Recovery after vaginal birth
After a vaginal birth, soreness, swelling and stitches are common. A peri bottle (a small squeeze bottle of warm water) is often used to rinse the area when you use the toilet.
Most important
Follow your own wound-care sheet
Your hospital's discharge instructions for stitches come first. Ask your nurse to show you how they want you to care for the area.
Important to know
- The wound-care handout in our catalog (University of Michigan) has moved to a new library address and must be relocated before this page can be finalized.
What may happen
- Soreness or swelling in the area between the vagina and anus (perineum).
- Stitches that dissolve on their own, if you had a tear or cut.
- Being shown how to use a peri bottle and pads.
Why
Keeping the area clean and comfortable supports healing.
What varies
Care depends on whether you had a tear and how deep it was. Specific products and routines differ by hospital.
Questions to ask
- Do I have stitches, and how should I care for them?
- What can I use for pain or swelling?
- What signs would mean the area is not healing well?
Prototype draft. Not yet clinically reviewed. Your own care team's instructions come first. About this app
Sources
Summaries are drafted from these public sources. No hospital has endorsed this app.
University of Michigan Health · Ann Arbor educational handout
Healing After Birth: Taking Care of Your Wound(opens in a new tab)- Published
- Date not stated
- Checked
- 2026-10-24
- Access
- Old link now redirects; document must be relocated
Applies to: Published by one health system. Procedures at your hospital may differ.
Limitations: Old PDF redirects to new library; replace with a working document-specific link before use.
Henry Ford Health · Detroit-area system
Your Postpartum Recovery Plan(opens in a new tab)- Published
- 2026-07-30
- Checked
- 2026-10-24
- Access
- Page read in full
Applies to: Published by one health system. Procedures at your hospital may differ.
Limitations: Educational article, not hospital procedure.