When can I bath re birth recovery?

[sweets1982]

Does anyone know when you can bath re salt bath to help with post birth recovery?

Had a forceps delivery Wednesday and so so so sore x

Hi I has a 3rd degree tear so I had to wait 2 weeks. But I think normal time is 1 week. Congratulations op.💕

@Kittycaz I had.m an episiotomy so maybe the same time frame

Don't want to do anything that will hinder healing

X

Blimey, things have changed. I gave birth in 1999 and the midwife ran me a bath afterwards. They also made me tea and toast.

I had my first in 2012 and had a salt bath the day after labour to help with healing!!

if you do have one make it quick and then air dry with a towel under you on the bed, getting air to your stitches will help them heal. I used very watered down tea tree in a squirty bottle when I went to the loo to help too.

I was told I could use the bath at the hospital just hours afterwards! It was absolute bliss, it wasn't a salt one though, that sounds a bit sore in itself.

Same here!

Congratulations on your baby OP. You must be in a huge amount of pain - my first labour was similar to yours with forceps and I remember it vividly. My advice to you:

• do as little as possible and stay laying down in bed to relieve pressure on stitches
• definitely lots of baths - I ran a not-too-hot bath and added lavender and tea tree oils to a dash of milk (to act as a carrier, otherwise oils just sit on top of water) and a handful of Epsom salts. Laid on bed afterwards and air dry
• Buy some Spritz for Bits - honestly helped lots and lovely and cooling
• sani pad in freezer or fridge and sprayed with spritz for bits - pop in knickers for some relief
• lean right forward on loo when doing wees so urine doesn’t touch stitches. Lots of fruit & veg plus Lactulose and water so poos aren’t painful!!
• if sitting is uncomfortable look at borrowing a valley cushion (can rent from NCT I think or they have a website)

wishing you a good recovery and sending love and sympathy!

Mine was only 2018 so not all that long ago. Loved the tea and toast and jam too!

@sweets1982 oh bless you thats painful. I understand I was same I was very cautious, I'm 11 weeks post partum atm and I'm still sore down there and stitches. But I had to go to theatre after birth as my tear was through to my bum and internal as I had a huge DS and fast delivery, enjoy your time with your little one. The pain is very much worth it.

I'm pretty sure you can sitz bath straight away? I had a forceps/episiotomy with my first and was doing it daily to help with healing and infection - best to check with your midwife thought if your unsure rather than taking our advise x

I think a bath is fine so long as you don't use soap and such.
Unless the issue is getting in, sometimes advice is to keep legs together at all times, but you should be able to sit on the edge and swing them in together.

Yes, "rebirthing" worked for us. I swear by it. I even use it in daily life. Water is amazing. Try it. It helped erase my daughter's birth trauma and helped her get a latch.

I was encouraged to have a bath within a day or two after ds was born (mid-cavity forceps with an episiotomy and small tear, so also had stitches) in 2000.

Forgot - I was also encouraged to put lavender oil in the baths to help with healing.