Consumer Information

Vaginal Delivery

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A vaginal delivery occurs when a baby is born through the vagina (birth canal). This is also called a natural delivery. During labor, your uterus will contract (squeeze) to move your baby out of your womb (uterus) through your cervix (opening of the uterus). Your cervix will open to about 10 centimeters (nearly four inches) to let your baby pass from your womb into your birth canal.
Many women go to a birthing room in a hospital or birthing center so they can have their baby naturally. These places may have special beds, chairs, birthing tubs, and other equipment to help make your labor and delivery easier. Some women want to have a caregiver come to their house so they may have their baby at home. Talk to your caregiver when deciding where to have your baby. If there are problems with labor or your baby, you may be moved to an operating room to have an operation called a Caesarean section (C-section). During a C-section, your baby is delivered through an incision (cut) in your abdomen (belly).

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

Keep a written list of what medicines you take and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicines. Do not take any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers. Your caregivers can find out if these medicines may not work well with other medicines that you are taking. If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.
Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Ask your caregiver before stopping any medicine. If you are taking antibiotics, take them until they are all gone, even if you feel better.

Keep all appointments:

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Activity guidelines:

It is very important to get enough rest after having a baby. Try to nap when your baby is sleeping. Ask your partner, friend, or a family member to help with laundry, cooking and other chores until you feel better. Ask your caregiver if there are any limits on driving. If you work outside the home, ask your caregiver when you should return to your job.
Vaginal bleeding may increase if you are very active after delivering a baby. You may want to try resting more if your bleeding gets heavier. Talk to your caregiver before you start or resume exercising. Together you can plan the best exercise program for you. It is best to start slowly and do more as you get stronger. Exercising makes the heart stronger, lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy. Ask your caregiver if you should avoid lifting heavy objects for a time.

How should I care for my breasts? Your milk should "come in" (your breasts should fill) two to four days (48 to 96 hours) after delivery. Before your milk comes in, your breasts may feel soft. Colostrum is the "early milk" or yellow liquid that you can squeeze from your breasts after delivery. Colostrum is what your baby will drink during the first couple of days after birth if you choose to breast feed. Colostrum has fat, carbohydrates, protein, and other special ingredients in it that help keep your baby healthy. When the milk comes in, your breasts may feel full and hard. If you plan to breast feed, ask caregivers to show you the correct ways to hold and breast feed your baby. Ask caregivers for more information about how to care for your breasts whether or not you are breast feeding.

What should I do about constipation and hemorrhoids?

Constipation is a condition where you have hard, dry stools which are difficult to pass. You may also have a feeling of fullness, feel sick to your stomach, and have stomach pain. Do not try to push the BM out if it is too hard. Walking is the best way to get your bowels moving. Eat foods high in fiber and drink lots of fluids to make it easier to have a BM. Good examples are high fiber cereals, beans, vegetables, and whole grain breads. Prune juice may help make the BM softer. You may use fiber medicine or a stool softener to help make your BMs soft and regular. Fiber medicine and stool softeners can be bought at grocery and drug stores.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum or anus. You may have inside or outside hemorrhoids. Inside hemorrhoids are found where the anal canal or rectum starts where you have a BM. Outside hemorrhoids are found around your anus. You may have rectal pain because of the hemorrhoids. Straining to have a BM can make hemorrhoids feel worse. Medicine and warm baths may decrease pain and swelling. With time, the hemorrhoids should get smaller and may go away.

How do I care for my episiotomy?

Keep your vaginal area clean to prevent an infection. Caregivers may give you a squirt bottle of warm water or special cleaning solution. After urinating or having a BM, squirt warm water or the solution over your perineum, and then gently dry it. You may only need to use a gentle soap and warm water to carefully wash the vaginal area. Change your sanitary pad every time you use the bathroom. Do not use tampons.
Use ice for the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery to help with pain and swelling. Put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth between your legs. Use heat after the first 48 hours if you still have pain or swelling. Sitting in a clean bathtub with warm water may also help the episiotomy heal faster and feel better.

When should I expect my vaginal discharge to stop? You will have a vaginal discharge called "lochia" after delivery. The lochia is bright red the first one or two days after delivery, and later turns a pink color. The lochia changes to a white or yellow color by about the tenth day after delivery. It is normal to have discharge on and off for six weeks after delivery. How long you have lochia is different for each woman. Use a sanitary pad rather than a tampon. This helps prevent a vaginal infection. The lochia should not have a bad smell. Do not have sexual intercourse (sex), douche or put anything into your vagina until your caregiver says its OK

When should I expect my monthly period to return? You may start menstruating (having periods) seven to nine weeks after delivery. Your periods may be shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter than before. Your periods may start even later if you are breast feeding. You may not have a period until you stop breast feeding. You may still get pregnant even if you do not menstruate during this time. Use some form of birth control every time you have sex, such as both foam and condoms together.

What should I do about my mood changes? Most new mothers have some kind of mood changes after delivering their baby. These changes can range from the "baby blues" to postpartum depression. Some mood changes can be even more severe. Hormone changes, being tired, and feeling anxious and nervous about being a parent may also affect your mood. Talk to your caregiver if you feel unable to care for yourself or your baby. Call your caregiver if you feel depressed (very sad) for longer than two weeks after delivery. Call your caregiver immediately if you feel like you may hurt yourself or your baby.

Wellness hints:

Eat a variety of healthy foods including fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, meat and fish. Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy. It may also help you heal faster. If you are breast feeding, ask your caregiver for information about the right diet for both you and your breast-fed baby.
Drink at least eight (8 ounce) cups of healthy liquids each day. Follow your caregiver's advice if you must change the amount of liquid you drink. You will need to drink more than this if you are breast feeding. For most people, good liquids to drink are water, juices, and milk. Limit the amount of caffeine in your diet. Caffeine may make you urinate too much and lose too much body fluid. Caffeine may be found in coffee, tea, soda pop, and some sports drinks and foods. Try to drink enough liquid each day, and not just when you feel thirsty.
Do not smoke cigarettes (or anything else) around your new baby, or any child. Your smoke is dangerous for your baby and other people to breathe in. Smoking decreases a person's ability to keep things like germs out of their lungs. This makes people who breathe smoke in (including your baby) more likely to get colds and other medical problems. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. It is never too late to quit smoking. If you have trouble quitting, talk to your caregiver about ways to quit.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

You have a fever (increased body temperature).
You are having increased vaginal bleeding, and are soaking more than one sanitary pad every hour.
Your bleeding lasts longer than one month after your delivery.
You have bad smelling discharge from your vagina.
The feeling that you need to urinate right away lasts longer than one month.
You have pain, red streaks, or warmth on the lower part of one of your legs.
You have a red, hot, or painful breast.
You are not able to sleep well, or are sleeping more than usual.
You cannot eat, or are eating more than usual.
You feel that you are becoming sad or depressed. The sooner you see your caregiver, the easier it is to control your sadness or depression.
You have questions or concerns about your labor and delivery, or having a new baby.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

You have trouble breathing all of a sudden. This could be a sign that you have a blood clot in your lungs. It could also mean that you are allergic to a medicine you are taking.
You have bad abdominal (belly) pain.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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