Let me confess: My self-care game hasn’t always been on point.
At 24 years old, I was a new mama. My self-worth and confidence, in general, was on the low side to start with. Add into the equation a new baby and being without much support, I definitely wasn’t feeling the whole “worthy of care and love” vibe. My postpartum self-care consisted of a rinse from the peri bottle when I went to the bathroom, which was always with a baby in tow – and maybe TWO sitz baths, tops.
It was no surprise that I was exhausted, anxious, and questioning my every move.
In all honesty, it wasn’t until I was well into my 30’s when I started to switch up the narrative I had been listening to and really dug into my worthiness as an individual. Shadow work, personal growth, and lots of grace with myself led me to a different place by the time I was expecting my son at almost 40 years of age.
Couple that with the knowledge I had learned as a postpartum doula and a registered nurse, I was more than ready to make this postpartum experience AMAZING*chefs kiss*.
Postpartum self-care should be a combination of rest, nourishment, healing support, and emotional/spiritual support.
And while I could talk for AGES about each of these components, today I’m going to focus on healing support – more specifically, the question I get asked often:
Which is better, sitz baths or vaginal steaming?
Before I answer this, let’s break down the basics of both sitz baths and v-steaming.
I’ll start with the one you are likely already acquainted with: sitz baths. Put simply, a sitz bath is the process of sitting your perineum in a shallow, warm bath of water, usually steeped with herbs. It is amazing for alleviating the pain of tender tissues in the postpartum recovery period and is relatively simple to do. The use of healing herbs in this preparation can do wonders to not only rejuvenate your body after the challenges of childbirth, but also relax & recenter your mind, and replenish your soul. You can do this in a bathtub with a few inches of water, as well as by using a shallow seat that sits on your toilet seat, typically made of plastic.
In the postpartum period, it can also be helpful to use sitz baths to keep your perineum clean, as that area can be super tender! It is often suggested to do a sitz bath soak at least a few times per day, but you can honestly do it as often as needed.
BONUS TIP: I love to brew up extra sitz bath tea for my new mama clients to keep in the fridge for easy use. It can be then added to their bathtub or even used in their peri bottle for an extra-soothing rinse when using the restroom.
Now on to my *personal* favorite, vaginal steaming. Vaginal steaming (v-steaming/yoni steaming/pelvic steaming) is an ancient healing practice using herbs and steam to support the pelvic region. Basically, you are sitting or kneeling over a bowl of steam for anywhere from 10-30 minutes. This steam is most often done with an herb concoction – a tea – that is specific to the needs of the client, however there can be benefits from even simply steaming with plain water. Traditionally, vaginal steaming is used globally for various reasons (including fertility or gynecological problems), but they all use it for postpartum support.
When used for postpartum support, it is usually done for 30 consecutive days (10 days if post-cesarean) to support a complete postpartum womb cleanse (amount of time varies among customs). While it is preferable to start steaming as soon as possible postpartum, you must wait until there is no more fresh (bright/dark red) bleeding. This ensures that the uterine blood vessels are closed, as steaming could increase bleeding if they are still open.
There is an excellent trial study called the Fourth Trimester Vaginal Steam Study that really sealed the deal for me with deciding to go with vaginal steaming after my son was born. This study found that postpartum steaming was useful for:
- Returning vulva to its pre-pregnancy state more quickly
- Expelling lochia (postpartum discharge) in a shorter period of time
- Reducing the strength and occurrence of postpartum contractions, also known as after-birth pains
- Lowering blood pressure and pulse
- Helping the uterus shrink below the pelvic bone more quickly
- Accelerating waist girth and weight reduction
- Alleviating suture discomfort such as itchiness, tightness, or tenderness
- Improving bowel regularity
- Reducing postpartum hemorrhoids
For me, vaginal steaming postpartum had another significant benefit: helping me to reconnect with my body after the changes that occurred through pregnancy and childbirth. For me it was the most radical self-care + connection with myself – because nothing tells your body “I love you” like taking sacred time to care for it, connect with high intention, and honor what it has done for you. Need I say more?
So to loop back around to the question at hand: Which is better, sitz baths or vaginal steaming?
BOTH.
Immediately after birth, you can start using sitz baths to offer cleansing, comfort, and enhance healing. The support those tender tissues receive from that warm, herbal tea is second to none in those early hours and days. Not to mention, if you plan ahead and have some of that herbal tea on standby for your peri bottle, your perineal support in those early days will be set.
Once you are no longer having any fresh (bright/dark red) bleeding and your lochia has transitioned into a pinkish brown or watery pink (also known as lochia serosa), you are good to start postpartum steaming. If you have no contraindications, you can steam postpartum daily for 30 days (if you gave birth via c-section, steaming can start at 6 weeks postpartum, for 10 days). *Please note, it is always best to work with a vaginal steam facilitator (like me!) when starting your v-steaming. They will perform a thorough intake process to help determine the proper herb selection and steaming plan specific to your individual postpartum needs.
BONUS TIP: A combo of sitz baths and vaginal steaming will give optimal healing! You can steam daily, then use your sitz baths (and sitz tea in your peri bottle) throughout the day as needed.
When it is all said and done, your postpartum self-care is crucial to not only your physical recovery, but also your emotional and spiritual recovery as well. Plan for time to take part in your sitz baths and steaming with intention, holding that space sacred. Take a moment to be present in the moment and honor your body for the great work it has done for you.
You deserve it.
P.S. Curious to learn more about vaginal steaming? Learn the basics of steaming, it’s benefits, and how I can support you with it virtually HERE. Interested in postpartum steaming? Check out my postpartum steam packages HERE. And as always, drop me an email with questions.
