It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for a woman’s body to fully heal after a vaginal birth. Self care and medicine can help with healing.
Bleeding may last up to 2 months. Change sanitary pads as needed.
Do not put anything into your vagina, such as tampons, until your care team says it is safe.
To ease pain and swelling:
Fill a plastic bottle with water. Squirt it over your vaginal and anal area after you use the bathroom.
Eat a healthful diet. If you are breastfeeding, you will need more calories each day. You may also need to avoid certain foods. Follow the advice given to you by your care team.
To prevent pressure from constipation:
Rest as needed. Try sleeping when the baby sleeps.
Do any exercises given to you by your doctor to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. In general:
Medicine may be given to ease pain and soften stools.
When taking medicine:
Having a baby means lots of changes. Some things to keep in mind are:
Your doctor will need to check on you and your baby's progress. Go to all advised appointments.
Call your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:
Call your doctor if you are having depression, suicidal thoughts, or feelings of harming your baby.
If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org
American Pregnancy Association
http://www.americanpregnancy.org
Sexuality and U—The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://sexualityandu.ca
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca
Heat and cold therapy: administering sitz baths. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Accessed April 27, 2021.
Perineal trauma and repair in labor and delivery. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/perineal-trauma-and-repair-in-labor-and-delivery . Accessed April 26, 2021.
Recovering from birth. Office on Women's Health website. Available at: https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/childbirth-and-beyond/recovering-birth. Accessed April 27, 2021.
Last reviewed March 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG