Tired and disinterested. For women who were given a narcotic injection (such as Pethidine) within a couple of hours before the birth, they may feel tired, lethargic or even 'doped out' to a degree and totally disinterested in the events happening around them or their new baby. They may need to sleep for a couple of hours to allow the drug to wear off completely. Your partner or support person can hold your baby as you rest or sleep.
Feeling like you need a shower. Birth is not a neat and tidy process and many women are keen to shower and freshen up once they are feeling able to get up. Your caregiver will often change the sheets, removing any wet and soiled linen and make you as comfortable as possible until you are ready to shower. It can be great to freshen up, change your clothes and clean your teeth after the birth and feel a little 'human' again.
If you had your baby at home, ask your partner or support person to put fresh clean sheets on your bed. It feels wonderful getting into clean bedding after a shower with your new baby and partner.
Shivery and shaky. It is not uncommon for the woman to get 'the shakes' or to shiver after she gives birth. It is a normal physical response to the energy needed to have your baby. The woman may benefit from a warm blanket (most delivery suites and birth centres have a linen warmer for this purpose, as well as warm bunny rugs for the baby) and making sure all the wet linen is removed from under her, having a warm drink and something to eat. If you are in the bath or shower, getting out and being dry and warm will help. Some people will use the homoeopathic remedies such as Rescue Remedy or Emergency Essence.
Getting sensation back. If the woman has had an epidural then it may take an hour or more to get the full sensation back into her lower body. Some women will feel like they have their full sensation but their legs still feel 'heavy'. This means the anaesthetic is still working.