Can I take a bath during confinement?

Many pregnant women will encounter a particularly big problem after giving birth, that is, can they take a bath during the confinement period? Do they really have to not take a bath for a month and just waste it? This problem is very distressing to many people, so let's take a look at whether pregnant women can take a bath during the confinement period? What will happen if they take a bath? And if they can't take a bath, what is the reason?

There is a traditional custom that women cannot take a bath during confinement, but this has now been proven to be a wrong practice. So can new mothers take a bath during the confinement period? In fact, a lot of sweating, milk secretion and lochia produced in the lower body after delivery will make the skin very dirty and emit a very unpleasant odor, making the new mother uncomfortable and in a bad mental state. Moreover, a large number of pathogens accumulated on the skin and mucous membranes will take advantage of the situation and invade the body, causing folliculitis, endometritis, mastitis, and even sepsis.

Taking a bath during the confinement period not only cleans the body and resists bacteria, but also has the effect of promoting blood circulation and qi circulation. It can help new mothers relieve labor fatigue and maintain a comfortable mood. It can also promote blood circulation in the perineum wound and accelerate wound healing.

The traditional folk belief that women cannot take a bath during the confinement period is mainly because living conditions in the past were poor and there were no good bathrooms and heating facilities available for new mothers. During childbirth, in order to ensure the smooth delivery of the fetal head, the pelvic joints open under the action of hormones. Due to the force, the limb joints are stretched and gaps appear, and the joints of the body become more loose. Therefore, new mothers are very weak during the confinement period. If they catch a cold accidentally, they are very likely to catch a cold. People with weak bodies are more likely to suffer from "confinement diseases." However, with the improvement of living standards and the accelerated urbanization process, most families can provide an independent and warm bathing environment, so new mothers don't have to worry.

However, there are a few things you need to pay attention to when taking a bath after childbirth.

If there are no wounds or incisions in the perineum, you can take a shower 2-3 days after delivery in summer and 5-7 days in winter.

It is best to take a shower instead of a bath to avoid dirty water entering the vagina and causing infection. If the new mother is weak and cannot stand to bathe, a sponge bath can be used.

Postpartum bathing requires keeping warm and avoiding wind. In summer, the bathroom temperature can be kept at room temperature. In winter, it is cold, so the bathroom should be avoided from wind and kept warm, but the temperature should not be too high, otherwise a large amount of steam in the bathroom will be wiped away by the water on the body. Put on warm clothes in time before leaving the bathroom to avoid catching cold or being blown by the wind.

New mothers should not take too long to bathe each time, generally about 10 minutes is enough. If the perineal wound is large or there is a knife wound on the abdomen from a cesarean section, you should wait until the wound heals before showering. You can do a sponge bath before that.

After reading this analysis, many mothers may be cheering that they can take a bath now, and that bathing is not only harmless but also has many benefits. However, don't be too complacent and indulge yourself. You should also pay more attention when taking a bath. After all, your body is your own, so you should take good care of yourself.