Let's face it, mums are superheroes, and sometimes superheroes need sidekicks, right?
That's why so many people swear by peri bottles after welcoming a baby into the world — because after experiencing the joyous (and painful) event that is childbirth, you may need a little extra help down there.
The vagina and perineal area are likely to be quite sore and you may have some tears and stitches in the region following childbirth [1]. This is an incredibly common experience and there are ways to make this easier for yourself.
This is where the peri bottle comes in. If you're wondering what is a peri bottle and how to use it, we have you covered. And be warned, it might just become your best friend after welcoming your baby.
What is a peri bottle?
The word 'peri' is short for perineum, the area between your vagina and anus. This part of your body will be most affected during childbirth and will likely be very sore and swollen for a couple of weeks, even if you don't have stitches.
You will also likely experience a discharge known as lochia, a combination of blood and uterine lining that can stick around for a few weeks.
Going to the bathroom after welcoming a baby can also be painful, and this is where the peri bottle, or perineum bottle, comes in.
Kin's Peri Bottle is a true must-have for the postpartum period thanks to its ability to promote healing.
As the name suggests, the Peri Bottle is an ergonomically designed bottle that features a narrow angled neck that allows you to clean yourself gently and easily while also preventing infection and helping to speed up recovery time.
Our Peri Bottle has been designed to act as a portable bidet that dilutes the stinging effect of urine on your sore or stitched perineum. And, we created a precise, angled spout so you only spritz the areas that need it, including C-section incisions.
The Peri Bottle is best used alongside Kin's Healing Foam, which uses the proven healing properties of witch hazel to relieve discomfort from perineal tears and haemorrhoids associated with birth.
And, you can take Kin's Peri Bottle with you out and about in your handbag (or baby bag) as it's leakproof and comes in a discreet, waterproof storage bag.
How can a peri bottle help in the postpartum period?
As we mentioned, a peri bottle is like a portable bidet, and it has many benefits for new mums experiencing postpartum pain and perineal tearing.
After giving birth, new parents will often experience perineal pain as well as soreness, bleeding and discharge.
Using traditional toilet paper straight after delivery is often not a pleasant experience, which is why peri bottles are incredibly useful when going to the toilet.
Instead of using paper to wipe, squirt warm water from the peri bottle to clean the vulva and perineum and then gently pat dry with toilet paper. Avoid wiping where possible.
Peri bottles are especially useful in the first week postpartum, as you will be feeling even more tender down there, so be sure to pack one in your hospital bag!
How long after birth can you use a peri bottle?
You'll be ready to start using your peri bottle following your first shower after giving birth.
There aren't any rules about how long you can use a peri bottle — it all depends on your healing process and how long you find it to be helpful.
However, most postpartum people use a peri bottle for about a week after giving birth, when the vagina is still tender and sore. You may want to continue using a peri bottle after the first week or perhaps until the postpartum bleeding stops.
If you are still experiencing pain while going to the toilet after more than a week, be sure to mention this to your doctor so they can check that the area is healing adequately or if there is an infection.
What is the best way to use peri bottles after giving birth?
Perineal irrigation bottles are really straightforward to use and all you need is the bottle itself and some warm water.
Here's how to use a peri bottle:
- Simply fill the peri bottle with warm water and point the angled neck at the area you want to clean while you're sitting on the toilet
- Squeeze the bottle and spray the water over the area to clean away urine and reduce the stinging feeling that is associated with urination after birth
- Use toilet paper to pat the area dry gently, but don't wipe, as this can cause further irritation.
The best time to use the peri bottle is while urinating to help reduce the burning sensation as your urine comes into contact with the perineum.
You can continue using the peri bottle for as long as you like until you're healed, however, see your doctor if any pain persists beyond the first week.
There are a handful of other items that can be used alongside Kin's Peri Bottle that will help make the postpartum experience easier, especially when it comes to using the toilet.
Kin's Sitz Tub helps to relieve your tender and sensitive bits after birth. When combined with our specially formulated Sitz Salts, the Sitz Bath helps relieve constipation, shrink haemorrhoids and reduce perineal swelling.
The Sitz Bath allows you to cleanse, moisturise, relieve itchiness and prevent infections to help you heal.
Simply pop the Sitz Tub in the rim of your toilet, add warm water, and Sitz Salts and soak your perineum for 15 to 20 minutes.
A stool softener is also helpful at this time as it makes bowel movements easier and puts less stress on the perineum with straining. This is especially helpful if you have haemorrhoids. You may also find sitting on a pillow more comfortable as well.
Gathering an arsenal of products, including peri bottles and stool softeners, and having them at your disposal will ensure that going to the bathroom after birth is as easy as it possibly can be.
What do you put in a peri bottle?
Simply add warm water to your peri bottle and you're good to go. You can also follow it up with the Healing Foam, which contains witch hazel. The witch hazel assists the healing process, reduces swelling and offers much-needed relief to the perineal area.
Aloe vera and Epsom salts are also often used alongside peri bottles but we recommend chatting to your doctor before adding anything other than water to your peri bottle, just to be safe.
Can you use a peri bottle if you've had a C-section?
Even if you didn't experience a vaginal birth, you might still find a peri bottle to be useful — especially if you laboured before having the C-section, which means your perineum could still be painful and swollen.
Passing gas or doing a number two can be difficult and straining will likely aggravate your incision and sore abdomen, so a peri bottle can come in handy here.
If your C-section was planned, you might still find yourself in pain when trying to wipe yourself or the location of your incision could make bending over to clean yourself difficult, which is where the peri bottle can help.
You will also experience the same bleeding as those who had a vaginal birth and the peri bottle is great for managing this scenario.
Plus, you can also use a peri bottle to clean your incision to avoid the wound becoming infected.
It's totally up to you whether you use a peri bottle postpartum but it really is a great sidekick for those early weeks after birth and is a handy addition to your hospital bag.
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