Vaginal Birth: Recovery Plan

Vaginal Delivery: What to Expect in the First Days After Birth (and How to Feel Better Faster)

Vaginal delivery is a natural process, but recovery is not always as simple as people expect. A few very common things happen after birth that can surprise new moms — especially related to digestion, bowel movements, and physical discomfort.

Knowing what’s normal and what you can do can make a big difference in how you feel those first days.

Anesthesia, Opioids, and Why #2 Can Be Hard After Delivery

Most women who have a vaginal delivery receive spinal or local anesthesia. This anesthesia is often a combination of medications, and in many cases includes opioids.

Opioids are known to slow down the gut, which means digestion becomes sluggish. In addition to Pelvic floor weakness from pushing, constipation, sometimes severe, can be experienced after delivery.

The fear of straining — especially after pushing for hours — can also make it harder to relax and go.

What You Can Do to Avoid Constipation (This Matters Way More Than You Think)

Constipation may not seem like a huge issue but if you dont stay ahead of it, it may become a source of stress.

What you do right after delivery matters, so let’s take a look:

1. Hydration is key. Drink way more than you think you need. Water, electrolytes (here is a link but any type would work) and warm fluids all help stimulate gut movement.

2. OTC help: consider MiraLAX or Colace right after delivery.

3. Liquid or semi-liquid diet at first. Foods that support digestion without straining include:

• Bone broth (excellent for hydration, healing, and protein). You can take these at the hospital, they dont require fridge and they can be heated by the nurses in the microwave (bring a thermos to keep broth warm longer)

• Soups and stews

• Smoothies

• Warm herbal teas

Bone broth is especially helpful because it:

• Supports gut lining repair

• Provides protein when appetite is low

• Helps with hydration when you’re losing fluids

4. Avoid foods that slow digestion

What NOT to eat:

• Dry foods

• Cheese

• Processed foods

• Alchool (no champagne after the delivery.. just take a picture with a glass in your hand:)

Gentle movement helps

Short walks — even just around the room — help wake up the gut. Move as soon as you feel comfortable, but pace yourself.

Constipation after birth is common, but it doesn’t have to be miserable. Addressing it early can prevent a lot of discomfort.

Vaginal Tears: What You Should Know

Vaginal delivery can sometimes be associated with tearing, depending on many factors. Tears are classified from first degree (mild) to fourth degree (more severe). While higher-degree tears are rare, they do happen.

You may or may not know immediately which degree of tear you had. If you experienced tearing, we strongly recommend reading our dedicated blog post that explains:

• What each degree means

• How to care for yourself

• What helps healing

• When to seek medical advice

Flow after birth

For days and weeks after the delivery, you will experience something that can be described as a heavy period flow. Read the dedicated blog about this to ensure you are prepared with the essential, already at the hospital.

Essential Items for Comfort and Healing

Regardless of whether you had tears or not, there are a few items that are extremely helpful after vaginal delivery:

• Peri bottle. A peri bottle allows you to gently clean the area after using the bathroom. Using toilet paper alone can be irritating and uncomfortable, especially in the first days. Buy one for each bathroom you have at home.

• Heavy-flow or night pads. or days and weeks after the delivery, you will experience something that can be described as a heavy period flow. This is called lochia — postpartum bleeding that consists of blood and tissue left behind after birth.

Important things to know about lochia:

• It often has a strong, unpleasant smell (this is normal)

• Bleeding is usually heavy for the first 4–5 days

• For some women, it can last weeks (it will taper off over time)

The first few days, you may find helpful to wear a diaper (yes, for real. Think about a cute winning with the child?). You will likely be out of them the first few days but it is helpful to order them upfront. The hospital provides a type of short that many consider comfortable.. the truth is, you will know only when you will be in the moment so be prepared. Organic cotton diapers here

Stock up on thick pads (bonus point for these that have soothing aromatherapy) and comfortable underwear you don’t mind wearing all day. These are some soft pads that will likely not irritate you and these are underwear that have minimal friction. As you are stocking up on non-sexy underwear, these bra are immensely helpful as they open in the front (whether you are trying to encourage or discourage the milk to the flow, the front opening is a life saver). The bra I linked can be re-purposed for the gym!