Postpartum Sitz Baths
This week we invited Amber Young, who worked in home birth for many years and is a hedgerow herbalist to talk with us about postpartum sitz baths. You may have heard about sitz baths in your local mom groups, from your doula, midwife, doctor, or during internet searches for postpartum care. Amber and I are here to demystify postpartum sitz baths.
What is a postpartum sitz bath?
You may be asking yourself, what is a sitz bath? A sitz bath is a traditional herbal infusion that helps to heal vaginal tissue after childbirth. It is a shallow, warm, and therapeutic herbal blend used in birth traditions worldwide. The word “sitz” comes from the German word “sitzen,” meaning to sit.
How do you do a sitz bath at home?
The first step for preparing a postpartum sitz bath at home is deciding what herbal blend you would like to use. There are many options available, commercially and in your own garden and community. It is important to note that people have different reactions to plants. We recommend that you check with your health care provider before making your herbal selection. Once you have selected the herbal blend that you will use, put it in a jar and add hot water. Just like tea, the longer that the herbs steep, the stronger the healing properties will be. Some people choose to let it infuse overnight. Once the infusion is complete, strain the herbs out. You can store this tea in the fridge for up to three days.
When you’re ready to enjoy your postpartum sitz bath, you will pour your blend into a small amount of fresh warm water. This should be just enough water to cover your bottom. Postpartum sitz baths can be done in a bathtub or a shallow tray that fits over your toilet. You can purchase a sitz bath tray at your local drug store or online. This is a beautiful self-care moment that you can use to relax, reflect or read, and drink a cup of tea. It is recommended to wait for at least 24 hours after birth to do a sitz bath.
Why is a sitz bath beneficial?
Sitz baths help ease the pain and discomfort of torn or stretched tissue after vaginal childbirth. Sitting in plain warm water is beneficial for healing and pain reduction. Sitting in an herbal bath adds strong healing properties from the plants that you choose.
Tying it all together
Sitz baths are one of many great postpartum healing practices that are available to you at home. As with every other aspect of postpartum healing and parenthood, it is important to choose the practices that feel good to you.
We hope you enjoyed this week’s blog, “postpartum sitz baths”. For more blogs on all things pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenthood please visit our website and check out our other weekly blogs.
