Tampons Post Partum?

[Tashakittie]

Hello everyone,

just wondering if anyone has any experience with using tampons after birth?
i gave birth 2 weeks ago, and the lochia/ stuff is really not continuous, its pretty irregular, and i ran out of panty liners, and have no way of getting to a store to purchase any at the moment. its not really bloody anymore, either. i know everyone says no tampons, but they also say no sex, too... so, are tampons dangerous?

[lisa_nc]

Yeah, tampons are a no go. They can cause an infection. Basically the concern with tampons (and sex) is that as long as you still have lochia coming out, your cervix is still open and the site where the placenta was is like a wound. So you don't want to be introducing bacteria, etc to the area. Sex is fine once you're done with lochia as long as you feel up to it. They just tend to say six weeks to give you a chance to heal.

[2boyzmama]

I think it's an infection issue. You want your vagina to flush out everything that's in there, and a tampon doesn't allow for that as well. Plus if you had any tearing, inserting the tampon might be painful.

If I were you, I'd wrap some toilet paper to get you through until you can get to the store. Or fold up a paper towel. Or wear two pairs of underwear that you dont' care if they get stained. You could even use a diaper liner if you have cloth diapers. Oh, or nursing pads...those might work really well actually!

[Youngfrankenstein]

The body needs time to heal. I don't think it can do it properly when you "mess" with it. And a tampon just adds germs up there that wouldn't have reached otherwise.

[Tashakittie]

thanks for the quick feedback, everyone! greatly appreciated, and now i won't be getting any tampon-induced infections!