Informative

Epsom salt bath after episiotomy

Salt Bath for stitches after birth

Most women after giving birth normally or with the help of an episiotomy would like to know whether they need to take Epsom salt bath and how to do it. They want to know the benefits of this salt bath for stitches after birth.

During child birth, a woman’s va-jay-jay might prove to be too small for a normal delivery and the obstetrician or midwife could see it fit to do an episiotomy. An episiotomy or perineotomy is an incision done on the perineum to enlarge the vaginal wall. It is done for the following reasons:

  1. If the baby’s shoulder is found to get stuck below the pelvic bone of the woman.
  2. If the baby is too big and it is found out that through a normal delivery, they would cause tears on the woman’s perineum.

During the operation, the woman is put under local anesthesia and once the baby is pulled out, they are stitched back. Though the woman is under anesthesia during the whole operation, she will struggle with pain and discomfort later on.

After the episiotomy, the woman will be asked to be taking sitz baths so that the skin can heal faster. Doctors might ask that the woman take warm water plus some Epsom salt so that they can get a soothing effect when they take the sitz bath.


The woman will be advised to take about 10 to 15 minutes for about 2 times per day sitting in the warm water with Epsom salt solution.

Impacts of an episiotomy

  1. May decrease sexual pressure since lubrication is affected
  2. Trouble passing stool
  • Faecal incontinence especially in the case of midline episitomy where the anal sphincter was destroyed.

How to do an Epsom salt bath after episiotomy

When you are doing an Epsom salt bath, what you want to get into contact with the Epsom salt solution is your va-jay-jay. You want the sutures to heal faster and the pain that you feel to get soothed down. So, you will want to sit on the Epsom salt solution.

So how do you do it?

  • You can get one of these sitz baths for postpartum mothers that are being sold online.
  • Add warm water into the basin. You can check to see that the temperature of the water is friendly by touching it with your skin.
  • Scoop about 2 to 3 spoons of Epsom salt into the water and stir.
  • Remove your underclothes and sit on the water for 10-15 minutes
  • If it is too cold, you can wear a tee-shirt or sweater
  • For people who do not want to sit, they can use a sitz bath pair of shorts.
  • Other than Epsom salt, you can still use basic kitchen salt and you will get the same results.

Other than the use of warm sitz baths with salts, you can relieve yourself from hemorrhoid pain using these awesome donut pillow seats.