WHEN CAN YOU TAKE A BATH AFTER GIVING BIRTH?

Depending on whether you gave birth vaginally or through a C-section, and if you had any complications with the birth, your doctor may caution you about how you wash yourself.
 

Taking a Bath After a Vaginal Birth
 

After giving birth vaginally, your vagina and perineum, the area between your vagina and anus, will likely be sore. Soaking in a warm bath or standing in the shower is an ideal way to ease any soreness.
 

If you gave birth vaginally and had an episiotomy, your doctor may advise you to wait at least 24 hours to prevent infection. After taking a bath or shower with mild soap and warm water, gently pat your vaginal area dry with a towel.
 

The stitches will dissolve on their own by about two weeks. Your doctor will examine you to ensure that everything is healing correctly during your first postpartum checkup, which usually takes place about six weeks after birth. However, call your doctor before then if your pain seems to get worse rather than better as the days go by. Also call your doctor if you notice any foul discharge or increased swelling or the wound seems to have broken.
 

Taking a Bath After a C-Section
 

After a C-section, you may be in pain for several weeks. Besides being painful, the incision may be tender. You should not take a bath until your incision has healed, and your doctor says it's okay. In most cases, the incision takes about three weeks to heal. To be safe, you may want to wait until after your six-week postpartum checkup before taking a full bath. Until then, you can take showers.
 

Take care when entering and exiting the shower, especially if you have to step in or out of a bathtub. You may want to hold on to something as you do so to prevent exerting your stomach area. Shower with mild soap and warm water. Don't scrub or rub the incision. After showering, dry the incision by patting it gently with a towel.
 

Don't put any creams or lotions on your incision. If you notice that you have increased pain and swelling around your incision area, notify your doctor as it may mean that your incision has become infected. Other signs of infection and improper healing include fever, swelling, redness, pus discharge and separation of the skin.