Perineal Care After Birth

Why Perineal Care Matters

After a vaginal birth, the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) is often sore, swollen, or stretched. If your partner had a tear or an episiotomy, the area will have stitches that need time to heal. Proper care reduces the risk of infection, speeds healing, and makes the first days much more comfortable.

Cleaning and Hygiene

• The hospital usually provides a peri bottle for rinsing after using the toilet. Fill it with warm water and spray the area from front to back
• Pat dry with soft toilet paper or a peri pad. Do not wipe
• Change maternity pads every 2 to 4 hours in the first days. Change them more often if bleeding is heavy
• Shower daily and let warm water run over the area. Do not use soap directly on the perineum
• If the hospital provides numbing spray or witch hazel pads, show your partner how to use them

Managing Pain and Swelling

• Ice packs wrapped in a thin cloth can be applied for 10 to 20 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours
• Sitz baths, shallow warm baths that cover only the hips and buttocks, can be done 2 to 3 times per day starting the day after birth. Many hospitals provide a sitz bath basin that fits over the toilet
• Over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen is often recommended and is safe while breastfeeding
• Witch hazel pads placed on the maternity pad can soothe the area

Signs to Call the Provider

• Pain that gets worse instead of better after the first few days
• Redness, warmth, or swelling that spreads
• Fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Foul-smelling discharge from the vagina or the perineal area
• Difficulty urinating or emptying the bladder completely

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are common after birth due to the pressure of pushing. They can be treated with over-the-counter creams, witch hazel pads, sitz baths, and stool softeners. Hemorrhoids usually improve within a week or two after birth.