Note the shower after cesarean section

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Obstetrician - Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Going through the dangerous and difficult process of giving birth, a woman's body will become extremely sensitive and stressed. For cesarean section, the most important thing is how to limit the risk of injury and infection at the incision site. Therefore, bathing after cesarean section is still controversial.

1. Some benefits of bathing after caesarean section

Bathing after cesarean section is recommended by many doctors because it gives the mother a lot of benefits from physical to mental, such as:
Helps mother feel clean, contributes to recovery spirit and energy to take care of the child. Warm water in the shower can stimulate blood circulation in the mother's body. Can relieve stress, relieve pain and discomfort. Normally, the body tends to become tired and achy due to trauma during pregnancy. Bathing can help relax these sensations. Bathing will also clean the wound and limit the risk of wound infection from the outside. The body needs to be cleaned, especially the 2 breasts because the baby needs to be breastfed in the first time after birth. Relieves postpartum chest pain in women.

2. Some notes on hygiene after cesarean section

A cesarean birth is completely different from a vaginal birth, as the mother has had to undergo a major surgery. In addition, the condition of the incision may vary from subject to subject.
To ensure the recovery process, in the first few days after giving birth, the mother should rest in place completely in bed. However, it is still necessary to keep the body clean by drying and changing clothes daily.
About 2-3 days later, you should start moving and walking gradually in close range. This is great for recovery. Also during this period, the doctor will encourage the bathing after cesarean section. Hair washing and other personal hygiene activities such as brushing teeth, washing face... do not need to be restricted. However, when bathing, it should be noted:
Use a gentle shower with warm water, take a quick shower with soap. Do not rub the incision. After bathing, it is necessary to dry the body (especially the incision area) with a clean, soft cotton towel.

For the incision, absolutely do not apply any cream until the incision is completely healed. Usually, the recovery period lasts about 3 weeks. During this time, pay attention to always keep the area around the incision and the incision clean and dry.

3. Things to remember to ensure safe bathing after giving birth

Showering after a cesarean section can pose some risks for the mother in the beginning. So, to prevent, you should:
Do not take a bath without consulting your doctor (for the first few days). When the wound is infected, bathing should be limited. Make sure the bath water is neither too hot nor too cold. If the temperature of the water exceeds the mother's tolerance, she will feel dizzy, which is also due in part to postpartum blood loss. Use slippers with good grip in the toilet to avoid falls. In the first washes after giving birth can cause vaginal discharge. This is normal and you don't need to worry too much.

4. Other issues related to hygiene after cesarean section

4.1. Postpartum discharge After giving birth to a baby, whether by cesarean section or vaginal delivery, mothers will experience some discharge (similar to menstruation). This is due to the shedding of the endometrium.
Initially, the discharge will be bright red and profuse. The amount of health will gradually decrease with lighter colors (magenta, rose red, yellow, white...). The discharge can last about 6 weeks. Therefore, you should use a tampon (sanitary pad) to absorb the above discharge. To avoid problems with vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, etc., it is necessary to change the dressing regularly every 2-4 hours.
4.2. Hygiene issues Urination and defecation during this time also need to be paid attention as follows:
After defecation/urinating... mother needs to wash with warm water and dry with a soft towel or washcloth children. Never use toilet paper. Take stool softeners and drink lots of water to prevent constipation and avoid affecting the wound when defecating. In addition, eat a lot of fiber to help the body laxative, avoid postpartum constipation.

5. Postpartum mother care with maternity package at Vinmec

For the case of cesarean section, the health status of the mother may be different, so it is necessary to take care of the mother after the cesarean section with the support of experienced doctors.
When participating in the Vinmec maternity package, mother and baby will rest in a fully equipped hospital room similar to an international hotel room. Along with that, mother and baby will also be cared for by a team of doctors and nurses at Vinmec. In addition, the baby will receive Vitamin K injections, newborn screenings, and a full health assessment after birth.
Doctor Pham Thi Yen has 11 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Doctor with strengths and deep understanding in:
Examination and consultation of normal pregnancies, pathological pregnancies, high-risk pregnancies Examination and treatment of gynecological diseases: cervicitis, cervical ectropion Surgery Laparoscopic surgery for gynecological diseases: ectopic pregnancy, uterine tumor, ovarian tumor Surgery for breast, vulvar, vaginal, cervical tumors Obstetric surgery: cesarean section, examination and treatment of endocrine disorders in women of all ages: puberty, reproductive age; perimenopausal age. See more details about the benefits of pregnant mothers in the maternity care package package at Vinmec International General Hospital.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

References: parenting.firstcry.com, medlineplus.gov