We Asked An Expert To Explain Lesser-Known Things That Happen After Childbirth

Varicose veins in your vulva is common after pregnancy.

In the past, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine – Mary Jane Minkin, MD – has helped answer our questions about women's bodies and childbirth. So, we turned to her again for information about lesser-known things that can happen to women after they give birth.

CBC

1. The space between your left and right stomach muscles can widen due to something called siastasis recti. It’s a common condition that can happen postpartum.

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Minkin explained that the strap muscles that go alongside the belly button get pushed apart during pregnancy. "With the belly getting larger and the abdomen growing with the pregnant uterus, the muscles can get pushed to the side, causing gaps between the two strap muscles. It is common, but theres a surgery to fix it."

2. Varicose veins – especially in your vulva – are pretty common after pregnancy.

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"Varicose veins are kind of like hemorrhoids in the sense that they are more problematic during pregnancy due to all the extra blood flow, but they can be an issue even afterwards, too. Varicose veins can get more prominent in your legs too," she said.

3. Although rare, a rectovaginal fistula occurs when there is a hole between the rectum and the vagina.

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"In the United States, it can develop if you have an episiotomy breakdown – or when you tear into the rectum. Sometimes when doctors go to repair it, it can break down and you end up with a fistula, but thats fortunately very rare."

4. You can gain weight in different areas than you did prior to pregnancy. (For example, if you used to gain weight in your hips, you could start gaining weight in your stomach instead.)

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"A woman's weight disposition can change after a pregnancy. This tends to happen as one gets older as well," said Minkin.

5. You can excessively sweat for no reason after pregnancy.

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"Your hormones can go down even lower than they were before pregnancy and, when you breastfeed, you lower your estrogen levels even more. The hormones from breastfeeding suppress ovarian activity, so you are in a post menopausal state," explained Minkin.

6. Your breasts are likely to shrink after pregnancy.

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Minkin said that when you're actively breastfeeding, your breasts will be bigger – but once you finish breastfeeding – they will typically be smaller. "We know it happens, but we don't know the exact physiology for why it happens. And sometimes we will also see asymmetry when they shrink down. It can happen whether or not a woman breastfeeds, but it is much more commonly seen in women who breastfeed."

7. However, your feet are likely to get bigger during pregnancy and stay bigger after it.

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Minkin said women typically grow half a size to a full size – and it can happen with each successive pregnancy! "It may be related more to arches growing rather than actual tissue growing. The height of the arch may get a little flatter and the foot will then be longer."

8. Your hair can change color or texture after you give birth – and it can get thinner.

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"What I suggest is, if you're losing a lot of hair, don't panic because it happens to many women. The key thing is to get your thyroid function checked right away. If there are no problems there, your gynecologist may refer you to a dermatologist and there are tricks they can do to help," said Minkin. "The thing to remember is pregnancy is a time of massive estrogen levels, so that can be a factor for the changes. I wouldn't think anything that happened is too weird."

9. Your skin and nipples may get darker during pregnancy and stay darker afterward.

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"Most of the time those changes persist postpartum," said Minkin.

10. And your skin can be more sensitive to the sun after pregnancy.

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"Pregnancy can sensitize you to the sun. So, someone who never got sunburns before being pregnant may easily get them after," said Minkin.

11. Your stretch marks may change color after pregnancy.

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Minkin said, "Older women seem to have less of an issue with stretch marks and younger women seem to have more of a problem. I don't know if it's because the skin hasn't been stretched as much. They usually change from a tan to a red or brown color."

12. Your postpartum breasts will be very sore.

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Minkin recommends wearing two bras postpartum. "Your breasts are going to be sore, especially if you are breastfeeding. They will also get engorged anytime you stop breastfeeding. If you ween the baby away from breastfeeding, your pain will be more acute than if you all of a sudden stop."

13. Peeing a little during and after pregnancy can happen frequently.

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Minkin said it's because a woman's bladder lowers during pregnancy from the weight of the baby, causing their muscles to relax. "The ligaments that hold the bladder up sort of stretch. That's why I am a big proponent of Kegel exercises, everybody should do them while they're pregnant, after they're pregnant, and even when they're 85 years old!"