Your perineum area is the area between your urethra, the urinary tract, the vaginal opening and the anus. Perineal care is very important during and post pregnancy. Let’s see how we can do postpartum perineal care.
Why is perineal care so important?
The perineal area undergoes a lot of wear and tear during the pregnancy and delivery. Hence, postpartum perineal care is very important. The doctor may incur a surgical cut to speed up the delivery process. This is called episiotomy. This is a clean cut that heals gradually. However, some woman may have a tear during the vaginal delivery. This requires suturing and extra care.
Perineal condition- what to expect?
Any injury around the perineum during the delivery causes severe pain. Sometimes blood accumulates under the skin in this area. This is called hematoma. Tissues swell up and large hematomas need blood drainage. In this situation a catheter is put into the bladder for urination as the urination becomes painful due to the swelling and injury.
You may have tear in the tissues. This is called Laceration. Though smaller ones may heal gradually, larger tears may require stitches. If you have a surgical cut of episiotomy, ensure that the wound is not left opened.
You may also experience reddish discharge post-delivery; this is Lochia. As you heal the color turns white or transparent.
Perineal care at home
It is very important to take proper care of your perineum. You may see the lochia discharge for up
to four weeks. Here are a few things you must keep in mind.
- Always keep yourself clean and change pads frequently
- Do not use tampons as they may cause infections.
- Take a shower couple of times. You can take a sitz bath after bowl movement. You need to sit in a tub of shallow water to dip only your buttocks and hips. You can sit in luke warm water and slowly add ice to it. Do this for twenty minutes for three to four times a day.
- If you are having pain or burning sensation while urinating, squirt warm while during urinating. After you finish pat dry the perineum.
- You may speak to your doctor about some medicines to reducing discomfort. You can also ask about adding Epsom salt in the water while you take sitz bath.
- If you have painful haemorrhoids, you can have pain during the bowel movement. Use suppositories to reduce the discomfort.
- Drink a lot of water and eat fibre rich food to avoid constipation. Constipation will cause difficulty is bowel movement, putting extra pressure on your perineum.
- You may also try doing Kegel exercises. This strengthens your pelvic muscles and reduces the pain.
- Avoid sexual intercourse for at least four weeks till your perineum heals completely. Even after four weeks, it is advisable to use a water-based lubrication before having intercourse.
When to see a doctor for perineal discomfort?
If you experience the following symptoms, reach out for medical help immediately
- Foul smelling vaginal discharge
- Frequent urination and excessive pain and burning sensation
- High fever, nausea, vomiting
- Sever pain in the perineal area
- Excessive vaginal bleeding (you are changing pads in less than an hour)
- Blisters or herpes in your perineum
For more information on postpartum perineum care, visit OvenYr.com. You can book a tele-appointment and speak to the doctor directly.