Padsicles Recipe: What Every Mama Needs Postpartum

After I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy, several items helped me during postpartum. And I will tell you, padsicles were definitely one of them. After pushing a human being out of your body, your bottom will be sore. And swollen. You might even have stitches. I was lucky that I only had a tiny tear from pushing and didn’t need any stitches, but I was still pretty swollen and had bad hemorrhoids. Not fun! That will happen after three hours of pushing, which is how long it took me to give birth to my baby boy. So padsicles quickly became my new best friend.

What are padsicles, and what do they do?

Padsicles are chilled, large maxi pads that help women during their recovery after vaginal births. They are DIY recipes made at home with healing ingredients that help relieve pain, swelling, and inflammation. They act as cold compresses and encourage healing after delivery.

How do you make padsicles?

There are two different types of padsicles recipes that you can make: one with witch hazel and the other a sitz bath padsicle. Both are extremely helpful and soothing to the postpartum body. Here is what you need to know about and how to make both.

Postpartum Padsicle Recipe: Witch Hazel

This is the most common padsicle recipe that most people make when preparing for their postpartum period. I made this recipe during my second pregnancy with my daughter. Here is what you need and how you make them.

Items You Need

• Overnight Pads
• Witch Hazel
• Natural Aloe Vera
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Sandwich Baggies
• Depends Silhouettes

Directions

1. Open your maxi pads and open the wings. (Leave the maxi pads attached to the original wrap since you will need to wrap them back up once you finish.)
2. Generously pour some of the witch hazel onto your overnight pads from top to bottom. It should be about 1/4 cup.
3. Squeeze a good amount of your 100% aloe vera from the top and bottom of your pad.
4. Grab a spoon and evenly smooth the aloe vera on your pad.
5. Now pour several drops of your lavender essential oil on your pad.
6. Next, you will fold up your overnight pad inside the pad’s original wrap.
7. Then place your folded-up padsicle inside your ziplock baggy.
8. Your padsicles are now ready to go in your freezer and will be ready for when you’re home after giving birth!

Postpartum Padsicle Recipe: Sitz Bath

I made this recipe during my first pregnancy before my son was born. I am so glad I made them because they gave me great relief after giving birth. Below is my Facebook Live video breaking down how I made my sitz bath postpartum padsicles, and here are all the links to help you make your own.

Items You Need to Make the Sitz Bath Padsicle Recipe

• Overnight Pads
• Postpartum Herbs
• Natural Aloe Vera
• Lavender Essential Oil
• New Mama Bottom Spray
• Baggies
• Depends Silhouettes

Directions

1. Boil some water on the stove.
2. Steep a bag of your postpartum herbs for 5 minutes in the boiled water
3. Once the herbs are ready, get your overnight pad ready—I recommend an organic option that doesn’t have chemicals.
4. Pour some of your postpartum herbs onto your overnight pads from top to bottom. It should be about 1/2 cup.
5. Next, shake up your new mama bottom spray and spray your overnight pad—spray the entire length of the pad.
6. Get your 100% aloe vera and squeeze a good amount of it from the top and bottom of your pad.
7. Grab a spoon and evenly smooth the aloe vera on your pad.
8. Now pour several drops of your lavender essential oil on your pad.
9. Next, you’re going to fold up your overnight pad. Be sure that you do not remove the paper to leave the backside sticky.
10. Then place your folded-up padsicle inside your pad’s original bag and then put that inside your ziplock baggy.
11. Your padsicles are now ready to go in your freezer.
12. Once you have had your baby and are ready to use your padsicles, enjoy! They may be a bit too cold and frozen to put on your bottom immediately after birth, so let them thaw for about 5-10 minutes before placing them in your Depends underwear.

When should I make my padsicles?

I made these when I was 35 weeks pregnant during my first pregnancy with my son. I didn’t want to make them too early and have them sit or too late—since baby can safely arrive at 37 weeks. With my second pregnancy, I made them at 38 weeks. Since my son arrived at 41 weeks, I knew I had a little time before my second baby came. 😉

How many padsicles should I make?

If you’re wondering how many you should make, I made 20 padsicles for myself postpartum, which was the perfect amount after my first birth. Some people need more, and some people need less. It’s entirely up to you. I think 20 is a safe number.

Postpartum Recovery Items

A while ago, I did a Facebook Live on how to make these padsicles and discussed other great products for postpartum recovery. Here are the links to those items as well.

• C-section Healing Salve (see all of our c-section recovery must-haves)
• Dermoplast
• Tucks
• Honey Pot Co. postpartum pads
• Motherlove Rhoid Balm
• Stool softeners
• MomWasher
• Pariday TendHer Pads

I hope this helps you have the best and easiest recovery after birth! 🙂