Padsicles: Postpartum Relief in Five Easy Steps

I was terrified of how badly it was going to hurt “down there” after a vaginal delivery. I sought out advice anywhere I could get it and concluded there were three tools I needed to have in my arsenal for the comfort and recovery of my lady parts: Dermaplast spray (hoard this stuff at the hospital and order backups); Sitz baths; and Padsicles!

Padsicles are super easy to make, feel amazing straight out of the freezer, and help promote faster healing. I made these about two or three weeks before my delivery, and I was so glad I took the 30 or so minutes it takes to make them. I promiseit’s easy. I’ll show you:

Step One: Gather your supplies.

  • Maxi Pads (you are going to need these for post-delivery anyways)
  • Witch hazel
  • Aloe vera gel
  • Essential Oils of your choice (do some research for different healing properties, but I recommend lavender, rosemary, and geranium)                     
  • A Pyrex baking dish
  • Ziploc freezer bags

At this point, I prepared an “assembly line” of pads. I opened about 15 pads, leaving the pad in the wrapper (you just want to unfold them and not take them out of the wrapper completely because you will be re-folding them in Step Five). I placed the one I was preparing into a Pyrex dish in case I had any spills or mess.

Step Two: Pour 1–2 tablespoons of witch hazel into the center area of the pad.

Step Three: Spread 1–2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel into the center of the pad.

Spread it up and down the center of the pad so it covers the area well.

Step Four: Pour 3–5 drops of each essential oil onto the pad.

I was generous with my drops.

Step Five: Re-fold the pad back up to its original packaging, put it in a Ziploc freezer bag, place the bag in the freezer, and wait for baby!

Once you are home with your new baby and both your baby and lady parts are screaming for attention, simply take a Padsicle out of the freezer and wear it for some immediate, cooling relief. I wish I had such an easy, five-step process to calm that screaming newborn, but unfortunately, I never found that remedy!

Bridget
Bridget was born and raised in San Antonio and moved back here after college and law school. She is a wife, full-time attorney, wrangler of four kids ages 15, 13, 3 and almost 2. As both a stepmom and mom, her life and house is always full and she loves to share about blended family life. Bridget is also passionate about infertility advocacy after having suffered multiple miscarriages and multiple rounds of IVF. Now with her stepkids, rainbow baby, and surprise baby, her family is complete and she is soaking up every minute of motherhood!

1 COMMENT

  1. What a wonderful idea – I wish I would have seen this after I delivered my last baby – she was 10 1/2 pounds and I delivered vaginally! She is 18 now so I doubt I’ll need to use these but it’s a perfect idea to share with a pregnant friend!

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