvement by then, be sure to ask your health provider about it.

When is it OK to go back to work?

Question: When can I go back to work after delivery?Answer: Six weeks is considered the normal length of "disability" leave following delivery. Some women may feel that they can return to work sooner depending on the demands of their job and the amount of support that they have at home. When planning your maternity leave, especially when it is your first baby, do not underestimate the demands of having a new baby at home. Fatigue due to round-the-clock feedings can impair your ability to do your job well.
When trying to decide if you're ready to return to work, ask yourself the following questions:
• How long are your working hours? Working more than 20 hours a week before six weeks postpartum is likely to wipe you out. Your body needs time to recuperate.
• Is your job physically demanding? If your job calls for heavy lifting or climbing, you may not be up to it before six weeks. You don't want to use up all your energy on the job and have none for your baby when you get home. Besides, if you're not physically up to the demands of your job, you could make your workplace unsafe to yourself and others.
• How much flexibility do you have at work? If you find you've overextended yourself too soon, will your boss and co-workers understand if you cut back, or are they really counting on you? It will only add more stress to your postpartum life if you have to break a work commitment.
• Will you be able to take rest breaks, if necessary? Many women feel the need to take midday breaks. Having a place where you can put your feet up for a few minutes now and then can be very helpful.
• If you're breastfeeding, is there a place to nurse or pump on the job? It's best to make these arrangements beforehand rather than scurry around with a hungry baby or engorged breasts looking for a private place to nurse or pump. -babycenter.com

Interesting question. Sex before checkup...

Question: I've heard that I should wait until six weeks after delivery to have sex, but I don't want to. Is there any harm in starting sooner?Answer: There are good reasons for the recommendation not to have intercourse immediately following delivery, whether you've had a vaginal birth or a c-section. The uterus and cervix undergo significant changes during the process of delivering a baby, and they need time to heal. During this healing phase the lining of the uterus, especially the site where the placenta was attached, is susceptible to infection. Intercourse, douching, tampons, and anything placed in the vagina may introduce bacteria, and cause an infection.

The flow of lochia, which is a sign that the lining is healing, can last from three to eight weeks. When the lochia flow is no longer bright red, it signals that healing is near completion, and it's probably safe to have intercourse again. However, if you're still healing from an episiotomy or vaginal tear, you'll need to wait longer still.A vaginal laceration, rectal tear, or episiotomy that requires stitches can take three weeks or longer to heal, depending on the extent of the injury. If you attempt intercourse too soon, not only can you cause yourself pain, you can also disrupt the healing of the wound and possibly cause a rupture that requires another surgical procedure. I recommend waiting six weeks before having intercourse mainly because that's when most women go in for their postpartum exam. At that time your healthcare provider will make sure that your vagina and perineum have healed enough for sex to be safe and pleasurable.

source- babycenter.com

Having trouble accepting a postbaby body?

Shoshanna says, "I had my daughter four months ago, and I'm having a hard time dealing with my stretch marks and extra weight. My husband thinks I look fine, but I don't feel fine with stretch marks running from above my belly button to my knees. I've been exercising and watching what I eat, but I can't diet because I'm breastfeeding. What can I do to feel comfortable in my skin?"

Featured comments"I know how you feel! My advice is to try to maintain perspective (which isn't easy). It took nine months to gain the weight ... it's going to take time to lose it. I got serious about getting my body back when my son was 4 or 5 months. I didn't diet but I did eat healthy and I ate often enough to maintain my metabolism. Remember, breastfeeding burns a lot of calories! I used to weigh myself and look at my stretched-out stomach after getting out of the shower everyday — it was depressing. I decided to focus on how good I felt after working out instead of my weight. I hope this helps without sounding too simplistic. Trust me, I love my son, but I don't like what he did to my body! I'm far from my pre-pregnancy shape, but I feel like I'm slowly reclaiming my figure without losing my sanity (and self-esteem) in the process."— Rae"The only thing I can say is be patient! I was there. I had to buy bigger clothes so I wasn't wearing my maternity clothes after the birth. I did buy shirts cut lower than usual since I had more cleavage — I played that up and downplayed the midsection. Ten months later, those clothes are too big and I can fit into most of my pre-pregnancy clothes. I still have a belly and stretch marks but I do feel better than I did months ago."— Nicole"I too have an imperfect body and my (second) son is 10 months old. My stomach is squishy and strongly resembles Freddy Krueger's face due to horrible stretch marks. My advice is to forget about getting into your pre-pregnancy clothes. Find clothes that flatter your figure, but are versatile if you lose weight. Try some dressy-casual pants that have a loose elastic waist and shirts (not Lycra-type shirts, they're not my friends) with a small flare at the bottom. This disguises your belly and positively accentuates your hips, which have probably expanded. It gives a curvy look, but hides the squishy belly. I've even received several flattering remarks from men. If they only knew what lurked beneath the shirt! Just remember, if you're wearing clothes that you feel confined in, you're going to be self-conscious and probably irritable due to discomfort. Find a way to dress that makes you feel good about yourself, and enjoy your baby. Very few people have nannies to watch their babies while a personal trainer commands them until they've worked their buttocks into boulders and their abs into washboards. Many people appreciate and understand the softness of a mother's body."— Amanda"Have you ever seen primitive Goddess dolls with large hips, huge breasts, and big bottoms? In prehistoric times, women were supposed to look like this and were revered for their beauty. Celtic people thought that a woman who had a baby was a sought-after mate because she had proved her fertility. She was extra sexy because she had already had a baby, and was likely to bear others. And remember, the sexiest women in the world are happy, fun, and have a sense of humor. If you can try for these things, they'll make you far more attractive than any exercise program."— Jayne
source- babycenter.com

Will breastfeeding help make my uterus shrink to its pre-pregnancy size?
By Kathleen Huggins, registered nurse and lactation consultant
Question: Will breastfeeding really help make my uterus shrink to its pre-pregnancy size? Answer: Yes. When you breastfeed, the pituitary gland secretes the hormone oxytocin, which primarily acts to contract smooth muscle such as the sacs of milk in your breast. Contraction of the milk sacs causes your milk to move to the front of the breast, making it available for your baby. You'll probably feel this as the "letdown" reflex. With each feeding, oxytocin also causes the smooth muscle cells in the uterus to contract, enabling the uterus to shrink to its pre-pregnancy size. Oxytocin has one other important effect: inducing loving feelings in moms toward their babies. That's why it's sometimes called the love hormone.