Post Partum Preparation - Page 2

[nikirj]

A word of caution about the witch hazel - there are preparations with a lot of alcohol in them and you don't want that!! Look for alcohol free or very low (just enough to preserve) alcohol products. I'll be splashing some liquid witch hazel on some postpartum pads and freezing them. I don't like the condom solution even though I know a lot of people do, it just seems too uncomfortable to me. The pads I need to be sitting on anyway, might as well cool them down a little and put something therapeutic on them.

I'll have a peri bottle (squirt bottle) so that I don't need to wipe after I pee for the first day or two.

Also I'll have arnica on hand to help with any swelling/bruising. It's supposed to be helpful for afterpains but didn't seem to touch them last time, I think it helped my perineum though.

[Carley]

I didn't tear, but I had a "skid mark" that I opted for stitches & was pretty sore.

Originally Posted by Dena

I stuck my first couple of post-partum pads in the freezer to ease some soreness I felt, but that was it.

I loved frozen pads! I soaked them in sitzbath herbs & witch hazel before I froze them & they were AWESOMMMMME.

I was also a huge fan of the peri-bottle - I also used witchhazel & sitzbath herbs in it. So nice!

I havn't heard of the baby diaper idea. I used Depends undergarmets which are totally sexy and practical Heheh. Really though, I'm totally getting Depends again. They were awesome!

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/ has great witchhazel!

[sew_crafty_girl]

My midwife has "Homeopathic Arnica 30x" on my birth supply list.

[ColwynsMommy]

I usually do fine with just a peri bottle to ease discomfort when peeing and also to help clean up. I didn't feel the need for any cold compresses or anything after Fiona, but I know I couldn't sit on the floor for a little while.. it was fine to sit on the couch or in bed.

My midwife recommends freezing a bunch of pads, probably with witch hazel, so I suppose I'll do a few, but I don't anticipate needing them that much.

[trailblazerbarbie]

Really stupid question, but what is a skid mark, and what do you do with the frozen condom. You don't insert it do you? That would really hurt right after birth I think.

[nikirj]

The condom is just because something narrower can nestle in closer to your inner labia/perineum. You need to put alcohol in it because that makes it not freeze solid; it stays kind of slushy.