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.
Khadija
Hi there, can the aloe Vera from the plant be used instead of store bought one?
Jessica
I've never tried it!
Julie Tailhan
I was massively recommended to use TENA pants Plus (which are actually incontinence pads) as they are comfortable and easy to use... do you think I could use those for padsicles too??
Sarah
I have no idea, but let us know how it goes if you try it!
Sarah
How does all the liquid in the pad affect the absorbency?
Jessica
It can still hold plenty in our experience by the time we needed a new one we wanted one anyway because the cold had worn off.
Question
Did you use this exact brand of witch hazel? I bought this kind to use and now I’m seeing it contains alcohol. Other sites have mentioned to use alcohol free
Sarah
Hi, yes! I used this brand of witch hazel. The alcohol never caused an issue for me. Maybe because the alcohol content is so low and I don't use very much of it anyway? It's never been a problem.
crys
could something like this be used? Thayers-Witch-Hazel-Alcohol-Free-Facial-Mist-Toner-with-Aloe-Vera-Formula-Rose-Petal-3-fl-oz/6000202538431
Sarah
I don't know how it would work because I've never tried it!
Danielle
So I just made these I am due in January. When wanting to use one how long should we take it out for before using? Are they just as good as the hospital ones? I checked out targets but they want a lot for only 8-9 pads. They were super easy to make and I was pretty generous with the ingredients.
Jessica
A minute or two should be plenty of time. I would stick them directly in sometimes, it's really just personal preference.
Beth
can you use a spray bottle for the witch hazel for a more even application?
Jessica
absolutely!
Laura
Do the addition of all the liquids affect the absorbency of the pad?
Kristin
Yes! They are a Godsend. Do this for your sister, cousin, friend, daughter-in-law and save their lady parts!!!
Deedra Tarrant
Lavender does not require dilution and is safe to use even on infants.
Serena
That is absolutely not true. It is an endocrine disruptor and should never be used on infants. It also should never be used undiluted on anyone's skin, ever.
Joanna
I want to make these for my sister who lives a few provinves over. Do you know of they would survive if I were to ship them pre made but not frozen?
Sarah
I'm not sure... I think they might dry up in that case. The best thing might be to send her the supplies and then the link to the tutorial.
Kathryn D Parks
If you find you bought really long pads with 2 (4?) wings, tear the covers like on the right and fold in half not thirds. Keeping wing cover in one piece made folding harder (didn't stay folded as you can see on left)and only managed to get aloe etc all over the counter and Glamma.
Joan M
If I'm giving them as a gift I assume I don't freeze them or does initially freezing them set the ingredients
Jessica
When I give them as a gift I freeze them first, they will keep in a freezer as long as you need assuming the person has the space!
Andrea
How far in advance can I make these?
Sarah
Hi! I have made them about a month before having my babies. I think you could do it even more in advance if you have room in your freezer to keep them for longer.
Annette
If you had tears during childbirth, do you think this is still good to use?
Sarah
I had some tearing and they still worked for me and I think helped heal - at least they were soothing!
Emily Cromwell
When purchasing maxi pads, can the Heavy overnight flex foam pads be used? Thanks!
Sarah
I've never tried those, but I'm guessing they would work just as well!? Let me know if you try it!
Karissa
Did the witch hazel sting at all? I'm looking at it in Target and the kind you suggest says in the ingredients "natural grain alcohol 14%". Thanks!
Sarah
It has never stung for me!
Paige
You use these at the same time as you’re bleeding afterwords?
Jessica
Yes! At the same time, they are amazing!
Emma
Are these products totally safe to use near your sensitive parts? I’m concerned about setting off any ph imbalance down there and adding thrush to the equation.
Sarah
That is a totally valid concern! As far as I'm aware it is safe. I have used them personally after two births, and have never had thrush or yeast infections.
Lindsey
Adding this for future people who may be reading these comments. Witch hazel is great for promoting post partum healing and restoring the pH balance after birth. However, if you have a yeast infection, do not use witch hazel as it can make it worse.
The addition of lavender is questionable safety wise. There is nothing here to effectively disperse and dilute the essential oil (neither witch hazel nor aloe vera gel do the job), meaning you are putting undiluted essential oils on the most sensitive area of your body and the time when it's most sensitive.
Mariana
Maybe you can dilute the oil in the aloe! Then put it on the pad, even so, I pour lavender directly on wounds like burns (blisters and all) and it has never damaged me, it helps healing and it’s antibacterial
Kristen
Does the pad freeze together when you fold them up ?
Sarah
Yeah it freezes together, but you thaw it before opening so it doesn't affect it negatively!