After you come down from the adrenaline and excitement of having a new baby, you’ll be hit pretty hard with the reality of postpartum and how much it HURTS. The solution? Padsicles! They’re just what they sound like — frozen pads. Except these also have some extra ingredients to help heal and relieve pain after a vaginal birth.
Along with other necessities for postpartum care, padsicles are a staple for any woman who’s fresh out of the hospital. You’re going to be sore, bleeding and especially uncomfortable those first few days postpartum. Pads (or adult diapers) will be part of your wardrobe anyway, you might as well make them multipurpose and aid in your healing.
And while I’m definitely not the one to come up with the idea of padsicles, I had to share this simple “recipe” because I believe they’re too genius not to!
The most popular recipe out there calls for just three ingredients, but I simplified it even further to two things: witch hazel and aloe vera. If you want, you can include a few drops of lavender essential oil. Personally, I’m not an essential oils person, so I skipped that part.
Anyways… on to the instructions!
What you’ll need:
Extra absorbent overnight pads – Go with the biggest size you can find. You’ll want the cooling effect on as much area as possible.
Witch hazel – The healing property of this whole recipe.
Aloe vera gel – Get some without scents or dyes as this might just sting more than anything.
A gallon ziploc bag – To contain all the pads in your freezer.
Step 1: Witch Hazel
Unfold and open up the pad, but make sure to keep the wrapping attached! Squirt a good amount of witch hazel onto the entire area of the pad. I didn’t measure, but it was probably about 5-7 tablespoons worth. It will obviously absorb right into the pad, but that’s okay. Once you’re wearing the pad and it starts to defrost, it will do its job.
Step 2: Aloe Vera
Squirt some aloe vera down the entire length of the pad. Again, there’s no need to measure the amount. If I had to guess, I’d say about 1-2 tablespoons is enough. Then spread the aloe vera into an even layer with the back of a spoon, making sure to cover the whole area.
Step 3: Freeze!
As simple as that! You can refold and wrap up the pad, repeat this process for 8-10 padsicles, and then stick them in a gallon baggie to go in the freezer. You can label the baggie if you want, but it’s more fun to wait until your husband finds them and tries to guess why pads are in the freezer — trust me.
I’m two months from the birth of our first child, so I’ve been heavily preparing for all the things to come. I’m more nervous about the pain and discomfort of postpartum than the birth itself. And while there’s not much you can really do for immediate healing, I believe padsicles are going to help immensely!
What was your postpartum healing process like? I’d love to hear any experience you have in the comments below!
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