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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and therefore cannot prescribe, treat, or diagnose. I’m a mom and health coach sharing my knowledge and experiences for educational purposes. This does not take the place of any professional medical advice.
Padsicles are, in essence, your standard sanitary pad elevated into a soothing, icy balm for post-delivery recovery. They’re a literal cool breeze for the discomfort that accompanies childbirth. For many pregnant women and new mothers, padsicles offer a blend of relief, comfort, and healing during a time that can be as challenging as it is rewarding.
Benefits of Padsicles
- Physical Relief: The coolness of padsicles helps soothe stitches, reduce swelling, and alleviate pain around the perineal area.
- Emotional Support: Beyond physical relief, the act of self-care that comes with using padsicles can significantly boost your emotional well-being during the postpartum period.
How to Make Padsicles at Home
Making padsicles is a simple, cost-effective solution that you can prepare in the comfort of your home.
You’ll need:
- Unscented incontinence pads (or lower absorbency pads if you know you’ll be wearing diapers instead of just the pad)
- Alcohol-free witch hazel
- Lavender, Frankincense, and Copaiba essential oils for calming and soothing properties (Feel free to DM me to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Definitely at least use code SHAREYL for 10% off!)
- Freezer bags for storage
Instructions:
- Open the pad but leave it attached to its wrapper for easy freezing.
- Pour witch hazel in a glass or stainless steel bowl, adding in 10-20 drops of each essential oil and stir.
- Pour the essential-oil-infused witch hazel over the pad, focusing on the center, to promote healing. You don’t want to over-saturate the pad because you want to leave room for the pad to be able to absorb any postpartum blood or leaking.
- Refold the pad and store it in a freezer bag.
- Store in the freezer for at least an hour before use.
- Place in underwear like a normal pad or place inside adult diaper after using the restroom or any other time when further relief is desired.
Don’t Want to Use Essential Oils?
Whether you don’t have the time or energy to follow the directions above, you could also just squirt witch hazel onto the pads and throw them in the freezer for ideally at least an hour before use, or you could spray the pads with this. It’s not as luxurious as the full-on padsicles above, but it’s good to know for when you’re in a pinch.
Tips for Using Padsicles
- When to Start: Begin using padsicles immediately post-delivery to take advantage of their cooling relief.
- Frequency: Use as often as needed, especially after using the restroom or whenever you seek comfort.
- What to Expect: Initially, the chill might be intense, but relief follows soon after.
Padsicles vs. Other Postpartum Products
While there are various postpartum recovery products available, padsicles offer a homemade, natural remedy unlike anything else on the market. Their simplicity, ease of preparation, and cost-effectiveness, coupled with the therapeutic properties of their ingredients, make padsicles a preferred choice for many new moms.
Padsicles offer an empowering step towards healing and comfort in the days and weeks following childbirth. They embody the essence of self-care, encouraging new mothers to prioritize their well-being alongside their newborns. Whether you’re making them yourself or sharing this guide with expectant mothers, padsicles stand out as a gentle, effective method for soothing postpartum recovery.
I hope this was helpful! If you’d like to hear more from me, I’d love to have you in my Facebook group: New Mom’s Self Love & Baby Snuggles Club.
xo, Mary