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Recovery from a vaginal delivery varies and depends on whether or not you had to have an episiotomy or if you had a tear and stitches and etc. I was feeling back to normal within 2 weeks, even having sex but I had tears or stiches at all with my 1st two. There are many reasons they might decide to do a c-section but I think the main one is if they detect fetal distress. 37 weeks is considered term and it's perfectly normal to get more emotional towards the end of pregnancy because you get an increase in hormones. Station" describes the location of the baby on its descent down into the birth canal. Negative numbers mean the baby is not engaged; positive numbers mean the baby is engaged.

Ggeez, me and my typos LoL! I meant to say I had no stitches or tearing.

vaginal recovery- just depends. there are many reasons for emergency c-section- baby is in immediate distress, baby is in wrong position, etc. etc. The stations are where the baby is in the pelvis. When it is negative it is still floating some, when it is 0 it is getting engaged. I think 4 is when head is out (I could be wrong about the 4 but I know the scale goes -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 as the baby's head descends. Hope that helps. An internal is feeling for the cervix (which is inside you). Effacing is when the cervix thins, dialating is when it opens (in case you did not know those things) I have had back labor and regular and prefer regular 100times to back!! I am an emotional wreck and I'm about 34 weeks- it does not go away until birth!!! 37 weeks is considered term.

I had stitches with my first and none with my second. Recovery was about equal for both (with me). I would say 2 weeks I was feeling like myself again. But, I was definitely not having sex yet. I think I waited for 4 weeks (not the full 6, but close enough for me :-)

It took me about a month to feel like "normal" after my vaginal birth. I had 2nd degree internal & external tearing. It hurt to walk for a little while after. They would decide to do a emergency C-Section if baby shows signs of distress after a prolonged time of pushing. Station refers to where the baby's descent is (where the head is located (in your pelvis is station 1) so if your baby is hovering just above your pelvis you would be at -1. The internal is when they feel for the dilation of your cervix. Yes, I have heard back labour can be more painful. Around 36wks I was still doing okay...except for killer migraines. Once I hit around 38-39 wks I was starting to feel like I was done with the pregnancy! 37wks is considered term.

Ok, thank you all...that has narrowed down some of the questions I had. When is it OK to start doing the normal things, such as lifting something heavier then the baby? Do they reccomend that for the first 6 weeks as well? That probably depends on the tearing as well I'm assuming

Recovery: (depending on circumstances of course) Vaginal 2-6 weeks. C-Section- 4-8 weeks.-----------Emergancy section: Many different reasons, here are a few of the most common reasons: Mother or baby not tolerating labor well (fetal distress), shoulder distosia (sp), uterine tear, placental abruption, significant blood pressure rise or fall etc.---------------------------------Station of baby: This is measured by where the babys head is located in relation to the pelvis and birth canal. Stations are measure in incriments of 1 cm. This goes from a -4 station (being the baby is very very high, to a +4 station (being the baby is crowing, or the head is deliverying) A 0 station is right there in the middle.------------------------------Vaginal Exams: The doctor or the nurse will use 2 fingers to feel your cervix. They will check to see if the external os is dilated, and if it is, they will check to see if the internal os is dilated. They will also check the length of the cervix by feeling the outer portion of it against the vaginal wall, they will determine if it is thinning (effacing) or not.-------------------------------Back Labor: All labor is painful, but a lot of women will say that back labor is worse. (I tend to agree) Back labor is USUALLY (not always) caused by the baby being head down but facing up, rather than head down and facing down. This is because when the baby is facing down (looking at the floor when born) the smallest, and most flexible portion of the babys head/face is coming through the birth canal first. When the baby is facing up (looking at the ceiling when born) the hardest part of the babys head is putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the mothers tail bone, and such, causing a LOT of back pain. (It usually takes a lot more effort for a woman to push a baby out that is in that position... although different birthing positions such as being on your hands and knees while pushing can help some)-----------------------------Emotional Meltdown: I think it is pretty common at any stage of pregnancy for a mother to feel overwhelmed, and out of control. There is a lot going on in a short amount of time, and as the weeks to delivery get closer, women tend to feel like they arent ready, or they wont know what to do, etc. The best thing you can do is try to set some time each day to be by yourself, or with your husband to just relax and unwind.----------------------------
-------------------------------When
is a pregnancy term: A pregnancy is considered "Preterm" before 37 weeks. 38-40 is "term", and 40-42 is "post term". A baby born before 37 weeks, but has mature pulmonary development is most of the time considered "preterm" rather than "premature". Premature infants are those in which the pulmonary systems have not reached maturity. --------------------------------I hope this helps.

Thanks MrsShelton, you really broke things down for me...I appreciate all the information. I understand it all a lot more now.

You are very welcome. I have nothing better to do... Im oh so busy laying in the hospital bed right now. Thank Goodness DH went and bought a matress topper for this bed, and brought my pillow, and body pillow from home. My bum was really beginning to get sore from sitting in the bed all day! LoL

I bet, I hate hospital beds...you would think they would make them more comfortable. So how are you doing so far? any news on the baby and the amino?

I had 2nd degree tear and stitches, but also got an infection, which was really painful. So i'd say it was a good 6-8 weeks before i felt better, and 8-10 before sex! That said, I was at the gym at 3 wks after and already lifting heavy things. But sitting was uncomfortable for a while.

How bad can you tear?

3rd degree tearing is the worse...

sorry I'll correct myself...there is 4th degree tearing to...gosh now that must be painful (from what I've read that lady couldn't sit for up 4 months pp)

Oh my, that is bad...that would hurt, I so hope i don't tear like that

i stopped aching after a week or two after delivering. i tore a little, though, and the stitches DID NOT fall out as quickly as they said they would. it took almost 5 weeks for them to fall out. i think the ladies already covered pretty much everything else you asked...