PostPartum Periods
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“I am so excited and grateful to share this guest article from The Vagina Whisperer herself, Sara Reardon PT, DPT, WCS. You can connect more with Sara on Instagram. This post is part of a series on the PostPartum experience. You can read the rest of the collection on PoppieLady.com and on Instagram. “
-Traci Clark, PoppieLady
POSTPARTUM PERIODS
Your first postpartum period might look like a crime scene. Depending on whether you are breastfeeding, nursing or pumping, your first period could come back within a month or two, or take much longer. Below are some friendly reminders for when the big day finally comes. If your period has not returned within a year after delivering your baby or weaning from nursing/breastfeeding/pumping, check with your physician and make sure all is good.
It’s going to be heavy
Your first postpartum period is likely to be really heavy. Use super tampons in addition to a liner. You don’t want to mess up your cute undies. Bust out the granny panties and period underwear if you have to. It’s going to get messy.
You could get pregnant again
You are at risk for getting pregnant now. There is at least a chance, and you should be aware it could happen. Go for it if that’s what you want. If not, consider contraceptives.
Use vagina peas - really!
You will most likely feel pressure and heaviness in the area. All the blood flow is going down there. You may feel achy. To combat this, try putting a frozen bag of peas over your vagina. (My family knows these are my vagina peas - not to be consumed!) Another option is to get a maxi pad, put water on it and freeze it, using that in a second pair of underwear.
Things to remember:
It’s going to be heavy.
It’s going to be messy. (Why does nobody talk about this?)
You are at risk for getting pregnant.
Use ice, peas, granny panties or anything that will make you more comfortable.
Sara Reardon PT, DPT, WCS is the owner of NOLA Pelvic Health and founder of The Vagina Whisperer, a resource for online pelvic health education and therapy to help women worldwide with pelvic health conditions. She is a board certified women’s health physical therapist with a special interest in treating pelvic pain and pregnancy and postpartum conditions. She is a mom, wife, Saints fan and wanna be yogi.