Previous reports have suggested that delivery is associated with the induction of inflammatory cytokines. The present study was designed to investigate whether increased cytokine production was present on postpartum day 3 after a normal pregnancy and whether any changes were associated with the mode of delivery. In total, 33 pregnant women were enrolled; 18 delivered vaginally and 15 underwent an elective caesarean section (C-section). The levels of 17 cytokines and growth hormones were measured at the beginning of delivery or before anaesthesia and on postpartum day 3. While interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels decreased significantly postpartum, other cytokine concentrations were comparable before and after delivery. Only IL-7 levels were significantly increased in the C-section patients compared with the vaginal birth patients postpartum. In conclusion, there was no risk of a prolonged maternal inflammatory reaction after an uncomplicated vaginal birth or elective C-section, so it is probably not necessary to consider this as an issue when making a decision on the mode of delivery following uncomplicated pregnancy.