vaginal birth

If you think condoms only have one purpose, you are sorely (and I mean sorely) mistaken. One of the "treats" that the nurses quickly introduced me to in the maternity ward after delivering my baby was the genius ice diaper. An instant pain reliever, not every new mother is lucky enough to receive such pampered treatment. For those who have swollen and bruised nether regions post delivery, I've got another secret.

A friend of mine was tipped off from a mother, who also happens to be a doctor, to fill a condom with water and freeze it. When the discomfort kicks in, take the vaginal popsicle out of the ice box and lay it length wise in your undies to give your girly parts some relief. To keep you dry, use a feminine napkin to catch the ice's perspiration.

Source

I read an article in the New York Times that says women who gave birth via cesarean were less likely to have more children than those who delivered vaginally. The article quoted a study from the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology:

Women who underwent C-section to have their first baby were 12 percent less likely to have another child than women who gave birth vaginally.

To finish the piece, read more

C-sections have been on the rise with many moms-to-be opting to schedule their deliveries, but if these women are planning on broadening their brood — they might want to think again.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005, 30.2 percent of all live births in the United States were cesarean deliveries.

A new study conducted at Case Western Reserve University suggests that women who have one vaginal birth after a c-section, also know as a VBAC, may be more successful in having subsequent deliveries without going under the knife. To see what the study found, read more