In a separate report, though, the researchers did find one disadvantage to having a cesarean: If you deliver by that route, you may be nearly twice as likely to require re-hospitalization within the next two months as women who deliver vaginally without the help of forceps or vacuum extraction. Once again, the overall risk appears to be exceedingly low. Just over one percent of the more than 250,000 women in the study had to go back into the hospital within two months of delivering their babies. Common reasons for re-hospitalization were uterine infections, wound complications, and blood clots. Chances are excellent that you won't need to be re-hospitalized after having a C-section, but you probably won't return to your normal activities as quickly as you would after a vaginal delivery. The University of Washington researchers found that about two-thirds of first-time moms who had a spontaneous -- no forceps or vacuum extraction -- vaginal delivery said they could perform vigorous activities such as running, lifting heavy objects, and participating in strenuous sports by seven weeks after giving birth. Just under half of the women who delivered by C-section felt the same way. Interestingly, normal household tasks seemed to be more of a challenge than pumping iron or sweating it out on the track or tennis court: Only half of the women who had unassisted vaginal deliveries and a third of those who had C-sections said they could do routine chores around the house without difficulty. Hmmm. Either this finding illustrates the psychological component of recovery, or the women's homes must have really been a mess.

Chances are excellent that you won't need to be re-hospitalized after having a C-section, but you probably won't return to your normal activities as quickly as you would after a vaginal delivery. The University of Washington researchers found that about two-thirds of first-time moms who had a spontaneous -- no forceps or vacuum extraction -- vaginal delivery said they could perform vigorous activities such as running, lifting heavy objects, and participating in strenuous sports by 7 weeks after giving birth. Just under half of the women who delivered by C-section felt the same way. Interestingly, normal household tasks seemed to be more of a challenge than pumping iron or sweating it out on the track or tennis court: Only half of the women who had unassisted vaginal deliveries and a third of those who had C-sections said they could do routine chores around the house without difficulty. Hmmm. Either this finding illustrates the psychological component of recovery, or the women's homes must have really been a mess.