Things are different after you have a baby. Everyone tells you that. “Your whole life is going to change.” But you’re maybe not expecting that one of the things to change in those first few days, is your perineum.
Peri-WHAT? Yes. Perineum.
Colloquially, it’s known by many names. No man’s land. Fleshy fun bridge. Or, most commonly, taint.
I know it’s not the most polite word, but we have to talk about it! This area between your vagina and anus has been through quite a journey in having a baby. And we’re sorry to be so blunt, but frankly, if your doula doesn’t ask you about your body, who will?
Regardless of which practice you choose, OB/GYNs and midwives usually don’t see their clients for about 6 weeks after birth in DC, Maryland or VA. So we like to check in.
Depending on which DCMM doula is asking, we might say something like, “How’s your bottom feeling?”, “What about your *air quotes* undercarriage? Everything okay down there?” Or, perhaps we’ll just call body parts by their names and ask if your perineum is feeling okay.
Now that we’re hopefully comfortable…
If you have a vaginal birth, it is perfectly normal for your perineum to be sore.
You can expect swelling, and it is likely that there were stitches as a result of any tearing that you experienced. This area played a crucial role in getting your newborn here, and now it’s time to baby it.
So here are a few tips, to be gentle with your perineum, after birth.
1. Apply a warm compress to the area.
Warm up a washcloth, and place it over your whole pelvic floor area. It feels great whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or just a human with a vagina.
2. Use a padsicle!
The hospital will give you ice packs, and you can make your own at home. Just soak a maxi pad (that you’ll be using anyway for your postpartum bleeding) in water, or witch hazel, and freeze it. You can place several of these in a plastic bag in your freezer, and have lots of icy cool relief.
3. When you’re using the bathroom, go easy.
Use the peri bottle that they send home from the hospital. This squirt bottle can feel great to wash yourself, and prevents the sticking and irritation that can come from toilet paper. Just gently dab with a dry towel after, and voila, you’re clean.
You can also apply counter pressure, when it’s time to move your bowels. Just hold yourself steady, and apply a gentle pressure to your vulva, to balance out the movement of your anal muscles. It sounds weird and messy, but we promise, when it’s time to poop, weird and messy may be the least of your worries.
4. Take a sitz bath.
You can either purchase one, or run about an inch of water (just enough to soak a bit), and add Epsom salt. Saltwater is incredibly healing, and a bath is relaxing. You can also make a saltwater spray, if you prefer.
Hopefully these practical tips help ease your pain. As always, you should talk to your doctor or midwife about what you can expect for a timeline of postpartum healing. Generally, you shouldn’t expect to still be sore by the time of your six-week appointment, and if you are, then please let the provider know. And if you ever see any warning signs (the area seems angry, stitches ooze pus, there’s a foul odor, or you have a fever), call a medical professional.
Stay tuned for our postpartum recovery series. Your perineum isn’t the only intimate detail we’ll talk about!
Learn more about our postpartum services here, we want to support you.
