Postpartum Bathroom Routine

[dreemkin]

How long do I do this?

I can't remember how long I did with my first. I am two weeks pp and I am still doing the whole peri bottle, pat dry, spray (sometimes I skip this), tucks thing. I tried just wiping a couple days ago when I was out of the house and I felt itchy and irritated afterward.

How long are you going to (or was told to) keep it up?

[misshart00]

I think it's just until you're comfortable. With my first, I did all that for several weeks. This time, I was just using toilet paper several days after birth. I think the fact that I didn't have stitches this time contributed to me feeling more normal faster.

[kcwnc]

I think it varies based on tearing or specifics of your delivery. I think I used the peri bottle for a few weeks after DS1 was born but only because I was scared to try it without. The sitz baths helped a lot.

[calliope]

Do it until you feel comfortable stopping. I think I tapered things slowly over 3 weeks. Like I gave up ice pack first, then tucks pads, then the spray. I did the Peri bottle the longest, then just went to light day liners. Not looking forward to the whole bathroom routine again. I'm getting used to the 30 second pee routine. Haha. Although it will be nice to pee more than just a tablespoon at a time!

[boxerrrmama85]

I'm 3 wks in and still enjoying my peri bottle but have backed off a bit on the tucks and spray (using maybe every other time)-- but I still feel pretty irritated down below. I know that once I return to work I will have to leave all these goodies at home

[Rarity]

I didn't tear with either deliveries, I stopped the peri bottle about 5 days PP with this delivery. It's a rare luxury for me. Usually my 4 y/o is crying at the door and my bladder muscles can't always hold my pee long enough to get the water warm and fill up the bottle. I use it the shower though since my shower head is not detachable. I also stopped pat drying about 4 days ago. The bleeding has slowed down significantly (I am almost 2 weeks PP). I'm still scared to use soap down below though (had a bad, itchy, irritated experience last time). So water and soft wash cloth it is in the shower for now. I also didn't use the tucks or spray with this one. It wasn't too bad this time. With DS, I used it all.

[dronkeygal]

Feb 16, 2015 22:14:56 GMT -5 kcwnc said:

I think it varies based on tearing or specifics of your delivery. I think I used the peri bottle for a few weeks after DS1 was born but only because I was scared to try it without. The sitz baths helped a lot.

Stupid FTM question: what's a sitz bath?

[kcwnc]

Not a stupid question at all. It's where you only put enough waem water in the tub to cover your lower parts and soak for about 10-15 minutes a fee rimes a day. I add Epsom salt to mine. Some people add witch hazel or essential oils. It's supposed to help relieve muscle pain.

[crispywheats]

Feb 17, 2015 7:01:01 GMT -5 kcwnc said:

Not a stupid question at all. It's where you only put enough waem water in the tub to cover your lower parts and soak for about 10-15 minutes a fee rimes a day. I add Epsom salt to mine. Some people add witch hazel or essential oils. It's supposed to help relieve muscle pain.

Epsom salt is especially nice if you have hemorrhoids.

[dreemkin]

Another stupid question: do hemroids ever go away? I think I may have just gotten one or a fissure (I'm too scared to look or explore). I've never had hemroids...

[misshart00]

Feb 17, 2015 11:39:02 GMT -5 dreemkin said:

Another stupid question: do hemroids ever go away? I think I may have just gotten one or a fissure (I'm too scared to look or explore). I've never had hemroids...

I believe so. Or at least they stop hurting.

[mommadozer]

This last week I was finally able to go without wearing liners. (3 weeks PP) Thank goodness. Ugh, I hate wearing them. I have a feeling my period is going to show up in the next coming weeks.

[mrszee]

dronkeygal, you can also get a sitz bath that goes over the toilet if you don't want to deal with the tub. I ordered one off of amazon along with Motherlove herbal sitz bath to go in it. I am a little worried about the situation down there, now we'll see if I need all this stuff!!

[osumegs]

Feb 17, 2015 4:24:34 GMT -5 dronkeygal said:

Feb 16, 2015 22:14:56 GMT -5 kcwnc said:

I think it varies based on tearing or specifics of your delivery. I think I used the peri bottle for a few weeks after DS1 was born but only because I was scared to try it without. The sitz baths helped a lot.

Stupid FTM question: what's a sitz bath?

A sitz bath is a little bit of heaven. Our hospital gave us one of the ones that goes over the toilet bowl.

[hollydfromtn]

I stopped using the peri bottle this week (2 weeks pp). I had an episiotomy, so I just waited until the stitches seemed to have healed. I went through the very itchy healing phase for a couple of days. I also just started using soap down there this week. It felt amazing to get out of the shower and actually feel clean. Now of only I could
ditch these pesky pads. I absolutely hate wearing pads and panty liners.

[PikoPiko]

Hmm... Reading some of these posts now have me worried about my own crotch. I'm 13 days PP and am still getting bright red blood like a heavy period, I must be a slow healer. I had some tearing and the stitches appear to have dissolved a couple days ago. Just a couple hours ago I passed something massive somewhat spherical in shape, an inch and a half in diameter. Now I'm doubting if it really was a blood clot as it was bright red and lumpy.

[dronkeygal]

Feb 18, 2015 2:16:49 GMT -5 PikoPiko said:

Hmm... Reading some of these posts now have me worried about my own crotch. I'm 13 days PP and am still getting bright red blood like a heavy period, I must be a slow healer. I had some tearing and the stitches appear to have dissolved a couple days ago. Just a couple hours ago I passed something massive somewhat spherical in shape, an inch and a half in diameter. Now I'm doubting if it really was a blood clot as it was bright red and lumpy.

My doctor told me it's completely normal to bleed for a full 6 weeks. Occasional clots included. I wouldn't worry unless you're bleeding through a pad within an hour.

[misshart00]

Feb 18, 2015 2:16:49 GMT -5 PikoPiko said:

Hmm... Reading some of these posts now have me worried about my own crotch. I'm 13 days PP and am still getting bright red blood like a heavy period, I must be a slow healer. I had some tearing and the stitches appear to have dissolved a couple days ago. Just a couple hours ago I passed something massive somewhat spherical in shape, an inch and a half in diameter. Now I'm doubting if it really was a blood clot as it was bright red and lumpy.

Totally normal to bleed for the full 6 weeks. My doc said clots are normal but if I was getting golfball size clots to call her.

[cloe111479]

Feb 18, 2015 9:28:38 GMT -5 misshart00 said:

Feb 18, 2015 2:16:49 GMT -5 PikoPiko said:

Hmm... Reading some of these posts now have me worried about my own crotch. I'm 13 days PP and am still getting bright red blood like a heavy period, I must be a slow healer. I had some tearing and the stitches appear to have dissolved a couple days ago. Just a couple hours ago I passed something massive somewhat spherical in shape, an inch and a half in diameter. Now I'm doubting if it really was a blood clot as it was bright red and lumpy.

Totally normal to bleed for the full 6 weeks. My doc said clots are normal but if I was getting golfball size clots to call her.

My doc said same as above.

I still have bleeding but it is slowly slacking down. But I still have moments where it is a lot. I think it depends on so many things and how active you are in a day.

But I had that holy crap moment when I passed a big clot.

[dreemkin]

I still have heavy bleeding at times. It comes and goes (with small clots too). With DD1 I had to go on birth control to regulate things. I bled for 6-7wks.

[stephanie]

Feb 18, 2015 2:16:49 GMT -5 PikoPiko said:

Hmm... Reading some of these posts now have me worried about my own crotch. I'm 13 days PP and am still getting bright red blood like a heavy period, I must be a slow healer. I had some tearing and the stitches appear to have dissolved a couple days ago. Just a couple hours ago I passed something massive somewhat spherical in shape, an inch and a half in diameter. Now I'm doubting if it really was a blood clot as it was bright red and lumpy.

Bright red and lumpy sounds like a clot. I retained a bit of placenta which I passed (mostly-the doc had to remove the rest) and it was made up of what looked like greyish skin, blood clots and thick veins. Sorry I didn't take a pic but I think you'd know the difference on sight so I wouldn't worry.

[PikoPiko]

Thanks all. I figured it was a blood clot and I'm prob healing just fine. It sure is reassuring to hear there are other people having the same bloody experience as me. I'm still bleeding a lot today, but not quite the extreme as saturating a pad in an hour. Can't wait to stop the bathroom routine, I'm taking forever in the bathroom these days.

[seamonster]

Feb 17, 2015 15:03:07 GMT -5 misshart00 said:

Feb 17, 2015 11:39:02 GMT -5 dreemkin said:

Another stupid question: do hemroids ever go away? I think I may have just gotten one or a fissure (I'm too scared to look or explore). I've never had hemroids...

I believe so. Or at least they stop hurting.

A lot of times they end up going away, but eventually they stop hurting most of the time. Hemorrhoid cream is great for shrinking them so that they go away, even if they don't hurt.