how soon after delivery can you have a bath?

[Gemzooks]

had DD at home in birthing pool on Sunday morning, everything fine, have minor grazes and normal blood loss. midwife says no bath for 4 weeks, because 'risk of infection' but I don't think this can be right (I'm in Holland so they have different ideas). But I'm dying to have a nice soak in the bath? can anyone advise?

mine sent me for a bath about an hour after - I had a shower instead as I prefer them.

I had a shower almost immediately and a bath about 36 hours later.

4 weeks - blimey, you stinky mare

You should be fine unless you will be peeing and pooing in the bath.

eh? 4 weeks? I wandered off for a bath as soon as I could waddle down the hall. Grazes might sting if you use lots of bubbles though!

eh? 4 weeks? I wandered off for a bath as soon as I could waddle down the hall. Grazes might sting if you use lots of bubbles though!

I had a shower straight after in the morning then a bath at night (this was with DD3 and a homebirth)

Had a shower and a bath every day for about 2 weeks, baths are great no bubble bath etc just some lavender oil for healing.

In hospital when I had DS 17 months ago I was made to get in the bath the same day. Within a few hours actually. Cant imagine waiting 4 weeks to be able to soak all the blood and gunk etc away. A strip wash just doesnt do the job the same!

I had a soak in the bath about one and a half hours after I delivered my dd in hospital. I don't remember being given that advice by the midwives here, although I had a few stitches and they did advise to be careful about what products I used so as not to irritate them.

Not sure what other mnetters will say - maybe some will have had different advice - but I would probably just go ahead and have one. You deserve it!

Congrats on the new arrival too.....

This is a European thing. My cousin had her dc in Gm and was told the exact same thing, whereas in the UK they send you off for a bath pretty much as soon as you've delivered the placenta, and a damn fine thing it is too.

Don't use bubbles as they can sting, use a handful of salt to act as a disinfectant.

I had a bath straight after delivery, 4 weeks sounds a bit odd. I remember my MW saying it was the best thing for stitches if you threw a little salt in too.

My MW ran me a bath both times immediately after delivery, one in hospital and one at home.

Susie I was also advised to wee in the bath due to painful graze, tear and episiotomy. No one suggested I poo there thank goodness

thanks all, I think it is a European thing.. they mistrust baths! but fine to deliver in birth pool,

I had one at the hospital about 1 hour after both of my births.

I was advised not to soak in the bath for too long though, as it makes your fanjo tissues soggy and slows recovery.

What??? Straight away! Risk of infection even though you had the baby in water??? Makes no sense at all - ask her the evidence base for this bizarre piece of advice!

How odd! I also had a bath about an hour after delivery with no ill effects - and after each delivery I've had a truck load of stitches etc! I couldn't have existed without a bath tbh!

congratulations!

ASAP. About an hour I suppose. The best baths of my life.

Not in this part of Europe!! (Belgium) Was forever being chivvied into the showers by the nurses. Immediately upon admittance, pre-op (had c-section owing to breech), post-op as soon as I was up and bed baths every day until I was able to shower on my own. Even then they checked that you had showered daily.

Never heard of 4 wks thing. Are you sure they didn't mean 4 days??? (Although even 4 days is a bit dubious if you ask me ...) Nothing more inclined to bring on post-natal blues than feeling sweaty and horrible imo...

I'd go with your instincts Gemzooks ....

Just a thought - I wonder if they are worried about the heat of a bath bringing on more bleeding - perhaps they literally mean don't bath but forgot to mention shower instead...??? Maybe????

Congratulations on your new arrival btw

I had a bath as soon as I had delivered my placenta.

there was a bath in the recovery room and I was told to have a bath with tea tree oil as soon as I'd given birth

I was told to have a couple of baths a day, with added lavender oil to help with the healing of my episiotomy. That was on about day 5 after giving birth. Never managed more than one mind you but the thought was there.

I had a bath with 24 hours of giving birth with both my DSs anyway.

Besides, if you have finished bleeding why would you have to wait 4 weeks? Don't most people stop bleeding within 4 weeks (I know I did and assume I am not alone) Surely the risk of infection would be minimal. Seems a bit odd to me as well.

Four weeks, thats disgusting. It would be interesting to see how the level of infection in the UK compares with that of Holland.

I had a bath after my son's first breastfeed. We had plenty of skin to skin contact, when my son had fallen asleep I had a bath and then prompty went to bed.

just to add, they said shower was fine any time, just an actual bath... going to have one tonight, yippee!