In a typical vaginal delivery, you'll experience all the early stages of labour. The amniotic sac, which is a fluid-filled membrane cocooning your baby in the womb, may burst first. The clear, odourless liquid that comes out is described as your 'water breaking'
Alternatively, you may experience vaginal bleeding first, which is usually accompanied with a mucus-like vaginal discharge.
You may first begin to experience contractions – intermittent tightening and releasing of your uterus, which may feel like heavy cramping or pressure moving from your back to front.
Your cervix, the tube which connects your uterus to the vagina, will also begin to dilate (open). 'True' labour technically begins when you experience one contraction every 2 to 3 minutes, and when your cervix is 3cm dilated or more.
Eventually, when the cervix has dilated enough, your baby will pass into the birth canal. You will likely feel a burning sensation and intense pressure as you push. You can opt for an epidural (for pain relief during labour) if you want to reduce the level of pain.
Once the baby's head has emerged, your doctor or nurse may remove the amniotic fluid out of the baby's mouth and nose so they can breathe properly before you resume pushing.
After your baby has arrived (yay!), you will need to deliver the placenta, the organ that developed during pregnancy, to help nourish your baby in the uterus. Sometimes this happens spontaneously, and sometimes your doctor may need to rub your abdomen to help detach it.
You should be able to plan for vaginal childbirth unless your doctor advises against it. This sometimes happens if you have a pre-existing health condition such as high blood pressure as it could lead to complications during the birth.
There's also the chance your birth plan will change unexpectedly. With vaginal childbirth, your baby will ideally be in the right position (head first, with face turned towards your back) before entering the birth canal. But of course, it's not always as easy as that! There's a chance your baby will be facing the wrong way, or pushing against the canal bottom first. If your doctor can't redirect your baby’s position, they may have to perform an unplanned caesarean section to help ensure a safe delivery.
Vaginal childbirth is often a long and exhausting process. But on the upside, it usually leads to a shorter hospital stay and shorter recovery time than with a C-section. For a vaginal birth, you would typically stay at the hospital for 24 – 48 hours. The hospital stay for a C-section can be up to 4 days.
It's very common to experience tears in your vagina after giving birth vaginally. In most cases, these tears are minor and can easily be repaired, but occasionally they can lead to weaker pelvic muscles and problems with bowel or urinary incontinence. Speak to your doctor if you have concerns about the risks of vaginal delivery.
Reference: Mount Elizabeth Hospital
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