Vaginal soreness

You might have had a tear in your vagina during delivery. Or your healthcare professional may have made a cut in the vaginal opening, called an episiotomy, to make delivery easier. The wound may hurt for a few weeks. Large tears can take longer to heal. To ease the pain:

• Sit on a pillow or padded ring.
• Cool the area with an ice pack. Or put a chilled witch hazel pad between a sanitary napkin and the area between your vaginal opening and anus. That area is called the perineum.
• Use a squirt bottle to spray warm water over the perineum as you urinate.
• Sit in a warm bath just deep enough to cover your buttocks and hips for five minutes. Use cold water if it feels better.
• Take a pain reliever that you can buy without a prescription. Ask your healthcare professional about a numbing spray or cream, if needed.
• Talk to your healthcare professional about using a stool softener. Or ask about taking a laxative. Those medicines may help prevent problems with bowel movements — a condition called constipation.

Tell your healthcare professional if you have intense pain, lasting pain or if the pain gets worse. It could be a sign of an infection.