4 Ways of Avoiding Vaginal Infections After Giving Birth to Your Baby

4 Ways of Avoiding Vaginal Infections After Giving Birth to Your Baby

17 Aug 2017 | 3 min Read

Babychakra

Author | 1369 Articles

Your body is highly vulnerable to infections immediately after delivery due to the hormonal changes and the process of childbirth. Right from vaginal soreness to urinary tract infections, hygiene is key to healing your vagina. It doesn’t 

matter whether you had a vaginal delivery or a  C-section!

 

 

Here are a few things you must do –

Disinfect your hands – Wash your hands every time you visit the washroom, before and after you touch your private parts. While it sounds simple, this is best way to avoid several infections.

Use sanitary pads – Postpartum urinary incontinence is common in women after delivery. If you leak urine when coughing or laughing and can’t control the urine till you reach the bathroom, use sanitary pads to prevent urine from leaking onto the wounds. Change the sanitary napkin at least four times a day and after every bowel movement. Use only sanitary napkins for the first 6 weeks after delivery. Avoid using tampons.

 

You can use pads made of natural materials too. To know more, click here.

 

Source: thehealthsite.com

Wash vaginal area often – After moving bowels and urination, wash the vaginal area with a squirt bottle to douse the area. Remember to pat dry to prevent unwanted fungal infections that thrive in moisture. You can squirt warm water from the front to the back and pat the area dry. Always keep the stitch area whether from the C-section or the episiotomy cut dry and clean.

 

 

 

 

Keep an eye out for infection- Watch for any signs of infection. One common sign in the postnatal period is bleeding that is heavier than usual with a lot of clots and foul smell. Such unusual symptoms should be reported to the gynecologist immediately. Look out for redness, pain or greenish-yellow pus formation over the episiotomy wound as they are the early signs of an infection. Sitting and soaking in a tub of warm water can help promote wound healing after a vaginal delivery too.

 

 

 

Your vagina has done a lot of work in giving birth to your baby! Take care of it as you would take care of your baby!!

References

1.AWHONN. (2006). The Compendium of Postpartum Care, 2nd Edition. Philadelphia, PA: Medical Broadcasting Company.
2.Riley, L. (2006). You & Your Baby: Pregnancy. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Corporation

Disclaimer: BabyChakra does not promote self-diagnosis or self-medication. The views expressed are of a gynaecologist and are purely for informative purposes.

 

Read More On Baby

A

gallery
send-btn

Suggestions offered by doctors on BabyChakra are of advisory nature i.e., for educational and informational purposes only. Content posted on, created for, or compiled by BabyChakra is not intended or designed to replace your doctor's independent judgment about any symptom, condition, or the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or treatment for a given person.