Postpartum bath, hemorrhoids and bath seat ASP0101
Postpartum bath
A postpartum bath is a woman's immersion of the pelvic area, including the external genitalia, in warm or cold water to relieve vaginal and perineal pain after childbirth, speed up recovery, and prevent inflammation and infection, by using a sitz bath or bathtub.
A purchased bathtub or sitz bath is filled with water and the area is immersed for 10-15 minutes at a time, up to 4 times a day. It is worth noting that some healthcare providers may recommend adding some ingredients to the water, such as: Epsom salt, sodium bicarbonate, or some medications or herbs.
Benefits of postpartum bath
The postpartum bath offers many benefits, the most important of which are:
1. Cleaning the genital area
The skin in the genital area may be sensitive for a few weeks after giving birth, so using tissues to clean the area may cause pain and discomfort. Because the bleeding will remain after giving birth for 4-6 weeks, the woman needs to keep the area clean, especially the stitch area. Therefore, a postpartum bath helps to gently clean the area instead of tissues.
2. Soothe the perineum and vulva.
After childbirth, the perineum and vulva can become swollen and sore, so a warm postpartum bath may help relieve pain, soothe the skin, and relax the perineal muscles. However, it is worth noting that some older research has suggested that a cold postpartum bath may be more effective for perineal care.
3. Soothe postpartum contractions
Women suffer from uterine contractions after childbirth, as the uterus shrinks and contracts to return to its size before pregnancy. Therefore, many women may feel contractions, especially during breastfeeding, and the postpartum bath may help relieve and calm the contractions.
4. Accelerate the recovery of the vagina, perineum and vulva.
The postpartum bath increases blood flow to the perineum, which reduces swelling and inflammation and speeds up recovery. The bath also relieves the itching that accompanies birth stitches and reduces pain in the area.
5. Relieve pain associated with hemorrhoids
Many women develop hemorrhoids after childbirth due to constipation or because the baby is pushing, causing a vein in the rectum to swell and cause pain, itching, and sometimes bleeding. A postpartum bath helps relieve pain and itching and keep the area clean.
6. Soothe anal fissure
Many women develop anal fissures after childbirth due to tearing of the skin in the anus, and a postpartum bath helps relieve the pain.
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