At the end of her first prenatal check-up the doctor asked if there were any other questions or concerns. The woman reluctantly expressed her fear of pain and tearing during delivery.

“She is terrified of an episiotomy.” Her partner added.

The doctor explained to the couple that some women have success with stretching exercises. The partner can insert both thumbs into the vagina and gently spread them, pulling the opening wider, and rotating around to apply pressure in all directions. The doctor recommended spending 10 minutes twice a day, and use plenty of lube.

He explained. “Kegel exercises should also be done to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and help improve elasticity.”

The mother-to-be eagerly agreed to start the exercises that evening. Her partner consoled her with a supportive hand squeeze, secretly looking forward to helping her with this intimate task.

A few weeks later the couple happened to cross paths with the doctor at the grocery store. The doctor carefully asked how they were doing, without broaching any specific medical details.

“We are doing what you recommended, every day,” she said with enthusiasm. “But I just don’t know if it’s enough.”

The doctor could sense her fears still lingering.

“How do you feel it’s… progressing?” the doctor hesitantly asked the partner.

“I’m doing just what you instructed, but I don’t notice any change either.”

The doctor thought for a moment. “I can share one other thing with you, but this is not medical advice from your doctor. This is just one friend talking to another friend.”

The woman eagerly nodded her head, understanding they were talking off the record.

“There is a website that sells vaginal canal dilators. It’s a new product without any formal medical approval, but early reports are promising." The doctor said quietly, leaning in close to them.

“Please,” the woman begged. “I‘ll try anything.”

“They sell a set of 9 foam cylinders about 6” long, similar to those stress relief squeeze ball toys used to strengthen hand muscles. You squeeze the cylinder and roll it between your hands to make it slender. Then after you insert it it will slowly expand back towards its original size, gently pushing out in all directions along the full interior. You then do your kegel exercises squeezing against the foam cylinder.”

The mother-to-be listened attentively.

“I don’t know the exact schedule,” the doctor continued. “But each month you move up to the next size, and by month 9 you should be up to an appropriate size for an easier birth.”

A sense of hope spread over her face. She glanced at her partner with excitement, happy to know they could do something more.

“My only concern.” The doctor added. “I don’t know what the material is made of. There have not been any published results in medical journals. I strongly recommend you put a condom over the item each time you use it. And if anything hurts you should stop immediately.”

The couple agreed to take extra precautions and thanked the doctor for the tip. Before they left the store they added a few dozen condoms to their basket.

6 weeks later they returned to the office for her next check-up. The doctor walked in to discover the patient beaming with joy.

“How are you feeling?” The doctor asked.

“I’m doing great.” She answered enthusiastically. “And the exercises you recommended…” she added big air quotes with her fingers acknowledging that she meant something other than actual exercises, “…are working very well.”

“That’s great news.” The doctor replied. “I’m glad they are helping you, and more importantly making you feel more confident in your preparation for labor.”

“She is a bit of an over achiever.” The partner added. “Sweetie, explain how you use the foamies.”

A little embarrassed, but eager to explain, she told the doctor how she had been spending extra time with the foam dilators.

“The instructions said use them for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. Well, I figured a little more time could only help, so I’ve been doing two hours in the morning, a few hours in the afternoon, and a few hours in the evening. Sometimes I fall asleep with it in, and just wear it all night.” She saw no reason to explain her new found love of feeling extra full down there, or the newly discovered term “size queen” the couple had added to their dirty talk vocabulary. She kept the sexual excitement aspects out of her report, sharing only the clinical information.

The doctor’s mouth was a gap, stunned at her initiative, and uncertain how best to advise her since this was not a part of his official medical guidance.

“Well. Please don’t rush it. We don’t want to push you too far too fast.” Th doctor cautiously said.

“Well, it’s a little too late for that.” The woman said with a giggle. “I’m already up to size 8.” She confessed with sheepish pride.

“Size 8, at only 3 months along?” The doctor asked with shock. “How big is size 8?”

“It’s about 8cm.” The partner answered, proud of how fast they had worked their way through the set.

The doctor proceeded with the usual prenatal check list, but added an internal exam just to ensure the enthusiastic stretching had not caused any visible problems. The records listed her preferred speculum size as small, but the doctor decided to try the medium given the circumstances. He was amazed at how easily it inserted, and when fully open her fleshy walls pushed in rather far on each side, impeding his view.

“I can’t believe it.” He reported, “but you have already outgrown the medium.”

The woman looked at her partner with wide eyes and the biggest grin. She was elated with this news. They squeezed hands with pride.

The doctor withdrew the medium and replaced it with a large. It slid in with ease, and when fully extended it held the vagina open for proper inspection. He carefully examined the surfaces, moving his light around and rotating the speculum slightly to gain access to the full interior. When he was done he gently closed the large tool as he withdrew it.

“You look fine. No visible harm, and everything looks healthy.” The doctor reported. “If you can just maintain this current state until your due date I expect labor will be very easy for you.” The doctor made some final notes on the computer and sent the couple on their way.

The mother-to-be had a fresh spring in her step, but it was not just from her positive checkup. She took the doctor’s approval of what she had done so far as a green light to continue her regimen of self challenges. She had already planned to step up to size 9 that evening. Then, after she was comfortable with the 9, she was excited to try two medium cylinders at the same time. Maybe the 5 and 6 together? She had awakened a craving for fullness, and her quest for more stretching was almost insatiable. She wanted to feel big things inside her.