Providing a good hygiene for mother and infant - If your nipples feel sore or start to crack, this is a

common problem. Fortunately, this means there

Introduction: If you are pregnant or planning to get are solutions. One of the best options is to apply
pregnant, it is essential that you maintain good personal a small amount of lanolin to your nipples and
hygiene. Poor cleanliness can lead to serious infection chafing skin. This can minimize complications.
problems, and poor hygiene might have a negative - You may need to purchase new bras during
impact on your pregnancy. It is important that you pregnancy. Try to find a bra that provides firm
consider all elements of your personal hygiene, including support. You should also purchase a bra that
dental hygiene throughout pregnancy, breast care, skin does not find, rub, or press.
care, and hair care. Good hygiene is essential for limiting - If you have colostrum coming from your breast
the spread of infectious diseases and assisting children
tissue, clean them using only warm water. Do
in living long, healthy lives. It also keeps students from
not use any stringent cleaning chemicals, as this
missing school, which leads to higher learning outcomes.
could make skin irritation worse.
Good hygiene means preventing disease and spending
less money on health care for families. Personal hygiene for breastfeeding mothers

Tips to help reduce discomfort and prevent infection

while breastfeeding:
Good hygiene for pregnant mother
- Rub a small amount of breast milk into your
There are various tips you should follow if you wish to
nipples after breastfeeding and let it dry in the
maintain your personal hygiene while pregnant. Personal
air.
hygiene during pregnancy should focus on the following
- Keep your nipples clean and dry.
areas:
- If you use breast pads, change them often or
 Vaginal hygiene when wet.
- When you use an intimate wash, make sure it is - Do not use breast pads with plastic on the back.
plain and unperfumed. That way, you reduce the - Wear loose clothing in a breathable fabric such
risk of changing the pH balance. as cotton - avoid wearing padded bras.
- Try to avoid using a vaginal douche during
When to wash their hands?
pregnancy. If you use a vaginal douche, you
may unintentionally remove good bacteria that Around baby
are protecting you from a potential infection.
- Even though you may be tempted to wash the - Always wash your hands:
inside of your vagina, try to avoid sticking your - before breast or bottle-feeding
hands up there. You may increase your risk of - after changing your baby’s nappy
developing an infection, and your vagina already - after contact with blood or other body fluids
has internal processes that are responsible for (vomit, mucus, saliva)
cleaning it naturally. - before picking up your baby
- You should not use any heavy soaps or gels on
your vagina. This can destroy your pH balance, At home
harm good bacteria, and lead to irritation of the
skin that is already sensitive during pregnancy. - Always wash your hands:
 Personal hygiene - before you eat
 Maintaining Oral Hygiene - before, during, and after you handle food
 Breast care - before and after changing maternity or sanitary
- You need to stay well-hydrated. This means you products
drinking plenty of water throughout the day. This - before giving or taking medicine
will give the skin on your breasts the moisture - before and after putting in contact lenses
content needed to stay plump and elastic. - before and after you use the toilet
- You need to get plenty of sleep. This will give - after handling animals or their food, toys,
your skin time to recover and rejuvenate. That leashes, or waste
way, you can reduce your chances of developing - after touching anything that might be soiled
stretch marks on your breasts. - more often when someone in your home is sick
- whenever your hands look dirty
How can I bathe and keep myself clean postpartum? begin to come off or can be peeled off by day 5-
14. Your physician may give you more
- Keep your perineum very clean. This is the information about the care of steri-strips. Your
area between the vagina and rectum. It can be internal stitches will dissolve on their own. Your
swollen and painful after stretching to allow the health care provider will give you instructions for
baby to be born. wound care and when it is okay to shower.
- Change your pad often. Each time you use the
bathroom or change your pad wash your hands Hemorrhoid care
both before and after. Be sure to remove the
dirty pad and replace a clean pad, from front to - Stay clean. Good hygiene is important. Follow
back. Change the sanitary pad after every void the care for keeping your perineum clean. Make
or bowel movement, or at least 4x a day. Both sure you clean your rectal area as well.
lochia and feces are a medium for bacteria. - Take pain medicine as needed. After cleaning
- Use a squirt bottle. It is helpful to use a squirt yourself or soaking in the bathtub. apply topical
bottle to wash off after going to the bathroom. pain medicine. Follow the provided instructions
You can squirt yourself with warm water from carefully.
front to back. Gently pat dry with clean toilet - Prevent constipation. Eating a high fiber diet,
paper or clean wipes. drinking plenty of fluids, and keeping your pain
- Soak in a bath. If you have delivered vaginally, at a comfortable level can help with this. Call
soaking in a bath tub can also help with cleaning your health care provider if constipation
and wound healing. Be sure to clean the bathtub becomes a problem.
well, before doing this.
- Use pads, not tampons. Use only sanitary
pads to absorb the bleeding. Do not use
tampons for the first six weeks, as they can lead
to infection.

Episiotomy Care

- Avoid water that's too hot. If your health care

provider placed stitches, they will dissolve over
time. Be careful the water is not extremely hot as
this could dissolve the stitches too early.
- Use sprays or ointments vs an air ring or
donut cushion. Your health care provider may
have ordered a spray or ointment that can
relieve pain. Follow the provided instructions
carefully. Most can be used 3-4x a day. There
are also small pads containing witch hazel that
can be placed on the sanitary pad are also
comforting. The use of an air ring or donut
cushion is not recommended.

Incisional care

- Keep incision clean and dry. It is important to

keep the incision clean and dry. You can take
sponge baths or showers. Drip plain or soapy
water over the incision and dry gently with a
clean towel. Your incision may itch as it heals.
Be careful not to scratch it.
- Staple and stitches removal. If staples are
present, they are normally removed around day
3-6. Tiny papers called steri-strips, are often
applied after the staples are removed. These will