What to expect after vaginal delivery:  

Most women will remain in the hospital for one night after the delivery. Take advantage of the time to bond with your new baby, get some rest, and receive some help with breastfeeding and caring for your baby.
 

The typical hospital stay after a vaginal delivery is one night.  Get your rest and take advantage of this time to bond with your new baby.  If you need help, don't hesitate to ask for assistance.  That is why the hospital staff is there - to assist you with caring for your new baby and addressing any concerns you may have.
 

After having the baby, you may be very excited.  You will soon be very tired too.  Initially, you will be likely only be offered sips of water until your health care provider is sure that you are not likely to experience any heavy bleeding. You will remain in the room where you had your baby and the nurse will monitor your blood  pressure, heart rate, and the amount of vaginal bleeding as well as perform periodic assessmentsto ensure your uterus is becoming firmer.

 

Your nurse will assist you in many ways.  The nurse will focus on your health and the health of your baby.  She or he will perform assessments that will evaluate your response to the birth.  The nurse will not only be tracking the status of your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and respirations (vitals), but will assess your breasts, your uterus, and your overall circulation.

 

If you choose to breastfeed, the nurse will help you to prepare your breasts for this important task.  You will be educated on what to expect as well as how to teach your baby to "latch" on to your breasts.  You will be shown how to break the suction without pain.  You will also be shown how to keep your breasts from getting sore and if you do experience pain, you will be shown how to manage this to prevent it from becoming worse.

 

Your nurse will be performing "fundus" checks.  This means they will be assessing your uterus for firmness and placement.  It is important to evauate the uterus to determine if it is satisfactorily getting smaller (involution) and whether there is uncontrolled bleeding.  The nurse will be performing massages on your uterus and will demonstrate to you how and when to perform this procedure.  This is done to prevent uncontrolled bleeding (hemmorhage).

 

The nurse will assess your bladder to ensure that it is properly and adequately emptied.  This is important because if the bladder is not emptied, it can contribute to significant pain and possibly prevent the involution of the uterus.

 

Your perineal area will be looked at to ensure that there is not excessive bleeding and to ensure that the healing of the tissues is satisfactory.  Your rectal area will be evaluated to determine if the birth process caused hemorrhoids.  If so, they will be watched and you will be shown how to care for them to prevent them becoming too painful and to assist them in shrinking.

 

The nurse will look at the swelling in your hands and feet and will check your legs to make sure you are not developing blood clots.

 

You will be provided education on both how to care for your infant as well as how to take care of yourself.  It is essential to take time for yourself because if you are not meeting your needs, you will not meet your baby's. The nurse will perform feeding demonstrations (breastfeeding as well as formula), how to diaper, bathe, and swaddle your baby, as well as how to take a temperature and other skills and techniques that will prepare you once you are home with your baby.  You will be provided input/output diaries that you will be asked to complete whenever you feed and diaper your baby.  This will be helpful to both you and your baby's healthcare provided because it will help you track how much your baby is eating and voiding to help you become adjusted to your baby's regular rhythm.