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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

When are you able to bath?

23 replies

Sar1520 · 10/12/2019 01:36

Hi guys

Just wondering as on my first I hadn't moved into our new home straight away so had time to heal but when do they recommend you to bath, I haven't had any stitches just your little graze, only wondering as I love a bath but with all the pains down below and severe back pain dying to get in there! Any ideas?

OP posts:

Bluerussian · 10/12/2019 03:38

Are you talking about after giving birth? I bathed within a few hours, it was really nice too.

Snozzlemaid · 10/12/2019 03:42

I had a bath at the hospital right after the birth so I don't think you need to wait.

Mybobowler · 10/12/2019 04:18

I also had one in hospital the following day. A midwife ran it for me and added essential oils - it was honestly the best bath I've had in my life. Enjoy!

Honeybee85 · 10/12/2019 04:25

I always thought you couldn’t bathe until the wound where the placenta sat was healed, due to infection risk.

I love baths but didn’t dare to take one until I had stopped bleeding for at least a week!

PhoenixBuchanan · 10/12/2019 06:05

You can bathe straightaway

Original poster

Sar1520 · 10/12/2019 11:40

Thanks all, that's what I was confused if I googled it, it's like 6 weeks this long when your healed etc, but it's nice to hear another mother's advice with it, why I was confused definitely getting the candles and bubble bath out this evening for sure! Especially with the horrid weather outside (where I am anyway haha)

OP posts:

Anoisagusaris · 10/12/2019 11:43

They encourage it in hospital.

Honeybee85 · 10/12/2019 11:58

I wish this thread had been posted a few months ago 😔.

I always learned it was dangerous and I have never longed so much for a nice warm bath with my favorite bath salts then during those first weeks after birth.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 10/12/2019 12:04

I had a 2nd degree tear and was told to have a bath twice a day to help dissolve the stitches and keep everything clean.

I hate baths.

bumpertobumper · 10/12/2019 12:25

I always had nice baths straight away with plenty of regular table salt to keep everything clean and prevent infections.

LoisLittsLover · 10/12/2019 12:27

I showered straight away and then had a bath the following day

BeyondVotesForFlube · 10/12/2019 12:27

Yep baths the same day as birth and daily for me, until my lochia stopped. With lots of table salt

PhilomenaChristmasPie · 10/12/2019 12:28

Yep, straight away! Run yourself a lovely bath with bubbles.

BertieBotts · 10/12/2019 12:31

It seems to be considered dangerous in other countries, I had no idea! I was not encouraged to bath in Germany - one midwife even told me it would give me mastitis they don't have baths on the postnatal wards, just showers.

But in the UK it is standard to be offered a bath immediately after birth in some cases. Which, as the NHS is big on evidence base practive, I take to mean that the infection risk is negligible.

PhilomenaChristmasPie · 10/12/2019 12:31

I'm very envious of those who managed to have a bath straight away, DD couldn't suck, so was screaming for food constantly, I couldn't go for a piss for 4 hours!

Honeybee85 · 10/12/2019 12:33

I wasn’t even allowed to shower right after birth!!!
I was so angry, they said it could cause infection so I had to wait 24 hours!

I insisted that the nurse gave me a bed bath so she wiped me with some tissues so that at least the blood was gone off me but I have never felt so dirty in my life. Looking back I should have said yes and amen and just have gone into the shower as soon as I was alone in my room.

This was not in the UK btw.

Randomdogbite · 10/12/2019 12:35

Someone suggested I have my first wee post birth in the bath as I’m getting out stopped any stinging!

snowybaubles · 10/12/2019 12:36

Salt baths here right from day 1

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 10/12/2019 12:44

I had a bath within 30mins of being stitched after birth, a lovely, deep tiled affair with an HCA (a sister of a good friend) had a lovely natter, cup of tea & shoulder massage! (I think it was because I was the only lady in the delivery suites that night, it definitely wasn’t a private hospital!).

I was encouraged to have a bath a day, with salt added if I remember correctly (it was 25ish years ago!) & to start pulling out the external dissolvable stitches after 10 days. I did have over 50 stitches though - episiotomy on that one & 3rd degree tear on my first, so it was like making a purse out of a sow’s ear to be honest.

If you have stitches, my Mum taught me a fab tip - slather Nivea or Sudocreme onto the biggest, deepest sanitary towel you can find (so your stitches can sink into it), & pop it into the freezer for 15mins to chill (in a bag obviously, not loose between the petit pois). Bliss!

bobstersmum · 10/12/2019 13:24

I bathed every day and twice a day after having my three! I had second degree tears each time. Put salt in the bath it really helps.

hammeringinmyhead · 10/12/2019 16:15

I was chucked in the bath before I left the delivery room! Hormone drip still connected.

GrumpyHoonMain · 10/12/2019 16:18

I was told you do need to wait a bit longer if you have grazes and unstitched tears than stitches. I was encouraged to bathe with my episotomy but the lady next to me was full of first degree tears and grazes and was advised to wait 6 weeks.

Suggest you ask your midwife or health visitor for their opinion.

Mintjulia · 10/12/2019 16:21

Midwife helped me into bath as soon as I woke up - I had a tough vb.

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