How will you take care of your bottom and perineum (the area between your urethra and your rectum)? After you have a baby you’re going to take care of this area in a whole new way. I can show you what to expect so it’s not as foreign after the baby is born.
Hi, I’m Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse 👩⚕️. I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of OB nursing experience, I am also the curly head behind Pulling Curls and The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. 🩺
As someone who’s followed thousands of moms into the bathroom after they’ve had their baby — I want to share with you what to expect.
If you’re just wondering what ELSE there is to expect at the hospital, be sure to check out my Online Prenatal Class for Couples. I go into details like this from your third trimester, until well after the baby is born. Be sure to check it out:
What Happens to Your Pernieum at Delivery
When the baby comes out your birth canal — the tissues both in your vagina and perineum with swell and stretch. After delivery you will get up to restroom and learn how to take care of those tissues in a new way.
As a note: Sometimes your doctor will cut you (that’s called an episiotomy) for a variety of reasons. Or, sometimes your perineum will tear as the baby comes out. Both are recoverable, but can sound pretty scary. My sister site Pulling Curls has a whole post on tearing at delivery.
The trauma to those tissues certainly varies, but most women need these products after delivery as they heal (and healing time will depend on the tissues trauma).
How to Take Care of Your Bottom after Baby
I have a whole video on how you take care of your bottom after baby — we’ll talk about those components after the video as well:
Supplies to Take Care of Your Bottom After Baby:
- Mesh Underwear — That way you won’t have to wash your own underwear, also these keep the pads on and easy to change.
- Tucks Pads — These help with swelling in the area
- Dermoplast — This helps with pain and also itching once you start to heal.
- Large Pads (also, you can combine the undies and the pads with a depends-type product) — to take care of your bleeding that can take up to 6 weeks.
- Perineal Spray Bottle — to help clean yourself off on the toilet
Extra Tips for Perineal Care After Baby
Here are some pro tips on how to take care of your bottom after baby:
Cold
Using an ice pack, or cold pack or even just keeping tucks in your fridge can feel great. Nurses will likely recommend you keep an ice pack on for the first 24 hours. I recommend you ask to change it every 2-3 hours — it can help a lot!
Bleeding
You might be thinking you’ll bleed just like a normal period, but the bleeding is a LOT initially.
It is also not unusual to not be able to hold your urine as well the first couple of days (because that area is so stretched-out). So, a LARGE pad can help with that as well.
Make sure you change your pad every time you use the restroom, which will likely be fairly frequently.
Post-Baby Hygiene Routine
- Remove the old pad and change underwear if necessary
- Do your business (pee or #2)
- Spray off with the peri wash bottle
- Use a washcloth or toilet paper to blot dry (don’t wipe)
- Put new pad in your panties
- Line that pad with tucks
- Spray painful area with dermoplast or other first aid spray
Optional Step: Apply an ice pack.
Your nurse will likely show you how to do all these things and accompany you into the bathroom the first couple of times.
Note: Your nurse is VERY used to bringing you into the bathroom and being there while you pee. We do it with most every patient. So, don’t feel bad that they have to stay by you. We definitely want to be sure that you’re steady and feeling alright during that first time up.
SO, don’t feel like you have to memorize this. I just wanted to share it so that you weren’t caught surprised after you have your baby.
If you liked this post, I think you NEED to jump into the Online Prenatal Class for Couples. If you’re looking to get prepared for all the facets of before and after birth, you’ll love it.
I’d also love it if you’d let me email about where you’re at in your pregnancy. This newsletter can be tailored to just what you need.
- About the Author
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A nurse since 1997, she has worked in various fields including pediatrics, geriatrics & hospice.
She has 20 years of labor and delivery experience in the San Jose, CA and Phoenix, AZ areas.
She is also the curly head behind the website Pulling Curls and is the creator of The Online Prenatal Class for Couples — the #1 hospital-based prenatal class on the internet.
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