I had an unmedicated childbirth six months ago with my daughter, and the only time I remotely did anything like scream was at the moment when her head popped past my cervix. It was more like a guttural groan followed by "I'm not pushing but her head is coming" after my labor had been stalled at the same dilation for hours. Some people scream, some don't. For me, low moans helped me when I felt the need to make noise...the idea was that tightening your mouth muscles by screaming would also tighten other muscles in your body-including the ones you wanted to loosen and relax as much as possible. "Loose mouth, loose vagina-tight mouth, tight vagina."

I didn't tear in any serious fashion-I had what one person called " a skid mark" and another "a scratch"-again, some people tear, some don't. There's lots you can do to help prevent tearing. I had no stitches.

I don't think my vulva and vagina look any different than before I was pregnant, but physically, some things are different. It's much tighter than before, and doesn't relax as easily as it did, but some of that is emotional and some probably physical. When there's scar tissue, it takes a little while for it to loosen and stretch again. My husband says that the angle of things feels a little differently and for most people, the cervix changes a bit after pregnancy, though I haven't started checking mine again since my daughter's birth so I don't know.

And I didn't poop during delivery either.

My daughter's birth was one of the most incredible, most amazing, most terrific experiences of my life. I am so glad I had an unmedicated birth, and can't imagine doing it differently.