As your body heals in the weeks following childbirth, the discomfort should lessen. Sitz baths, cold packs or warm water applied to the area with a squirt bottle or sponge can help avoid infection and reduce tenderness.

It's also important to wipe yourself from front to back after a bowel movement to avoid infecting the perineum with germs from the rectum.

If sitting is uncomfortable, you may want to purchase a doughnut-shaped pillow at your local drugstore to help ease the pressure on your perineum.

A prescription or over-the-counter pain reliever (non-aspirin, if you're breast-feeding) also can help.

When you feel up to it, pelvic floor exercises (often called Kegel exercises) can help restore strength to your vaginal muscles and help the healing process along. If you have increasing or persistent pain in the vaginal area, however, discontinue the exercise and alert your doctor.