Photo Credit: Roberto Condado via Compfight cc
Comfort is something I am really big on. I very rarely stray from my favourite jeans, I always have a pair of fluffy slippers on my feet and if I can be wearing pyjamas, I will be. The postman is used to seeing me in pyjamas now, it’s fine.
If you talk about being comfortable most people will mention things such as soft pyjamas, fluffy new socks, a duvet day on the sofa or a pair of shoes that cushion your feet even after hours spent Christmas shopping. But comfort goes deeper than that – comfort starts with the bodies underneath the clothes.
Now I have never been one to feel totally comfortable in my own skin. As a teenager, I had the usual discussions with my friends – how to get rid of spots, the best hairstyle for my face shape, how to get away with wearing that short skirt to school. But would I have talked to them about my private parts? Would I heck! There may have been giggling references to period pains, but never anything more than that. I guess that’s considered ‘normal’ at that age – but really, should it be? Or should we actually be encouraging our teens to discuss their vaginas as they would any other part of their body? Is it really any different to our arms, legs or boobs?
Things changed a bit when I had children. Growing and birthing 4 children has meant I have had to be a lot more open about my feminine areas. I have had people stick their hands and surgical instruments up there – and in all honestly why should that be an issue? It’s a part of my body that is designed to birth a baby. That’s the primary function. That’s what it was made for. I am a big advocate of breastfeeding, and allowing women to feed uncovered and un self-consciously whenever and wherever they choose. So why should talking about a vagina be any different? 50% of the human race have one. Most of those have, or will have, a child. As nature intended.
Post birth, it’s also something we don’t talk about – but this maybe the time when we really should. Supporting other women who need advice about stitches, episiotomy scars, bleeding, thrush, post birth sex, and all the other things that go hand in hand with childbirth and the recovery. If we all just admitted that we were struggling, that childbirth is a major trauma, that we all need some advice about remedies and cures that could help us, maybe we would all feel a lot more comfortable.
It’s a part of our body. It’s a part of our body that has a very important function, and yet we still forget that, and shy away from talking about it to anyone – parents, siblings, friends, even healthcare professionals. I am as guilty as anyone else of not being open enough, but I want that to change. It’s important. A smear test could save your life. A chat about symptoms could save someone elses.
On that note, remember how important it is to keep your vagina clean and healthy – why that is such a taboo topic I don’t know. We clean the rest of our bodies without a second thought, we recommend shower gels and moisturisers, but we don’t recommend vaginal care products do we? Well now I am. Wear cotton underwear, don’t use perfumed products down there, and keep a stock of the new Canesten products – they have a great range of feminine care products to help you take care of an important part of your body at all times. #GetComfortable
Do you think you have enough knowledge about how to take care of your intimate health on a daily basis? Do you, as a woman, feel awkward about discussing feminine intimate health?
What are your best tips for not feeling embarrassed about discussing your intimate health? If you feel able to leave me a comment below, you could be in with a chance to win a £50 John Lewis voucher – good luck!
This post has been supported by Canesten, but all thoughts are my own.
Terms and conditions. Giveaway runs from 17/12/2015 to 7/1/2015. To enter the Prize Draw, entrants must post a comment in response to this Canesten ‘Get Comfortable’ post, via the
Rafflecopter Widget. Only one entry per person will be accepted. Multiple or third party entries are not permitted. The Prize Draw is open to UK residents aged 18 or over, excluding employees of the Promoter, their families, agents or anyone else connected with the Promoter. One winner will be selected at random from all valid entries received on or before the closing date.The winner will be notified by email from the promoter, within 28 days of the closing date. The winner must notify the promoter of their postal address for delivery of the prize within 28 days of being notified that they are the
winner. If the winner does not respond within 28 days a new winner will be selected at random from the remaining valid entries. The prize is not transferrable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. Competitions at ThePrizeFinder
Only discuss what you feel comfortable with, at first, it will get easier in time, the more you talk about things, just take it slowly x
Talk about it, the more you talk about your own intimate health the more “normal” it will become 🙂
Just try to relax, remember that it’s only human and that you won’t be the only one!
Angela McDonald recently posted…Poundland Christmas Treats & Gifts
Just bite the bullet and get it out in the open. Chances are that someone else has/had the same problems
Go for a pamper session before you go to your doctor. You may feel better.
I think the approach i always use it to talk about things as if they are very basic like a headache or something. Then more we normalise this the better, so it should be as easy as saying “I have a headache”. Also i will sometimes make a joke.
Mummy Fever recently posted…Planning a garage conversion?
Tell yourself its your doctors job and they have seen it all before many times
Remember we all feel the same, and we all heave problems, and that sharing is good for stress and depression xx
Remember that whatever it is will not be news to the Doctor – more a case of ‘same old, same old’
I actually went to the Canesten #GetComfortable event back on the summer and it was empowering to be open about how we as women view our bodies and ourselves. I think we need to stop viewing our genitals or smells etc as an embarrassment because the sooner we talk about it the sooner the issue can be sorted!xx
Hannah Budding Smiles recently posted…A Taste of Christmas in Portugal // #ExpediaWorldOnAPlate
It’s so silly that we all have the same things and problems yet never talk about them! Doctors will have seen everything and ten times worse than whatever we are going in for. The more it’s talked about the more normal it becomes, we need to be more open and brave with our bodies.
Talking to a close female friend that you can trust
Just remember they have probably seen it all before and worse
I am pregnant with our first baby, so I have become more comfortable over the past 7+ months talking about feminine health. Fortunately I have a couple quite close female friends who have had a few babies and comfortable talking to me about what to expect while pregnant and after birth. They have been a blessing!
Look up information on the internet ,and you will realise you are one of thousands of people with the same issue.
Whatever the problem remember you are not the first person, the only person or the last person to have this and your doctor knows about it.
have a baby and then you’ll never worry ever again – all dignity goes out of the window!
Talk and be honest with ur Dr and try and relax as they deal with this on a daily basis.
Treat it like going to the dentist. No-one likes it but it must be done.
always think theres someone worse off than you x