Not all women are equal. I have seen women who gave birth just a couple of weeks before, thriving & bursting of energy in the workplace.
I think a child would benefit the most from an involved male and a female figure in their lives, but even one is better than none.
In other words, ideally that should read "and a father" ;)
(C-sections are somewhat more predictable on the physical recovery side...but do not lack for issues of their own.)