postpartum comforts

[sanguine_speed]

I've heard in passing about postpartum pads that you can make up ahead of time? With witch hazel or something?

Any other comforts you know of for the tender perineum area? I'm about to birth another big 'un and my last big baby left me literally black bruised all over for a really long time...I wince at the thought...

Reminds me that i really liked the Earth Mama Angel Baby postpartum spray. Will have to get some again.

[Tizzy]

Obviously a peri bottle. I LOoooovvveeed mine!
As for the pads, I bought the thickest ones without wings and put witch hazel on them then popped them in the freezer. Very very nice in combination with a nursing pillow to sit on.
And the herbal sitz bath from my midwives, that was great to put in the tub to soak with baby.

[Stitches]

I mixed Calendula tincture (great for healing) with water and spritzed on pads and froze them, it's heaven. Once the pad is thawed you should take it off though. I also added it to the water in my peri bottle. A must have!

[amrijane128]

Peri bottle is a must have. I've also found a warm wash cloth helps for those first few postpartum poos. Ouch.

[isras1]

Here is an excerpt from my supply list (I'm not necessarily getting all of it, just a resource list for now), hope it helps. Got most of the info from the homebirth resources thread on MDC.

Postpartum

* Arnica tablets (for abrasions and bruising)
* Afterease tincture (for afterpains)
* Homeopathic magnesium (for afterpains)
* Depends
* Newborn Diapers: slit open the end of diaper & stuff it full of crushed ice (very absorbent with no leaking problems, each one lasted quite awhile). Stock a few in the freezer
* When freezing pads, lay them over an upside down bowl and it will give it a curved shape

~ Comfrey Compresses for Perineum:
* comfrey is for quick healing (causes rapid cell proliferation) but can be so quick that it can dissolve stitches before they are ready- if have extensive stitches, use comfrey later rather than sooner
* Soak 4X4's in the tea: fold 4X4's in half after saturating and layer them between cellophane, put in small freezer bags, freeze
* Place frozen compresses on a Mama cloth/pad, absorbs the tea melt


~ Witch Hazel for Perineum:
* witch hazel is astringent and helps resolve bruises and varicosities and helps resolve inflammation
* frozen witch hazel maxi pads
* witch hazel in the peri bottle
* witch hazel on large cotton rounds (in place of Tucks)


* Prunes for first postpartum BM
* Honey in the bathroom (slather on any tears for healing)
* TP roll: hold around urethra, keeps pee stream from any labia tears
* peri bottle

[sanguine_speed]

TP roll is genius!

I know it's a bit more commercial than it needs to be (it is largely witch hazel), but I have LOVED Earth Mama Angel Baby mama bottom spray. I just remembered that today and picked up a bottle. Great stuff.

What are 4x4s? The only thing I know called a 4x4 has a motor...

[loveneverfails]

Cake. Cake makes everything better.

Sorry, I have cake on the brain. I've been watching my diet really carefully to try to keep my baby reasonably sized, so cake sounds like a good idea to have in labor, a good idea to have post partum, for the year after baby comes...

[loveneverfails]

Sorry, I just saw the top and thought it was going to refer to things to have on hand after birth that would be comforting. Cake, while supremely comforting, nonetheless is not appropriate for perineal care.

[sanguine_speed]

Actually, I've already got that one covered, lol. My dear friend is coming over to make a birthday cake while I birth .