9 Ways Your Body Changes After Pregnancy

Vaginal pain and discharge

Your vagina may feel stretched and tender after the delivery. If you had an episiotomy, using cold packs right after delivery can help ease discomfort. Shortly after delivery, you will start to have a vaginal discharge made mostly of blood and what is left of the uterine lining from your pregnancy. This is called lochia and can last for several weeks. You can usually start having sex again about three to four weeks after giving birth. If you're breastfeeding at that point, you may experience vaginal dryness, which can make intercourse very uncomfortable. Look for a water-soluble vaginal lubricant to ease the pain. If you're not breastfeeding, expect your period to return about seven to nine weeks after delivery. If you are breastfeeding, your periods may not return for several months -- or possibly not until you stop breastfeeding altogether.