If you've just given birth, most likely you are a bit sore in your perineum - the area between your vagina and anus. This discomfort can be greatly compounded if you have stitches. I am not a doula, but I did have a third-degree tear from birthing my first child. If you're not sure what that is, and you haven't delivered your baby yet, don't ask - you don't want to know. Fortunately, while various options will be suggested by your care providers to help you heal, special insight is available through alternative birthing experts. The following three suggestions, from which I greatly benefited, were recommended to me by my doula:
Frozen Witch Hazel Pads. A few weeks before your due date, purchase plenty of sanitary napkins, Ziploc sandwich bags, and several bottles of witch hazel. Completely saturate each napkin with witch hazel, put each one individually into a sandwich bag, zip it up, and place it in your freezer. Some health practitioners will recommend that you put Tucks pads on a sanitary napkin, but these frozen witch hazel pads are essentially the same thing only 10 times better. Tucks pads are small and can slip around. Plus, although they are cool, they're not frozen. After you deliver your baby, put one of these frozen pads into your underwear and experience the most wonderful relief. Your bottom will thank you for your forethought!
Sitz Bath. A sitz bath basin can be purchased at your local drug store and sometimes hospitals even give you one to take home. It's a plastic basin that fits on top of your toilet seat. Fill it with warm water several times a day and sit on it to soak your perineum. This will feel nice and help speed the healing process.
Hemorrhoid Cushion. This is a cushion with a big hole in the middle. Don't get the cheap red rubber ring one - it's rather uncomfortable. Instead, get one made from foam, covered with cloth. You can purchase a quality cushion from a medical supply store. You probably won't need one, though, unless you're experiencing pain from a tear, episiotomy, or hemorrhoids from pushing.
Drink Plenty of Water. And take a natural or synthetic stool softener, if necessary. Now is not the time to risk constipation. Water will help to keep your stool looser and easier to pass.
A squirt bottle filled with water is important for keeping your perineal area clean, but it won't really aid in pain relief per se. Although I thought I'd never be able to walk with my legs together again or have sex, I did heal completely. And thanks to these tips from my doula, my pain was greatly minimized.
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