Caring for down there after birth is a big deal! I personally was afraid of tearing and did all the things to help prevent it and then the doctor in attendance decided to give me a 4th-degree episiotomy without my knowledge or consent. I found several things extremely helpful with healing down there and wanted to share! If you prefer videos, you can click the video above, or if you prefer to read, read on!
First a few tips!
Keep a basket on the back of your toilet with all your essentials so they are all right there when you need them!
Keep a mix of adult diapers and various pad sizes in your basket!
REST- your body has quite a bit of healing to do and as much as it is nice to get up and do things or get out of the house, it can postpone healing. The rule of thumb is if your postpartum bleeding increases, you're doing too much!
Now on to the items that helped me:
Peri-Bottle- this is a lifesaver! When you’re healing down there! First, spraying the flow of water can encourage you to release your bladder if you’re having a hard time. It also helps with any discomfort as you pee. It’s important to pat dry rather than wiping while healing, so spraying after going helps clean everything! You can grab the peri-bottle I used and loved HERE.
Washcloths- My best friend told me about this tip and it was a lifesaver! Grab some cheap or old washcloths. When you go number two, get the washcloth damp with warm water so it is comfortable, and use it to hold counter pressure on your perineum so you feel secure and not like everything is going to fall out!
Depends Adult Diapers- those first few days there is quite a bit of blood and rather than dealing with pads shifting around and leaking, do yourself a favor and wear adult diapers! They’re much more comfortable during those first few days (or weeks) and honestly help things feel held in place. You can grab some Depends HERE.
Gel Ice Packs- these were also lifesavers! These gel ice packs are re-useable and washable so I placed them in my diaper or over my pad and then placed a washcloth over it and felt major relief. I had two of them so when it wasn’t offering relief anymore I could wash it and pop it back in the freezer and grab my second one if needed. You can grab some gel ice packs HERE.
Claraderm- this stuff is amazing! It was created to support the perineum just before and after birth! It has a bunch of healing oils in it and I truly believe it helped me heal quickly. I sprayed it generously after I went to the bathroom every time and it lasted a good 2-3 months! You can grab some Claraderm HERE.
CALM Magnesium- magnesium has a ton of benefits! For healing from birth, it helps relax muscles (cramps) and is also a natural stool softener! The magnesium helped WAY more than the prescribed stool softener. Obviously, chat with your care provider about taking supplements, but this stuff really helped me! If you get the powder, it is pretty sour, so I added it to lemonade and watered it down a little to make it more bearable to drink! You can gram some CALM Magnesium HERE.
Thank you so much for reading! If you’ve given birth, what were your essentials of healing down there?!
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