Q: Dear Doc, I started having serious pain at my tail bone some days after my baby’s delivery, what can I do?

A: The tail bone is called the coccyx and it is made up of about 2 or 3 fused bones. This coccyx can get bruised, ‘fractured’ or ‘dislocated’ during childbirth especially if you had a big baby or had a small pelvic outlet as the joints between these bones break open. This pain can be excruciating when you attempt to sit down in instances where the joint does not heal.

What can you do? Try lying on your side. When you have to sit, try sitting upright. This may be helpful or not. If not helpful, try sitting on a pillow or a doughnut shaped pillow…a good alternative is the travel pillow worn on the neck when travelling.
A sitz bath is also a great idea. It’s a warm water bath that helps cleanse the perineum. Just in case you wondered, the perineum is that space between the rectum and the genitals. The right temperature is the one that you can handle without sustaining burns. Putting a few drops of this water on the inner surface of your wrist can help confirm this.

Plain warm water is sufficient but some people add salt to the water which is soothing. Your doctor may also suggest other things he/she may want you to add to the water.

To prepare this, you can either use the plastic Sitz bath kit, (a special bowl specifically made for this whichfits on your toilet seat so you can sit down easily on it), or your bath tub. Be sure to thoroughly scrub your plastic Sitz bath kit or bath tub before and after use. If using the bath tub, add sufficient warm water to sit on and then get in. To get the job done properly, you can try hanging your legs out of the tub. Usually, you are encouraged to sit for 10 to 15 minutes on the water. Pat the perineal area dry after you’re done. Do not rub vigorously…remember the area is sore and if you’ve had stitches, it could mess things up 😀 This can be repeated up to 3 to 4 times daily as needed.

Cold or warm compress on the area is also helpful. Passing stool especially if it’s constipated may make you break out in sweat or in tears 😀 So, try to avoid this. Eat loads of veggies to keep stuff moving down there 😀

Pain relief using over the counter analgesics can help relieve pain and if the pain remains longer than a week, be sure to see your doctor for a stronger analgesic. In some instances, local anaesthetic agents can be injected into the area and as a last resort, surgery may be indicated.

So, if this has been more than a week, please see your doctor for stronger pain relief. This, hopefully, will tide you over.

Give your baby a hug and a kiss from me 😀

Have a good night y’all 😀