7/19/2020 https://www.myrxtx.

ca/print/new/documents/MA_PI/en/prenatal_postpartum_care/picarevagina

Care of the Vaginal Area (Perineum) after Childbirth—

What You Need to Know
After delivering a baby, many women feel soreness or pain in the external vagina and surrounding area (perineum)
due to an episiotomy (incision) or tearing during delivery.

Suggestions to relieve symptoms and help with healing:

Avoid touching the area.

Change sanitary pads at least every 4–6 hours. Do not use tampons for postpartum bleeding.
Use a perineal squirt bottle to pour warm water over the perineal area after going to the bathroom.
Use a sitz bath (warm water, either in the bathtub or a special sitz bath that fits over the toilet seat) after bowel
movements.
Always pat the area dry from front to back to avoid bringing germs from the rectum into the vaginal area.
To reduce swelling, apply a cold gel pack several times during the first 12–24 hours. Apply the gel pack for 10–
20 minutes at a time. Try resting on your side with the gel pack between your legs.
You can also wet and freeze a clean maxi-pad or newborn diaper, or wrap an ice pack in a towel and use
any of these instead of a gel pack.
Avoid constipation by eating fibre-rich foods and drinking plenty of water.
Use a pillow underneath you when sitting.
Avoid standing or sitting for long periods, as this can further strain the perineum.
Do Kegel exercises to increase circulation and help promote healing. Kegel exercises are small squeezing
movements of the vaginal muscles, similar to when you try to stop urinating. Try holding the contraction for up to
8 seconds, then relax. Repeat the contracting and relaxing several times a day.
Get plenty of rest with your feet up to take pressure off the area.
Use medicated wipes (such as Tucks) to cleanse and soothe the area.
Ask your health-care provider about using acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium for pain.

When should you see your health-care provider?

See your health-care provider if you have severe pain, a foul-smelling discharge or a high fever.

CPhA does not assume any legal liability and makes no representation or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability or usefulness
of this information. Once printed there is no quarantee the information is up-to-date. [Printed on: 07-19-2020 05:35 PM]
RxTx, Minor Ailments: Information for Patients © Canadian Pharmacists Association, 2020. All rights reserved

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