Do you have doubts about the care with intimate hygiene after childbirth that you should follow? In this article we give you a series of guidelines.
Women must pay special attention to care with intimate hygiene after childbirth . After giving birth, the pH of the vagina becomes more acidic as a defense mechanism. But, at the same time, the skin of the vulva is more sensitive and the level of humidity in the genitals increases. Therefore, the area is more exposed to infections.
CARE WITH INTIMATE HYGIENE AFTER CHILDBIRTH IN THE VAGINA
Care with intimate hygiene after childbirth should be even more extreme if you have an episiotomy . In this case, to clean the points you must follow a series of guidelines:
- Wash the wound with soap and warm water in the morning and at night. Also after going to the bathroom.
- The soap must be neutral or specific. The latter do not contain soap to avoid irritation. Some even have antiseptic, moisturizing and soothing properties.
- Do not use sponges, as they are a nest of germs. Better wash by hand.
- If you use the bidet, do not rinse with stagnant water, but with the one that comes directly from the tap.
- When drying, use a soft towel or gauze and don’t rub. Do it with gentle touches.
- Before putting on your underwear, wait a few minutes for the area to finish drying. And speaking of underwear, it is best to opt for cotton. The first few days you can use disposable panties, as they are designed not to compress the area and are made with very soft fabrics and padded seams. Until the wound has healed, avoid lycra, lace, thongs, and very tight panties.
- During the first few weeks after delivery, the body expels the nutrients that were lining the walls of the uterus. And it does so through a loss of blood that is called lochia. At first it is quite abundant. During those days, use compresses to retain lochia instead of tampons and change it frequently so that the area remains as dry as possible. It is best to use specific cotton pads for postpartum. These products are free of plastics so that the area can breathe better. As the amount decreases, you can use panty liners.
- When you go to the bathroom, always wipe from front to back, that is, from the vagina to the anus. This way you will avoid bringing microbes that can be found in the rectum to the vagina.
- During the first few weeks it is better to shower than bathe. Similarly, it is advisable to avoid swimming pools and baths in the sea to avoid vaginal infections.
- The washes must be external so as not to destroy the vaginal flora.
Apart from following the care with intimate hygiene after childbirth that we have indicated, if you have had an episiotomy you should monitor the area to check that the wound is healing correctly. But you should not use antiseptic substances, or antibiotics, or disinfectants (iodinated substances can pass through the baby’s milk and cause thyroid problems), or healing agents, unless the midwife or gynecologist tells you to do so. The stitches are resorbable and fall out after 10 or 15 days.
Also, you should eat foods that help you avoid constipation so you don’t have to strain.
INTIMATE HYGIENE CARE AFTER CHILDBIRTH IN THE NIPPLES
If you are breastfeeding your baby you should also take care of the hygiene of your breasts, but use mild soaps without perfumes. In fact, so that the areola does not dry out, it is recommended to wash it only with water.
After feeding your baby, you can spread a few drops of your milk on the nipple and let it dry in the open air. That way, you can prevent them from cracking. If you use nursing pads, you should change them often to keep your nipples dry.