Baths after birth???

DoctorWorm222 · June 2013

I was chatting with my (8+ mo pregnant) neighbor, and she mentioned that she wanted to buy a season pass to the local pool except that she won't be able to swim, take baths, etc. I was quite surprised when she mentioned not being allowed to take a bath for 6 weeks. Nobody told me that -- in fact, I think that was the first think I did when we came home from the hospital!

Do any of you remember any restrictions on taking baths in your own tub at home? I tried to look it up online, and there seems to be some distinction between a sitz-bath and a normal bath. This just doesn't add up. If you're sitting in water, you're sitting in water, right?

cantalopes24 · June 2013

Is she having a csection?

thetheisens · June 2013

Um, you don't have to wait six weeks to bathe. You can't use a tampon though, so swimming would be out.

missyishere · June 2013

I don't even know and would never even think about it being an issue. I only really take showers, and getting into and out of a tub post-c/s didn't sound like fun either.

missyishere · June 2013

thetheisens:
Um, you don't have to wait six weeks to bathe. You can't use a tampon though, so swimming would be out.

Ick!

The mess...

Ick!

DoctorWorm222 · June 2013

She just had a normal delivery, as far as I know. She said it wasn't a c-section.

kagl08 · June 2013

I was told no baths, no swimming, no submersion of any kind. Showers were fine.

Your cervix can be open, even slightly, for 6 weeks. This is why they say no sex also. Anything can get up into your uterus, and cause an infection.

thetheisens · June 2013

Cate1234:
I vaguely remember my OB saying no baths, but I think it might have been no bubble baths.

Maybe it depends on the dr. I know I took baths before six weeks, I hate showers.

Chunstad · June 2013

Who had time for a nice leisurely bath?!

jonnygurl76 · June 2013

kagl08:
I was told no baths, no swimming, no submersion of any kind. Showers were fine.
Your cervix can be open, even slightly, for 6 weeks. This is why they say no sex also. Anything can get up into your uterus, and cause an infection.

all of this! It is to prevent infection.

karinothing · June 2013

My midwife actually told me to take a sitz bath. DH had to bleach out the tub before hand so it was clean. But it is used to help ease pain after vaginal birth and is a common tool. https://pregnancy.about.com/od/postpartumrecover/qt/sitzbath.htm

amyc216 · June 2013

I think they told me not to take baths for a few weeks after.

aliciaroset · June 2013

I took tons of baths after giving birth vaginally. It really helped the swelling. (God I don't miss that!)

But a friend told me recently that she wasn't supposed to take baths at all and thought it might have to do with internal tearing.

missyishere · June 2013

aliciaroset:
I took tons of baths after giving birth vaginally. It really helped the swelling. (God I don't miss that!)
But a friend told me recently that she wasn't supposed to take baths at all and thought it might have to do with internal tearing.

The thought of internal tearing gives me the jeebies.

thetheisens · June 2013

aliciaroset:
I took tons of baths after giving birth vaginally. It really helped the swelling. (God I don't miss that!)
But a friend told me recently that she wasn't supposed to take baths at all and thought it might have to do with internal tearing.

Ok, I thought I was going insane, I know I did before six weeks and I am usually careful about doing things as the dr orders. I had no tearing at all, just lots of swelling like you're talking about.

Fianschneid · June 2013

It was recommended that I sit in the bath and soak my stitches once a day. My mom (a L&D nurse) was there for the first week home to get me in and out of the tub.

kagl08 · June 2013

karinothing:
My midwife actually told me to take a sitz bath. DH had to bleach out the tub before hand so it was clean. But it is used to help ease pain after vaginal birth and is a common tool. https://pregnancy.about.com/od/postpartumrecover/qt/sitzbath.htm

A sitz bath is different than a bath though. A bath bath is total submersion, a sitz bath is solely for your stitches in a small amount of water. You aren't fully in the water, just resting a very small amount to soothe your stitches.

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