Mommy’s In Diapers, Too: Understanding Postpartum Perineal Care
Did you have expectations about what happens to you ‘down there’ after you have baby?
Regardless of Vaginal or Cesarean, there is a lot going down in your nether regions, and the care of that is vital to how you feel during your postpartum recovery!
So what’s the deal with swelling, bleeding, and diapers? Really?
Ice, Ice, Baby: Swelling!
During the pushing process, and active labor as baby is working on engaging in the pelvis, increased blood volume and circulation is impacted at your perineum. This can lead to some minor or sometimes severe swelling. If you’re medicated during your birth, the extra fluids from an IV can also impact swelling. Also, during delivery, as baby is stretching the perineum to allow it to accommodate its exit, the amount of room that it moves causes some trauma.
This all turns into some swollen tissue. For the first 24-48 hours, ice on the perineum and labia feels amazing and helps to reduce the swelling as tissue returns to its normal state. In and out of the hospital, having a perineal ice pack is great while you’re resting.
Suture Care and Pain
If you had a tear (or not) you might have some soreness and tenderness during recovery. Witch hazel pads and lidocaine spray such as Dermoplast are common in hospital postpartum kits, and can be put on top of ice packs to help with recovery. A physician’s recommended dose of Tylenol can help as well. And don’t worry - those stitches dissolve, so as long as you’re not doing deep squats (please don’t!) you usually don’t need to fret about pulling a stitch.
Bleeding & Clots
Since your endometrium, the lining of your uterus, had to become thick and lush to help grow your placenta and nourish your baby, that has to shed. And unlike a normal ‘period’, you have 9 months of lining to shed, so expect yourself to experience slightly more bleeding than your heaviest flow for a few days, up to a week.
As the uterus works to return to its normal size in your abdomen, close off the open wounds left behind by the placenta and more, you may also experience some blood clots passed through the vagina. These are common to see when you go to the bathroom in the toilet, or on your pad. As long as they are no larger than a golf ball, these are fairly normal. Another reason to take it easy! If you’re overdoing your exercise or working too hard around the house instead of recovering, you may experience clots and an increase in your bleeding. This is a sign to take a seat and take a rest.
Bleeding is common to continue after the week mark for a few weeks, and is usually less bright and more brownish as it begins to taper off.
Perineal Spray Bottles
All that tenderness means wiping is going to be put to the wayside! Instead, equip yourself with a spray bottle of lukewarm water. While you void your bladder, spraying with water can dilute your urine and help with stinging. Cloth pads can help you pat dry without tugging or pulling sensitive areas.
Mesh Panties, Anyone?
Of course, to hold all of this majesty of ice packs, major pads, and more together, you need something much larger than your maternity underwear. Mesh panties are given in hospital, and many new moms swear by Depends to help with absorbency and coverage (and comfort!) when their stash is through.
It may feel a bit humbling to leave the place you had baby in diapers. But your perineum needs some time to recover and heal! Give yourself plenty of time to go to the bathroom each time so you can properly heal from baby. And before you know it, you’ll be back into your old skivvies in no time. (And if you aren’t and cling to those Depends - we won’t judge. You do you!)
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