Providing a good hygiene for mother and infant
common problem. Fortunately, this means there
Introduction: If you are pregnant or planning to get
pregnant, it is essential that you maintain good personal
hygiene. Poor cleanliness can lead to serious infection
problems, and poor hygiene might have a negative
impact on your pregnancy. It is important that you
consider all elements of your personal hygiene, including
dental hygiene throughout pregnancy, breast care, skin
care, and hair care. Good hygiene is essential for limiting
the spread of infectious diseases and assisting children
in living long, healthy lives. It also keeps students from
missing school, which leads to higher learning outcomes.
Good hygiene means preventing disease and spending
less money on health care for families.
Good hygiene for pregnant mother
There are various tips you should follow if you wish to
maintain your personal hygiene while pregnant. Personal
hygiene during pregnancy should focus on the following
areas:
 Vaginal hygiene
- When you use an intimate wash, make sure it is
plain and unperfumed. That way, you reduce the
risk of changing the pH balance.
- Try to avoid using a vaginal douche during
pregnancy. If you use a vaginal douche, you
may unintentionally remove good bacteria that
are protecting you from a potential infection.
- Even though you may be tempted to wash the
inside of your vagina, try to avoid sticking your
hands up there. You may increase your risk of
developing an infection, and your vagina already
has internal processes that are responsible for
cleaning it naturally.
- You should not use any heavy soaps or gels on
your vagina. This can destroy your pH balance,
harm good bacteria, and lead to irritation of the
skin that is already sensitive during pregnancy.
 Personal hygiene
 Maintaining Oral Hygiene
 Breast care
- You need to stay well-hydrated. This means you
drinking plenty of water throughout the day. This
will give the skin on your breasts the moisture
content needed to stay plump and elastic.
- You need to get plenty of sleep. This will give
your skin time to recover and rejuvenate. That
way, you can reduce your chances of developing
stretch marks on your breasts.
- If your nipples feel sore or start to crack, this is a
are solutions. One of the best options is to apply
a small amount of lanolin to your nipples and
chafing skin. This can minimize complications.
- You may need to purchase new bras during
pregnancy. Try to find a bra that provides firm
support. You should also purchase a bra that
does not find, rub, or press.
- If you have colostrum coming from your breast
tissue, clean them using only warm water. Do
not use any stringent cleaning chemicals, as this
could make skin irritation worse.
Personal hygiene for breastfeeding mothers
Tips to help reduce discomfort and prevent infection
while breastfeeding:
- Rub a small amount of breast milk into your
nipples after breastfeeding and let it dry in the
air.
- Keep your nipples clean and dry.
- If you use breast pads, change them often or
when wet.
- Do not use breast pads with plastic on the back.
- Wear loose clothing in a breathable fabric such
as cotton - avoid wearing padded bras.
When to wash their hands?
Around baby
- Always wash your hands:
- before breast or bottle-feeding
- after changing your baby’s nappy
- after contact with blood or other body fluids
(vomit, mucus, saliva)
- before picking up your baby
At home
- Always wash your hands:
- before you eat
- before, during, and after you handle food
- before and after changing maternity or sanitary
products
- before giving or taking medicine
- before and after putting in contact lenses
- before and after you use the toilet
- after handling animals or their food, toys,
leashes, or waste
- after touching anything that might be soiled
- more often when someone in your home is sick
- whenever your hands look dirty
How can I bathe and keep myself clean postpartum?
- Keep your perineum very clean. This is the
area between the vagina and rectum. It can be
swollen and painful after stretching to allow the
baby to be born.
- Change your pad often. Each time you use the
bathroom or change your pad wash your hands
both before and after. Be sure to remove the
dirty pad and replace a clean pad, from front to
back. Change the sanitary pad after every void
or bowel movement, or at least 4x a day. Both
lochia and feces are a medium for bacteria.
- Use a squirt bottle. It is helpful to use a squirt
bottle to wash off after going to the bathroom.
You can squirt yourself with warm water from
front to back. Gently pat dry with clean toilet
paper or clean wipes.
- Soak in a bath. If you have delivered vaginally,
soaking in a bath tub can also help with cleaning
and wound healing. Be sure to clean the bathtub
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.
begin to come off or can be peeled off by day 5-
14. Your physician may give you more
information about the care of steri-strips. Your
internal stitches will dissolve on their own. Your
health care provider will give you instructions for
wound care and when it is okay to shower.
Hemorrhoid care
- Stay clean. Good hygiene is important. Follow
the care for keeping your perineum clean. Make
sure you clean your rectal area as well.
- Take pain medicine as needed. After cleaning
yourself or soaking in the bathtub. apply topical
pain medicine. Follow the provided instructions
carefully.
- Prevent constipation. Eating a high fiber diet,
drinking plenty of fluids, and keeping your pain
at a comfortable level can help with this. Call
your health care provider if constipation
becomes a problem.

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