Bedikot postpartum

I had a baby almost 5 weeks ago and am ready to start doing bedikot. Are there any health risks to doing bedikot before having a checkup by the doctor (I have an appointment in a week but would like to start bedikot now)?
Also, I am concerned about dryness and irritation during bedikot - what is halachically permissible to do to minimize that?
Thank you.

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your question.

Mazal tov on the birth of your baby!

You can perform bedikot now, unless your physician has instructed you not to insert anything into the vagina before your checkup - but only if you take great care to be gentle.  If you find a bedikah painful with some blood, then there is the possibility of an irritation.  Although your bedikah may not be invalid (contact us should this occur), in this case it would be advisable to give the area more time to heal.

You may add a drop of water to a bedikah cloth in order to soften it.  Prewashing also can soften a cloth.  Performing a bedikah in a more comfortable position (such as with one leg propped on a stool) may also help. 

This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases.

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