While a cesarean section may be medically-necessary in some cases, most experts recommend vaginal delivery because this method has a quick recovery time and does not require major surgery.
After a woman delivers her baby vaginally, she can expect her body to go through several things, says Beth Smathers, RN, a mother/baby nurse and clinical educator at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital.
- The uterus will take about six weeks to get back to its pre-pregnancy state. During this time, you may experience contractions that feel like menstrual cramps.
- Your body will still think it is pregnant for a period of time, so your hormones may cause hot flashes and mood swings.
- It will take time for the fluid buildup from pregnancy to flush out of your system. Your wrists and ankles may remain temporarily swollen.
- Discomfort and swelling in the perineum area. If you had an episiotomy, it will also take some time to heal.
- Tender breasts and nipples. Whether or not you plan to breastfeed, your body will still produce milk.
“The bottom line is, having a baby and giving birth is just the most natural thing there is,” says Smathers. “Your body is going to go through a lot of changes, but in the end, it’s all worth it when you have a beautiful, healthy baby.”
For more information on childbirth at Piedmont, visit Piedmont Women’s Services. For more women’s health advice, visit the Living Real Change Women’s Health page.
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