oops - I made too much comfrey! - suggestions?

[jrabbit]

I've soaked all 10 gauze pads, and they're in the freezer. But **now** I have a bunch leftover in the pan! I really hate to throw it out, but I don't know what to do with it.

Could I freeze it? Just as is, and then thaw it out for another use and re-heat it then?

Ugh. I hate that I'm such a frugal packrat sometimes.

--janis

[bobandjess99]

Use it for your peri bottle. I brewed up some herbs to put into my peri bottle, and they helped so much...you just spray yourself when you pee, in case you dont know what a peri bottle is. Or else just savce it to throw into your first pp bath..the herbs will be comforting and healing then too.

[jrabbit]

The concern I have is *what to do with it in the meantime* ? Should it be frozen? refrigerated? room temp? will it be rejuvinate-able later? will it have the same efficacy?

I'll brew an herbal bath concoction, and yes, I can just add this to that, but I'm optimistic that this baby will wait another 4 weeks before it's born! And I am worried that this might not last that long. Maybe I'm just a worry-wart!

thanks
--janis

p.s. My guess on due date is either 12-23 or 12-27 based on superstition, not "facts". The established EDD is 12-13/18

[mamaverdi]

You could freeze them as ice cubes and use them in your bath or a baby's bath....

[mamavegan]

I'm glad you posted this Janis. I was wondering if I was supposed to do only 10 or all 20 of the gauze pads that I have (since we were supposed to buy extras.) I haven't brewed my comfrey yet. I'll be watching this thread in case I have extra.

[mamaverdi]

Oh, I didn't realize you were in Houston. Yes, I would definitely AT LEAST refrigerate it. If you have space to freeze it, you can always melt it down. Things MOLD here like they make money from it.

[bobandjess99]

LOL..I didn't realize your edd was so far away......you mean not everyone does things at the last minute like myself!!!??!!! ROFL. Ya, i'd freeze it.

[jrabbit]

haha. It *feels* like last minute to me! In all seriousness, though, DD1 was born at 37w, and DD2 at 42w5d, so I promised myself I'd be ready at 36w this time ... I'm 37w4d now! MW home visit is on Tuesday, and I got motivated to do this stuff yesterday!

I strained the comfrey, and I'm freezing the liquid in small portions and the strained leaves in a bag.

--janis

[phatchristy]

How did you make the solution? A doula had frozen some comfrey soaked maxipads after my second DD was born and they felt great once I used them.

I've wondered how to make them this time...could you share?

[jrabbit]

my MW gave us comfrey leaves - so that's what you want. I made these last night, while explaining about 25 times to my DD's what I was doing. They thought it was gross! I'm actually looking forward to it because I remember how wonderful it actually felt!
1/3 cup (approximately) comfrey
1 1/2 cup water
at least 10 4x4 sterile gauze pads
Simmer/boil/heat for at least 10 minutes - I left if for half hour or so.
When it cools down, dip 4x4 gauze pads into the mixture, get them all goopy, then freeze individually in plastic baggies. The leaves will be messy when you use these pads, but they add a benefit, so don't strain it unless you're grossed out by the idea of leaves on your girly bits ...

My frugal nature kicked in here, and I didn't want to go buy sandwich bags for this, but I do have about 100 snack-size bags, but they were too small, so I layered the gauze pads between the tiny plastic bags - stacking them all on a cookie sheet. Eventually, I'll put them all into a bigger plastic bag. (my theory was based on how you would freeze fruits or pancakes - I hope it worked!)

I doubled the recipe, which is why I had so much leftover - pregnant brain

--janis

[ErinsJuneBug]

What the heck is comfrey?

[thefarmerswife]

Where can I get Comfrey?? I found Comfrey tea, but should I use leaves are they better? 36w and getting nervous I don't have eveything together yet!!

[Lemon Juice]

Originally Posted by ErinsJuneBug

What the heck is comfrey?

It is an herb used in post partum to help heal and soothe the perineum. My mw makes compresses from it, like Janis did, and you freeze and use them on top of your pads after birth. You can also use in the tub and other ways mentioned for relief.

Originally Posted by thefarmerswife

Where can I get Comfrey?? I found Comfrey tea, but should I use leaves are they better? 36w and getting nervous I don't have eveything together yet!!

You can find it at an herbal store. I had a hard time finding it here...but found one local place after searching in my local tribe that sold it in bulk. Or you can order it online at bulk herb stores. I was told to use the leaves, not comfrey root by the herbalist and MW.

HTH!