When you're pregnant, the delivery process itself is probably the focus of all your energies. Even so, it's helpful to learn a little about the postnatal healing period so you know what to expect from your body once the baby arrives. In general, you'll probaby want to know how long it takes for your vagina to heal after vaginal birth. Your system will need a few weeks to really recover.
As with almost everything else related to pregnancy and delivery, there is no single answer for all cases. Every vaginal delivery has its own challenges, and everything from bruising to episiotomy stitches can affect the estimated six weeks of recovery time, as noted in Parents. What's more, every delivery is different, so your experience the first time around may be vastly different from your recovery period for subsequent children. There's no easy way to predict your required recovery time beforehand.
If you have a relatively uncomplicated vaginal delivery, and nothing tears during the delivery process, then your healing time may take three to five weeks, as noted by What To Expect. That being said, this is actually amount of time you're likely to feel discomfort, so it may be even longer before you're fully healed and no longer in any pain.
With that said, any tearing can affect your healing timeline significantly. According to Healthline, vaginal tears typically heal within 10 days but they can result in several weeks of soreness. Your physician can advise you more thoroughly on your individual recovery time, but in general you may not want to put a lot of pressure on yourself for the weeks following birth. Your body just needs time to heal.
So what can you do during the postpartum period to encourage vaginal healing? As noted by the Mayo Clinic, you may want to sit on a padded pillow ring if your vaginal area is still really sore. You may also want to cool the vagina with DIY postpartum pads and take some pain relievers, at least as long as your physician recommends this form of treatment. Beyond that, practicing basic self care, such as giving yourself a break (or a nap) when you need it will also help. In the meantime, hang in there.
