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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

But why can I not have a bath after a c section?

29 replies

readtoomuch · 22/08/2016 18:36

Apparently the wound gets infected. But it would just have water over it like it would in the shower? I could stand under the shower for an hour or sit in the bath for an hour with salts. Why is bath so much worse?

OP posts:
Hensintheskirting · 22/08/2016 18:39

I don't know - but might you struggle to get in and out of the bath after having had a c-section? What with the rather large incision through your stomach muscles?

Original poster
readtoomuch · 22/08/2016 18:40

I have my arms which are strong and handles on the bath which can pull me up!

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 22/08/2016 18:42

Don't even try to get in and out of the bath!

You are soaking in your own filth in a bath,showers are cleaner.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 22/08/2016 18:43

You are likely to do yourself damage pulling yourself out of the bath as you describe aftet having a section.

PamBagnallsGotACollage · 22/08/2016 18:43

I have had two c sections and wouldn't have wanted a bath after either. Image water runs over the wound in the shower. I guess bath water would be less clean once you'd been sitting in it for a while and the risk of infection would be higher than fresh water gently running over it.

Also, I have atrium arm muscles but without my stomach magicked to support them I found it really difficult to even sit up in bed for the first few days.

Laststop · 22/08/2016 18:43

I think your stomach muscles actually help a lot getting in and out the bath too , no matter how strong your arms are

PamBagnallsGotACollage · 22/08/2016 18:44

Image should read 'in a shower'

PamBagnallsGotACollage · 22/08/2016 18:44

Atrium?! Strong!

PamBagnallsGotACollage · 22/08/2016 18:44

And magicked=muscles.

Fat fingers

Sofabitch · 22/08/2016 18:45

Your skin has natural bacteria that are not a problem if they stay where they are. Particularly around the anus and vulva area.in a shower these will be washed down and will not likey come into contact with a fresh cut. Whereas in a bath these will enter te water and a chance they could get into the wound.

reallyanotherone · 22/08/2016 18:45

a) heat. you get hotter in a bath
b) immersion. you'll be fully immersed in a bath, probably longer than you would shower.
c)running water is cleaner. Sorry to all the bath advocates, I love baths myself, but by the end of the bath the water will be full of all the crap rather than washed away.

Just think of how your skin goes when you sit in a bath- soft, easily damaged, and wrinkly. It will affect healing. Add in heat which will affect the blood supply locally.

Also heat and immersion in water can drop your blood pressure. You don't want to be fainting getting out.

sentia · 22/08/2016 18:46

The stomach muscle thing makes sense. I'm 27 weeks pregnant with a previous muscle separation so my stomach muscles this pregnancy really aren't working and I do get stranded if I have a bath - DH has to help me out Blush...

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 22/08/2016 18:46

Don't do it! I tried. Got stuck in the bath, had to be lifted out and my postpartum bleeding got a lot worse.

CodyKing · 22/08/2016 18:46

Didn't know not too! I enjoyed several and still here to tell the tale!

GastonsPomPomWrath · 22/08/2016 18:49

A shower is fine because it's only running water over the wound.

Sitting in a bath soaking a wound makes the scar tissue soft and can reopen it.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 22/08/2016 18:51

Bloody hell, I struggled to walk to the shower and stand upright after my section!

IzzyIsBusy · 22/08/2016 18:51

You wiil regret a bath. The pain once the meds wear off can be a 10. Plus you are sitting in person soup with a decent sized wound.
Have a shower it is safer and cleaner.

ShatnersBassoon · 22/08/2016 18:56

Just take the advice, and don't do it. The reasons are many and pretty obvious.

Sparrowlegs248 · 22/08/2016 21:21

I had a c section last year. We don't have a shower. So I had a bath. I didn't soak for hours, I washed myself. Wound didn't open or get infected.

hopeful31yrs · 22/08/2016 23:20

the longer you are soaking in the bath the more porous the skin and allowing movement of bacteria (more likely in stagnant bath water). Running water is less risky - as a health care worker i tell people to shower with the dressing on (usually a non porous one is given from the hospital) which helps to get the dressing off comfortably and then to replace after shower. Don't ever soak a wound before its healed over (10-12 days),

Sparrowlegs248 · 23/08/2016 06:16

I agree a shower is better, and easier. But if you haven't got one, you still need to have a proper wash.

LyndaNotLinda · 23/08/2016 06:23

It doesn't matter how strong your arms are, without working stomach muscles, it's very hard to pull yourself up

trilbydoll · 23/08/2016 06:29

You can, but you can't soak for an hour. You're unlikely to be able to stand in the shower for an hour as well! It's only the first few days, by the end of the first week it'll probably be okay, but you shouldn't soak the wound for ages initially. Give it a chance to heal.

Me624 · 23/08/2016 15:40

😂 at the idea of taking an hour long bath OR shower with a newborn

PotteringAlong · 23/08/2016 15:44

Your arms aren't strong enough to pull you out of the bath without using your stomach muscles!