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During pregnancy and for those first early months of motherhood, parenting pointers roll in faster than your newborn finishes a nap. It’s tough figuring out which ones to try out and a lot of these helpful hints center around how best to take care of your baby. But what about the suggestions on how to support yourself?
Besides busting out the classics like sleep when the baby sleeps, we moms need a few more tidbits that talk about making our momming lives easier—and cleaner. So, here’s one that’s golden: Bidets are amazing. Can you use a bidet when you’re pregnant? YES. Can you use a bidet postpartum? Hell YES.
How does a bidet work for women?
Bidets are a bathroom basic in Europe and Asia. And although some styles may look like a tiny misplaced sink, they’re made for a far greater purpose. Bidets are built to clean your privates after using the toilet, having sex, or simply when you want to feel fresher.
Dr. Jane Van Dis, OBGYN and Bobbie Medical Advisor, explains that for a woman, a bidet helps to clean the anus and perineum. You do this by either sitting on the bidet or squatting over it and selecting your preferred water temperature and pressure setting. Some bidets even come with a drying feature.
Using a bidet is way easier then hopping in the shower, and imagine how helpful one can be while pregnant or after you’ve given birth. Stephanie Jun from SmartBidet— mama to a 1-year-old— says, “I found that during my third trimester when my belly just got too big and I physically was not able to wipe from front to back after a poop, I let the bidet do the work.”
Are bidets safe for women during pregnancy?
Dr. Van Dis says that a bidet is indeed safe during pregnancy just as it’s okay to take a shower to clean your anus and perineum. The best way to clean your undercarriage is the way in which you feel the most comfortable, and while bidets have been in use “over the pond” for hundreds of years, we’re just catching on here in America.
According to Newsweek, more and more doctors are recommending switching to washing with water for hygiene and bidets are better than toilet paper in terms of cost, environmental friendliness, and other health benefits.
5+ Best Bidets for Women
Best bidet toilet, VOVO TCB-090S Smart Bidet Toilet
There are many bidet seats and attachments, but this is a TRUE, seamless bidet so you get all in one here! It’s a luxury buy with luxury features including an automatic dual flush (Smart seat sensor that can choose between a small flush or a full flush, providing hands-free operation), heated seat, heated water and warm dryer with a self cleaning stainless steel nozzle and auto deodorization. Also features a tankless flushing system— theTornado wash powerfully cleans the inner bowl without using any stale water. The system uses a direct water supply from the pipe so no plugs, cords, mess.
Best luxury bidet seat for women, SmartBidet SB 3000
The bidet of all bidets, we love this choice for moms. It has various wash modes including a Feminine Wash, which is a gentler, wider wash for ladies front. There’s even a Spiral Stream Wash which may help relieve constipation. The 3-in-1 patented stainless steel nozzle self cleans before and after each wash. Plus there’s unlimited, On-Demand Heated Water, a remote control and a light that helps guide you to the seat during the night (that may be for the hubbies!).
Best budget bidet attachment, Tushy Bidet SB 3000 Classic 3.0
Want to give a bidet a try? Try one of these for about $100. This is a great add onto your existing toilets. This bidet requires no electricity or plumbing and includes everything for an easy install (they claim under 10 minutes!). There’s an optimized pressure and angle control for a targeted tushy spray and an automatic self-cleaning nozzle.
Best heated seat bidet, Bemis Bio Bidet Bliss BB-1700
This high end bidet has adjustable wash settings, a stainless steel 3-in-1 nozzle, and a room deodorizer to boot! The hybrid heating system provides instant and limitless warm water, warm seats all around! Make sure you pick the right shape for you, oblong or round, to get the best fit. This does need an electrical outlet, but the cord is 4 ft long so you can easily plug and go!
Best Self-Cleaning Toilet Bidet, TOTO Heated Bidet WASHLET C100
The WASHLET C100 is fully automated, featuring a soft rear spray, rear cleanse, and front cleanse with the option of an oscillating stream. The PREMIST function sprays the bowl with water before each use, preventing waste buildup and keeping the toilet bowl clean. The wand is self-cleaning, automatically cleaning itself before and after every use. Features a heated Soft-Close seat with 3-temperature settings. Built in air deodorizer and a warm air dryer with 3-temperature settings provide an enjoyable experience.
Best Low Profile Bidet, Brondell S1400-EW Swash Electric Bidet Toilet Seat
Frequently asked postpartum hygiene questions
After pregnancy, Dr. Van Dis reassures that there is no “right” or perfect way to clean after pooping when you’ve had a vaginal delivery. Some might use a peri-squirt bottle (a bottle designed for rinsing your perineum) and still others might try a sitz bath which is a warm bath just deep enough to cover your hips.
What can I expect from a bidet postpartum
While all of the above methods work, a bidet is an easier no-fuss option that you can use during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Stephanie says during her labor she experienced a second-degree perineal tear after pushing for two hours.
“Once I was able to walk around with minimal pain,” she begins, “I used the feminine wash on the lowest setting to see if I could handle the pressure.” This setting was perfect and she says it was great to be able to take care of her basic hygiene while she focused on keeping her baby alive and happy.
How do bidets support a woman’s basic hygiene?
Let’s be real: Would you rather use scratchy toilet paper to wipe your most sensitive parts or feel a lovely rush of warm water to cleanse your bum?
Washing with water helps remove fecal bacteria more thoroughly. This can cut down on UTIs and prevent that crappy bacteria from spreading to your surroundings. “The bidet is important for us during vaginal discharge and our menstrual cycles. It’s also a great way to wash up quickly after sex,” Stephanie says.
Can women use a bidet during pregnancy and postpartum?
“Enlarged belly, constipation, light spotting, hemorrhoids, extra vaginal bleeding, bladder leakage, you name it..what we go through pregnancy,” Stephanie says.
A bidet’s design can make it easier for you to achieve a state of cleanliness during pregnancy without learning how to be a contortionist first.
It’s also good to note that a recent study reassures cleaning with a bidet cannot throw off a pregnant person’s vaginal bacteria balance or increase the risk their baby will be born early.
How do you clean your vagina after having a baby?
“For new moms, what is showering?” asks Stephanie. In those first months of mothering, showering becomes an elusive concept much like the final plot line of Game of Thrones.
Dr. Van Dis says cleaning your perineum, vulva, and anus is important postpartum. Stephanie adds, “You can refresh yourself by washing with warm water while sitting on a warm heated seat.” For those moms who delivered via C-section, using a bidet can eliminate the strain of reaching to wipe.
A bidet is environmentally friendly and assists moms in multitasking
According to a recent survey, the U.S. leads the world in toilet paper consumption—using nearly 28 pounds of toiler paper annually. Not only can using a bidet save some 15 million trees, but you’d also conserve H2O because making a single roll of toilet paper requires 37 gallons of water.
In addition to helping out mother nature, a bidet also helps out mothers keep up on multitasking—especially during the newborn phase. Stephanie says she’s breastfed, kept up her breast pumping schedule, and even soothed her newborn with skin-to-skin contact all while using her bidet. “I just sat, pressed buttons, and flushed,” she says.
Bidets are safe for women and allow “me-time”
Dr. Van Dis can think of no problem or downsides for women using a bidet—as long as it doesn’t cause pain. With such an easy and efficient way of freshening up, why not take your time and take a minute for yourself? Stephanie encourages all moms to take care of themselves when they can! “You’re going to be wiping your newborn’s bottom on average eight to ten times a day, so enjoy a minute to yourself while you can in your hideout— your own bathroom,” she says.
Bidet as feminine wash after giving birth
The Cleveland Clinic points out that after pooping, water is able to suitably remove fecal matter. Just make sure the water flows front-to-back (sometimes called “feminine wash”) like you’d wipe yourself—and you’re good to go. Stephanie reveals that she uses her bidet every day for daily hygiene, quicker bowel movements, and a thorough wash and refresh during her menstrual cycle. She also prefers her bidet to a quick shower and for a quick wash after sex.
Benefits of a bidet for women
So, now you know a bidet can not only save your privates from abrasive wiping, heated discussions with your partner over which way the TP hangs, and the environment, but it’s also a great support during pregnancy and postpartum when, well… let’s face it, moms can always use some extra support, so we can continue to support our families.
