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Postpartum Perineal Care
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
The perineum (PEAR-i-NEE-um) is the part of your body
between your legs, including the vagina (birth canal) and
rectum. After having a baby, you need to give this area special
attention. Postpartum perineal care includes all the things you
need to do to make the area feel better, heal properly, and
avoid infection. You will need to do this for 1 to 3
weeks.
Causes
The perineum is severely stressed
as a baby is pushed through the vagina (birth canal). Also, the
doctor may have made a small opening called an episiotomy
(eh-pee-z-AH-toe-mee) so that the vagina wouldn't tear when the
baby was coming out. Although this is sewn back together, it
will take time to heal.
Signs/Symptoms
There will be pain and swelling
around the vagina because of stretching when the baby was born.
You will also notice a discharge from the vagina. At first it
will be bloody, then it will turn pink. Later it will turn
yellow and then go away. You may have a tear in your vagina.
You may also have stitches in your vagina. Sometimes
because of pushing and straining, hemorrhoids (HEM-roids) may
occur around the rectum. A hemorrhoid is a bulge in a blood
vessel that can be very sore. Hemorrhoids feel worse when you
are sitting up.
Care
You may need ice packs, or an ice sitz bath, to relieve
the pain right after you give birth. You may be given pain
medicine; and you also may get sprays or wipes that contain a
numbing agent to help ease the pain. In addition, your doctor
may give you medicine to help soften your stools so that it
doesn't hurt as much when you go to the bathroom.
Keeping the area clean with a peri-bottle (a hand-held squirt
bottle) can be soothing and help prevent infection. You will
also need to use peri-pads in your underwear to catch the blood
and discharge from the vagina.
WHAT YOU SHOULD
DO
-
Keep a supply of the
following items at home: peri-pads, peri-bottle, toilet
paper or cotton wipes, pain medicine such as acetaminophen,
and other medicines your doctor asks you to take. Let your
doctor know if you have any problems or
questions.
-
Check the amount and color of
the discharge from your vagina. This shows how fast you are
healing.
-
For the first 2 to 3 days
after you have had your baby, the blood will be a heavy
flow and dark red. Some women pass clots and blood for 3
to 5 days.
-
From the 3rd to the 10th
day, the discharge gradually becomes pink, and the flow
is lighter. After that, you will have a creamy or
yellowish discharge for another 1 or 2
weeks.
-
Clean the perineal area each
time you use the toilet or change your perineal pads. Proceed
as follows:
-
Use a hand-held squirt
bottle (peri-bottle) filled with warm tap
water.
-
While sitting on the
toilet, rinse your perineum for at least 2 minutes. Aim
the water from front to back.
-
Pat the area dry with
toilet paper or cotton wipes, again from front to
back.
-
Put on a fresh perineal
pad.
-
Stand up before flushing
the toilet to avoid being sprayed with the
water.
-
Sitz baths during the first
week may help you feel better. Fill the bathtub with warm
water. Sit for 10 minutes twice a day. Put on a fresh
perineal pad after the bath.
Call Your Doctor
If...
-
Your vaginal
discharge:
-
Gets heavier (soaking 1 pad
every 1 to 2 hours).
-
Turns bright
red.
-
Develops a bad
smell.
-
You start having a high
temperature.
-
You have pain in the
abdomen.
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