Normal Delivery Archives

As soon as you use the due date calculator or see the two pink lines on the pregnancy test kit, to check when will you see your little one, your excitement knows no bounds. However, pregnancy, childbirth and all that they entail do not end after you deliver your baby. The next stage after delivery is the postpartum stage.

What is Postpartum Care?

Right after you undergo delivery (whether natural or C-section), you undergo many changes – physical, emotional and mental. This stage, called postpartum, is the time it takes for you to go back to your pre-pregnancy stage, and can often last between 6-8 weeks post childbirth. However, each experience is unique and some may recover sooner or later, depending on many factors like the experience of childbirth, previous conditions etc.

As you navigate through the postpartum, you also get acquainted with many physical and emotional changes. You are healing your body while you and your partner learn to look after the newborn. As you experience all these, it can get overwhelming at times. It is thus, extremely crucial that you identify all the signs and changes and work towards healing them or accepting them. This care for the mother post-delivery, is called postpartum care.

What are some changes one undergoes physically & emotionally, after a normal delivery?

If you have just undergone a normal delivery, you can observe some or all of the changes, listed below:

Vaginal Soreness
Vaginal Discharge
Urine Leakage
Hemorrhoids
Tender Breasts
Hair & Skin Changes
Changes in Mood

Vaginal Soreness
If you had a vaginal tear or needed an incision during childbirth, there may be some vaginal soreness post the delivery. Or in layman terms, there is a loss of tightness after birth. This can be alleviated with cold/hot packs, over-the-counter painkillers, warm baths etc.

Vaginal Discharge
Post-delivery, you will start shedding the superficial mucous membrane that lines the uterus during pregnancy. This can cause heavy bleeding and can last up to weeks. However if you experience too much pain or it continues for a long time, you should consult your doctor.

Urine Leakage
Vaginal delivery can loosen your pelvic muscles and this can lead to a few drops of urine leakage involuntarily when you laugh, sneeze etc. You can consult your doctor for any exercises that can help tackle this.

Hemorrhoids
If you experience pain while passing bowels or notice a swelling in the area, you may have hemorrhoids. You can consult your doctor and it can be eased with creams, medication or eating fiber-rich foods.

Tender Breasts

The breast engorgement, usually experienced after childbirth can be eased with frequent breastfeeding on both sides. Benefits of breastfeeding have been noted in both mother and baby and can also help ease the tenderness.

Hair & Skin Changes
When you’re pregnant, your hormonal changes can make your hair grow faster than it sheds and also make you skin glow. But after delivery, you may observe the exact opposite as your hormone levels go back to normal. This can last up to 4-5 months. However, there are some hair and skin tips that you can look into to take care of this.

Changes in Mood
Hormonal changes and the sudden shift of roles, can often lead to mood swings post childbirth. It’s important that you stay conscious of these changes and address them accordingly. If your mood swings are unusually low or if you notice the signs of postpartum depression, it’s best to get in touch with experts.

Tips for Postpartum Care

As you undergo the aforementioned changes, it’s necessary that you look after yourself and here are some postpartum care tips to do just that:

Take ample rest
Keep a check on your physical and mental signs & developments
Eat healthy
Do light exercises after consulting your doctor
Check-in with your partner and spend some time together
Check-in with your doctor at all stages
Consult your doctor immediately if you notice anything unusual
Practice yoga or meditation for a calm mind
Take some time for yourself

Key Takeaway

Postpartum care is an important part of every woman’s healing journey and is unique to her. Paying attention to your signs and always consulting your doctor can make this process easier. Keeping a calm mind and allowing yourself time to heal with the help of loved ones is the key to a healthy recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should you rest after giving birth?
Rest for at least 6-8 weeks after giving birth. However, this will depend on how you give birth and the conditions during this time. It’s best to consult your doctor after childbirth.
How should I sleep after delivery?
Sleeping on the side is generally recommended after delivery but it all depends on your comfort level and your doctor’s recommendation.
How can I make my tummy flat after delivery?
Immediately after childbirth, breastfeeding helps reduce weight but the tummy/ovary will go back to its original size after 6-8 weeks. Post childbirth, you can consult your doctor and start exercises and a healthy diet to get back into shape.
How do I know if I tore my stitches after birth?
Tearing your stitches will cause some kind of discomfort – usually pain or bleeding. It’s best to check-in with your doctor to ensure that everything is in order for recovery.
Why do I still look pregnant 3 months postpartum?
Every pregnancy and delivery is different and it may take longer for some to go back to their pre-pregnancy stage. Consult your doctor, if you notice no change even after a prolonged period.
How long does it take for a woman’s body to go back to normal after pregnancy?
Normally, it takes 6-8 weeks for your body to go back to your pre-pregnancy stage to a certain extent. However, a complete recovery is a long process and can be achieved with the right diet, guidance and light exercises. You can consult your dietician or doctor for guidance on the same.
How to take care of your vagina after giving birth?
If you had a vaginal birth, you may experience pain and soreness post-delivery. Hot/cold compresses and warm baths can ease the pain and you can also ask your doctor for prescription painkillers.

Disclaimer:This blog solely intended for the educational/informational/awareness purposes and is not a substitute for any professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor/healthcare professional before acting on the information provided on the blog. Reliance on any or all information provided in the blog, is solely at your own risk and responsibility. Mankind Pharma Limited shall not be held liable, in any circumstance whatsoever.

If you’re planning to start a family, a Prega News pregnancy test kit should be kept handy. As you maneuver through the various stages of waiting and anticipation, a simple home test can give you the much awaited good news. And as soon as you see the two pink lines, you know the journey has started. After the initial celebrations and check-ups subside, the big question on most parents’ minds comes in – what about the delivery and which route are we taking?

When it comes to deliveries – you can either choose to have a C-section or a normal delivery. C-sections are often opted by doctors when there are chances of complications. If you have decided to go for the latter, here’s everything you need to know about it. In fact, according to the 2017-18 health survey by the National Statistical Office, 2 out of 3 women have normal deliveries in India.*

What is Normal Delivery?

Normal or vaginal delivery, means the birthing process which is all-natural and generally without the use of any medication or external instruments. This process involves the birth of the baby through the birth canal (vagina) with naturally induced labour. However, some vaginal births also involve painkillers or forceps for easier delivery, which is explained in details below. In this form of delivery, the primary factors are the mother’s comfortable position, the baby’s positioning and pushes by the mother.

Normal delivery or vaginal delivery is where the mother experiences labour as the cervix dilates. Uterine contractions are timed and observed and these help move the baby’s head towards the vaginal opening. These contractions can feel like severe menstrual cramps and the pain differs from woman to woman. If it’s too painful, you can also opt for an epidural which eases the pain. Generally, the vaginal deliveries can last between 12-14 hours or more. And it gets easier with subsequent births.

However, during vaginal deliveries, there are also chances of injury as the baby moves down the birth canal. This may cause stretching and tearing of the tissue around the vagina and may need stitches. A vaginal birth can also result in some pain in the perineum area – the area between the vagina and the anus. Postpartum side effects of natural birth may include vaginal bleeding, swelling, soreness, cramps etc.

Recovery after a natural birth is fairly early and the baby and mother can have skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding sessions soon after birth. In most vaginal deliveries, the mother and baby are discharged in a day or two (24-48 hours), unless otherwise mentioned by the doctor.

Stages of Normal Delivery

Broadly, labour is divided into 3 stages and they are then further elaborated and divided for better understanding.

Stage 1: Cervix dilation
Stage 2: Baby birth through birth canal
Stage 3: Expulsion of placenta and membranes (afterbirths)

Stage 1

The first stage itself can last for over 36 hours and is generally spent at home. This stage involves changes etc. that can be observed up to a week before your actual delivery. What happens during this time is that the womb/uterus’ muscles contract so the cervix is shortened and dilated to enable the birth. This stage broadly involves 3 kinds of things that you will notice:

Contractions: While some women experience mild period-like pain, for others it can be more severe. They can be irregular and short-lived but women are advised to note the kind and frequency of contractions – when they are less than 5 minutes apart and last for over a minute, it’s said that the labour has been established. In other words, during this time, you should be at the place where you wish to have the delivery.
Discharge: Mucus or stringy/brownish blood may appear up to a week before your delivery and should be informed to the doctor. However, if you notice fresh blood, you should consult your doctor immediately.
Water Broke: This is an indicator that the sac of amniotic fluid surrounding your baby has broken. At this point, you should call your doctor and ask for next steps.

Stage 2

This is the stage where your cervix is fully dilated and the baby is slowly making its way to the birth canal (vagina) from the uterus. Since your body is trying to release something, it’s best to assist it in the process by pushing and staying calm. Avoid tensing up as this can further delay the process. This part of the labour can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours.

At this point, many women opt for an epidural to help alleviate the pain. Your doctor can guide you through the same in case the pain becomes unbearable for you. However, it has been observed that epidural can sometimes elongate the process.

The more you push, the easier it gets at this point. However, some women require further assistance and the doctor may choose to use forceps or vacuum extraction to make the process easier.

Stage 3

This final stage involves the delivery of the placenta. This can be done in two ways and which way to choose depends solely on your birth progress and experience. Sometimes, the placenta can be delivered by your efforts in 15 to 20 minutes after the baby’s birth. At other times, the process has to be induced and helped either with physical help from the doctor or with the use of medications.

Benefits of Normal Delivery

The recovery period after a natural birth is generally much shorter than that of C-sections. Usually, women can go home in a day or two after a vaginal birth, unless there are other complications.
In case of natural birth, the mother and baby initiate skin-to-skin contact almost immediately after birth and feeding is suggested within the first hour. This enables quicker bonding between the mother and the baby.
When it comes to your baby, vaginal birth leads to the release of fluids from the baby’s lungs, thus minimizing the risks of respiratory problems and diseases.
Babies are also exposed to bacteria in the birth canal, which improves their immunity.

FAQ

How is a normal delivery done?
It is also done in hospitals and birthing centres with the help of doctors and experts. It involves the dilation of the cervix and the pushes from the mother, to bring the baby into the birth canal, who is then born through the vagina.
Is normal delivery painful?
The pain in normal delivery differs from woman to woman and it gets easier after the first birth. Which week is best for delivery? Doctors generally advise 39 weeks for the full growth of the baby but if labour is induced earlier or if complications arise, the baby may arrive sooner.
Which type of delivery is best?
The type of delivery is decided by the doctors depending on your and the baby’s health, previous medical records etc.
What should I eat for normal delivery?
As long as you maintain a healthy diet and weight, normal delivery should be okay. Healthy diet includes green vegetables and fruits and lean protein. You must also ensure proper hydration throughout with water and other fluids.

Tag: Normal Delivery

What is Postpartum Care? Tips, Change: Emotional & Physical