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Perineal Healing Tips

• Sit on a doughnut or half-moon shaped pillow to avoid placing more pressure on the area.
  
• Apply an ice pack to the area as often as you like. Leave it on for no more than 20 minutes at a time and take a break of at least 20 minutes between using the ice.
  
• Prepare a soothing sitz bath. Run warm water until the bath is just deep enough to cover your hip bones. Many women find a sitz bath several times a day more convenient than a full bath. Add 3 drops lavender essential oil and 3 drops cypress oil, and mix vigorously. Sit and enjoy! You can also double the amounts in this formula for a regular bath.
  
• Keep some witch hazel or aloe, or a mixture of the two, in the refrigerator. Use a plastic squeeze bottle to apply to the perineal area as often as you like. This mixture will ease discomfort and encourage healing of the perineal tissues.
  
• Apply some tea tree oil to the perineal area with a q-tip or cotton ball. You can dilute the tea tree oil with ¼ teaspoon almond or olive oil. Then sprinkle on a mixture of equal parts of goldenseal, comfrey, myrrh, and Echinacea powders. Hold a warm wash cloth on the area. This will help to reduce swelling and redness after a few applications.
  
• When wiping after urination, you may want to just rinse with water or your plastic squeeze bottle solution and dab or drip dry.
  
• Do kegels. The kegel muscles are the support system for the muscles of the lower pelvis. Contracting them tones the muscles that support your uterus. Put one hand on your abdomen and one hand on your perineum. Contract your kegel muscles in the same way you do when you hold your urination. Contract these muscles carefully and slowly. Repeat 3 times a day the first week, adding two kegels each week until you’re up to 15. Don’t force yourself and do less if that feels better.