Having a bath after birth

[tertle]

I have been told by midwives that I shouldn't have a bath until six weeks after birth due to risk of infection. Very disappointed about this as I love having a relaxing bath!

However I wonder if this is common practice as keep seeing advice about putting lavender oil in baths after birth or bathing with a newborn (which I really like the idea of).

What are your experiences? Thank you!

Good grief! I'm a midwife and i tell women to do whatever keeps them clean and comfortable (some people hate baths). The only time I discourage baths is with a non-healing caesarean wound.

Advice if wanted
: adding salt makes no difference, but do it if you want
: I feel the same about essential oils but they smell nice
: drying perineum or cs scar, use kitchen roll.

Thanks mayhew

Ohhhhh, the best bath I ever had was just after having DD2 . I was still in the delivery suite at that point. The midwife ran the bath, and I lay soaking, lights dim, chatting to the auxiliary nurse as she tidied up and brought in tea and toast.....

Well, with DS 2 I had wanted a water birth but they had barely turned the taps on before he popped out. So they left them running and then when I'd delivered the placenta and he'd had a feed they actively encouraged me to get in the birthing pool and have, effectively, a very big bath. It was absolutely bloody lovely.