Join Gina as she walks you through her perineal care routine at four days postpartum. She details her daily hygiene practices, including managing postpartum sweats, body odor, using a peri bottle, and choosing between adult diapers and pads. She shares her peri-care routine with sprays, balms, and the use of gentle compressive garments for support. Gina also emphasizes monitoring bleeding, rest, and bonding with baby. Check out our free postpartum recovery course and fitness programs to safely reconnect with your core and pelvic floor in the early weeks after birth!
Morning Refresh
After a long night filled with feedings and diaper changes, I finally managed to enjoy some lunch and squeeze in a shower. Let me tell you, postpartum sweats are no joke! A good shower always helps me feel more human. I’ve noticed that my body odor can get a bit intense during this phase, which I think is nature’s way of helping my baby find me. But hey, no one wants to smell bad, right? I’ve been loving Primally Pure’s deodorant to keep things fresh—definitely worth checking out if you’re in the market!
Essential Peri Care Routine
Post-shower, it’s time for some much-needed peri care. I’ve found that using an angled peri bottle makes this process a lot easier—trust me, you don’t want to be doing any acrobatics in the bathroom! Immediately after using the restroom, I rinse off with the peri bottle to keep things clean and comfortable. Wiping with toilet paper can be too harsh, so rinsing is key.
After rinsing, I use a perineal spray, and I’m currently enjoying one from Mother Love. Depending on how far along you are postpartum, you might also need to set up your pads or adult diapers. Personally, I prefer the adult diapers, like these from Rael—they’re more comfortable and less prone to shifting than pads.
Managing Discomfort
If you’re within the first couple of days postpartum, ice packs can be soothing. However, after the first 24-48 hours, you can probably skip those. If you have any stitches, a numbing foam can be a lifesaver, and applying a perineal balm for a week or two can really help with healing.
Supportive Garments
Once I’m all set with my diaper and peri care, I put on my Bao Bei bloomers. These provide gentle compression to support my perineum and belly, which helps with healing and blood flow. It’s crucial to avoid anything too tight, as that can put pressure on the pelvic floor and cause more issues. I wear these when I’m moving around more, especially if I’m getting in and out of bed.
Organized and Ready
To keep everything accessible, I’ve organized all my peri care essentials in a basket right by the toilet. It includes extra diapers, peri bottles, and sprays, so I’m never scrambling to find what I need. Just a quick tip: make sure to refill your peri bottle after each use to avoid being caught without it!
Rest and Recovery
The rest of my day involves a lot of resting in bed, gentle mobility exercises, and, of course, bonding with my baby. I’m keeping a close eye on my bleeding; if it increases, it’s a sign I might be doing too much and need to rest more. Thankfully, everything seems to be going well—bleeding is decreasing, my milk has come in, and baby is nursing like a champ!
Final Thoughts
I’ll be sharing more about my postpartum journey, so if you want to follow along, make sure to subscribe to my channel. I’m committed to normalizing this experience and providing support for others on a similar path.
If you’re seeking guidance during your postpartum recovery, I invite you to check out our free early postpartum recovery course. It’s designed for the first four to six weeks postpartum and includes gentle breathing drills and mobility exercises to help you reconnect with your core and pelvic floor.
After the free course, we also offer postpartum return to fitness programs, available in app-based formats or follow-along workout videos. I’ll be updating our programs this fall with new content featuring baby girl!
Thanks for joining me on this journey! I can’t wait to share more and support you in your own postpartum experience. 🌼