Vaginal Delivery

A vaginal delivery is when you give birth through your vagina. Your uterus contracts during labor to thin and open your cervix. You push your baby out through your vagina (birth canal).

Vaginal births are usually safest for the baby and birthing mother. They typically occur between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy. Vaginal deliveries account for about 68% of all births in the United States and 80% of births worldwide.

You can try to prepare for a vaginal delivery by creating a birth plan. But there’s no way to predict what will happen when the time comes. Every labor and delivery is unique. A birth plan can help you envision what you want your birth experience to look like. It can also help you think of questions to ask your provider.

Types

Healthcare providers classify vaginal deliveries into three types:

• Spontaneous vaginal delivery: It occurs without the use of forceps, a vacuum device or a C-section.
• Induced vaginal delivery: Medications or other techniques trigger labor and open your cervix. This is also called labor induction.
• Assisted (operative) vaginal delivery: It happens with the help of forceps or a vacuum device to get your baby out. Induced vaginal deliveries can also be assisted.

What are the stages of vaginal birth?

A vaginal birth involves three stages:

1. Labor: Labor begins with uterine contractions. It ends with your cervix being 10 centimeters (cm) dilated and 100% effaced. On average, it lasts 12 to 19 hours.
2. Birth: Once you reach 10 cm, you feel strong contractions and begin pushing. Your baby comes out through your vagina. The pushing phase can take up to 4 hours.
3. Delivering the placenta: Your healthcare provider may ask you for a few more pushes after the birth of your baby. You push the placenta out through your vagina. It can take up to 30 minutes after your baby is born.

Labor and childbirth are different for everyone. Certain factors can play a role in your labor being longer or shorter. For example, your labor may be longer if it’s your first baby. Factors like the size and position of your baby can all affect how long it takes.

Is it painful?

Most women describe vaginal birth as painful. There are many medical options to help manage pain. Discuss your options with your healthcare provider. You can also use non-medical coping skills.

What are the benefits?

A vaginal delivery offers several benefits to both you and your baby.

Compared to having a C-section, the benefits for you include a shorter recovery time and a lower chance of future pregnancy complications.

Vaginal birth benefits for your baby include:

• A lower chance of breathing complications: Your baby’s journey through your birth canal better prepares their lungs to transition to breathing.
• Better immune system function: The helpful bacteria in your vagina support your baby’s immune system and gut microbiome.

If you’re going to breastfeed, a vaginal delivery also increases your chances of lactating sooner. And your baby is more likely to latch and breastfeed successfully.

What are the risks?

Vaginal deliveries generally carry the least risk. The most common complications include:

• Prolonged labor: Labor slows or stops, and your cervix doesn’t fully dilate. Your healthcare provider may give you oxytocin to trigger contractions and progress labor.
• Irregular fetal heart rate: Your baby’s heart rate slows down because their head or umbilical cord is compressed.
• Hemorrhage: This is excessive or life-threatening bleeding during or after birth.
• Vaginal tears: These are tears in the tissue around your vagina and rectum that can happen during childbirth.

All these complications have treatments. Your healthcare team will keep you informed and explain the next steps.

Reasons to avoid vaginal delivery

Healthcare providers usually prefer vaginal births. But certain conditions make them dangerous. Your healthcare provider may recommend a C-section delivery if:

• The fetus is in a breech or transverse position.
• You have placenta previa or there’s an issue with the placenta.
• You have an untreated infection or open genital lesions from the herpes simplex virus.
• Your health or the fetus’ health is in immediate danger.

How long does it take to heal from a vaginal delivery?

Most women have swelling, bruising and general soreness in their vaginal area for a week or two. Putting cold compresses or cooling sanitary pads on your vulva may help.

But recovery time varies. Generally, healing from a vaginal birth is faster than it is for a C-section. Several factors can influence how quickly you heal. One factor is having a vaginal tear. It may prolong healing. If you have a tear, you may feel sore for several weeks. Going to the bathroom, sitting and doing everyday tasks may be painful. But it should get better over time. Tell your provider if it’s not.

In general, postpartum recovery can take several months. Pregnancy affects nearly all aspects of your body. It may take a long time before you feel like yourself again.

How long do you bleed after a vaginal delivery?

It can vary. It’s considered normal to have lochia (blood and discharge) for up to six weeks after birth. The bleeding, specifically, lasts around two weeks. Contact your healthcare provider if bleeding increases over time or becomes suddenly severe.

How long after delivery can you have sex?

Most healthcare providers recommend waiting at least six weeks or until after your postpartum visit to have intercourse. This gives your body time to heal. Your provider will also check your cervix and vagina to make sure they’re healthy.

Consider birth control options and future pregnancies before having sex again. It’s possible to get pregnant again soon after giving birth, even if you haven’t had a period.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

It’s hard to know what to expect from a vaginal delivery, especially if you’ve never given birth. It may help to ask your healthcare provider the following questions:

• Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of a vaginal birth?
• How will I know when labor is starting?
• How will I manage pain?
• How will I know when to push?
• How can I reduce my risk of vaginal tearing?
• How long will it take to recover?