Delivery : Vaginal

In a routine vaginal delivery, your first view of your child may be the top or crown of his head seen with the help of a mirror. After the head is delivered, the obstetrician will suction the nose and mouth, and your baby will take his first breath. He doesn't need to be slapped or spanked to begin breathing, nor will he necessarily cry; many newborns take their first breath quietly.

With the most difficult part of the birth now over, there is usually one last pause before the push that sends the rest of your child's body, which is smaller than his head, gliding smoothly into the doctor's waiting arms. After another, more thorough suctioning of his nose and mouth, your child may be handed to you to hold and behold.

Even if you've seen pictures of newborns, you're bound to be amazed by the first sight of your own infant. When he opens his eyes, they will meet yours with curiosity. All the activity of birth may make him very alert and responsive to your touch, voice and warmth. Take advantage of this attentiveness, which may last for the first few hours. Stroke him, talk to him and look closely at this child you've created.

Recovery from Vaginal Delivery 

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.