This is a difficult question to answer as it varies significantly from person to person. Depending on what kind of birth you have will determine a lot about your recovery.
This is not just about Vaginal Birth vs C-Section but also about the kind of pregnancy & birth you had. Some examples include:
- A straight forward pregnancy vs a complicated one that could include prolonged bed rest
- Did the birth go smoothly and to plan?
- Was the birth premature?
- Did you feel prepared for what happened during the birth?
- Was it complicated – ie a bad tear / a traumatic emergency c-section/ baby complications.
To make it easier we will take an average timeline that most women follow.
For most women who have had a straightforward pregnancy in which they kept active and an uncomplicated vaginal birth with a smaller tear (grade I/II) and/or episiotomy or a planned or uncomplicated C Section with no postpartum complications; we can generally say that by 6 weeks they are able to start returning to more intense activities. It is important to note that the individual has to be accounted for, so we always strongly recommend seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist to assess you and determine whether you are safe to resume all of your normal activities.
