If there is one thing you’ll know about me is that I talk about vaginas a lot. In fact I’ve created a whole free guide dedicated to vaginal care! But the one area that I’ve been asked to talk about is how to care for our vaginas post-birth. I work with a lot of pregnant mamas and I certainly have a lot of tools, which brings me to the topic of this week’s video newsletter:
Postpartum Must-Have Padsicles: Vaginal Care After Birth
What are padsicles and why you need them postpartum.
Padsicles are pads that have a concoction of ingredients on it and are then frozen. Chances are after giving birth, your vagina is going to feel sore and irritated and using padsicles can provide soothing and cooling relief needed. And this isn’t just if you’ve had an episiotomy because frankly every woman postpartum will find relief with these bad boys.
However most padiscle recipes out there use conventional pads. Here’s why you should avoid them.
Let’s face it, you’re already so sore postpartum, why on earth would you want to place your vagina on a toxic maxi pad? What you may not realize is chemicals on your skin may be worse than eating them. At least enzymes in your saliva and stomach help break down and flush chemicals from your body. But when they touch your skin, they’re absorbed straight into your bloodstream, going directly to your delicate organs. Once in your body, they can accumulate because you typically lack the necessary enzymes to break them down.
Sanitary pad manufacturers aren’t required to disclose ingredients because feminine hygiene products are considered “medical devices.” And believe it or not they contain the equivalent of about four plastic bags! With everything we now know about the hazardous nature of plastic chemicals and their impacts on hormonal health, this alone is cause for concern. They’re bleached with chlorine dioxide which can create toxic dioxin and other disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as trihalomethane. Studies show doxin ollects in your fatty tissues. According to an EPA draft report, dioxin is a serious public health threat that has no “safe” level of exposure! Published reports show that even trace dioxin levels may be linked to:
- Abnormal tissue growth in the abdomen and reproductive organs
- Abnormal cell growth throughout the body
- Immune system suppression
- Hormonal and endocrine system disruption
Now while you can use organic maxi pads, I suggest using cloth ones that you can get from Amazon because it’s more environmentally friendly and frankly it’s more comfortable for you.
Here is a listing of the benefits of the ingredients listed:
- Aloe Vera: Contains two hormones: auxin and gibberellins. These two hormones provide wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation.
- Witch Hazel: This is a natural astringent can help control it by reducing inflammation, and decreasing redness. It can lessen bacteria growth on the skinwhile speeding up the healing of scars, scabs, and infection.
- Lavender essential oil: Anti-inflammatory and acts as an analgesic (aka pain-reliever)
- Frankincense essential oil: Antiseptic, disinfectant, astringent, and a vulnerary substance (aka skin healing) helping to promote tissue regeneration.
- Rosemary essential oil: Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.
Ingredients
- Organic cloth maxi pad
- Aloe vera gel
- 1 oz of alcohol-free Witch Hazel
- 7 drops of essential oils: lavender, frankincense and rosemary
- Aluminum foil
Instructions
- Take your pad and massage in aloe vera gel.
- Add witch hazel to bad and then essential oils.
- Wrap in aluminum oil and freeze.
- Then use postpartum.
