Your body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy : your vagina, abdomen, breasts, skin, and hair can all look and feel different during and after pregnancy and birth. Growing an entire human being isn't always easy, and your body will change as a result. Some changes are clearly visible, like that dark line that can show up on your stomach thanks, pregnancy hormones! Others may not be as visible. Many women wonder how pregnancy will affect their vagina, and if delivering a baby will permanently stretch it out.

Learning how your body works at the end of pregnancy and during childbirth is very helpful as you prepare for birth. When you understand what is happening, you can interpret your body's signals more effectively and participate more fully in your labor and birth. Let's review the basic anatomy of your pelvis, uterus, and cervix and the structures surrounding them and your baby.

A woman's body truly is a miracle, and this fact is beautifully illustrated during the miracle of childbirth. Ask any witnessing party: what a woman can accomplish through pain, sweat, and tears is awe-inspiring. When a woman goes into labor, her body changes rapidly to bring new life into the world. As moms well know, birth is an incredible process: inspiring, frightening, and truly just plain cool. That's right, we said it: The vagina is cool.