Postpartum is an amazing time to bond with your baby and get to know her.
But it can also be a very challenging time for many mothers, especially when it comes to the postpartum smell.
Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to eliminate that smell quickly so that you can focus on what matters most: your family.
This post is all about how to get rid of postpartum smell.
Postpartum Care Herbal Sitz Bath
If you’re not familiar with a Sitz bath, it’s a type of bath that is used to relieve pain and swelling in your lower body.
It can also help prevent infections after childbirth by keeping your perineum clean.
You can make your own sitz bath at home using things you already have in the house or that are easily found at any grocery store.
The ingredients needed for this recipe include:
- Water (enough to cover your bottom)
- Epsom salt (your preference on amount)
- Lavender essential oil (optional)
Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray
This spray is made with all-natural ingredients, including witch hazel, which helps to keep you feeling fresh.
It’s also non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about it harming your baby or yourself.
This spray can be used as a daily body spray and works great for postpartum care—you can use it as a douche or wipe down your bikini area after giving birth!
Peri-Bottle
A peri-bottle is a bottle that you can use to clean yourself after going to the bathroom.
It’s basically like using a bidet, but you don’t have to go out and buy anything special.
You probably have everything you need for this project around the house already!
Some women prefer not knowing what their vaginal discharge looks like, so if this is one of those women, I recommend buying an opaque bottle with a cap (like these).
If not, let’s get started! To make your own at home:
- Fill up your regular old shampoo or body wash bottle with water and leave it on the counter near where you sit down to pee/poop.
- When nature calls, grab your peri-bottle and squirt some water onto yourself while sitting down (don’t worry about getting urine on the floor—I promise—it won’t stain).
- Wipe dry with toilet paper afterward as usual.
Make Your Own Spray
If you want to make your own spray, mix together distilled water and witch hazel in a spray bottle.
Add a few drops of tea tree oil, which will help to kill bacteria, reduce inflammation and soothe itching skin.
Spray the mixture on your bottom at least once every day (and no more than three times per day) as needed.
Don’t use this mixture on broken skin—it can sting!
Vaginal Steaming
Vaginal steaming is a holistic treatment that can help with postpartum recovery.
The steam is meant to open up the pores of your cervix and vagina, allowing them to breathe more easily.
Vaginal steaming is often used in combination with other holistic treatments including herbal douches, massage, eating healthy foods, and engaging in exercise.
How do I do vaginal steaming?
Vaginal steaming involves sitting over a bowl of hot water while herbs are placed inside your vagina or on an insertable cup above the bowl that covers your vulva area (the outer part of your genitals).
You can use mugwort leaves for this purpose; others prefer marshmallow root powder or ground ginger root mixed with water instead of mugwort leaf tea because it doesn’t have any taste as mugwort does!
What should I expect from vaginal steaming?
Your body will feel relaxed once you’ve finished the treatment so that you’re ready for bedtime!
Some women also report feeling energized after undergoing this process.
Others say they feel more relaxed than usual which helps them sleep better through their night-time hours as well!
In general though: expect nothing more than what happens every time when doing any type of self-care routine at home (i.e., nothing special happens – just good feelings afterward!).
Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel is a great astringent, which means it helps to clean and tighten your skin.
It’s also good for healing cuts and scrapes, as well as skin conditions like acne and eczema.
Witch hazel contains tannins that have anti-inflammatory properties that can help with odor or irritation caused by sweating after giving birth.
Witch hazel has been used for generations as an herbal remedy for different types of infections, including cold sores, genital herpes, and shingles.
Use Ice Packs Down Below
As you know, one of the most common postpartum symptoms is swelling.
It can affect nearly every part of your body and make even simple tasks such as walking painful.
Swelling is caused by fluid retention, which happens when there’s an imbalance between fluid intake and excretion.
One way to reduce swelling is by using ice packs on your lower body—specifically, your genitals and hips—to help decrease blood flow and reduce inflammation.
If you’re experiencing pain down there (and I’m sure many moms are), ice packs are also a great way to relieve pain from hemorrhoids (those pesky inflamed veins in or near your anus).
If you have any questions about whether or not this method will work for you, talk to a doctor first!
Rinse Away with Water Only
Rinse your body with warm water.
It’s a good idea to wash away after you’ve had a bowel movement, but if you’re feeling especially smelly (and don’t mind getting wet), a quick rinse in the shower can help remove some of that odor right away.
Rinse your bits and bobs.
If you’ve been sweating, consider rinsing between your legs with warm water.
This will not only remove any sweat or discharge from that area but also reduce the number of bacteria present on skin that has been moistened by sweat (and therefore more likely to produce an odor).
Use soap if needed.
If you have been sweating heavily and cannot bathe immediately after exercising or working out at the gym, or doing yard work outdoors, use mild unscented body wash instead of just water for a thorough cleaning before fighting off BV symptoms later on down the road!
Use Essential Oils on Your Skincare Products
Do you know what’s one of the best ways to get rid of postpartum smell? Essential oils!
Many people don’t realize that essential oils have many uses, but they can be used in many different ways.
You don’t even need to make your own products from scratch, either—add a few drops to any skincare product you’re currently using and see how effective it is for you!
Essential oils are great for helping postpartum skin because they will help restore your moisture balance and reduce swelling.
For example, if you want to use lavender essential oil on your face as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial treatment for acne scars or rosacea, then this is definitely something worth trying out!
And don’t forget about aromatherapy: when we talk about getting rid of postpartum smell it doesn’t just mean eliminating foul odors.
There are also good scents that can help relax you when stress levels rise – such as peppermint or eucalyptus (don’t worry if these aren’t exactly “floral”; these kinds of scents provide some relief).
Postpartum smell isn’t something you need to live with.
Most women experience some degree of postpartum smell, but it’s not something you need to accept as part of life.
The most common causes are bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections, and poor hygiene.
If these issues are left untreated, they can lead to further complications like urinary tract infections or even toxic shock syndrome.
They also make it harder for you to get pregnant again because they affect your vaginal pH balance and make it more difficult for sperm to fertilize an egg.
Thankfully, there are several ways you can treat postpartum odor at home without spending a lot of money on products that may not work for you anyway!
This post was all about conquering postpartum smell.
We know that postpartum smell can be embarrassing and frustrating to deal with.
While there are a lot of things on the market that claim to help, not all of them work as advertised.
Hopefully, what I shared in this list is insightful and gives you a place to get started.
For more postpartum posts, check out these posts below or follow our life story on Instagram.Â
Other posts you may like:
- My Postpartum Emotions Made Me Hate My Dog
- How Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptoms Are Ruining My Mom Life
- What No One Tells You About Postpartum Sex
