If you’re noticing it, it’s not only possible, but probable.
This — like your bigger feet — is caused by the effects of the hormone relaxin. Relaxin’s job is to help loosen your ligaments (bone-to-bone connectors) so your rib cage can expand as your baby grows, and your hips can stretch as needed to birth your baby.
Late in pregnancy, you may have noticed that your baby was taking up valuable real estate under your ribs, thereby making the rib bones spread. Your chest will probably be pretty sore as it happens — not to mention baby’s kicks in that region can be quite painful. (Sometimes you will have a sore spot for years. No joke.)
And it’s not only the little one pushing the rib cage out: …
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Yeah, right. You wish.
Unless you have some sort of medical condition that occasionally renders you completely unconscious, only under the influence of some pretty major drugs — i.e. anesthesia — will you manage not to wake up in time for your baby’s birth.
So sure, you might sleep through early labor, and you might even be so exhausted at some point as to drop off between even the hardest contractions. But labor involves your whole body in one way or another, and it’s just not something you’re going to just not notice, even if you’re feeling really sleepy.
So don’t stress yourself out thinking you might miss all the excitement or that you’ll wake up one morning with a wee little baby in your bed. Use this time to chill out! (Find out more reasons to get good rest late in pregnancy here.)
Most caregivers recommend around six weeks recovery time after a vaginal birth, which is more or less the same for a cesarean delivery. In both instances, the uterus needs to get back to its postpartum size; and no matter your baby’s exit route, there’s some skin and muscle that needs to heal.
One Pregnancy & Baby expert tells us, “I evaluate my cesarean section patients one week and four weeks after delivery. Typically, by four weeks, most women can resume nearly normal activity, including sexual intercourse.” (Read more in Resuming sex after cesarean.) In addition, the ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) states the following:
Most women will need about 4 to 6 weeks after delivery to heal. Women who have had a cesarean delivery may take a little longer to heal before their ob-gyn gives the green light for sexual activity. It is fine to resume sex after the cervix has closed (usually around 4 weeks after delivery) and as soon as intercourse is comfortable, but the healing process should be complete to avoid hurting fragile tissues. Some women, however, may find that they don’t have much interest in sex after giving birth due to fatigue, stress, fear of pain, lack of opportunity and/or lack of desire. This is usually temporary, though.
So, basically, if your caregiver signs off on it after an exam and you feel ready to give it a go, enjoy. Yes, it will feel a little different — but that’s a topic for another article! (Just be sure to use plenty of lubricant and take it nice and slow.)
Other articles that may be of interest: Sex too soon? | Lacking libido | 8 weeks postpartum and still not ready
