https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 10:52:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17508 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:37:57 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 17508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I showered the next morning at the hospital. Felt so nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17479 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:11:02 +0000 torontomommy 17479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I waited until the next day. DH had gone home to sleep (DD was born in the middle of the night) and I waited until my mother got to Toronto so she could watch the baby for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17420 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:36:38 +0000 T.H.O.U. 17420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a shower about 8 hours after birth I think? I wasn't too excited about it actually because I was so sore from delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17416 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:28:27 +0000 Pipers Mommy 17416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My epidural took a long time to wear off on one side so I had to wait until the next morning.</p> <p>I agree w/ Pelikila, felt great to look/feel presentable! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17396 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:59:52 +0000 hreichard 17396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a c-section and i had to wait a until the next evening when i was ok to stand by myself in the shower. I just had to take it really slow. Oh it felt so good to get the shower. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17321 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:25:26 +0000 themcmom 17321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Marbles: I want to know more about it too. I heard about Chinese confinement on NPR a couple of weeks ago; it intrigued me.</p> <p>I took a shower about 3 hours afterwards. First, we all needed a nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17317 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:21:28 +0000 MrsBooks 17317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an epidural and a c-section. I had to get out of bed almost exactly 24 hours after the surgery, which ended up being around 2AM. I think I took my first shower around 6AM the same day. I was super nervous that it would hurt the incision but it was covered in glue so it wasn't painful at all. I had pushed for over 3 hours so my whole body was sore and the shower felt amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17272 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:56:30 +0000 ohapostrophe 17272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is so awful, but it was six days! I took a shower when I was in labor the morning before I gave birth (Wednesday) and I did spend most of labor in a tub, but I lost so much blood during delivery that there was no way I could stand up to take a shower during the next two days in the hospital (although I felt semi-clean with lots of sponge baths). I went home Saturday and was about to get in the shower Sunday morning when I hemorrhaged and went back to the hospital via ambulance. I had emergency surgery and showering was the last thing on my mind when I came to after that. When I finally went home on Tuesday and showered (while my husband waited outside the door insisting I shouldn't be standing that long and freaking out that I'd pass out), I can truly say it was THE BEST shower of my life! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17237 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:06:47 +0000 HabesBabe 17237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Marbles: you are a trooper! Can't wait to read about that adventure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17166 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:27:11 +0000 Maysprout 17166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Within an hour or two, before I moved from the delivery to the hospital room where we'd be staying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17156 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:02:32 +0000 heffalump 17156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was pretty gross. I didn't shower for a couple of days. I had a pretty bad tear and it hurt too much to stand, I didn't want to be out of bed longer than I had to!</p> <p>Plus, I really didn't sweat that much. I had an epidural. While childbirth still wasn't fun, it wasn't nearly as bad as going natural would be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17155 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:59:15 +0000 pelikila 17155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About 24 hours when I had enough people there to handle the baby and he had been nursed and was good for a bit so I could do what I needed to do since I didn't know how long it might take me. It felt great to go through my normal routine and look presentable again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17140 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:46:49 +0000 Andrea 17140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took a shower before I went to the hospital at around 8 pm Friday night. We went home Monday morning and I took my first shower then. I thought the hospital shower was gross since it was just a shower head in the bathroom with no walls around it so the practically the whole bathroom would be wet if I showered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17132 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:48:16 +0000 yin 17132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HabesBabe: I was told not to shower for a month... after I already showered! I was warned that my husband's cousin didn't listen to the aunties, and she now has chills during that time of the month.</p> <p>I showered the next day when I had enough energy to get out of bed, and it felt so good to rinse off the "I just pushed out a baby" smell. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17125 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:22:20 +0000 looch 17125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave birth on Thursday, and had my first shower on Saturday morning. I had a urinary catheter and an IV line as I had some hemorraging after birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17099 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:38:15 +0000 Mrs. Marbles 17099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I hate to be gross, but I did the Chinese confinement and didn't have a proper shower for a month. I'd sponge bathe every other day with a boiled lemongrass and ginger water concoction my mom made for me. She would also help me shampoo and wash my hair, but I was only allowed to use very hot ginger water. @Mr. Bee: you're totally right about how great that first shower feels! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17098 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:33:32 +0000 Rosie Girl 17098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HabesBabe: A month?! You can fry bacon with all the grease in my hair after 2 days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17089 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:07:33 +0000 HabesBabe 17089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: that sounds HORRIBLE. I would not make it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17087 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:06:25 +0000 mrbee 17087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HabesBabe: yup, it's called Chinese confinement! Hopefully we can get some posts about it on the blog! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17083 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:03:39 +0000 HabesBabe 17083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom SWEARS there is so ancient Vietnamese/Chinese secret about not showering for a MONTH after giving birth. Something about your pores opening up with all of that pushing... who knows?</p> <p>I haven't been there yet, but I plan on showering as soon as I physically can. I sweat so much on a regular basis that I am super stanky after a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17081 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:00:37 +0000 Wondermommy 17081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cyndistar3: Ah. I see, then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17074 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:53:40 +0000 cyndistar3 17074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Wondermommy: An actual bath. My midwife always offers a nice herbal bath with baby after birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17071 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:51:06 +0000 Rosie Girl 17071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My shower was after I went to the bathroom for them! I had to be able to do everything on my own and have complete use back after my epidural. I actually tried the jacuzzi tub first, BAD idea, so I got into the shower. It was probably about 6 hours after birth. It felt good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17069 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:50:44 +0000 Wondermommy 17069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cyndistar3: Wait, like a BATH, bath? Or like a sponge bath? I've always been under the impression that sit down baths were a BIG no-no immediately after birth, and for the six weeks after. (Because of the increased risk for infection) At least, that's what I've always been told by the nurses and docs...... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17066 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:48:15 +0000 Wondermommy 17066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was a little over 12 hours after giving birth. He was born at 8 in the evening, and I had my first shower between breakfast and lunch the next day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17056 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:35:57 +0000 Boogs 17056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh I think it was 3 days. I felt so gross and that first shower was one of the greatest feelings ever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17028 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:40:54 +0000 cyndistar3 17028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took a bath within the first couple hours. I took a shower the next day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17027 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:37:54 +0000 chopsuey 17027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I showered a few hours after I gave birth too! I was a nasty mess. Smelled so gross. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17024 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:33:22 +0000 Rubies 17024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first shower was in the hospital about 7 hours after I had given birth. I had sweat so much during labour that by the time I showered, I could smell myself and it was so gross. I thought it would feel amazingly good but I was in SO much pain and was so swollen and shocked at how much I was bleeding that I almost passed out in the shower.</p> <p>But the feeling of condition in my hair and hot water really helped me feel better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-go-without-a-shower-after-giving-birth#post-17014 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:16:15 +0000 mrbee 17014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard so many new moms rhapsodize about that first shower that they took after giving birth... and how good it felt. :-)</p> <p>In general, the importance of that first shower is something which is easy to underestimate! I remember when Bee took her first shower... she felt so so much better afterward. I realize now that the first shower is an important part of the post-partum recovery process.</p> <p>But not everyone can shower right away. From what I understand, an epi or a section (or both!) will really slow down that first shower. Also, general exhaustion.</p> <p>How long did you go without a shower after giving birth? And how did that first shower feel? </p>