Sitz bath Q

[VeganEmma]

I bought an herbal sitz bath for PP and I was wondering what do I use to soak myself with?? I saw they sell sit tubs at the pharmacy what did you use?

[Italiamom]

You can buy the sitz baths at a pharmacy, although I found mine to be awkward and not that comfortable.  Basically, tried it once and didn't use it for more than a few minutes.  It seemed less awkward to me to just run a shallow bath, and soak that way.  I made DH scrub the heck out of the tub first though

For me, it was most helpful to have the sitz solution in a peri bottle or a spray bottle.  I made it up in a big pot on the stove, and then poured it into half gallon mason jars and kept those in the fridge.  I could have DH pour it into one of the peri bottles, and then mix it with hot water to warm it up a bit.  It was wonderful after I peed, or just to help with soreness and itching.

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by Italiamom 

You can buy the sitz baths at a pharmacy, although I found mine to be awkward and not that comfortable.  Basically, tried it once and didn't use it for more than a few minutes.  It seemed less awkward to me to just run a shallow bath, and soak that way.  I made DH scrub the heck out of the tub first though

For me, it was most helpful to have the sitz solution in a peri bottle or a spray bottle.  I made it up in a big pot on the stove, and then poured it into half gallon mason jars and kept those in the fridge.  I could have DH pour it into one of the peri bottles, and then mix it with hot water to warm it up a bit.  It was wonderful after I peed, or just to help with soreness and itching.

Thank you for the input! I'm debating whether I should buy the sitz tub from the pharmacy or not. I would prefer not too. But putting it in the peri bottle is a great idea, never thought of that!

[allisonrose]

Forum crashing. I had a hospital birth with my first and they sent me home with a sitz bath that I really enjoyed using. I purchased another one (tossed the first one once I was finished healing) before the birth of my second. I didn't find it comfortable to use. I tore and had stitches from each birth.

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by allisonrose 

Forum crashing. I had a hospital birth with my first and they sent me home with a sitz bath that I really enjoyed using. I purchased another one (tossed the first one once I was finished healing) before the birth of my second. I didn't find it comfortable to use. I tore and had stitches from each birth.

were they the same kind of tubs or were they different? 

[Italiamom]

The hospital ones should be about the same as the kind you get from Walgreens.  The one I bought wasn't too bad, I think $19.  You can always leave it in the box, and tape the receipt to it.  If you end up needing it, great, and if not, your DP can take it back for you.  Pick up a spray bottle too.  It is so magical with the sitz solution!

One idea would be to make your own sitz solution.  It is a LOT cheaper!  I've used the recipe about halfway down this page (http://rhythmofthehome.com/archives/autumn-2010/mother-roasting/) as part of postpartum gift baskets for friends, and it's gotten rave reviews.  It makes a HUGE quantity, which I split into 5 satchels, so it goes quite a ways.  You can get all the herbs from Mountain Rose herbs for next to nothing.  If you double this batch you should have enough to make 10 full baths, or 10 gallon pots worth of sitz solution.  When I've made it for friends, I split the herbs (they are bulky, and go far), but I use the required ammount of salt for each bath/gallon pot of water.

Not that buying premade sitz satchels is at all bad, but this was so much cheaper for the same number of satchels.

[JenRN]

L&D nurse here. Just wanted to say that we instruct our postpartum patients to just soak in a (clean) tub, filled 2-3 inches with warm water.

Sitz baths are nice (I used one at the hospital) but can be awkward. Personally I felt more relief from soaking in my tub.

[VeganEmma]

I got lazy and made my own, but I will def try this in the future!

Originally Posted by Italiamom 

The hospital ones should be about the same as the kind you get from Walgreens.  The one I bought wasn't too bad, I think $19.  You can always leave it in the box, and tape the receipt to it.  If you end up needing it, great, and if not, your DP can take it back for you.  Pick up a spray bottle too.  It is so magical with the sitz solution!

One idea would be to make your own sitz solution.  It is a LOT cheaper!  I've used the recipe about halfway down this page (http://rhythmofthehome.com/archives/autumn-2010/mother-roasting/) as part of postpartum gift baskets for friends, and it's gotten rave reviews.  It makes a HUGE quantity, which I split into 5 satchels, so it goes quite a ways.  You can get all the herbs from Mountain Rose herbs for next to nothing.  If you double this batch you should have enough to make 10 full baths, or 10 gallon pots worth of sitz solution.  When I've made it for friends, I split the herbs (they are bulky, and go far), but I use the required ammount of salt for each bath/gallon pot of water.

Not that buying premade sitz satchels is at all bad, but this was so much cheaper for the same number of satchels.

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by JenRN 

L&D nurse here. Just wanted to say that we instruct our postpartum patients to just soak in a (clean) tub, filled 2-3 inches with warm water.

Sitz baths are nice (I used one at the hospital) but can be awkward. Personally I felt more relief from soaking in my tub.

I think I will just use my tub then, I don't feel like buying a bulky plastic sitz tub that I may use once or twice and which may be awkward. Thank you for the input :)

[Mamatoabunch]

I just take baths, I have never done a sitz bath.

[ElizabethE]

I've never really heard of taking herbal or sitz baths PP until recently. I know, crazy, right?

I had a question about PP care. I was always told that I couldn't take baths for the recovery period PP (only showers, due to risks of infection I guess?). My question is... as UCers, and especially since conditions during and after birth tend to be quite different, what are your thoughts on showering/bathing allowances PP?

[Mamatoabunch]

Originally Posted by ElizabethE 

I've never really heard of taking herbal or sitz baths PP until recently. I know, crazy, right?

I had a question about PP care. I was always told that I couldn't take baths for the recovery period PP (only showers, due to risks of infection I guess?). My question is... as UCers, and especially since conditions during and after birth tend to be quite different, what are your thoughts on showering/bathing allowances PP?

I have always taken baths right away. As soon as I came home from the hospital after the c/s of my twins, then w/ my HB w/ my third and the rest UC. I love baths! I usually take a bath very soon after birth, like hours.
 

[ElizabethE]

I was usually helped to a shower within 24-48 hours. The first time they tried to get me to right away but I began losing consciousness, so they rushed a bunch of nurses in to get me right to bed. :/ The second time I was too tired and in too much pain that day to even think about getting up and in the shower, so I waited and the nurses seemed to understand why. I don't think I showered 'til I got home (again, no baths).

I was always told though that I couldn't resume baths until after the 6 week healing period. They said showers only. Since I wasn't always very energetic, this would sometimes amount to me sitting or kneeling in the shower to bathe.

This actually brings up another question-- what about sex? I was always told that I needed to heal the 6 weeks before any sex or exercise, but since often UC doesn't involve the same kind of "recovery" or "healing" that other birthing requires, have any of you found that these restrictions are also different for you?

[Mamatoabunch]

Originally Posted by ElizabethE 

I was usually helped to a shower within 24-48 hours. The first time they tried to get me to right away but I began losing consciousness, so they rushed a bunch of nurses in to get me right to bed. :/ The second time I was too tired and in too much pain that day to even think about getting up and in the shower, so I waited and the nurses seemed to understand why. I don't think I showered 'til I got home (again, no baths).

I was always told though that I couldn't resume baths until after the 6 week healing period. They said showers only. Since I wasn't always very energetic, this would sometimes amount to me sitting or kneeling in the shower to bathe.

This actually brings up another question-- what about sex? I was always told that I needed to heal the 6 weeks before any sex or exercise, but since often UC doesn't involve the same kind of "recovery" or "healing" that other birthing requires, have any of you found that these restrictions are also different for you?

This idea of baths came up on another board. I have never heard the advice myself of no baths. I just can't imagine why. I labored in water, gave birth in water after all. Anyway, baths here right away.

We have never waited 6 weeks to resume sex, usually it is around 2-3 weeks, one 4 weeks, last baby 9 days PP. If I have desire and feel up to it is right for us.

[lizzie]

I was always told to avoid baths post partum as well, but thought it was illogical in light of waterbirthing. I'm actually not a huge fan of baths and prefer showers, so I didn't think much of it, but I was planning on using herbal sitz baths this time. I hadn't heard of the herbal solutions either! I will definitely be checking out that recipe, thanks for sharing, Italiamom! Not sure if I'll actually use the tub or just a peri bottle though. Both sound like they'd be nice.

With our last baby, it was maybe 3 weeks pp before we were having sex again. I wasn't bleeding anymore and it certainly seemed like the thing to do at the time. We were *gentle* but we were happy! ;) And had no issues as a result. With DD, I was bleeding way too much for just past the 6 wk mark. Didn't appeal.