post partum herbal bath vs not

[rachie]

I'm very interested in possibly taking a "healing" herbal bath shortly after birth but....

My mind is just wondering if it's better to just hop in bed and rest after all that then take the bath the next day or so?

And as far as baby goes: I know that it's important for baby to pass through birth canal (vaginal birth) to get some beneficial bacteria and stuff in their system (I think this happens while they are IN the canal - through mucus membranes - up nose/mouth). But what about what baby is exposed to when they exit vaginal canal?

I'm planning another water birth - so there is whatever is in the water that baby is exposed to for a few seconds before brought onto mom's chest.

I don't plan on rubbing/scrubbing my baby down - with my last one we just wrapped her in a towel then in a receiving blanket. The stuff that came off came off and the rest came off later. She didn't have a real "bath" for quite some time - just didn't need it IMO - and I LOVED that "newborn" smell!!!

So I'm just curious what other's thoughts were about just leaving baby's skin as-is vs. allowing baby to take herbal baths with mommy - I can see this as being a good bonding experience however - I know last time I wanted my baths as a break time for "me" (alone for a moment).

And some of these herbs usually used (and/or epsom salts) - have antiseptic properties I believe (which is why they may be good for healing) - but is it good to kill possible beneficial bacteria that baby might still have on body - or is it just the inside I should be concerned with (nose/mouth/tummy- breastmilk)?

[Banana731]

I took one. It was okay. I had a waterbirth, so to be fair I was a little water logged already. I think dd got in there with me too, which she liked. I didn't wash the baby so much as she just hung out there with me for a few minutes. But yeah, I didn't stay long, I was tired.

I have a friend who likes to take one (not a waterbirther) and she takes her first pee after birth while in the tub, she says it's less "intimidating" (She's on # 5 now.)

[peainthepod]

I took a shower, not a bath. I definitely wanted to clean up a bit before bed--I sweated buckets and bled a lot (I had a tear that required stitches) and the thought of sitting right afterwards was just awful at the time.

The first few pees aren't so bad if you fill a peri bottle with warm water and spray it on yourself while you go. It cuts the sting factor down to almost nothing.

[Banana731]

Originally Posted by peainthepod

The first few pees aren't so bad if you fill a peri bottle with warm water and spray it on yourself while you go. It cuts the sting factor down to almost nothing.

ITA

I couldn't pee in the tub, myself. Now, I did make an infusion with some of those herbs that I didn't use in the bath and put that in the peri bottle. That was pretty nice.

[nia82]

I would have loved to, but my obgyn said it is dangerous to take a bath as long as their is lochia. I didn't question it at the time! But I was dying to take a bath, an herbal would have been even better. I'm gonna take baths with this one for sure!