A peri bottle is a small squeeze bottle with a spout that you fill with lukewarm water and use to rinse the perineum, the area between the vagina and the anus, after using the toilet. You may be handed one at the hospital after giving birth. It is quick to use once you know the steps: fill it, aim the spout, squeeze gently and pat dry.
What a peri bottle is
It is a plastic squeeze bottle with a narrow spout and a cap. Rather than relying only on wiping, you rinse with water, and some people find that more comfortable when the area is tender after birth. Whether it suits your recovery is a question for your care provider or midwife.
"Peri" is short for perineal, and listings sometimes use the longer name. One option in the store is the Perineal Irrigation Bottle, 8 oz (250 mL). Its product page has the details, and the store lists it in the Adult Wipes & Skin Care collection.
What to have within reach before you start
- The bottle, rinsed clean, and a sink or tap where you can fill it.
- A soft, clean towel or plain toilet paper for patting dry.
- A fresh pad and clean underwear, set out where you can reach them.
- A bin for the used pad, and soap for your hands.
Set these out before you sit down. It is easier to have everything in one spot than to reach for things afterwards.
Step by step: fill, aim, rinse and pat dry
- Wash your hands.
- Fill the bottle with lukewarm water. Test a few drops on the inside of your wrist: it should feel comfortable, not hot. If the bottle has a fill line, stay at or below it.
- Use the toilet as usual.
- While you are still seated, hold the bottle so the spout points at the area you are rinsing, using whatever angle suits the bottle's shape, and let the water fall into the bowl. Rinse so the water runs from front to back, away from the vagina and toward the anus.
- Squeeze gently. A gentle flow is the aim, and you do not need force. Refill if you run out before you feel clean.
- Pat dry with a soft towel or plain paper, again from front to back. Pat rather than rub.
- Put on a fresh pad and clean underwear, then wash your hands.
If your bottle came with instructions, or a nurse or midwife showed you a different technique, follow theirs. If rinsing hurts, or if stitches or the area worry you, ask your care provider.
Using one away from home
A peri bottle is easiest to carry empty. Fill it at the sink wherever you are, check the temperature on your wrist, and keep the cap closed while it is in your bag.
Plan the small stuff too. Public bathrooms may only offer very hot or cold water, so allow a minute to run the tap until it feels comfortable. Pack a spare pad, a sealable bag for the used one, and something waterproof to hold the damp bottle afterwards. One option is the Voccos Waterproof Wet Dry Bags, Black and Grey, 2 Pack.
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Cleaning and drying the bottle between uses
Keep the bottle for your own use and do not share it. After each use, empty it, rinse inside and out, and let the spout drain.
On a regular basis, wash it with warm water and a little mild dish soap, rinse until no soap is left, and let it dry fully before you close it. Stand it upside down or leave the cap off in a clean spot. Plastics differ, so check the pack for what it says about hot water, dishwashers or boiling.
Water temperature and how full to fill it
Lukewarm means close to body temperature. Hot water can burn tender skin, and the wrist test is an easy check when you do not have a thermometer.
Fill it with the amount you need for one rinse rather than to the brim. A full bottle is heavier and harder to aim, and refilling mid-rinse is no trouble. If your local water supply is under a boil-water advisory, follow your municipality's advice for what water to use.
What not to add unless your care provider tells you to
You may hear advice about adding salt, herbs, soap, antiseptic or other ingredients to the water. Whether any of that suits you is a question for your care provider or pharmacist, and if they do suggest something, follow their directions exactly. Plain lukewarm water is the starting point.
If the area looks or feels worse instead of better, or anything about it worries you, contact your care provider, midwife or nurse rather than changing what goes in the bottle.
Common questions
How often should I use it?
Your care provider or nurse can tell you how long to keep using one in your recovery. Many people reach for it each time they use the toilet at first, but that is a question to confirm with them.
Can I use it if I have stitches?
Ask your care provider or midwife how to care for the area. They can tell you how to rinse and dry in a way that suits your recovery.
Do I need to bring my own to the hospital?
It depends on where you give birth, so raise it at a prenatal visit. If you would rather have a bottle you have already handled, pack your own either way.
What if the flow feels too strong?
Squeeze more gently, since the flow follows how hard you press. If the bottle still feels too forceful, bottle designs differ in how the water comes out, so a different one may suit you better.
If you would like help choosing a bottle or a few recovery supplies, send us a message through the contact page. We reply within one business day.