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Postpartum Recovery with a Sitz Bath

Postpartum Recovery with a Sitz Bath

Why You Want a Sitz Bath as a New Mom

It is no surprise thatย your body isย stretched,ย torn,ย and in pain after delivering a baby. As a new mom, you may find yourself looking forย ways to find relief.ย ย When someone first mentioned a sitz bath to me after giving birth, I thought of a nursing home andย hemorrhoids. I did not realize how much a sitz bath would help my perineum as aย brand newย mom

What is a Sitz Bath

A sitz bath is a therapeutic bath to help alleviate pain or irritation. Specifically,ย thisย allows you to address conditions thatย affectย the genital areas. Sitz baths can be used to treat constipation, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and otherย pains.ย Following childbirth, a sitz bath will increase your blood flow to the area and promote healing and tissue repair.ย ย 

A sitz bath can be a small amount of water in the bathtub that you sit in, or it can be a portable sitzย bathย tubย that goes inside of your toilet seat.ย Either way, it is not fancyย butย is warm water that often includes other add-ins such asย epsomย salt or witch hazel.ย As a new mom, a sitz bath can be a much-welcomedย time of relief for birthing wounds.ย If you have hadย an episiotomyย and/or tearing during birth, you can use a sitz bath to help alleviate your pain and reduce the swelling.ย You can take a sitz bath once a day for 10-15 minutes.ย ย 

While we are primarily discussing a sitz bath for perineum healing postpartum, there are other notable usages for new moms. If you are every wondering how to get rid of hemorrhoids that could occur after having a baby, a sitz bath is helpful for this too.ย ย ย 

Other Relief Methods for the Postpartum Body

Theย postpartum sitz bath is not the only way to repair your vulva, perineum, and anus after childbirth.ย ย While recovering, many moms also enjoyย padsicles, ice packs/pads,ย dermoplastย spray, orย periย bottles. A combination of these can help you have your best postpartum body recovery.ย ย 

Padsicles

Padsiclesย are frozen pads covered in witch hazel and sometimes also aloe vera and other components.ย Padsiclesย started as a DIY project many moms did at home before giving birth. Witch hazel is known to heal and other components like aloe vera can aid in that. To make DIYย padsicles, you can purchase your favorite type of heavy maxi-pad and follow a recipe to add the witch hazel and other components chosen. You then wrap them back up, place them in the freezer, and take them out to use when needed after birth.ย 

Step by Stepย Padsicle Recipeย 

  1. Unwrap the pad, but leave the wrapper attached so that it can recover the pad after you complete theย padsicleย 
  2. Start withย witchย hazel. Saturate the pad- 3 to 4 tablespoons worth.ย 
  3. Add the aloe vera. Use 2-3 tablespoons.ย 
  4. Add a couple of drops of lavender oil if youโ€™d like.
  5. Use a spoon or spatulaย to spread evenly over the pad.ย 
  6. Fold the pad and cover with wrapper.ย 
  7. Put in freezer safe bag and into the freezer until they are needed.ย 
  8. Pull them out and enjoy the relief afterย baby.ย 

Ice Packs/Padsย 

If you give birth in the hospital, you will likely be given pads and ice packs for your recovery.ย  You will want to take advantage of these ice packs inside of your mesh undies or within a pad.ย ย 

Dermoplastย Sprayย 

Dermoplastย is a topical numbing spray that provides relief for the pain and itching you might experience. The numbing spray can help moms to have their first fewย peesย and poops after birth.ย ย ย 

Periย Bottleย 

You might not think there is much power in a small squeezable bottle, but this bottle could be your best friend after giving birth. Aย periย bottle isย similar toย a sitz bath in that you are applying warm water to your perineum. I found that this was very helpful for the first few pees afterย baby. Using theย periย bottle to direct warm water to the perineum helped alleviate stinging and burning.ย 

Rest and Recovery as a New Mom

When you are a mom with a new baby, there are a lot of demands on you and your body. However, after giving birth, it is important that you prioritize rest and recovery for yourself. Use every chance you can to put you and your baby at the forefront, and let other things take the backseat. Take great care of yourย baby, andย take great care of yourself.ย ย 

A sitz bathย is a great time to create a relaxing space for yourself asย you recover from childbirth. Set up your sitz bath, add a favorite candle or incense, play relaxing music, and take this time to restore and recover your postpartum body.ย ย 

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About The Author

Chelsea Skaggs

Chelsea Skaggs is a postpartum advocate and coach who is committed to helping women kick the pressure to be "Pinterest Perfect" and have real, raw conversations to acknowledge and empower the postpartum experience. She provides small group coaching, eCourses, online communities and helps other women start motherhood-centered businesses. She believes that normalizing and empowering all the changes in life after baby can change the world and leads that effort at postpartumtogether.com

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