When the muscles of the uterus contract and the baby's weight puts pressure on the cervix, painful cramps develop in the back, groin and abdomen. Women who opt for a vaginal delivery with no pain medication experience varying levels of discomfort, according to KidsHealth.org. In some cases, the pain of delivery feels like the monthly cramps of a period; in others, women undergoing a natural delivery report severe pressure and excruciating cramping. Pain is not the only outcome of vaginal delivery; women who deliver naturally may experience other problems, too.
Vaginal Tearing or Episiotomy
Tearing of the skin between the vagina and anus is a risk associated with natural delivery. Women who have babies with large heads and shoulders, who have babies in the feet- or bottom-first position or who have other delivery problems are more likely to experience skin tearing, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. A doctor can make a small cut in the skin, called an episiotomy, if the baby requires a quick delivery. However, though episiotomies were once routine, doctors try to avoid them now because of evidence that they increase the risk of severe tearing, interfere with sexual functioning and contribute to bowel problems during the postpartum period. Women heal faster when they tear naturally, compared to when they receive an episiotomy, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Hemorrhoids
Women who push during natural labor can develop hemorrhoids, a protrusion of swollen veins in the anal area. Hemorrhoids can itch, bleed and cause pain during bowel movements, according to BabyCenter.com. Hemorrhoids that develop during pregnancy and labor tend to resolve shortly after you give birth, but if they persist, apply ice packs or soak your rectal area in a warm bath to relieve pain. Lying down can take the pressure off of the swollen veins, but try to avoid sitting for long periods of time, which can exacerbate hemorrhoids.
Incontinence
During a natural delivery, the muscles of your pelvis and lower body stretch to accommodate your baby's travel through the birth canal, and this stretching, coupled with a prolonged labor, can make it difficult to control the muscles that regulate urinary and bladder continence. After a natural delivery, you may unexpectedly urinate when you laugh or cough, but this problem usually goes away within 3 months, according to MayoClinic.com. Nerve and muscle damage due to labor can also interfere with bowel control, causing stool leakage. Regular exercise and a diet filled with fiber-rich foods can relieve symptoms of fecal incontinence due to childbirth, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders suggests.
