If you’re planning on having a vaginal birth chances are you’re going to want something to take care of the good china after you’ve had your baby.
Hospitals will often give you mesh underwear and/or maxi pads that look like something from a 1978 public health film, but there’s a great way to upgrades those thunderpads.
Padsicles!!
Yep, padsicles are a frozen treat for your sore exit and they are incredibly easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. My guess would be six would do the trick (you can always make more).
Here’s a quick video to show you how to make a padsicle:
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Extra Heavy Over Night Pads – the bigger the better because there ain’t no party like thunderpad party. Try to get them without wings if you’re wearing mesh underwear or boyshorts because they just get in the way.
- Witch Hazel – skip the alcohol. Save booze for your face bits, not your lady bits
- Aloe Vera Gel – be sure it’s unscented and free from alcohol because that would probably jack up the sting factor
- Lavender Oil (optional) this helps speed healing and smells nice.
- Large Ziplock bags – to hold your pad stash in the freezer.
Padsicle Step-by-Step
- Unfold your pad – if it has wings, remove the tabs but save them because you’ll need to put them back on
- Saturate the pad with the witch hazel – about three or four tablespoons so the pad is good and soaked
- Pump or spoon about two tablespoons of aloe onto the pad
- Add one or two drops of lavender oil (Feel free hum a Mary Poppins tune here)
- Use the back of a spoon to spread the aloe and lavender evenly over the pad
- Gently refold your pad (reuse your wing tabs so the whole thing doesn’t stick together)
- Put your pads in your Ziploc bag and pop it in the freezer
Once you’re ready to feel the ‘ah’, simply remove the pad from the freezer and let it thaw a bit (you want cold, not frozen because you don’t want to have to explain that kind of frostbite) and use it as you would a regular pad. These do get wet so consider sitting on a towel or in a place where you don’t mind leaving a bit of a puddle.
It sounds like 6 or 8 will get you through the storm, but they are pretty easy to make so feel free to just make a couple to see what you think.
If you’re lucky, someone will give you a set of these with a tub of ice-cream and a frozen lasagna. Chill, Mama!
Have you made these? I would love to know how many you ended up using. Did you find them helpful? Let me know in the comments! You know I always love your feedback.
Our next recos: After Birth “Exit” Care
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Just made a batch of these! Baby is due in a month and I figure I’ll do pretty much anything to help that area heal post-delivery! Thanks!
I hope they help!
I’m 36 weeks pregnant with our first! I just made 8 of these padsicles. I was able to buy all the products at our local Target and Fresh Thyme. It took me around 45 minutes to assemble. I took my time.Here’s a breakdown of the products I bought and their price.Always Maxi 5 Extra Heavy Overnight with wings- $5.49 at TargetAloe Vera Gel fragrance, dye, and alcohol free (16 oz) at Target- $4.99Thayers Facial Tibet Aloe Vera Formula Original Alcohol Free at Fresh Thyme (12 oz)- $10.49Grand Total: $21I have 12 pads left over, not much Witch Hazel, and half of the Aloe Vera Gel. -(12 oz)
I could only find an aloe liquid (which is actually meant to be ingested). It says 100% aloe, but 12% is natural alcohol. Do you think this would work?
I feel like if you can drink it then it would be fine. Maybe double-check it against the ingredients on gel aloe online just to be sure. I’m not much of an aloe expert.
I made probably 10 of these, can’t remember, it was about 2.5 years ago. Looking at this again to make them for a friend. These were AMAZING!! They felt decadant… If a huge pad can feel decadent. I think they really helped the healing process.
I’m so happy to hear that!
I could only find alcohol free witch hazel that was labeled as a facial toner and had rose water in it—would that still work?
I think that would probably work. I don’t think rosewater would add to the sting.
Has anyone tried this with re-usable cotton pads????
I know this maybe a really silly question but when you take it out of the freezer wouldn’t the padcicle be frozen solid. Therefore how am I suppose to open them and put it on?
It’s not a silly question at all. There is still a fair amount of flexibility to them when they come out of the freezer because there is more pad than liquid (I’m sure there’s some scientific way to describe it) so they are still pliable.
Thank you for this!!
Our pleasure!