How do pregnancy and childbirth transform the body?

The day after giving birth, with your baby in your arms, you face the mirror. You love this little being in your arms, but you don't like what you see. Your sagging belly, your widening hips, your rounder breasts, and all those little changes you notice here and there. You are different. As an e-concept store dedicated to women's intimate life, we had to talk about the physical changes that occur during the postpartum period, as these can be linked to questions or even discomfort. What changes will evolve or remain? What pain will persist? How? How pregnancy and childbirth transform, permanently or not, the bodies of new mothers, we discuss it in this article.

Pregnancy and childbirth transform the body

Pregnancy and childbirth transform a new mother's body from head to toe. While some changes are temporary and gradually fade after delivery, others may persist. Medical and even psychological support may be necessary to help you come to terms with these changes.

Why the body changes during pregnancy and childbirth

During pregnancy and childbirth, the pregnant person's body changes.

This is for three reasons:

• Hormone surge and changes: During pregnancy and after childbirth, hormone levels in the body are constantly changing. They fluctuate constantly: high, low, very high, very low... these fluctuations affect the body and change it.

• Carrying the baby in the womb: The presence of the baby in the womb also has an impact. The weight of the baby on the perineum, the skin of the womb that stretches month after month, compressed organs... the changes that occur are numerous.

• Trauma of childbirth, cesarean section: Both vaginal delivery and cesarean section are traumatic experiences for the body. The episiotomy or cesarean scar are two very powerful (and painful) symbols of this ordeal.

Temporary or permanent changes?

Changes that occur during pregnancy and childbirth can be temporary (significant blood loss following vaginal delivery, hemorrhoids, etc.), while others become permanent (scars from stretch marks). Others, finally, can be temporary in some people and permanent in others (pregnancy diabetes, loose abdominal skin, etc.). The use of medications and treatments can make a difference in some people, but it is often a matter of luck and genetics.

Please note: breastfeeding, which causes certain hormones to persist in the body of breastfeeding people, can result in prolonged physical changes.

The importance of medical and psychological monitoring

Following pregnancy and childbirth, it can be tempting to deny the physical changes. This is because you're focused on the health of your newborn and don't have the energy to think about your body. However, we strongly recommend that you discuss this with your healthcare provider (your primary care physician, gynecologist, or midwife).

This is for two reasons:

• On the one hand, some physical changes can be reduced or treated with specific treatments. This is the case, for example, of a stretched and damaged perineum. Talking to your healthcare professional will help you treat yourself and reduce the symptoms you experience.

• On the other hand, bodily changes related to pregnancy and childbirth have an impact on the “baby blues,” also known as “postpartum depression.” While it may be normal to feel ambivalence about your physical changes, it is not normal to feel strong discomfort or sadness about them. Talking about it with your healthcare professional will allow you to put into words what you are going through and gain perspective. Furthermore, if necessary, your healthcare professional may recommend that you consult a psychologist to take care of your mental health.

How the face can change

Sometimes modified during pregnancy, the face can appear changed after childbirth.

Pregnancy mask and acne is temporary

Also known as melasma or chloasma, pregnancy mask is a skin problem that can affect pregnant women. It manifests as the appearance of pigmented spots with irregular contours on the face (on the forehead, nose, cheekbones, or above the lip), on the neck, or on the décolleté. It is estimated that 5% of pregnant women experience this skin problem, which appears during the first trimester of pregnancy. Other women develop acne during their pregnancy.

Typically, pregnancy acne and mask acne fade naturally after delivery. If this isn't the case for you, you may want to consult a dermatologist. This skin care professional can prescribe an oral treatment and/or a peel that will limit skin pigmentation and permanently erase your pregnancy-related skin problems.

Nose enlargement is temporary

Due to the effects of hormones and pregnancy-related weight gain, it is common for the nose to grow during pregnancy. This change affects almost all pregnant women.

H3 Nose enlargement is temporary. It usually disappears within six weeks of delivery, as hormones gradually return to pre-pregnancy levels.

Hair becomes thinner and/or falls out

Hair generally thrives during pregnancy due to the hormones that flood the body of pregnant women. It is thicker, shinier, and grows faster.

Following childbirth, during the postpartum period, the drop in hormones in the body can weaken hair mass and cause it to change. Many women report that their hair loses its beauty during the postpartum period. This change can be temporary or permanent—pregnancy can permanently alter your hair type. To limit these changes, taking dietary supplements can be beneficial.

How the upper body can change

Particularly affected by hormonal fluctuations and carrying a baby, the upper body of pregnant people can change enormously following pregnancy and childbirth.

The breast can change, permanently or not

Many pregnant women experience hormone-induced breast enlargement during pregnancy. It is estimated that women gain between one and two cup sizes. Breastfeeding can increase this size even further.

After giving birth or after stopping breastfeeding, depending on your choice, your breasts change appearance. For some, they return to their pre-pregnancy appearance, for others, they remain larger, and for others still, they remain larger but become less pronounced and may appear droopy. There is currently no treatment to limit these changes other than cosmetic surgery.

The rib cage moves apart, permanently or not

To make more room for the lungs during pregnancy, the rib cage expands by several centimeters. This can have the effect of increasing the size of your bra, among other things.

This change can dissipate after childbirth or persist for several months, or even permanently. There are exercises to tighten your rib cage that can be done under the guidance of a physical therapist, but various factors, such as weight gain and genetics, can play a role.

The skin of the stomach stretches

During pregnancy, the belly and belly skin stretch under the weight of the baby. This is the main sign of pregnancy, so it's no surprise that this is a part of the body that changes after pregnancy.

Following childbirth, the belly reduces in volume but may retain various signs:

• Swollen belly: The belly may remain swollen after childbirth. Some women continue to have a baby bump for several months, as if they were a few months pregnant. Usually, this change is temporary. It is related to weight gain, hormones, and the movement of organs within the body.

• Stretched belly skin: Due to the significant change in volume, belly skin may retain signs of pregnancy after delivery and remain stretched. This change may be temporary or permanent, depending on your skin's elasticity, age, and genetics. Cosmetic surgery can help tighten the skin if you are too self-conscious about it.

• Stretch marks and scars: Stretch marks are small ridges that appear on the skin when your weight changes suddenly. The skin cracks and leaves scars: stretch marks. This change is permanent, but the appearance of the scars will diminish over time: very red when the skin "cracks," they fade and turn white. Creams can facilitate healing.

The cesarean scar fades but remains

For various medical reasons, you may need to have a cesarean section. This operation involves opening the layers of skin that separate the uterus from the outside of the body in order to remove the baby from the uterus. This operation is particularly traumatic for the body because it involves cutting several layers of skin and muscle in the abdomen over several centimeters.

The cesarean scar lasts several months and will leave an indelible mark on your pubic area, hidden by your underwear. However, there are solutions to limit the appearance of your scar as well as the after-effects of this traumatic operation. Consulting a physiotherapist is often recommended and sessions may be prescribed to promote healing. Beyond the appearance of the scar on the lower abdomen, it is essential to do the recommended exercises to avoid muscle and pain after-effects.

Hips move apart, permanently or not

Just as the rib cage expands, the hips and more specifically the pelvis move apart by several centimeters to allow the baby to pass through during delivery.

Just like with the rib cage, this change can be temporary or permanent. Weight gain, age, and genetics can increase or limit this phenomenon. There are exercises to tighten the pelvis after birth, which should be done under the supervision of a physical therapist.

How private parts can change

Particularly impacted by hormonal fluctuations, the baby's weight and then childbirth (especially vaginal), the young mother's private parts change after childbirth.

The perineum is temporarily distended

The perineum is a group of muscles essential to our health and intimate comfort. In addition to supporting our organs, it ensures urinary and fecal continence and allows for sexual pleasure. It is abused during pregnancy due to the weight of the baby and then during childbirth, and can become stretched as a result.

This change, which can lead to urinary and fecal incontinence, doesn't have to be permanent. Pelvic floor rehabilitation in the months following childbirth helps tone and strengthen the perineum. A midwife and/or a specialized physiotherapist can assist you.

The vulva is temporarily painful

The vulva can be permanently affected and weakened by vaginal delivery, particularly in cases of tearing, episiotomy and marionette stitch.

• Tear: During childbirth and pushing, the vaginal opening can tear. Medical professionals use several stitches to close this injury. This injury is particularly painful and requires time to heal. It is essential to listen to yourself before resuming sexual activity if you have suffered a tear. Don't hesitate to seek the advice of your healthcare professional.

• Episiotomy: An episiotomy is a small incision made at the entrance to the vagina, on the vulva, by a doctor to prevent uncontrolled tearing. Professionals then insert a few stitches to close the wound. Like a tear, an episiotomy requires time to heal: consult your healthcare professional before resuming sexual activity.

• Husband's Point: You may have heard of the "husband's point." Historically, this name was given to points used to tighten your vagina and increase pleasure for your partner. A source of pain for many women, it is no longer normally performed in delivery rooms. However, if your practitioner has performed it on you, you can request that it be removed. Consult your healthcare professional if you experience pain during sexual intercourse.

The bleeding is heavy but temporary

Following childbirth, you may experience heavy bleeding, known as lochia. This bleeding is intense, more intense than menstruation, and is present whether you delivered vaginally or by cesarean section. It serves to expel the endometrium that has developed in your uterus to allow the growth of the embryo and then the fetus.

This heavy bleeding usually lasts for two days and then gradually decreases. Don't worry: it's temporary and usually stops after a week. If it doesn't, you'll need to consult your primary healthcare professional.

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Hemorrhoids are temporary

One third of pregnant women experience hemorrhoids during pregnancy – most often due to problems with their intestinal transit but also due to hormonal fluctuations.

You'll be glad to know that this physical change is temporary and fades quickly after delivery. Postpartum hemorrhoids disappear within two months of giving birth. If they persist, consult your doctor, who can prescribe a remedy to get rid of them.

How the lower body can change

While less impacted than your upper body and genitals, your lower body can still undergo changes during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Legs are temporarily heavy

Heavy legs syndrome affects many pregnant women. It is usually related to water retention, which causes the body and legs to swell.

The good news is that this physical change is temporary. It fades as your body's hormones regulate themselves. Like many symptoms related to hormonal fluctuations, however, it may recur during certain menstrual cycles. If it bothers you and is painful, you can consult your healthcare professional about treatment or support stockings.

The feet lengthen permanently

Just like other parts of the body that change during pregnancy, your feet may become longer! This is usually due to hormonal changes that loosen and lengthen the ligaments in your feet. Furthermore, the weight gain associated with pregnancy can change the way you walk.

This change is permanent and persists after childbirth.

And inside the body?

Pregnancy and childbirth can also be linked to changes that occur within your body, such as gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is monitored over the long term

Gestational diabetes, or gestational diabetes, is an increase in blood sugar that occurs during pregnancy. It is estimated to affect 16% of pregnant women and requires increased monitoring during pregnancy and post-pregnancy.

• Unfortunately, gestational diabetes does not stop after delivery, and risks remain for both you and your newborn. Your healthcare provider will listen to you and offer extended follow-up care in the event of gestational diabetes.