The quiet and undisturbed early postpartum bed is especially important for you because, in addition to the arrival as a family, it serves the wound healing and regeneration. Every birth leaves different marks on the woman's body. Some are visible, others only perceptible. And yet they all need time to heal.

Vaginal birth causes the muscles of the pelvic floor to be severely overstretched and strained, and they need maximum relief and rest afterwards. Therefore, lying in bed is the best form of recovery during the first few days.

You will often experience abrasions and swelling, and you will probably also feel a slight soreness and a burning sensation when you urinate for the first time.

In addition, stretching of the coccyx may be uncomfortable in the first few days, so gentleness is important here as well. Perineal injuries require special attention and supportive treatment depending on their severity. In some cases, the strong pressure on the anus when pushing during the discharge phase can also cause hemorrhoids to protrude - some women have already become acquainted with this during pregnancy.

After an abdominal birth, the healing period is somewhat longer. Here, too, there is mainly swelling and hematoma in addition to the existing skin suture. Your midwife will support you in healing the wound, give you valuable treatment tips and monitor the healing process.

Generally, the more severe the birth injury, the longer it will take to heal.

This can help you with your wound healing process!
Janine's Midwifery Tips:

• Lie down, lie down, lie down. If you feel strong pressure on your pelvic floor, try elevating your pelvis or choose the prone position. Avoid prolonged standing and sitting.

• When having a bowel movement, make sure you sit in a position that is easy on the pelvic floor and avoid prolonged pressing. A stool (toilet stool) for the feet can be a real game changer - even in a very basic way.

• Avoid positions that put pressure on your wounds. For example, depending on the severity of the perineal injuries, avoid sitting cross-legged.

• Allow air to reach your private parts - so feel free to stay really naked and put a towel in your bed. Otherwise, make sure you use breathable cotton bed pads without plastic and air-permeable mesh panties. After the first few days, make sure you wear breathable underwear if you no longer want to wear the net panties - and avoid pants that are too tight.

• Absolutely recommended is the soothing rinse with the intimate shower from BIDETLITY. ideally in combination with the Soothing Sitzbad from Bahnhof-Apotheke. The postpartum flow is gently rinsed away and the natural ingredients of the Sitzbad promote the healing of minor lesions, swellings or major birth injuries. To do this, add 1 tsp of the sitz bath to the intimate shower and fill the container with warm water. In the first week after birth, we recommend this rinse during or after each visit to the toilet. If you have more of the sitz bath than you need for yourself, you can also use it wonderfully for baby's bottom if it is a little red or inflamed.

• If your birth injury is larger, you can also make a dressing with the sitz bath solution using sterile compresses from the third day. To do this, prepare the solution as prescribed on the package and dip a sterile compress into it. Place the compress directly on the wound or suture about three times a day and leave it on for at least 30 minutes. If you like, you can also drip the sitz bath solution directly onto your bandage.

• If it is good for you, you can take a complete sitz bath from the second or third day. For this you will need a larger vessel or bowl to sit in. Decide for yourself what feels best at the moment. 

• The sitz bath solution can also be used to rinse the suture after an abdominal birth. To do this, simply run it over the wound from a small cup. It is important that the small salt crystals are rinsed off well afterwards.

• Stitches do not need to be removed after perineal sutures, they dissolve by themselves after a short time.

• In the initial period, especially cooling bandages or CoolPacks can also be very pleasant and reduce swelling.

• Arnica has proved particularly useful for hematomas; depending on the injury, either ointments or compresses with arnica are suitable.

• For hemorrhoids, cold applications and/or special ointments with witch hazel are especially helpful.

• After a few days, a pleasant sitz bath can also do you good, e.g. with oak bark or the popular Stadelmann sitz bath.

• After an abdominal birth, in case of swellings and hematomas, the Immortelle Acute Spray is recommended or Retterspitz solution, of course only diluted and not directly on the suture. The spray is also ideal for cleaning the wound edges. 

• As a rule, the suture material dissolves on its own or is pulled out by your midwife. In a few clinics, section sutures are still stapled - these are then gently and almost painlessly removed before discharge from the clinic.

It can also be infinitely relieving to look at your vulva area or your wounds after the birth with a mirror yourself, if you like also gladly together with your midwife. Often the sensations and images of what is injured are much greater than they really are. This can take away your fear.

Healing takes time and self-care. Take the time for your complete regeneration, it will sustainably benefit you and thus your family on many levels.