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Recovery from a Vaginal Delivery
Recovery from a Vaginal Delivery
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Just as every woman and baby is unique, so too is their labor and delivery
experience. How well you recover after a vaginal delivery will depend on a
number of factors. The overwhelming feeling most women are consumed with
immediately after a vaginal delivery is fatigue. The level of fatigue you
experience may depend in part on your overall health and well being, the number
of hours of labor endured and how much rest you had prior to labor.
Most women will go through a period of both physical and emotional adjustment
after delivery. How long it takes you to get back on your feet after giving
birth will depend on a number of factors, including the degree of tearing and
overall labor experience. For most women a relatively uncomplicated birth will
result in a rapid recovery.
If however, you spend a large portion of your pregnancy on bed rest or if for
example, you had a difficult birth it may take some time for you to feel
'normal' again.
How much energy you have after labor will also depend on whether this is your
first child or not. If you have other children to care for, you will probably be
more exhausted for a longer period of time after labor.
Pregnancy and delivery require a physical and emotional period of adjustment.
For many women the physical recovery is often considered the easier of the two.
Emotionally your body will go through a number of changes, including rapid
fluctuations in hormones. In addition, taking on the role and challenges of
motherhood may take some time adjusting to.
It is recommended that you wait six weeks before having intercourse after
delivery, to allow your body to heal physically from the effects of labor and
delivery. Your doctor may also suggest that you avoid any heavy exercise for the
same period of time, and may advise you not to drive for a few days to a couple
of weeks after delivery.
Every woman is unique, and every woman's recovery experience will be different.
A
Word on Post-Partum Depression
For some women, postpartum depression is a potential post-delivery complication.
Approximately 10-20 percent of all mothers will experience some form of 'baby
blues' that may become more severe, or may be formally described as post partum
depression.
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They key to a successful recovery is recognizing your symptoms early enough to
get treatment and support from your physician. Here are some of the more common
symptoms of post partum depression to be weary of:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Frequent crying
- Feelings of guilt or inadequacy
- Fear that you might harm your baby
- Feeling an overwhelming sense of doom
- Sleeping problems
- Feelings of loss of control
- Helpless or suicidal feelings
- Constant sadness
The good news is with early treatment and adequate care, postpartum
depression can be resolved and most mothers will recovery completely.
Exercise
Exercise is just as important after pregnancy as it is during your pregnancy.
You should be able to resume an exercise routine sooner if you have a vaginal
birth than if you had a C-section. Some women are able to resume some mild
exercise within days of giving birth, whereas others will need a full six weeks
to recover.
The best form of exercise to engage in initially is walking. Walking is a great
way to stretch your legs, get some fresh air and start into a routine gradually.
One of the best ways to recover from a delivery is to take advantage of as much
help as possible in the early weeks. Accept offers to help clean and prepare
meals. You should avoid housework for a short time and take advantage of every
opportunity possible to sleep when your baby does.
Doing so will help enhance your recovery experience and ensure that you are able
to recover as swiftly as possible.
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