If you have just given birth then you may have heard about postpartum sitz baths. If you haven’t and want to know more about them, then this is the guide for you.

A postpartum sitz bath is essentially a special bath which is used during the postpartum period to try and help you to ease pain while promoting healing. It also helps you to maintain a high standard of hygiene for the perineal area. This is very useful if you have had an episiotomy, or a tear during birth. The great thing about a postpartum sitz bath is that it can help you to drastically reduce any perineum swelling you have, and if you have a swollen labia, it’s great for that as well. If you feel too sensitive for a postpartum sitz bath, then there are other options out there that can provide you with some relief, so don’t be afraid to check them out. Remember that everyone is different and what works for one person might not work for another. Take a look below to find out more about postpartum sitz baths and if they could benefit you.

How Often Should I Take a Sitz Bath After Delivery?

If you have never had a child before then the recovery time may be a little longer. You may need to take a sitz bath or two every day for the first week. If you have had a child before then you may find that one bath every couple of days is enough to soothe you.

Does the Hospital Give You A Sitz Bath?

In the hospital, there’s a chance that you will be given a portable sitz bath. This essentially sits over the toilet. You will fill the container with warm or cold water and then sit on the bath. The water will flow over your sensitive perineum and this will help you to heal and cleanse yourself. You can easily add medication or even herbal preparations as well if you want. If you need some help with preparing your sitz bath then your birthing doctor should be able to talk you through everything you need to know, while also helping you to get the right temperature. If you aren’t sure how warm your bath should be, or if you are worried about being too sensitive to the bath then take a look below.

How warm should a sitz bath be?

While you have the option of using warm and cold water, you should know that cold water will provide you with more relief. Studies have shown that cryotherapy or using ice to relieve perineal pain is very effective. Cold water might be quite a shock and it probably doesn’t seem like the best way to obtain comfort, but when you look at injuries to the body, you will soon see that cold packs tend to be the way to go. Cold water can reduce swelling much more effectively when compared to warm water.

How does a sitz bath work?

A sitz bath is a form of therapy that is done by sitting in shallow water. It’s ideal if you want to soothe itching, pain or any other symptoms that you may experience after childbirth. It’s also ideal if you want to keep your areas clean, but you are unable to take a bath or a shower. It’s more than possible for you to use either warm or cold water when you use your sitz bath, and you would be surprised at how easy it is for you to gain a level of relief without much effort. Sitz baths are very soothing and they are very popular with those who have just given birth.

How long should I stay in a sitz bath?

If you want to use your sitz bath, then you will be glad to know that you can sit in it for as long or as little as you’d like. If you want to get the best results, then you will want to use it for at least half an hour. When you do, you’ll soon find that you can easily reap the benefits. Remember that you can take as many baths as you need per day. So many people try and have one per day but if this is overwhelming for you, then don’t worry about it. You can easily have one every few days if you want, as this will still give some of the benefits so keep that in mind.