Feeling tender down there? Of course you are — you just had a baby!
Even if you didn’t tear or have an episiotomy, and especially if you did, you can expect some (or lots) of pain in your perineum after delivery. One way to score some relief is to soak in a sitz bath.
What is a sitz bath?
“Sitz bath” comes from the German word “sitzen,” which means to sit. And, you guessed it, a sitz bath is a pool of water that you sit in, with only your hips and bottom submerged.
You can take a sitz bath using a special basin designed for this purpose and placed securely on a toilet seat, or you can fill up your bathtub with a small amount of water and create a sitz bath that way.
Why is a Sitz Bath a good idea?
There are a number of benefits to sitz baths:
- Improves blood flow to the perineal area, which reduces swelling and inflammation and promotes healing.
- Relaxes the muscles in the perineum, which can relieve the pain of a tear or episiotomy.
- Soothes the soreness that comes from childbirth stretching.
- Relieves the itching that often accompanies stitches.
- Keep things clean down there, helping to lower the risk of infection.
Soaking in warm water with the right combination of salts and healing ingredients can help ease pain and itching from hemorrhoids — another postpartum symptom you may be experiencing, Man was that an inconvenient side-effect!!
Instructions on how to use a sitz bath
This is how I set up my Sitz Bath, feel free to make the experience your own by adding extra ingredients, herbs, or dried flowers, put on your fav music or grab a cup of relaxing tea to enjoy while you soak and heal.
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Fill a cleaned and disinfected sitz bath basin or tub with two to three inches of water. You want the water to come up only to your hips when you sit down. Using a specialized basin that fits on top of a toilet is easier than using a tub, since you won’t have to take your clothes off.
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Experts recommend soaking once a day for up to 20 minutes max. If there are stitches in the perineum, too much soaking can cause the tissues to break down and the stitches to fall apart, so be sure to ask your practitioner for a recommendation.
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Some health care providers suggest adding Epsom salts, or lavender oil. The Timi&Mila Sitz Bath Salts include both and we can tell you by experience that it can make you feel like a whole new person!
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The Most Important Step!!!! When you’re done, pat the area dry with a soft, clean towel, or use a hairdryer on cool setting.
(You'll want to keep the area as dry as possible, especially if you have stitches). Don’t rub — that’ll only increase your soreness.
Sitz baths or tubs that aren’t cleaned and disinfected well before using may spread bacteria, so be sure yours has passed the hygiene test before use.
Using Sitz Bath Salts gives every mama the opportunity to have a few minutes by herself - this is not only important for her physical healing but also for the healing her mind and soul. Mother's are usually put not the side after having a baby and that effects the mental health of a new mother, so having the opportunity to connect with her own self is extremely important!
Give a mom a break and make her feel important and help her heal, both physically and mentally, with Sitz Bath Salts!