Articles
Postpartum care: What to expect after a vaginal birth
Urination problems
Sore breasts and leaking milk
Content
Vaginal soreness
Vaginal discharge
Contractions
Incontinence
Hemorrhoids and bowel movements
Tender breasts
Hair loss and skin changes
Mood changes
Weight loss
The postpartum checkup
Incontinence
Pregnancy, labor and a vaginal delivery can stretch or injure your pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder and rectum. This might cause you to leak a few drops of urine while sneezing, laughing or coughing. These problems usually improve within weeks but might persist long term.
In the meantime, wear sanitary pads and do pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegels) to help tone your pelvic floor muscles and control your bladder. To do Kegels, imagine you are sitting on a marble and tighten your pelvic muscles as if you're lifting the marble. Try it for three seconds at a time, then relax for a count of three. Work up to doing the exercise 10 to 15 times in a row, at least three times a day.
