Warning: Some of you might find this article to be TMI! But I hope it does help those of you who are preparing for postnatal recovery!
It’s been two months since I’ve given birth and I am finally starting to feel more like myself again – both emotionally and physically. During my pregnancy, I’d say I did a pretty good job taking care of my pregnant self. I did tons of reading about what symptoms, aches and pains I should expect and made time for self-care treatments such as prenatal massages, visits to the chiropractor, physiotherapist, and my OB. After I got diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, I also made considerable effort to manage my diet and it really paid off. For most of my pregnancy, I felt relaxed and prepared. We also had everything ready for the baby, from clothes, diapers, bath time, to multiple sleeping quarters. In hindsight, we probably invested in way more stuff then we ended up using for the first few weeks!
However, when it came to post-pregnancy recovery, I was clueless. Most of what I had stocked for recovery at home such as padsicles in the freezer, low rise bikini briefs, a sitz bath and donut cushions were all in anticipation of a “normal” vaginal delivery. I thought I’d be walking out, sporting a cute pre-pregnancy outfit with my new baby and be back on my feet in a few days. Boy was I wrong!
Recovery for me was hard. After 24+ hours of labor, followed by an emergency C-section, four nights in the hospital, plus the arrival of a new baby (!), I felt like I was hit by a truck. My abdomen and incision were very sore as expected but I had a REALLY hard time walking and climbing stairs (I live in a four story townhouse!) for almost three weeks because I was INCREDIBLY swollen from all the fluid drips. I’m talking about massive balloon feet! Besides that, I had NO idea even with a C-section, I would experience lots of vaginal bleeding, general vaginal discomfort, and well… a hard time pooping and yup, hemorrhoids! Oh, the beautiful truths about new mom life, am I right?!
After the first night at home, I realized much of what I had prepared for recovery was basically useless. I essentially had to start from scratch with a next day delivery of high-waisted granny panties and stool softeners! But, what I was all set for was keeping my tushy and ‘down there’ spanking clean and comfortable with the American Standard Advanced Clean 3.0 SpaLet Bidet Seat.
Why a bidet, you ask? As mentioned above, postpartum recovery is painful and messy. The SpaLet Bidet Seat promotes vaginal hygiene and reduces the risk of infections by keeping the area clean and dry (even more important for those recovering from a vaginal childbirth) with its dual nozzle technology which directly sprays water to both the front and rear areas and is also equipped with a built in warm air dryer. In addition, the SpaLet Bidet Seat is a great option in treating and relieving pain caused by hemorrhoids since this area tends to be inflamed and swollen – wiping can be quite irritable!
During my C-Section recovery, I was asked to avoid spraying water directly onto or near the incision site in the shower for the first six weeks. Because of this, I was also extremely careful when it comes to cleansing the vaginal area as well since it’s close to the incision site. The SpaLet Bidet Seat offered me additional reassurance when it came to cleanliness.
Bidets are generally not as popular in North America, but having grown up in Asia and traveled to many parts of Europe, bidets are actually commonly used around the world. Typically, you’ll see a separate bidet unit in the washroom beside the toilet but the America Standard Advanced Clean 3.0 SpaLet Bidet Seat is installed as an attachment designed to replace your existing toilet seat. The installation process is very simple. It only took us 15-20 minutes to get it up and running. If you are considering this option, I do recommend ensuring that you have access to an electric outlet nearby as it is required. And in most cases, the SpaLet Seat will fit any conventional toilet but works best with an elongated option.
I was originally worried that the Bidet Seat would be very bulky or uncomfortable but this was not the case at all. The design is modern and sleek and is also very comfortable for everyday use. To be honest, it even gave our bathroom a luxurious touch! I especially like the detachable remote control and all the adjustable temperature and strength settings. You can even have the seat warmed up!
If you’re looking for some extra comfort during your pregnancy and postpartum days, the American Standard Advanced Clean 3.0 SpaLet Bidet Seat is a great device to have at home. But truthfully, it is suitable for any lifestyle and enhances the overall family well-being and hygiene.
From my personal experience, postpartum recovery kicked my butt. I certainly didn’t expect to be out of commission for weeks, I had days in mind. What I learned from my own recovery process is definitely to take it easy. To not compare myself to others. That there is no ‘right’ amount of time to feel back to ‘normal’. Take as much time is needed. To be kind to myself and my body. To ask for help when I’m struggling. To sleep even though taking care of a newborn is around the clock. Do not underestimate the power of sleep. I found that the nights when Kyle took the baby and gave me a minimum of four hours of uninterrupted sleep were the days my body made the most recovery progress.
I hope my recommendations will help some of you to a speedy and clean recovery!
Disclaimer: This post was produced in partnership with American Standard Canada. All opinions and views are my own.
1 comment
OMG – you pretty much just described what I went through 9 years ago! As lovely as the ‘miracle of birth’ is, boy does it ever do a job on the female body. Love, love, love my daughter and wouldn’t trade her for anything but i also wish I had one of those bidet seats after she was born!