You can typically shower with stitches shortly after birth (even the first day) to keep the area clean, using plain warm water and gentle patting to dry, but avoid baths (submerging) for a few weeks (around 2-4) or until your doctor clears you, especially after a C-section, to prevent infection and allow stitches to heal properly, checking with your midwife or doctor for personalized advice.
We recommend showering only for the first 2 weeks so any suture material does not dissolve too rapidly and any tear is allowed to heal. After 2 weeks it is OK to take a bath or submerge in water if you like. If you don't have stitches you can take a bath right away.
The cut may bleed quite a lot at first, but this should stop with pressure and stitches. Stitches should heal within 1 month of the birth. Talk to your midwife or obstetrician about which activities you should avoid during the healing period.
The best way to care for your stitches is to keep them clean and dry. Try to wash your perineum using warm water every time you visit the loo and gently pat the area dry using toilet tissue. You should also aim to change your sanitary pad regularly to keep the area dry and comfortable.
You can take sponge baths or showers. Drip plain or soapy water over the incision and dry gently with a clean towel. Your incision may itch as it heals.
Avoid lifting anything heavy or doing strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, and weightlifting, until your doctor or midwife says it is okay. You may shower and take baths as usual. Pat the incision dry when you are done. Ask your doctor or midwife when it is okay for you to have sex.
Pain and discomfort
The skin part of the wound usually heals within a few weeks of birth, and after that you should feel much less raw and tender. If you have stitches, they can irritate as healing takes place, but this is normal. Placing an ice pack wrapped in a towel on your perineum may help.
In reality, the third week might be the hardest week postpartum, since everything seems to feel “normal,” but so much is happening at the same time. This being said, the third week will be an important week to focus on your mental health.
Don't Put Anything in Your Vagina.
You may wonder when you can go back to regular activities such as having sex and using tampons. You should wait till your doctor clears you (normally around six weeks postpartum). Your doctor may recommend not to put anything inside you because of the risk of infection.
There aren't any rules about how long you can use a peri bottle — it all depends on your healing process and how long you find it to be helpful. However, most postpartum people use a peri bottle for about a week after giving birth, when the vagina is still tender and sore.
Up to 9 in every 10 first time mothers who have a vaginal birth will experience some sort of tear, graze or episiotomy. It is slightly less common for mothers who have had a vaginal birth before. For most women, these tears are minor and heal quickly.
If you've had a vaginal birth, you're probably also wondering how long it will take for soreness to go away and your perineum to heal. Recovery can take anywhere from three weeks if you didn't tear to six weeks or more if you had a perineal tear or an episiotomy.
Perineal massage while pregnant
From 35 weeks onwards, you or your partner can use daily perineal massage until your baby is born which may reduce your risk of tearing. This is particularly beneficial for first-time mothers. You may choose to ask your partner to help you with this.
It can vary, but lochia typically lasts up to six weeks. Some people have traces of lochia for up to eight weeks. It's important to remember that lochia isn't just blood or bleeding. The last stage of lochia involves little to no blood.
How do I know if this has happened to me? Wound breakdown can cause an increase in pain, new bleeding or pus-like discharge. You may also begin to feel unwell. Sometimes women notice some stitch material coming away soon after they have had their baby, or can see for themselves that the wound has opened.
Most doctors recommend waiting six weeks after giving birth to have sex again. This allows for general healing and for your body to recover from specific birth-related issues, such as: Vaginal tear or episiotomy (an incision that enlarges the vaginal opening for the baby to come through) Cesarean incision.
The 40-day rule after birth, often called confinement or "The Golden Month," is a widespread cultural tradition emphasizing a mother's deep rest, healing, and bonding with her newborn, with family often handling chores and visitors, promoting physical recovery (like stopping bleeding) and mental well-being, rooted in ancient practices from Asia, Latin America, and religious traditions like Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects involve nourishing the mother, sheltering her from stress, and focusing solely on resting and bonding, a stark contrast to Western pressures to "bounce back" quickly.
After birth, you will lose 5 – 6 kg immediately, but it will be within the first 2 weeks after giving birth and it will not continue to go down so easily. So exercise and choosing the right diet are necessary. Reduce stress. Moms need to make adjustments for the new member of your family.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
You Shouldn't Do These 12 Things After Giving Birth
Most babies will have a period of increased fussiness starting at around 2 weeks of age and usually peaking between 6-8 weeks of age. Although, this is a normal developmental stage for infants it can be very stressful for parents and caregivers.
Everyone's birth experience is different, so there isn't a clear answer. If you had an epidural or other pain relievers during delivery, you'll likely have no clue if or how much you tore until your provider tells you. However, even if you deliver with no pain medication, you may not feel a vaginal tear.
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First-degree tears are the least severe. They involve the skin between the vaginal opening and the rectum and the tissue directly beneath the skin. That area is called the perineum.