Perineal Recovery Essentials for your Postpartum Care Kit
There are so many aspects involved in the actual vaginal and perineum healing after a vaginal birth, especially if you have had a tear or an episiotomy.
These include adequate rest, ensuring you have sufficient nutrient intake postpartum, getting the right recovery care (highly recommend pelvic floor physiotherapy), and more!
I often get asked about my favorite products and items to help support the perineum and vaginal recovery process. Here are my top four things I stock my postpartum kit with, and recommend other mamas to do the same!
Please note - some of these will definitely apply to those of you mamas who have had a c-section as well, I just can’t speak to them from personal experience!
1. DISPOSABLE UNDERWEAR OR DIAPERS
After birth, you bleed! This post-birth blood and discharge is called ‘lochia’ and can last up to 6 weeks after delivery (typically shorter if you have had a c-section).
The first week or so is the heaviest, and I found the easiest way to manage it, amongst the soreness in the pelvis and perineal area are either adult diapers or disposable underwear.
If you have a hospital delivery, they typically have these available for you throughout your time in the hospital. I like to have more at home for continued use until the bleeding dies down. I personally preferred the disposable underwear + a maternity pad, especially at the beginning, but I know a lot of mamas that like adult diapers!
I love the natracare maxi pads (without wings) and the Frida mom or hospital reusable underwear in the early weeks. I also wore Knix leakproof underwear towards the end of the bleeding which worked great.
2. PADSCICLES
These were a saving grace for me after my first boy was born, I had a vaginal birth with quite the tear and needed some serious perineal relief!
If you haven’t heard of padsicles before, they are basically big menstrual pads with various liquids to help soothe and heal your perineum put on them, and then they are frozen. You can put them right into your disposable underwear or adult diapers!
There are a variety of recipes for padscicles you can find online. I like using witchhazel, aloe, and a few drops of lavender essential oil on mine. I will post a tutorial on how I make mine, soon. Again I use the natracare maxi pads (without wings). I found making about 8-10 was sufficient for me.
3. PERI BOTTLE
Oh the peri bottle - the vagina saving device you didn’t know you needed. With the extra discharge and bleeding postpartum, plus the possible soreness in the perineal area (particularly if you had a tear!), wiping and cleaning can be challenging.
This is where a peri bottle comes in extremely handy! Basically, you fill it with lukewarm water, and can use to rinse each time after you use the woashroom. Some women often find less pain and stinging while peeing by gently spraying water on your perineum throughout the flow of your urine.
The hospital or your pregnancy providers will give you a simple one, which works just fine. Frida-mom also has this upside down angled one which is very convenient.
*I make a herbal mixture to use in mine postpartum to additionally support healing. It is important to get individualized advice when it comes to adding anything to the bottle so if you want any support, please reach out and we can set up an appointment!
4. SITZ BATH
For those who don’t know, a sitz bath is basically a shallow bath that can help to clean and soothe your perineum. You can do this in the bath, or you can purchase an over the toilet one to sit on!
There are certain herbs that you can add to the water to help with perineal healing, but check with your midwife, naturopathic doctor, or other postpartum care provider before doing this!
There are a few great brands that now have premade Sitz baths - I love the Só Luxury Sitz bath as an option.
As I mentioned above, there are SO many factors that influence postpartum healing that aren’t products, so please keep that in mind when it comes to postpartum healing. I hope this is helpful for you when you are stocking your postpartum kit!
xo Dr. Ally