30 Mar Postpartum Freezer Pads

As we pull out the onesies  and set up the crib in preparation for a new baby, it’s often easy to overlook the new mom and the many ways we can prepare for her postpartum time. One thing that can be set up ahead of time are postpartum freezer pads. Many women find that these frozen pads feel really great postpartum and help with any swelling. You’ll be happy having a stash tucked away in the freezer waiting for you. These can be as simple or as involved as you would like it to be. See our “what you’ll need” list below, but please note that you don’t need to use all the ingredients listed, you can pick and choose!

What you’ll need:

• Maxi or overnight pads -any brand is fine but your tissues will be sensitive after giving birth so a scent free or organic brand may be best
• Witch hazel
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Tea Tree Essential Oil
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Tinfoil (if pads are not already individually wrapped)
• Gallon size ziploc bags

How to:

• Open up the number of pads you’d like and lay flat
• Liberally spray witch hazel over the pads (about 2 tbsp each)
• Add a couple of drops of essential oils -keep in mind, these oils are strong and you only need a drop or two of each
• Use a spoon or spatula to smooth aloe vera gel over the top of the pad
• Fold wings & wrappers back over pad or wrap in tinfoil
• Place several pads in each gallon size ziploc bag & place in the freezer

To Remember:

• Perineal tissues may be swollen for the first 24 hours postpartum but after that swelling should go down so witch hazel, aloe, etc are the real healing agents after that.
• You will be bleeding to some extent and your midwife will ask you to monitor this bleeding so please keep some pads separate from your freezer stash for this purpose.
• Fresh air is also good for perineal healing. If you can spend some time sitting on a chux pad in bed giving your tissues some air that’s also great!
• Herbal sitz baths 2-3x a day can also aid in perineal healing and are often highly recommended -some mom’s make an extra batch of herbs prenatally and put 2 tbsp of the tea on their pads before freezing.

Have you made postpartum pads in the past? Let us know how it went in the comments!