Postpartum Freezer Pads

There is much healing to be done after you have a baby, and keeping a stash of freezer pads (or “padsicles”) can bring some much-needed relief in the early days. The cold is temporarily numbing while the herbs or solutions can reduce swelling and inflammation and speed up tissue recovery.

You can make a beautiful herbal concentration using a mix of calendula, plantain, chamomile and marshmallow; using about a half cup of each dried herb, boil about 8 cups of water, add the herbs and let steep covered for at least 20 minutes or preferably longer. You can then strain and add this concentrated liquid to sitz baths or peri bottles, or pour over several overnight maxi pads and freeze them on a piece of foil.

Alternately, if you don’t have dried herbs (mountain rose and heart of herbs are both good places to order from), you can simply use alcohol-free witch hazel (available at any drug store) and pure aloe vera gel (no fragrances or dies). Soak the pads with the with hazel first (maybe a tablespoon or two per pad), then spread the aloe with clean hands or a spoon. If you have pure lavender essential oil, you can add a drop or two per pad and spread that with the aloe. Freeze on a piece foil for an hour and then store your stash in a zip loc bag. Use as needed for pain relief and soothing.

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