As a health and pediatric nurse, it has been a great joy and passion for me to be able to advise and accompany (expectant) parents and especially mothers on their individual journey for over ten years.
From my experience in counseling mothers, I know that many pregnant women and expectant parents are deeply concerned with the topic of childbirth, but breastfeeding and postpartum care take a back seat. Therefore, in this blog post, I would like to specifically address the topic of postpartum care, intimate hygiene, and hygiene.
Hygiene in the postpartum period
In recent decades, the understanding of lochia and postpartum hygiene has changed significantly. Today, people are more aware and no longer view lochia and sanitary pads as highly infectious, as they once did, and do not touch them with forceps or tweezers, nor do they prohibit bathing or washing hair. While skin and bodily fluids are colonized with bacteria, they are not highly infectious or even dangerous like today's hospital germs. After all, the mother's healthy skin flora is important for the baby's immune system.
The key to hygiene is keeping your hands clean. You should wash your hands thoroughly with soap after changing a diaper, before breastfeeding (if applicable), after shopping or when you get home, and, of course, after using the toilet. Hand disinfection is only necessary and advisable in hospitals.
Many mothers worry about not being properly clean or smelling good due to lochia, the constant wearing of pads, and recurring sweating (hormonal changes). Shower daily and care for your intimate area or any birth injuries several times a day. For the first two days, have someone within reach while showering. Avoid heavily perfumed shower gels and deodorants, as they can irritate babies' sensitive noses. The ban on bathing is now outdated. However, it shouldn't be too hot and put too much strain on the circulatory system. Women usually only find a full bath pleasant once the lochia has completely stopped.
You should change your towels and washcloths regularly, at least every two days, your nursing pads and underwear daily, and wash your laundry at a minimum of 60°C.
Intimate care during the postpartum period
The recovery period can vary greatly from woman to woman. After a vaginal delivery, it will take about three weeks for soreness and perineal pain to subside. In cases of birth injuries, episiotomy, or after a cesarean section, it can take more than six weeks for a woman to feel fully healed and recovered.
For the intimate area (with perineal stitches), it's best to use only water and no soap at first. If you prefer a wash lotion after a few weeks or once your birth injury has healed, make sure it has a low, acidic pH (e.g., foam wash). For cooling and refreshment, you can also apply a hydrogel or hydrosol spray from the refrigerator. Avoid wet wipes, as these can unnecessarily irritate the skin, delay wound healing, and promote hemorrhoids.
If you are looking for further recommendations for your individual situation (special ice packs, essential oils, etc.), it is best to ask your midwife.
Wound healing and birth injuries
Childbirth can cause abrasions, superficial injuries inside the vagina or on the inside of the labia, or an episiotomy may be necessary. Small spontaneous tears suffered during childbirth heal relatively quickly. The most important measure for birth injuries is to rest and lie down, especially in the first two weeks. Here, I emphasize the importance of the postpartum period, during which you can and should spend a lot of time in bed. Women after a cesarean section, in particular, should rest for a longer period; after all, a cesarean section can be compared to major abdominal surgery. Heavy lifting and a lot of walking around can put strain on cesarean scars and birth injuries.
You should avoid sitting in positions (e.g., cross-legged while breastfeeding) for too long to avoid overstretching the stitches or causing minor injuries. Seat cushions can also put pressure on the skin or stitches. If you require pain medication and the soreness from the birth injuries or stitches doesn't improve, please have your midwife take a look.
Depending on your gut feeling, the following tips can have a pain-relieving effect, promote your well-being and the healing process:
- Cooling the perineal area every few hours on the first day prevents hematomas, after the 3rd day only useful in case of swelling
- Rinse the perineum with warm water during or after urination; irritates the skin less and causes less burning.
- If cold is preferred, you can also spray a hydrolate (rose hydrolate, arnica tincture, calendula essence) from the refrigerator
- (cold) compresses for a short time in the mesh pants (e.g. with rose oil,
- Lavender oil – disinfectant, cooling, healing)
- Warm sitz baths for a maximum of 20 minutes several times a day to relieve pain (birth oil, rose oil, lavender oil, and sea salt as bath additives).
- Quark wrap for closed but painful stitches
- Clockwise abdominal massage (with birth oil, native carrier oil, and essential oil additives if necessary) for particularly painful afterpains, relaxing, also stimulates peristalsis
- For easier bowel movements, take linseed/psyllium (oil) prophylactically every day and drink plenty of fluids!
- The micronutrients zinc, vitamin C and vitamin E are essential for good wound healing
- Comfrey ointment as a healing ointment
- Avoid standing or sitting for long periods
- Lying and sleeping in the stomach/side position
- Sit on a hard surface (avoid sitting ring)
- Rest in case of poorly or slowly healing birth injuries – spend a lot of time in bed!
Wash.
To minimize the burning sensation when urinating, you can rinse with a cool or lukewarm saline solution or hydrosols during or after each visit to the toilet, especially if you have trouble passing stools. Depending on how you feel, use either something warming or a cooling rinse, cream, or oil swab.
Sitz bath.
Some people also find a sitz bath with salt water pleasant (e.g., hanging a garbage bag over the toilet seat), while others prefer a spray so that the sore area doesn't have to be touched and dabbed. In addition, the healing substances in the hydrosol stay on the skin longer. However, you shouldn't soak in the water for too long, to avoid unnecessarily softening the wound or the perineal suture.
Depending on the injury or for suture care, your midwife may be able to give you additional rinse and sitz bath additives or other recommendations.
Yoni steaming.
The vaginal steam bath is a very old traditional ritual. It is a healing form of self-care once lochia has significantly subsided in the late postpartum period. Combined with appropriate herbal mixtures, it has a disinfectant, pain-relieving, and cleansing effect, supporting the recovery process. Steaming is a particularly pleasant, stress-relieving, and relaxing form of self-care for women. Birth injuries are especially cared for, moisturized, and can heal faster. With regular use, hemorrhoids also reduce in frequency. The disinfectant effect, combined with the heat and the effects of special herbs, prophylactically prevents infections during the postpartum period. You can sit or squat for 10 to 30 minutes over a bowl (perhaps placed in the toilet) or on a stool with a larger opening containing the steaming herbal extract. Some midwives recommend starting steaming as early as the 36th week of pregnancy to prepare the perineum and tissue for birth, or in cases of urinary tract infections, PMS (premenstrual syndrome), endometriosis, or menstrual irregularities.
Contraindications include heavy bleeding, existing infections or inflammations, early pregnancy, and the use of an IUD or hormonal implant. Ask your midwife which herbs are best for you during yoni steaming.
Care of the cesarean section scar.
It can take up to 12 weeks for the wound from a C-section (cesarean section) to fully heal. Once the surgical dressing is removed, clean the area once a day with saline solution, let it air dry, and only then apply the healing ointment. Avoid heavy lifting and carrying during the first few weeks, except for your baby, of course. You can also apply a padding bandage to cushion this sensitive area to relieve pressure. The stitches will be removed by your midwife after about a week.
Postpartum – CHECKLIST
- Nursing top / bathrobe
- Changing mat, incontinence pad
- Cotton underpants one to two
- Sizes larger or mesh pants for the first few days
- Maxi cotton pads, soft unscented fleece inserts
- Cool pack or frozen moist, folded cloths / cherry stone pillow, warm pack, or muslin diapers for moist, warm wraps (essential oil blends, curd)
- Rose hydrolate for ice bandages, body or intimate care
- For the Sitz bath, small bowl or small mobile hand bidé birth oil, abdominal massage oil
- Extra soft toilet paper for the hospital (coarse toilet paper is often used in hospitals)
- Abdominal-kidney belt, gives you support
- Painkillers as prescribed by a doctor
- Saline solution (NaCl 0.9% ampoules), sea salt for 1% rinses (2 tsp/L)
Don't push yourself too hard and give your body time to recover so that you can adjust to the new situation with your child and your partner without pressure and with as little stress as possible.
All the best for the birth and a wonderful time getting to know your family.
Elisa Steiner, IBCLC Breastfeeding and Lactation Consultant, Health and Pediatric Nurse, Family and Motherhood Counselor
Always seek medical advice
Important note: This article contains only general information and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor.
For dry and irritated skin in the intimate area, a suitable intimate care cream is the perfect choice. Our ELANEE Intimate Care Cream moisturizes the external intimate area thanks to valuable oils and regenerating panthenol, protecting it from natural influences such as moisture.
If vaginal dryness occurs during menopause, it is advisable to consult a doctor to determine the cause. Treatment may include hormone preparations, vaginal suppositories for lubrication , or moisturizing creams .
In order to enjoy sexual intercourse despite a dry vagina, there are various creams or lubricants that prevent painful friction.
Moisturizing creams can moisturize the external intimate area. Their ingredients soothe irritated skin and relieve itching. Moisturizing suppositories are available to nourish the mucous membranes and aid regeneration.
If you experience vaginal dryness before your period, there can be various reasons. Hormonal fluctuations, for example, or external factors such as stress, inadequate intimate hygiene, or menstrual products could be the cause. Use an intimate care cream to care for dry skin in the external intimate area. Before your period starts, you can also use vaginal suppositories to moisturize the vaginal mucosa. If vaginal dryness persists during your period, we recommend using menstrual cups . Unlike tampons, they don't need to be replaced as quickly and don't remove additional moisture from the vagina.
Vaginal dryness after childbirth is a normal side effect caused by hormonal changes. A drop in estrogen levels is particularly responsible for this. To alleviate the symptoms, appropriate intimate care products or home remedies can be used. In severe cases, estrogen supplements can also help regulate hormone levels. We recommend consulting your midwife or doctor.
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