Postpartum Sitz Bath Benefits
Postpartum sitz baths are special baths that help ease pain, prevent infection, and promote recovery. They are especially helpful if you had tearing or an episiotomy. Are you feeling tender down there? Of course you are… you just had a baby! Even if you didn’t tear you can expect some pain in your perineum after delivery. Sitz baths can help ease some of the pain, prevent infection and reduce swelling.
What is a sitz bath?
“Sitz bath” comes from the German word “sitzen,” which means to sit. And, you guessed it, a sitz bath is a pool of water that you sit in, with only your hips and bottom submerged. You can use epsom salts, apple cider vinegar or you can make a tea using different plant medicine, tapping into the powerful healing properties of herbs.
You can take a sitz bath using a special basin designed for this purpose and placed securely on a toilet seat, or you can fill up your bathtub with a small amount of water and create a sitz bath that way.
What are the benefits of using a sitz bath for pain relief after childbirth?
There are a number of benefits to sitz baths:
Improves blood flow to the perineal area, which reduces swelling and inflammation and promotes healing.
Relaxes the muscles in the perineum, which can relieve the pain of a tear or episiotomy.
Soothes the soreness that comes from childbirth stretching.
Relieves the itching that often accompanies stitches.
Keep things clean down there, helping to lower the risk of infection.
A sitz bath can also help ease pain and itching from hemorrhoids — another postpartum symptom you may be experiencing.
Instructions on how to use a sitz bath
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up and use a sitz bath:
Fill a cleaned and disinfected sitz bath basin or tub with two to three inches of water. You want the water to come up only to your hips when you sit down. Using a specialized basin that fits on top of a toilet is easier than using a tub, since you won’t have to take your clothes off, but not all of us have these sitting around in our homes. So a bathtub will work just fine.
Use warm (not hot) water. Some women prefer cool water in their sitz bath — especially since cool water tends to reduce swelling more effectively than warm water.
Experts recommend soaking once a day for up to 20 minutes max. If there are stitches in the perineum, too much soaking can cause the tissues to break down and the stitches to fall apart, so be sure to ask your practitioner for a recommendation.
When you’re done, pat the area dry with a soft, clean towel, or use a hairdryer on cool setting. (You'll want to keep the area as dry as possible, especially if you have stitches). Don’t rub — that’ll only increase your soreness.
Be sure you wash your bath tub out and only use a well sterilized vessel before soaking in it.
A few of the symptoms you might experience in the recovery period could include:
Abdominal pain and cramping
Hemorrhoids
Constipation
Perineal trauma, soreness, and swelling
Vaginal Bleeding
Stitches to larger tears
Small tears that do nor require stitches
A warm sitz bath will immediately soothe any stinging sensations you have around tears or stitches. The warm water helps to increase the blood flow to that area of your body so you will heal faster.
There are many different ways you can make up a sitz bath.
You can use warm water to increase blood flow to the area.
You can use cool water to reduce swelling and temporarily ease pain.
You can add epsom salts or sea salts to a sitz bath to help kill bad bacteria and semi-sterilize the area.
Here are a few different recipes you can use:
Sea Salt Calendula sitz bath
2 cups sea salt
1 cup dried calendula flowers
Fill bath tub 1/3 full with warm water
Add ingredients and let steep for 4 minutes before you get in.
Soak for 12-20 minutes
Benefits: Powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, relief from cramping, hemorrhoid relief
Apple Cider Vinegar sitz bath
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Fill the bath with warm water and add apple cider vinegar. Only fill to your waist, and be sure that the bath is clean.
Soak for 5 minutes
Benefits: Apple cider vinegar helps to balance pH and restore normal flora, which is especially helpful if you had IV antibiotics during labor
Comfrey and Calendula
Comfrey and calendula are renowned for their skin healing properties while the lavender in this recipe creates a soothing finish.
1/2 cup comfrey leaves
1/2 cup dried lavender
1/2 cup calendula blossoms
1/2 cup sea salt
In a medium pot bring 4 cups of water to boil.
Add comfrey, lavender, and calendula
Remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes covered.
Strain tea water and use in the sitz bath also with sea salt.
Once the water temperature is comfortable, relax in your sitz bath for 15-20 minutes.
Plantain, Yarrow, Witch Hazel
Plantain has been used for centuries in order to heal inflammation and promote quick healing. Yarrow has wonderful antibacterial and antifungal properties. Chamomile has a relaxing scent and is helpful for soothing anxiety and inflammation.
2 ounces lavender blossoms
2 ounces plantain leaf
2 ounces yarrow
2 ounces calendula
2 ounces chamomile
1 cup of sea salt
2 ounces witch hazel
In a medium pot bring 4 cups of water to boil.
Add lavender, plantain leaf, yarrow, chamomile, and calendula.
Remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes covered.
Strain tea water and use in the sitz bath along with sea salt and witch hazel.
Once the water temperature is comfortable, relax in your sitz bath for 15-20 minutes.
Lavender, Sage, and Rosemary
You can’t get away from lavender in these postpartum sitz bath recipes. It encourages healing and is extremely soothing. Sage is a potent anti-inflammatory and can help treat inflammation. Rosemary alleviates pain and boosts circulation.
1/2 cup dried lavender flowers
1/2 cup dried comfrey leaves
1/2 cup dried sage leaves
1/2 cup dried calendula flowers
1/2 cup dried rosemary
1/2 cup sea salt
In a medium pot bring 4 cups of water to boil.
Add sage, comfrey, lavender, rosemary, and calendula
Remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes covered.
Strain tea water and use in the sitz bath along with sea salt.
Once the water temperature is comfortable, relax in your sitz bath for 15-20 minutes.
You’ve worked hard to bring your little one into the world, and now it’s time to take care of yourself and do some healing. While it’s not quite leaving home and heading to a spa, a sitz bath in the comfort of your own bathroom may be just the TLC your body is seeking! Much love and healing to you.
