Postpartum Tips: Top 5 Reasons to Shower Daily

I recognize that not everybody showers every day, that some people prefer baths and that there is even some research to suggest that showering every day depletes the healthy flora. After giving birth; however, you should seriously consider it a necessity. Hear me out!

The Top 5 Reasons To Shower Every Day

1. Postpartum Sweat

The sweat. Postpartum sweat is sweat of the greasiest, slimiest type. It tends to be worse at night and can be enough to even saturate your pajamas. With sweat like this, it’s hard to feel fresh. A daily shower will help wash away the sweat and have you feeling cleaner and fresher.

2. Postpartum Bleeding and Pads

The blood. Postpartum bleeding can last up to 4 weeks. During this time tampons, menstrual cups and menstrual discs (like Flex) are prohibited and pads or absorbent briefs must be worn instead. Sitting in your secretions does not make one feel fresh or glamorous. It can make you feel icky and stinky. There is only so much cleansing a peribottle can do. A daily shower (or two) is the fix for this also.

3. Baby Spit-up is Not Exactly Perfume

Most babies spit up some. Some babies spit up a lot! None of it smells pleasant crusted into your clothes or smeared on your neck. Taking a shower at least daily helps to wash the forgotten spit up off of your body and out of your hair.

4. Keeping Incision Clean is Essential

Washing the bacteria off of your skin daily after a c-section especially is vitally important in helping wound healing and preventing infection. If you’ve had a tear or an episiotomy, keeping your stitches clean is important. If you’ve had a surgical birth, it is even more important to keep your skin clean. Often after a c/s there is loose skin that can hang over the incision creating a warm, moist environment. Showering off daily is important to keep skin free of infection.

5. Sensory Experience/Chance to reset

Sometimes a shower is a good time to reset. It is a sensory experience with the feel of the water hitting your skin, feeling the temperature of the water, the constant soothing sound of water through the shower head, the smell of the shampoos and soaps. Being in the shower is something during a time of great transition and a lot of new experiences that can feel familiar and routine. Taking a shower every day can help you feel something normal from your life before baby

Bonus: During a time of sleep deprivation, hopping in a cold shower even for just a minute or two can help wake you up too.

In conclusion, my opinion is that a shower a day in the postpartum period should be considered your homework. It doesn’t have to be a long shower, but carving out time to make yourself fresh and new each day is important. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby ☀️

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