If you've never heard of a padsicle, let me introduce you to your new postpartum best friend. Stock your freezer up with a few of these bad boys for cooling relief and healing support in the early days after giving birth.
So what IS a padsicle? It's a pad that is saturated in a gel/liquid that encourages healing of the outer vagina tissues after giving birth. They are placed the the fridge/freezer to also provide cooling relief while you recover during postpartum.
What You'll Need
- Witch Hazel. Make sure that it is 100% alcohol-free witch hazel! If you use witch hazel made with alcohol it can dry out your skin, ouch.
- Aloe Vera gel. Try to use one that is all natural and free from dyes and additives.
- Menstrual pads. Get pads that are long and have wings so that they are easy to fold up again.
- Parchment paper or wax paper
- Large ziplock bag (this is just to keep them all in one place in the freezer.)
How to Make a Padcicle
- Open up the pad and lay it flat on the table.
- Sprinkle the pad with witch hazel, focusing on the centre area that will be in direct contact with your vagina. Don't bother putting it on the far ends, those areas will not need the healing support.
- Add a thin layer of aloe vera gel to the same central area.
- Cut the parchment paper in strips that are the same length and width as the pad. Add the parchment paper on top of the saturated pad to keep the aloe vera in place.
- Fold up the pad again, and put it back in it's wrapper.
- Put all your prepped padsicles into a large ziplock bag the freezer.
How to Use the Padsicle
- After giving birth, take a few padsicles out of the freeze and put them in the fridge. Do not use them directly from the freezer, it will be too cold and cause discomfort.
- Take your fridge tempurature padsicle and put it in your underwear just like a regular pad.
- Enjoy the cooling relief and healing support.
- Use as often a needed.
Extra tips for making a padsicle for after birth
- Make them ahead of time! You don't want to be prepping these after giving birth, the whole idea is that they are ready to go when you need them.
- Because you have saturated the pad, it will not absorb extra blood or lochia. Wait until the majority of the bleeding has stopped before you use the padsicle to avoid a leak or mess.
- Do not cut corners with the ingredients. Use natural, scent-free, alcohol-free and dye-free options. This is your most sensitive area in a very sensitive time. She deserves the best!
- I did a bunch of research to find the best products (all available on Amazon) and here is what I used:
