Suite 110, 1st Floor, Melomed Mitchells Plain Hospital

021 110 5064 076 305 2805 dr@drmakanda.co.za

Childbirth

However many antenatal visits you have had, the birth itself can still feel hard to picture. Dr Malonda Makanda works with you through the final weeks of pregnancy to plan your delivery, whether that is a vaginal birth or a caesarean section, while leaving room for the plan to change if your baby has other ideas.

New mother resting with her sleeping newborn in a hospital bed

How Is The Type Of Birth Decided?

A vaginal birth is possible and appropriate for most women. A caesarean section may be recommended when your baby is lying bottom-first, or the placenta is covering the cervix. Some caesareans are planned, while others become necessary during labour.

You are welcome to share your own preferences. After a previous caesarean, a vaginal birth may still be possible, depending on why the first one was needed.

What Happens During A Vaginal Birth?

Labour usually begins with contractions that gradually grow stronger and closer together. In early labour, the cervix slowly opens. Once it reaches 10 cm, the pushing stage begins, which can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours. After your baby is born, the placenta follows, usually within half an hour.

Pain relief is worth discussing well before your due date. Options include:

  • An epidural, placed by an anaesthetist, which numbs the lower body
  • Inhaled gas, which takes the edge off contractions where the hospital offers it
  • Injected pain relief, which can help in earlier labour
  • Breathing techniques and changing position as labour progresses

Small tears are common and are stitched under local anaesthetic.

What Should You Expect From A Caesarean Section?

A caesarean is an operation to deliver your baby through an incision low on the abdomen. Most are done under spinal anaesthesia, so you are awake but pain-free, and your partner can usually be with you. The operation takes around an hour, although your baby is usually born within the first ten minutes.

How Long Does Recovery Take?

After a vaginal birth, most women go home after a day or two. After a caesarean, the hospital stay is usually around three days. Full recovery from a caesarean takes about six weeks, with no heavy lifting during that time. Bleeding after birth can continue for several weeks after your baby is born.

A postnatal check at around six weeks is a chance to review your recovery and talk through reproductive wellness. Low mood after birth is common and worth mentioning. Any leaking or pelvic heaviness after delivery can be assessed through urogynaecology.

Birth planning begins during antenatal care, and high-risk monitoring may shape those decisions. To start planning, contact Dr Makanda's rooms.

Obstetric and gynaecological care at Melomed Mitchells Plain in Cape Town, from planning a pregnancy to managing the concerns that come later in life.

Book Your Consultation