Your stoma is in many ways like getting a completely new body part - it will take a while to get used to something new being there. The swelling should already be subsiding, but it could still be a little swollen.
A little blood is not unusual
The stoma tissue is very similar to the inside of your mouth – however, it's not sensitive at all. The red colour is normal and does not indicate pain or inflammation, as you'll notice when you touch it.
It could bleed a little because blood vessels are very close to the surface, but that's normal - just like the tissue inside your mouth bleeds easily.
Refrain from using soap when cleaning
You should obviously handle your stoma with care, but there is no need to be afraid of touching it. To clean it, simply use tap water and soft wipes or a soft cloth.
The stoma tissue and the skin around it doesn't need soap for cleansing, in fact, soap could irritate it - as could baby wipes.
Taking a shower or bath with a stoma
Showering and bathing will not damage your stoma or pouching system, so you can shower with or without your bag – as long as you remember to try to keep soap, oils or creams away from the stoma.
Let your stoma and the surrounding skin dry completely before you apply a new baseplate – and that's actually all you need to do. You could use soft non-woven swabs to gently stop any output dripping while allowing your skin to dry.
