Can’t Sit After Delivery? Try a Donut Pillow and Sitz Bath for Relief

When I was pregnant the first time, I didn’t give much thought to postpartum recovery. My mind was busy preparing for labor, packing hospital bags, and organizing adorable baby clothes. It never crossed my mind that after giving birth, one of the hardest things I’d face would simply be... sitting.

I had a normal vaginal delivery and ended up with stitches. And let me be honest with you—it made sitting down incredibly painful.

Why Sitting to Feed Was So Painful

Before motherhood, if something hurt, I would simply lie down and rest until it felt better. But once my baby arrived, resting was no longer an option. My newborn needed to feed every 2-3 hours, and that usually meant sitting upright for 15 to 30 minutes each time.

Each time I sat down to breastfeed, I felt sharp pressure and intense discomfort from my stitches. To avoid the pain, I started leaning awkwardly to one side. Sure, it eased pressure on the stitches, but within a couple of days, my back began hurting severely due to all that twisting and bending. That back pain lasted months, adding an unexpected struggle to an already challenging postpartum period. Realizing I needed a better solution, I started searching and discovered something amazing: the donut pillow.

The Donut Pillow: My Postpartum Lifesaver

EASEFIT Orthopedic Soft Foam Donut Ring 

A donut pillow is exactly what it sounds like: a soft, round cushion with a hole in the middle. While many are designed to look like regular cushions, the empty space at the center makes all the difference. When sitting on it, the stitches don’t feel pressure, friction, or discomfort.

With the donut pillow, I could finally sit straight, feed my baby comfortably, and avoid worsening my back pain.

Unfortunately, I discovered the donut pillow after my back had already started hurting. Determined not to repeat that mistake, for my second delivery, the donut pillow was one of the first things I packed into my hospital bag.

You’ll likely need it for only about 3 to 4 weeks, but during that short time, it truly is a lifesaver. It makes those long feeding sessions so much easier.

Note: If you have a C-section, this pillow might not be as helpful. But for vaginal births, especially with stitches, I can’t recommend it enough.

The Sitz Bath: Gentle and Effective Healing

Only Rajesh Sitz Bath Tub

Another essential discovery that made a significant difference was something I'd never even heard of before delivery: a sitz bath.

Postpartum stitches are in an area that's notoriously difficult to keep clean and dry. Unlike cuts on your arms or legs, stitches after delivery are more vulnerable to infections because they're exposed to moisture and germs constantly.

That's why keeping the area clean is crucial for healing, and this is where the sitz bath really helps.

Using a sitz bath is simple: fill a portable basin (which fits over your toilet seat or on a bathroom chair) with comfortably warm water and just sit for 10-15 minutes. I used it after every bowel movement and one or two more times each day whenever I could find a moment. The warm water instantly soothed pain, reduced swelling, and gently kept the stitched area clean, promoting faster healing.

You don’t need fancy additions, plain warm water works wonderfully.

What I Did the Second Time Around

For my second delivery, I knew exactly what to expect, and I prepared ahead:

• Donut pillow: I packed it in my hospital bag, ready to use immediately during those initial feeding sessions, preventing the back pain from even starting.

• Sitz bath: Although I didn’t bring this to the hospital, I made sure it was set up at home and ready to go as soon as I returned. From the moment I got home, I began my sitz bath routine, ensuring quick, comfortable, and clean healing.

These two simple postpartum essentials: a pillow and a basin, made a world of difference in those initial weeks. They provided relief, comfort, and helped me feel in control of my recovery at a time when everything else felt overwhelming.

My Personal Recommendations

Here are the exact types of products I used and loved- products I’ll be gifting to any expectant mom I know:

• Donut Pillow for Postpartum Sitting Relief →

  

  METRON Donut Ring Cushion

  Soft, portable, discreet, and fits perfectly on most chairs.

  
  

• Portable Sitz Bath Tub for Postpartum Healing →

  

  PERPART Sitz Bath Tub

  Easy to place over any toilet seat, simple to clean, and doesn’t leak.

Final Thoughts

No one warned me about how difficult sitting could be after delivery. But now you know- and you're better prepared than I was. A donut pillow and sitz bath aren’t just nice-to-have items; they’re essentials for a more comfortable and manageable recovery.

Prepare early, heal faster, and be gentle with yourself, you deserve comfort and care during your postpartum journey.