What Is Normal Vaginal Delivery?
Normal vaginal birth is the childbirth process which takes place without any form of
medical intervention. Nowadays to alleviate the pain and speed up the delivery process
medications might be used (you can choose not to opt for any medical intervention).
All in all, a normal delivery is, in other words, a completely natural delivery of a baby
by the mother without any medical intervention.
What are the benefits of normal vaginal delivery?
The benefits of vaginal delivery include:
- Short hospital stays.
- Low infection rates.
- Quick recovery compared to caesarean.
- Babies have a lower risk of suffering from respiratory problems.
- No post-surgical haemorrhaging
What are the risks of normal vaginal delivery?
The risks a mother may face before and during the normal vaginal delivery include:
- Rupture of the uterus.
- Fetal distress (for example reduced oxygen supply to the baby).
- Vaginal tear.
- Tears in the perineum, i.e. the soft tissue between the vulva and the anus
umbilical cord prolapse which occurs when the cord comes out before the baby.
- If the mother suffers from any infections, it may be passed on from the mother to
the child.
- The baby is emerging buttocks/feet first (breech position).
- The baby is emerging shoulder first.
- There is more than one baby.
- Cephalopelvic disproportion (when a baby cannot fit through a pelvis due to the
small size of the mother’s pelvis).
- Undetected placenta previa, meaning the placenta covers the cervix.
The risks a mother may face after a normal vaginal delivery include:
- Damage to the pelvic floor due to which the woman may suffer from temporary or
chronic pelvic pain.
- Pelvic organ prolapse which occurs when the bladder, uterus and/or rectum protrude
into the vagina or outside the vaginal opening.
- Retained placenta.
- Urinary leakage with sudden coughing, sneezing, or laughing post delivery
postpartum haemorrhage.
- Anaesthesia (if used) related complications.
How long does it take to recover from a normal vaginal delivery?
The vagina tends to remain sore and tender for a period of at least two weeks after a normal vaginal delivery. You should be able to recover your energy within seven to 10 days. Complete recovery, especially if you experienced perineum tear while delivering, may take six weeks and a little more depending on your overall health condition. Please check with best gynaecologist in guntur about how soon you can start exercising after a normal vaginal delivery as it depends on your overall health condition. You can, however, start doing the Kegel exercises soon after delivery, albeit gently.