{"id":2272,"date":"2026-11-03T00:10:33","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T00:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/?p=2272"},"modified":"2026-11-03T00:10:33","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T00:10:33","slug":"jennifer-lawrence-keeps-it-real-about-postpartum-realities-your-butthole-wont-bounce-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/?p=2272","title":{"rendered":"Jennifer Lawrence Keeps It Real About Postpartum Realities: \u2018Your Butthole Won\u2019t\u2019 Bounce Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

Motherhood is often celebrated for its profound emotional milestones, magical first smiles, and the deep, transformative love it brings into a parent’s life. However, as award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence recently pointed out with her signature candid humor, the physical reality of bringing a child into the world can also be a literal pain in the lower anatomy. <\/p>\n

Lawrence, known for her refreshing transparency and down-to-earth persona, recently opened up about one of the more permanent, unspoken physical changes she has experienced since becoming a mother. During a recent appearance on the popular podcast "Call Her Daddy," hosted by Alex Cooper while Cooper was pregnant with her first child, the Oscar-winning star delivered a blunt yet relatable observation regarding the postpartum body. <\/p>\n

\u201cYour vagina will bounce back, your butthole won\u2019t,\u201d Lawrence bluntly told the audience, sparking both laughter and a collective sigh of relief from mothers everywhere who have experienced similar changes in silence. <\/p>\n

Lawrence, 36, shares two children with her husband, art gallery director Cooke Maroney. The couple welcomed their first son, Cy, in 2022, and subsequently expanded their family by welcoming their second baby boy in early 2025. While the "Hunger Games" and "Silver Linings Playbook" star did not delve deeply into the minute medical details of what specifically happened to her own body after giving birth, she admitted that she was entirely unprepared for the physical aftermath of labor. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no going back,\u201d Lawrence remarked, reflecting on the intense physical journey of childbirth. \u201cThat thing is coming out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"What<\/figure>\n

Her candid remarks have once again cast a much-needed spotlight on the hidden realities of postpartum recovery\u2014a subject that frequently remains shrouded in taboo and embarrassment. To better understand the medical science behind Lawrence’s humorous observation, health professionals have stepped forward to explain precisely what pregnancy and childbirth can do to a woman’s pelvic floor and posterior, as well as what new mothers can do to find relief.<\/p>\n

Behind the Motherhood Woes<\/p>\n

While society often focuses on abdominal recovery or pelvic floor weakness in the front of the body, the structural toll that pregnancy and delivery take on the rear end is remarkably common, albeit rarely discussed in polite conversation. <\/p>\n

\u201cPregnancy and childbirth put extreme pressures on the pelvic floor and can cause hemorrhoids, fissures, and sphincter weakness and injuries,\u201d explained Dr. Poppy Addison, a colorectal surgeon at Northwell\u2019s Staten Island University Hospital. She noted that while these issues are exceedingly common and typically improve within the first few weeks following delivery, they can occasionally develop into chronic conditions for some individuals.<\/p>\n

During a vaginal delivery, the immense pressure and intense straining involved in the second stage of labor can cause the blood vessels and veins surrounding the anus to become engorged and swollen. This process frequently results in hemorrhoids, which can cause significant discomfort, pain, and bleeding during and after pregnancy. <\/p>\n

Even after the initial swelling and inflammation subside, many women are left with a lasting reminder in the form of a residual external hemorrhoidal skin tag. According to Dr. Carmen Fong, a colorectal surgeon and chief medical officer at Bummed, these are essentially stretched-out patches of skin that usually do not disappear on their own, though their appearance may change minimally over time if they are small in size.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/figure>\n

Furthermore, the muscles responsible for supporting the rectum and maintaining control over bowel movements can experience severe stretching or physical trauma as the baby descends through the birth canal. Dr. Amir Shay, a gynecologic surgeon and OB-GYN medical advisor for Bummed, explained that while these muscles sometimes recover completely, the intense stretching or injury can leave permanent structural changes. For some women, this translates into everyday struggles such as difficulty holding in gas, an urgent, sudden need to use the restroom, or trouble completely emptying their bowels. <\/p>\n

In more severe cases, weakened pelvic floor support can even lead to rectal prolapse\u2014a distressing condition in which the rectum slips down its normal anatomical position and begins to protrude through the anus. While Fong noted that this condition can sometimes be pushed back in temporarily, a true prolapse typically does not resolve entirely without surgical intervention, though targeted pelvic floor physical therapy can offer substantial support.<\/p>\n

Additionally, some women experience significant tearing during vaginal delivery. In particularly severe cases, these tears can extend through the anal sphincter, and the surgical repair process can leave behind scar tissue or even lead to the formation of a fistula. Other new mothers develop painful anal fissures, which are small, painful tears in the delicate skin surrounding the anus, frequently triggered or exacerbated by postpartum constipation.<\/p>\n

C-Section Surprises and Statistics<\/p>\n

A common misconception among expectant parents is that choosing to undergo a Cesarean section entirely bypasses the physical strains associated with the pelvic floor and lower anatomy. However, medical experts emphasize that women who deliver via C-section can also experience hemorrhoids and pelvic floor stress simply due to the prolonged, heavy physical pressure exerted on the body throughout the nine months of pregnancy.<\/p>\n

These postpartum complications occur with a frequency that might surprise the general public. Studies suggest that roughly one in four to one in three women experience hemorrhoids either during their pregnancy or in the immediate aftermath of childbirth, according to Shay. Meanwhile, more serious tears involving the vital muscles that control bowel movements happen in approximately 3% of all vaginal deliveries.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/figure>\n

Fortunately, most women do not suffer from permanent, ongoing bowel-control problems, Shay noted, but those who do often endure their symptoms in silence due to social stigma and embarrassment. Fong echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that she frequently sees women underreport these postpartum symptoms during their routine follow-up appointments.<\/p>\n

How to Keep Your Rear in the Clear<\/p>\n

Despite the challenges highlighted by celebrities like Lawrence, the medical community stresses that many postpartum anal and pelvic floor issues are entirely treatable, and some can even be mitigated with proactive care. <\/p>\n

\u201cPreventing constipation is one of the most important steps,\u201d Shay advised. He recommends that new and expectant mothers focus on staying well-hydrated, incorporating sufficient fiber into their daily diets, and utilizing stool softeners when medically recommended to help significantly reduce the physical strain and pressure on the anal area.<\/p>\n

For immediate relief from discomfort, physicians often recommend conservative measures such as warm sitz baths and standard hemorrhoid treatments, which can include prescription topical creams. For those experiencing deeper muscular or structural issues, Fong strongly recommends seeking out specialized pelvic floor physical therapy. This targeted form of rehabilitation can help strengthen and retrain the affected muscles both before and after giving birth.<\/p>\n

For women who are experiencing persistent symptoms, medical professionals urge them to seek specialized care rather than suffering in quiet embarrassment. Addison encourages anyone experiencing ongoing constipation, pain, bleeding, or other concerning symptoms to consult with a colorectal surgeon, regardless of whether they are currently pregnant or deep into their postpartum recovery journey. <\/p>\n

\"What<\/figure>\n

\u201cWe can suggest methods to avoid the problem getting worse throughout pregnancy or how to address it after delivery,\u201d Addison said.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, medical experts point out that while women typically spend months meticulously preparing for the labor and delivery process itself, far less cultural attention is paid to educating mothers about what happens to their physical bodies afterward. Lawrence\u2019s candid remarks on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast have served as an unexpected public service, breaking down lingering stigmas and reminding women that they are far from alone in facing these bodily transformations.<\/p>\n

The vagina is simply not the only area affected by the immense journey of pregnancy and delivery, Shay emphasized. The anus and the entire pelvic floor undergo significant changes as well, and women should never feel any sense of shame or embarrassment in talking about them openly with their healthcare providers. These problems are remarkably common, and crucially, they can be treated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Motherhood is often celebrated for its profound emotional milestones, magical first smiles, and the deep, transformative love it brings into a parent’s life. However, as award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence recently pointed out with her signature candid humor, the physical reality of bringing a child into the world can also be a literal pain in the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2271,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1141],"tags":[50,3129,3128,1144,79,3126,3127,3043,1143,269,1142,1634,2215],"class_list":["post-2272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pregnancy-and-maternity","tag-back","tag-bounce","tag-butthole","tag-expecting","tag-family","tag-jennifer","tag-keeps","tag-lawrence","tag-maternity","tag-postpartum","tag-pregnancy","tag-real","tag-realities"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2272\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}