Hey there, new mama! Remember the superhero you are? You just brought a tiny human into the world. The way your body changed during pregnancy and childbirth is nothing short of a miracle. Your body has been stretched and stressed to the max, and it needs a little cool down period to regroup. Recovery after vaginal birth is different for every new mama. With different postpartum symptoms and different recovery rates.
Your delivery may have been complicated or easy. You may have laboured for a few hours or a few days. No matter what delivery looked like for you, your body has been through some level of trauma. It’s going to need time to recover. Let’s explore what you can expect post-delivery.
What to Expect After Vaginal Birth.
Before you break out the champagne and celebration, let’s dive headfirst into the rollercoaster of postpartum realities. Let’s talk about what comes next, offering a candid look at what to expect after your vaginal birth.
Contractions
Contractions are not quite behind you yet. You may experience small contractions, called afterpains, for up to 7 to 10 days post-delivery. They are usually sporadic, unlike labor contractions. These contractions often feel like menstrual cramps. They help keep you from bleeding too much after delivery. They occur due to your uterus shrinking back to its normal size.
Afterpains usually feel stronger during breastfeeding. This is because breastfeeding causes release of oxytocin which triggers uterine contractions.
Vaginal Discharge
It’s common to have vaginal discharge and bleeding for several weeks after delivery. This is your body’s way of getting rid of the extra tissue and blood from your uterus, that nourished your baby during pregnancy. Expect for this to be heavier at first (up to 10 days). Then it will taper off, going from red to brown to yellowish white. Postpartum vaginal discharge can last up to 6 weeks.
Super absorbent maxi pads will become your new best friend, as tampons are off-limits during this time. Tampons can bring bacteria into your vagina that can cause infection.
Perineal Soreness
The perineum is the area between your vagina and anus. You might have a tear during childbirth, or your doctor may have to make a small cut, called an episiotomy, to widen your vagina for childbirth. Even if neither of these happen, your perineum will still be sore and possibly swollen postpartum. You may feel discomfort in this area for several weeks. You may have stitches to close the tear or cut to the perineum. This may be sore at first and a little itchy, they usually dissolve within 7 to 10 days.
Bathroom Troubles
It’s not uncommon to have constipation or trouble urinating shortly after giving birth. Constipation is usually a side effect of the pain meds you got during delivery. The tissue around your bladder and urethra may be swollen and bruised, which can make peeing difficult for the first few weeks.
Unexpected Leaks
Pregnancy, labor, and vaginal delivery can compress the pelvic nerves and weaken the pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor muscles help control the bladder. A little leakage when you cough, sneeze, laugh or lift heavy objects is normal. As your body heals, urinary incontinence should resolve.
Haemorrhoids
You may have developed haemorrhoids during pregnancy or the strain of pushing led to a swollen vein in or around your anus. Postpartum haemorrhoids can be itchy and painful but should shrink within 6 weeks after delivery.
Recovery Timeline After Vaginal Birth
It took almost a year to grow and have your baby. Take comfort in knowing that for most part, you’ll begin to feel like yourself much sooner than that. Generally, your body will take 6 to 8 weeks to heal after delivery.
Perineum recovery can take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks if you didn’t tear to 6 weeks or more if you had a perineal tear of an episiotomy. Expect the swelling in your vagina to recede within a few weeks and for your vagina to have contracted and regained most of its muscle tone.
Your uterus should be back to its normal size by the sixth week. It took 9 months to have your baby, don’t stress if it takes as long to shed the baby weight.
Tips for Recovery After Vaginal Birth
- Ice perineum every couple of hours for the first 24 hours post vaginal birth.
- After the first 24 hours, try a warm sitz bath for 20 minutes a few times a day to ease pain.
- If you don’t have a sitz bath, a simple soak in your bathtub, deep enough to cover your buttocks and hips for 5 minutes a few times a day will do.
- Use a peri or squirt bottle to spray warm water over your perineum as you pee to keep urine from irritating skin.
- Ask your healthcare provider about a numbing spray or cream for your perineum.
- Sit on a pillow or padded ring.
- Take a pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you are achy from pushing.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about using a stool softener or laxative.
- Eat plenty of fibre-rich foods like oats, beans, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and nuts to aid bowel movement.
- Practice postpartum Kegel exercises to help improve postpartum urinary incontinence and restrengthen pelvic floor muscles.
Postpartum Recovery Kit After Vaginal Birth
Here are a few things to put together while you’re pregnant to make your recovery after vaginal delivery go as smoothly as possible.
- Maxi pads. You’ll probably need these for at least a couple of weeks.
- Ice packs. Freeze some maxi pads soaked in water to use as ice packs for your perineum.
- Witch hazel pads. Use in combination with ice packs to ease perineal pain and help with postpartum haemorrhoids.
- Soft cotton underpants. For now, comfort is much more important than looking sexy.
- Lidocaine spray. Helps ease pain of postpartum haemorrhoids.
- Postpartum recovery belt. Belly bands help keep things in place as your tummy shrinks back to size.
- Lanolin. Helps prevent and treat cracked nipples.
- Nursing pads. Help keep leaky breasts under wraps.
- Heating pads. Help ease lots of the postpartum aches and pains.
- Sitz bath
- Peri and Squirt bottle.
- Stool softener (doctor approved)
When to See Your Doctor
You’ll have a postnatal checkup about 6 weeks after delivery. Your doctor will check your vagina, cervix, uterus, weight, and blood pressure. Once you’ve gotten the all-clear from them, it’s usually fine to get back to an exercise routine and to start having sex again (remember to ask about birth control).
Before your checkup, call your doctor right away if any of the following occur:
- Vaginal bleeding that soaks more than one pad per hour.
- Strong smelling vaginal discharge.
- Severe headache that doesn’t improve with medication.
- Vision changes.
- Leg pain along with swelling or redness.
- Fever or chills.
- Fainting or dizziness.
- Vomiting.
- Heart palpitations, chest pain or breathing problems.
Take Your Time Mama!
The postpartum period can be both exciting and overwhelming. Give yourself the grace and patience to settle in as the pain and discomfort from childbirth subsides. Bringing a new life into the world is life changing. Remember you’re not in this alone, and there is no shame in asking for help. Don’t forget to enjoy this special stage with your little miracle. It will go by faster than you think.
