Your body did something enormous. Many postpartum changes are normal, and many of the uncomfortable ones are very treatable. You don’t have to just live with them.
As a certified nurse-midwife, Dr. Kat hears the same questions again and again, usually asked quietly at the end of a visit. Here are honest answers.
What’s usually normal
- Bleeding (lochia) that slowly lightens over about four to six weeks.
- Soreness and swelling that improves week by week.
- Vaginal dryness, especially while breastfeeding, when estrogen is low.
- Mild leaking with a cough or sneeze in the early months.
- A lower sex drive while you’re exhausted, healing, and adjusting.
What’s worth a conversation
- Leaking that hasn’t improved after a few months, or makes you avoid exercise.
- Pain with sex that continues after you’ve healed.
- A feeling of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis.
- Lasting changes in sensation or feeling “looser.”
See a provider right away for
Heavy bleeding that soaks a pad in an hour, fever, foul-smelling discharge, severe pain, or feelings of hopelessness or harming yourself or your baby. Call your OB or midwife, or 911 in an emergency.
Treatment options
Pelvic floor physical therapy is often a great first step. When you want more support, we offer gentle, in-office options:
- EmFemme: radiofrequency for comfort, mild leaking, and dryness. No needles, no downtime.
- O-Shot: uses your own platelet-rich plasma to support sensation and response.
- Hormone support when dryness or low libido is hormonal.
Most treatments are best started after you’ve been cleared at your postpartum check. We’ll help you time things around breastfeeding and recovery.
This post is general information, not medical advice. Your provider will recommend what’s right for you.
