Regeneration campaign - intimate hygiene after childbirth

But wait a minute – what exactly needs to regenerate?

The return of the reproductive tract to its pre-birth state is possible thanks to the reconstruction of the uterine lining. It cleanses itself by expelling the remains of fetal tissue and membranes along with blood, which exit through the vagina as postpartum feces. Immediately after delivery, the discharge resembles menstrual bleeding, in the following days it becomes brownish-red, then yellowish, and finally mucous. Spotting can occur for up to six weeks, which is usually how long the postpartum period itself lasts (although this is actually an individual matter for each of us).

It is true that the size and mass of our uterus change significantly during pregnancy – just before delivery, its length is about 30 cm, and the width of the bottom is 25 cm, while its mass increases 20 times, reaching a weight of about one kilogram. However, when the baby emerges from the body, the perineum stretches beyond its usual limits. Therefore, for many of us, the postpartum period is also a time of healing wounds in the form of tears or surgical incisions of the perineum. However, it is worth noting that we can feel pain and discomfort in these places regardless of the occurrence of wounds. And, importantly, regardless of whether we gave birth naturally or had a caesarean section. At this point, let's get to the point and find out how to relieve this pain and how to take care of intimate hygiene after childbirth.

Washing and bathing

Clean your perineum after each visit to the toilet. Boiled water with an antiseptic or a mild intimate hygiene fluid will work well for washing, preferably one with added hyaluronic acid, which eliminates vaginal dryness . Do this carefully, moving from front to back (from the pubic mound towards the anus), so as not to transfer fecal bacteria to the healing area. Of course, you should wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet.

Also read our article about intimate hygiene fluids - are they worth using ?

During the postpartum period, it is good to take sitz baths, which effectively relieve perineal pain, as well as itching caused by hemorrhoids (a postpartum symptom that some of us can expect). Doctor William Droegemueller wrote extensively about the beneficial sitz baths in the 1980s, and in 2017 , Jennifer O'Fahey, who works at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, discussed them. And what do the baths look like in practice? They can be done in a bathtub, a bowl or in a special set placed on the toilet. It is important that you can immerse your body up to your hips in warm water for about 15-20 minutes. Clean water alone should be enough, but it is worth trying a decoction bath, i.e. water with the addition of (and here the choice is wide, and it all depends on your skin and history of changes): chamomile, oak bark, a few drops of tea tree oil, a pinch of potassium permanganate, or with the addition of comfrey leaf (a somewhat forgotten medicinal plant, which I read about in a very interesting book by Susun S. Weed). Sit baths can be done several times a day, but the aforementioned book recommends one such bath per day in the case of stitches in the perineum.

Drying and airing

Both after washing and after sitting baths, the perineum should be thoroughly dried with a disposable paper towel. Moisture promotes the accumulation of bacteria - and nothing works as well on a healing wound in an intimate place as airing. Therefore, during the postpartum period, the dryer does not have to be used only for drying hair :) If the perineum is more humid, from time to time direct slightly warm air from the dryer at it - this is an idea proposed by experts from the Academy of Childbirth .

Postpartum hygiene also includes appropriate clothing. During the postpartum period, try to wear dresses, shirts (oversized shirts of your loved one?), or loose, soft, cotton pants. Your crotch needs a lot of oxygen during this time to heal as quickly as possible! Wear slightly too large, cotton or mesh panties (the kind that are usually given in hospitals) and change them often. In between using pads, which I will discuss in a moment, it is best not to wear underwear at all :) Let your vagina also regenerate in the most natural way. So after visiting the toilet, lie down on the bed without panties and additionally, e.g. on a towel, with your legs spread apart. And just lie there and lie there. There will also be a subchapter about lying down.

The best skill of a home nurse, i.e. DIY sanitary pad

When writing this article, I wanted to get some information outside of reliable Internet or book sources. That's why I contacted my friend Kari, for whom postpartum hygiene is a topic she takes up every day. Kari lives in the United States, where she works as a doula and midwife. It was from her that I first learned about pads, which bring incredible relief to intimate areas. Later, I wanted to read about this method on the Internet and it turned out that most women cannot imagine postpartum without these pads and call them "heaven-sent".

The foundation of this successful experiment is a regular pad. The best choice is a larger and more absorbent one, made of organic cotton. Now it's time for the "mixture". Spray the pad with witch hazel hydrolate and soak it in aloe vera gel in a 2:1 ratio. You can optionally add a few drops of lavender oil, but it depends on the condition of your skin (it can irritate too sensitive skin, it can cause allergies to other skin, so it's worth applying the oil to another part of your body to test it). A few more words about the effects of these ingredients:

• witch hazel – in my opinion the name of this shrub species sounds very mysterious and inviting :) What are its properties? Witch hazel has a strong antioxidant effect (removes excess free radicals), antibacterial, astringent and soothing – it definitely accelerates the healing of irritated skin
• aloe – a real wealth of vitamins and minerals. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, its extract soothes, cools and moisturizes the skin well. When making a pad, it is best to use either aloe intended for medical purposes or use your own fresh plant, if you have it at home (we remove the green skin from several leaves, extracting a little gel)
• Lavender oil – relieves pain and itching, has an antiseptic effect. However, it is known that one of the ingredients of the oil, eucalyptol, is neurotoxic and passes into breast milk, so it is recommended to use this product in moderation

Okay! So we fold the appropriately soaked pad, seal it in a ziplock bag (preferably with the words “relief for mom”) and put it in the freezer. We use the cooled pad as needed, although it is best to change it every 3-4 hours or after each visit to the toilet after washing and drying the perineum.

In describing this simple process, I drew information primarily from a conversation with Karin, which I also found confirmation of in an article on an American health portal that has been building trust for many years through credible, evidence-based content. The "recipe" for the pad in the form of both content and a recording can also be found in the link that Karin sent me.

Oh, and one more important thing. Remember that during the postpartum period, you can't use tampons or menstrual cups. After birth, there's a big wound in our uterus that needs to heal. Besides, if we put any of these hygiene products into the vagina, we'd be retaining postpartum feces, which could lead to an infection of the intimate area.

On the bed, by the bed or… near the bed

Karin repeated this sentence several times in conversation with me. At least in the first few days after giving birth, you should lie down as much as possible, for good hygiene of both your body and mind. Karin recalled how a week after giving birth she bought herself a new car, which she immediately wanted to drive. She laughed at herself, knowing today how crazy and irresponsible the idea was. Postpartum regeneration is essential. Although perhaps not in such an extreme form as in the case of zuo yue zi – a Chinese postpartum method, known for thousands of years and still popular in some countries of East and Southeast Asia. Zuo yue zi literally means: sitting for a month. A young mother who uses this method limits movement to a minimum, staying exclusively in bed. However, lying down non-stop for 30 days is not recommended during this time by most doctors. Movement improves blood circulation, thanks to which perineal wounds, or those after a caesarean section, heal quickly. It also prevents the development of thrombotic disease, which we are exposed to after childbirth. It can also be done this way: for the first week of the postpartum period, you are in bed, by the bed and close to the bed. In the following weeks, however, you gradually, I repeat, gradually increase your physical activity, e.g. through walks or safe postpartum exercises.

PS If you would like to read more about the alternative Chinese postpartum method, click here .

And back to water – drink a lot

It happens that during the postpartum period we do not feel the frequent need to empty the bladder, which expands a little after delivery. In addition, most young mothers sweat excessively, which is a completely normal symptom - the body gets rid of fluids accumulated during pregnancy. Be sure to drink a lot, even up to 3 liters a day! This will help you remove excess fluids from the body even faster, which will also translate into reduced sweating. And an equally important issue - hydration is one of the basic conditions for successful lactation, i.e. the process of producing milk by the mammary glands.

Are nipples an intimate place? No matter how you talk about them, a few words in conclusion about nipple hygiene during the postpartum period

On the topic of perineal hygiene, I mentioned that airing is important. The same applies to nipples. After each feeding, try to air your breasts (unless you are in a public place and may feel uncomfortable :)). A good idea is to use special breast shells, which allow air to circulate and speed up the healing of any wounds. Additionally, they collect excess milk from the nipples, which prevents them from cracking. You can wash your nipples with clean, boiled water, and if they do get injured, lubricate them with lanolin ointment (the nipples should be thoroughly cleaned of it before each feeding). If you want to decide on such an ointment, consult your midwife or pharmacist in advance. And of course, remember to wear breathable, cotton underwear.

Phew, that's it. Reading this text, it may seem that intimate hygiene after childbirth is quite a challenge. However, let's remember that the postpartum period is a stage in our lives in which we naturally have a lot of time for care and regeneration. It is also the first stage of life together with our child, for whom we want to take care as best we can. Let's approach ourselves with equal care, taking care of the hygiene of the body and, thanks to that, also of the hygiene of the mind.

Droegemueller W., Cold Sitz Baths For Relief Of Postpartum Perineal Pain [in:] Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology (1980).
Fahey J. O, Best Practices in Management of Postpartum Pain [in:] The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing 31(2), Wolters Kluwer, 2017.
Weed SS, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year , Ash Tree Publishing, Woodstock, NY 1996.
Pisarski T., Skrzypczak J., Changes during pregnancy in a woman's body [in:] Obstetrics and gynecology, (ed.) T. Pisarski, PZWL, Warsaw 1993.
Sendecka A., We are learning to breastfeed , District Chamber of Nurses and Midwives in Lublin, Lublin 1995.