If you're planning to have a baby or just had one, make Padsicles! Covered in aloe vera, witch hazel and lavender oil, they are the best postpartum pads to aid in healing and soothing!
Hey y'all listen up: if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant you need to know about padsicles, why? Because they are the absolute best pads for after birth.
What are Padsicles?
They're essentially home-made cold packs for your lady area. Padsicles are the best postpartum pads because they are covered in aloe vera, witch hazel and lavender oil. All together, these reduce pain AND they aid you in healing faster.
A padsicle is a cold, soothing, healing postpartum pad for new mamas to use after vaginal birth.
I am not going to get into the nitty gritty details of postpartum right now. We'll just say it hurts. Before I delivered my baby in November, I read up about postpartum care and found out about padsicles so I whipped up a bunch of them in about 30 minutes one day.
After that baby came I was so glad I did this DIY. They were heaven sent. I kept thinking to myself that I didn't want to know what postpartum life would be like without the padsicles.
DIY Frozen Postpartum Pads
So, if you are going to have a baby I highly recommend making these ahead of time so they'll be ready for you when you get home. If a baby is in your more distant future, pin this for later! If you have a close friend or family member having a baby, make some for them and they'll love you forever. I made a batch of about 30 at first but that many only lasted me about a week so I ended up making another batch of 30 after that. It's up to you to choose how many to make!
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Supplies needed to make Padsicles:
- Biggest pads you can find (I use Always Overnights)
- Witch Hazel (I used this kind)
- Aloe Vera
- Lavender Essential Oil (I used DoTerra)
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How to Make Padsicles
- Partially unwrap a few pads at a time, but don't detach the wrapper. Spread aloe vera generously up and down the whole pad. Don't just do the middle part - spread it further down almost to the bottom of the pad. Just trust me on that.
- Pour about a teaspoon of witch hazel down the middle.
- Add a few drops of lavender oil. Fold the pads back up to how they were and stick them in a gallon sized plastic bag, then freeze.
- Pull them out of the freezer, one by one, as needed and let them thaw for two or three minutes before use.
You'll thank me later for this, I wasn't lying when I said they are the best pads for after birth! Oh and by the way, if you're making these, congratulations on your bundle of joy! The postpartum pain is only a tiny speck compared to the joy your sweet baby will bring to your life.
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Padsicles
Video
Equipment
- teaspoon
Instructions
- Partially unwrap a few pads at a time, but don't detach the wrapper. Spread aloe vera generously up and down the whole pad. Don't just do the middle part - spread it further down almost to the bottom of the pad. Just trust me on that. Pour about a teaspoon of witch hazel down the middle.
- Add a few drops of lavender oil. Fold the pads back up to how they were and stick them in a gallon sized plastic bag, then freeze. Pull them out of the freezer, one by one, as needed and let them thaw for two or three minutes before use.
Notes
Now that you're armed with the absolute best postpartum pads, you can sit back and relax, waiting for your sweet bundle to arrive!
xo,
This post was originally published in January 2015 and has been updated with new photos, video and more detailed information.
Lauren
Can I use witch hazel with aloe already in it, to simplify the process?
Lauren
The witch hazel brand you recommended contains alcohol... qon't the alcohol sting the lady bits?
Sarah
How long do these stay cold for after applying them?
Sarah
Hmm. Not very long, but it soothes the pain for longer than the cold lasts, if that makes sense.
Anita smith
I am having vaginal hernia surgery. Will this work for this?
Jessica
Definitely.
Karla
How long do these last in the freezer?
Jessica
They will last indefinitely. They will begin to lose potency after about six months.
Rebecca H
I made these with Fruit of the Earth Aloe and Forever Pure Witch Hazel (best brands if you ask me). I was far more generous with how much I put on my pads. I blended the gel and witch hazel together in a bowl then used a pastry brush to apply an even layer on the entire pad... I omitted the lavendar oil (as I am allergic), best pads ever!
Sydney b
My only question is why lavender oil? Can we use another oil ?
Sarah
Lavender is known to have healing properties, but you can try another oil if you want. I am not sure which ones to recommend as I've only tried lavender for this recipe.
Melissa N Preble
I make these and give them as a gift at baby showers. I use a combination of lavender eo and tea tree eo. Tea tree has healing properties too.
Cori
Which “size” pads work best? The always pads are numbered 1-6 I think as far as flow goes or does it matter?
Jessica
It doesn't matter! I have used several sizes and they all worked great.