What Every New Mom Should Know About Pessaries After Birth

When I had my baby, I expected the usual postpartum recovery — sore muscles, sleep deprivation, and learning how to care for a tiny human. What I didn’t expect was the weak disconnected feeling to my pelvic region and the random leakage when I coughed and sneezed. 

As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I knew exactly what my symptoms meant: my pelvic floor was stretched and weak, and my organs were sitting lower than they used to. Still, feeling it in my own body was humbling. It wasn’t pain, exactly — just that uncomfortable awareness that something had shifted.

That’s when I decided to try something I often recommend to my own patients: a pessary.

What Is a Pessary?

A pessary is a small, soft silicone device that fits inside the vagina and gives gentle support to the bladder, uterus, or vaginal walls. Think of it as a supportive “brace” for your pelvic floor while everything heals.

They’ve been around for decades and are most commonly used by women with pelvic organ prolapse — when organs like the bladder or uterus drop lower in the pelvis. But more recently, research has started looking at pessaries as an early postpartum support tool to help new moms recover more comfortably.

My Experience Using a Pessary Postpartum

Even though I teach this stuff, fitting myself for apessary was an emotional process. I had to acknowledge that my body — this strong, capable body that carried and birthed my baby — needed a little extra help to heal.

Once I had it fitted, the difference was almost instant. That dragging sensation? Gone. I could walk, stand, and even lift my baby without that feeling of heaviness. It didn’t fix everything overnight, but it gave me the stability I needed so my muscles could do their job again.

I wore it off and on for the first few months, alongside gentle pelvic floor rehab exercises. Over time, I needed it less and less. It wasn’t about “fixing” my body — it was about giving it the right environment to heal.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen new moms come into my clinic scared because they feel something bulging or heavy and think it’s permanent. The truth is, for many women, those early changes are part of the healing process — and a pessary can make that journey more comfortable.

What the Research Says

You don’t have to just take my word for it — the science is starting to back it up.

A 2023 study in the International Urogynecology Journal looked at a group of postpartum women who used a pessary designed specifically for early recovery (called the Restifem pessary). The researchers found that it helped reduce feelings of pressure, bladder leakage, and early signs of prolapse — with very few side effects. Most moms found it easy to use and comfortable with the right fit (Kiefner et al., 2023).

Another small pilot study found that women who started using a pessary soon after giving birth had fewer symptoms and less visible prolapse at their 6-week check-up compared to those who didn’t (Baessler et al., 2019).

While larger trials are still ongoing, these early studies — and my own experience — suggest that a pessary might be a simple, low-risk tool to support healing after pregnancy and birth.

Is It Right for You?

Here’s what I tell my patients:

• If you feel heaviness, pressure, bulging, or leaking after childbirth, you don’t have to “wait and see”
• A pessary is non-surgical, removable, and can be fitted by a pelvic floor therapist, urogynecologist, or OB-GYN
• It’s often combined with pelvic floor therapy to strengthen the muscles and improve long-term function
• You’ll need to be fitted properly and checked regularly — especially in the early postpartum weeks when tissues are still healing

For me, the pessary wasn’t a sign that something was wrong — it was a way to honor what my body went through and give it the care it deserved.

A Gentle Reminder

Postpartum recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some women bounce back quickly, others need more time, and many of us fall somewhere in between. Using a pessary doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it means you’re supporting your body the way it needs to be supported.

If you’re a new mom feeling something is “off,” please know you’re not alone — and there are gentle, evidence-based ways to help.

As both a clinician and a mom, I can honestly say: the pessary gave me hope, relief, and a sense of control in a time when my body felt unfamiliar. It’s not talked about enough, but it should be.

Dr. Melanie Llanes is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a long-time yoga teacher and the owner of Best Self Wellness, providing wellness services, specializing in pelvic health PT, prenatal and restorative yoga as well as strength and conditioning services.

References:

Kiefner, L., et al. (2023). Restifem® Pessary for Prevention and Treatment of Postpartum Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Prospective Multicenter Study. International Urogynecology Journal.

Baessler, K., et al. (2019). Pilot Randomized Study on Early Postpartum Pessary Use for Pelvic Organ Prolapse.