As a new mother, you will focus a lot on preparing for the birth of your baby. From packing your hospital bags to painting the nursery, to stocking up on cloth diapers, adult diapers, feeding bottles, catheters, delivering the placenta, and the surprisingly painful “first” bowel movement are just a few of the things no one tells you about giving birth. I mean where would padsicles fit into all that preparation?
But despite the excitement and stress of preparing for the arrival of a baby, new mothers have to prepare for their own healing too. You may have heard that padsicles are a must-have item for any postpartum recovery checklist. The pain and tenderness in your lady parts following a vaginal delivery can be painful.
Bruising, swelling, and sutures from vaginal tearing are all common side effects of childbirth. When you are experiencing the pains from childbirth, you’re open to anything that promises relief. Women who also had a vacuum extraction done can benefit from padsicles for relief.
What Are Padsicles
Padsicles are a type of ice pack that is specifically designed to soothe postpartum hemorrhoids. The name is gotten from “Pads” and popsicles”. They are made by freezing witch hazel, aloe vera gel, and lavender oil, and can be used for up to 5 to 12 hours at a time depending on the situation. Padsicles are an excellent way to reduce swelling and inflammation. It can be used as needed throughout the recovery process.
Why You Need To Indulge In Post-Partum Care
During childbirth, the cervix dilates to about 10cm to allow the passage of the baby. The vagina and vulva need to stretch as well to accommodate the passage of the baby. Just like you take care of your muscles after working out, or apply makeup when going out, so should you indulge in postpartum care.
You should pay attention to your post-partum care and healing especially if you had a tear that requires stitching, a minor tear, or no tear at all. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to do this is by using padsicles.
Do Padsicles Really Work
Following delivery, a lot of new moms experience vaginal tears, which generally calls for stitches and may be downright painful during the stitching and all through the healing process. Even if you don’t tear, your vaginal and perineal regions are most likely to be sore from all the maternal activity. Postpartum padsicles are absolute lifesavers when it comes to relieving postpartum pain, and may reduce swelling, inflammation, and bruising after vaginal birth. They also can help in soaking up any postpartum bleeding. Homemade padsicles are normally made with ingredients like aloe vera, Witch Hazel, and lavender essential oil.
Some people add peppermint oil, which boasts plenty of recovery properties. Many ladies also get hemorrhoids after childbirth, which can also bring about ache, itchiness, swelling, or bleeding. These are swollen veins inside the rectum/anus.
How Do Padsicles Work
Padsicles are specifically made to soothe the discomfort and pain of postpartum delivery, hemorrhoids, and menstrual cramps. They can also be used to relieve pain from anal fissures, perineal tears, and episiotomies. The ingredients used to make the padsicles, the witch hazel, lavender, and aloe vera gel are all absorbed by the skin around the vulva and also the mucous membrane of the vagina.
This enables them to perform their healing properties. Absorption via mucous membrane is a fast and effective route of absorption. The continuous absorption of these minerals via the skin aids and quickens healing reduces irritation and gives soothing, calming relief to the vagina.
When To Make Padsicles
The best time to make padsicles is in the last month of your pregnancy. Make a lot and stock in the freezer. They are a lifesaver. But because of all the preparations leading up to childbirth. You may not have time to make them. The good news is that you can make them almost anywhere, at any time and they take just a few minutes to freeze. Once that happens, they are ready for use.
Benefits of Padsicles
Padsicles are an absolute lifesaver for women who just went through vaginal delivery, women who have painful menstrual cramps, and women who have vaginal tears as a result of vaginal delivery. The soothing and calming effect has been described as heavenly by some women. Padsicles have a number of potential benefits, including:
- Reducing pain
- Reducing inflammation
- Soothing the skin
- Anti-fungal properties
- Can stunt the growth of Candida Albicans
- Help in the treatment of skin abrasions, cuts, and burns.
- It can help soothe your vagina after a round of rough sex
Ingredients Used In Making Padsicles
Witch-hazel
Witch hazel is an extract from the plant hamamelis virginana. Witch hazel reduces inflammation, tightens pores, and helps in the reduction of razor bumps. It may also help to minimize acne by removing excess oil from your skin. However, persons with dry or extremely sensitive skin should avoid using witch hazel because it can irritate them. Witch Hazel
- Relieves inflammation
- Tightens pores
- Reduces skin irritation
- Helps in the treatment of itching, redness, pain, and swelling associated with hemorrhoids.
- It is rich in tannins; tannins are plant compounds with heavy anti-oxidant properties
- It may stop bleeding caused by hemorrhoids
- Neutralizes harmful free radicals
Lavender Essential oil
Lavender essential oil is known for its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. It has a soothing and calming effect on the skin.
- Helps in the treatment of acne
- Soothes eczema
- Wonderful for people with dry skin
- Heals wounds, scars, cuts, and burns
- Has antiseptic properties. This was one of the reasons that the Greeks, Romans, and Chinese soldiers used it in cleaning and dressing wounds.
- Helps to prevent wrinkles
Aloe Vera Gel
This is the gel from aloe plants. It has been used for thousands of years in healing and softening skin. Aloe vera used as a form of skin treatment has been in practice for as many years as anyone would be willing to count This gel contains mucopolysaccharides. These are molecules that hydrate and keep moisture in the skin. Aloe vera gel is effective in treating skin conditions like
- Minor burns
- Skin abrasions
- Canker sores/ herpes sores
- Anal fissures
- Stimulates collagen production and fights skin wrinkling
- Skin irritations
Peppermint Essential Oil
This is one of the most used essential oils. It has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.
- It helps in alleviating symptoms of yeast infection
- Peppermint oil disrupts the growth of Candida Albicans (the main cause of yeast infection)
- Cleanses the skin
- Soothes irritation and inflammation
- Prevents pore clogging by balancing sebum production
- It helps prevent bad odor
This Is A List Of What You Will Need To Make Your Padsicles In The Comfort Of Your Home
- Aluminum foil
- Ziplock bag or plastic container
- Sanitary pads or adult diapers
- Witch hazel without alcohol
- Lavender Essential oil
- Aloe Vera gel
- Peppermint oil (optional)
- Disposable gloves
How To Make Padsicles
When making padsicles, people have different ways by which they prepare theirs. This is the most common, easiest, and straightforward way to prepare your padsicles.
Instructions:
- Wash your hands and clean the workspace
- Put on your disposable gloves if you have, if not use your clean, washed hands
- Open the package of maxi pads and remove one pad.
- Leave the wrapping attached to the back of the pad
- Lay the opened pad on the aluminum foil
- Apply a generous amount of aloe vera over the pad. You can use a tablespoon to spread it generously across the pad.
- Spray or pour the witch hazel over the pad
- Then apply 3 to 5 drops of lavender oil and (peppermint oil) to the pad
- Fold the pad with the aluminum foil and put it in the Ziplock bag
- Keep in the freezer for about 2 to 3 hours
- When you want to use it, take it out of the freezer, leave it to thaw for about a minute, then put it in your underwear and use it as a normal pad
Although you may want to apply the aloe vera generously, do not oversaturate the pad because this can reduce the way the pad absorbs and causes leakage. This can result in a messy cleanup. If your postpartum bleeding is heavy, you may need to change your padsicles more frequently.
How To Store Padsicles
Homemade padsicles can be stored in the freezer till you need them. To my knowledge as long as they are well stored/frozen, there is no risk of contamination or expiration. Wrapping them in an aluminum foil prevents the padsicles from sticking together.
How Long Do You Have Wear A Padsicle
A padsicle is a disposable menstrual pad that can be worn for up to 6 to 8 hours. However, it is advised that if you are having postpartum recovery, you should change your padsicles every 4 to 5 hours. The following is an estimate of how many padsicles a woman could use during the first two weeks after delivery.
- Days 1 – 2 up to 4 padsicles
- Days 3 – 5, up to 3 padsicles
- Days 6 – 9, up to 3 padsicles
- Days 10 – 14, up to 5 padsicles
For a two-week plan, you could use up to 15 -20 padsicles.
Store-bought Padsicles
Yes, this option is available. You can find a lot of store-bought alternatives both online and at your local pharmacy. For some reason, some women may not have the time or patience to make their own DIY padsicles before their due date, These ready-made alternatives could be the preferred solution.
Conclusion
Postpartum care should not be an afterthought. It should be an experience that you should prepare for adequately. Between the postpartum bleeding and vaginal soreness, the relief padsicles bring are a life saver. It is something that every new mother should have on her checklist. Padsicles are not sold in stores, this DIY post should be saved and shared. Thank you
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