Upside Down Peri Bottle: Your New Best Friend After Birth
What to know about upside-down peri bottles
Today, we're talking about the upside-down peri bottle. This bottle differs from the one you will receive in the hospital, and I'm here to tell you why. It is much more effective and a must-have in your postpartum recovery kit, no matter how you give birth.
So, what is an upside-down peri bottle?
How do you even begin to use it? You might be very confused, much like I was not long ago. This peri bottle is specifically designed for comfort and ease after birth. This tool will help you go to the bathroom, cleanse yourself without discomfort, and offer soothing, healing relief.
First, let me show you what makes this peri bottle so special. It has a unique upside-down design, so the liquid you fill in this component can quickly flip over and effectively cleanse your bottom and perineum area after delivery and after using the bathroom.
We all know about that dreaded first postpartum poop. This upside-down peri bottle is going to be your best friend.
Steps to using it at home: easy and effective
First, remove this handy little spout to open the container below. Fill it with warm water for extra comfort and cold water to help ease swelling . You can also add some of our witch hazel spray, which could also offer some extra soothing and cleansing relief.
Then, you’ll fill the container up to the top. You'll screw this lid back on nice and tight. Make sure that you fully pull the spout up. (Note: It collapses for easy storage.) Pull it all the way up till you feel it kind of click.
Finally, remove the clear small lid and put it somewhere safe. You'll see that there are little holes through which the water will flow.
Next, all you'll do is sit on the toilet.
Remember, this is filled with warm or cool water. This nozzle is fully extended, and you will spread your legs after going to the bathroom. If you need to cleanse off your stitches or soothe any swelling, gently spread your legs and tuck this into the toilet.
Then, gently cleanse the areas you need to clean.
So whether this is after your first postpartum poop, or you're simply just urinating, or, like I said, you need to cleanse your stitches, this handy tool is going to make it so you can easily reach those areas without straining too much.
Using a peri bottle after a C-section
What's important is that if you had a C-section, you'd still need this tool. This isn't just for vaginal deliveries. If you had a C-section, you'll find it's really hard to bend over at your abdomen because of your new incision. So, having this near every toilet in your house can help you clean yourself effectively without straining too much on your incision.
Also, for C-section moms, this tool is excellent for cleansing their incisions if that's something that their doctor has encouraged them to do or that they feel is necessary.
Upside-down peri bottle vs. hospital peri bottle
This tool has so many helpful uses, and what I love most about it is that it is easily stored and comes in a handy waterproof bag.
When you're finished with it, you obviously want to rinse the nozzle off because it's touching things down there. Rinse it off and put the cap back on. You can store it right in this waterproof bag. At the end of the day, it really is like a portable bidet system.
The peri bottles you'll receive from the hospital are just regular bottles with a spout at the top, so it's not straightforward to flip them upside down to reach the areas you want to clean. It's really awkward and hard, and you're bending over too much at the waist, which, especially for C-section moms, is tricky.
So this is an absolute must-have in your postpartum recovery kit, and it's one of the products we get asked about the most.
If you’re ready to purchase your own upside-down peri bottle, we have two on our website. The pink version from Mother Mother has a slightly shorter spout, and the white one from Mummy's Organics has a slightly longer neck and spout. They both hold 300 ml and come with a waterproof bag.
Here are a few quick tips about using your upside-down peri bottle:
It's best to keep them within arm's reach, ideally at every toilet in your home.
Remember to use warm or cool water, depending on your goal.
Add an herbal sitz bath blend or a witch hazel spray for healing and cleansing.
They’re great for vaginal and C-section deliveries.