chammomile tea on pads in freezer...

[lovebeingamomma]

when people say that it's wonderful- are we talking about disposable or cloth menstrual pads?  Do both work well in the freezer?

[Maine Mama]

I'm also curious about this.  My midwife told me to put witch hazel on disposable pads and roll them up and freeze them, but I'm not sure if they need to be completely soaked or just...errr....drizzled on?

[lovebeingamomma]

or maybe it was comfrey tea...someone must have the answer to this!

[Climbergirl]

It can be both (all of the above).  Make sure you check the bottle of witch hazel and make sure it does not have alcohol in it.  I put some in my peri bottle and it really hurt when I put in on and then I looked and the inactive ingredient was 14% alcohol (OUCH).

Comfrey tea will help heal although I did read somewhere to be careful because it may break down the dissolvable stitches faster.  Cammomile tea will help soothe but not necessarily speed healing (according to my midwife's assistant). 

[gemasita]

I am wondering the same thing about soaking the pads - just a drizzle or a soak?  I'm worried that if I soak them, they won't be able to absorb anything else.  But does a drizzle stay cold very long once you pull it out of the freezer?

[lovebeingamomma]

I found another thread on this- it said spray them til they are damp, but not soaked. 

[gemasita]

Originally Posted by Climbergirl 

It can be both (all of the above).  Make sure you check the bottle of witch hazel and make sure it does not have alcohol in it.  I put some in my peri bottle and it really hurt when I put in on and then I looked and the inactive ingredient was 14% alcohol (OUCH).

Comfrey tea will help heal although I did read somewhere to be careful because it may break down the dissolvable stitches faster.  Cammomile tea will help soothe but not necessarily speed healing (according to my midwife's assistant). 

Just checked the bottle I bought the other day - 14% alcohol!  Glad you mentioned this!  Not sure I would have noticed otherwise!

[SmtmsAlwys]

Originally Posted by gemasita 

Originally Posted by Climbergirl 

It can be both (all of the above).  Make sure you check the bottle of witch hazel and make sure it does not have alcohol in it.  I put some in my peri bottle and it really hurt when I put in on and then I looked and the inactive ingredient was 14% alcohol (OUCH).

Comfrey tea will help heal although I did read somewhere to be careful because it may break down the dissolvable stitches faster.  Cammomile tea will help soothe but not necessarily speed healing (according to my midwife's assistant). 

Just checked the bottle I bought the other day - 14% alcohol!  Glad you mentioned this!  Not sure I would have noticed otherwise!

I'm glad this was mentioned as well. I just checked my bottle and, sure enough, alcohol is the inactive ingredient.

Is it possible to get witch hazel without alcohol??

[Treeof3]

Just a drizzle. I turn the faucet on a trickle - like a 1/4 inch wide stream then open the pad, and fwoosh it under there. Maybe 1,2,3 seconds from end to end. Fold them back up and then put them in the a ziploc. I also turn the wings out bc otherwise they get stuck and you can't put the pad on right. I have only used disposables for freezing never cloth because my period is never heavy enough to have mega cloth pads on hand and I figure I can "spoil" myself with disposables for post birth (although as my lochia gets lighter I do use my regular cloth pads). I only freeze about 4 or so because if I need more I can always add more when I get through 3 if I think I'll want more. I find that the first pad or two post birth I don't care about having frozen. Its a few hours later that I want that soothing feeling. The pp was right that if they are soaked they won't absorb and do their job. They stay nice and cold for about 15-20 min I think. Enough that you feel good! And in the first day or so you're changing it often enough that you are having a little ice down every few hours. :) After that it won't make a huge difference in swelling (think about a bruise or a sprain - after awhile, icing it ceases to help).

I've never heard of a tea on the pads, but I have heard of witch hazel (again - heeding the alcohol warning!)

I'm at 38 weeks and just froze my pads last night. Hanging out chillin' with my ice cream, haha!

[NuzzleNudge]

The hospital taught me to put the Tucks pads right on the kotex pad. It was winter so the jar of Tucks always stayed Nice and cold in the bathroom. That was really soothing. And The Peri Bottle was SUCH a life Saver!!!!!!

Since the Tucks come in a handy little screw-top jar I think I may just pour Comfrey tea right in there and use the Tucks Pads on top of the Kotex. Sounds simple. And I am just trying to think of the logistics of putting down the newborn and hiding from my other two kids to run to go potty and perpetually forgetting to stop at the freezer to grab a frozen pad.

[Ola_]

Originally Posted by SmtmsAlwys 

I'm glad this was mentioned as well. I just checked my bottle and, sure enough, alcohol is the inactive ingredient.

Is it possible to get witch hazel without alcohol??

Yes, you can get it - I have some here that says in big letters "Alcohol Free".  I got it at the local health food store, it's Thayers brand, in case that helps.

[lovebeingamomma]

Earth Mama Angel Baby "New Mama Bottom Spray" has witch hazel as a main ingredient.  I'm going to be using this for the frozen pads, just FYI if anyone was looking for a good witch hazel blend. 

[TrishWSU]

Originally Posted by lovebeingamomma 

Earth Mama Angel Baby "New Mama Bottom Spray" has witch hazel as a main ingredient.  I'm going to be using this for the frozen pads, just FYI if anyone was looking for a good witch hazel blend. 

Just an FYI, I got some of this for my last birth and when I directly sprayed it on my girly bits it stung! I had no tears either. I think I sprayed some on my frozen pads and it didn't bother me then, but the direct spray was not so good.

And frozen pads are just heavenly post birth! I used both disposable and cloth with equal results.
 

[lovebeingamomma]

oh ok.  I gave it to my friend and she gave me the rest of the bottle when she was done so I've never used, didn't hear any complaints from her though.  But maybe it does contain some alcohol?  Anyways, since it worked on the pads that's all I was going to use it for. 

[Carson]

Climbergirl, that gave me the shivers!  Yow.

I wasn't sold on the idea of those pads, so I only made a few.  I was slightly irritated my MW took my whole package and made them into witch hazel ones.  Just didn't do anything for me, I guess and I was annoyed that so many went to waste.  So JMO, they are really easy to make more of, I wouldn't over do it.

[averlee]

You could use cloth or disposable. A midway compromise might be folding a bunch of washcloths into pad shape and freezing those.

Comfrey, chamomile, and witch hazel are all good. Regular teas are good too, regular lipton's or whatever you've got, they all have very soothing astringent tannins. Ginger, mint, and catnip teas can be really nice topically. And lavendar makes into a good "tea" but don't drink it, it's awful.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

I just took a few gloves and filled them with 50% alcohol/water and put in freezer. they dont freeze solid and that mixed w my post partum cloth was awesome. I also made comfrey tea and put it in my perii bottle. Heavenly with a cloth pad right out of the dryer.

[mariacm]

Just an fyi... someone told me before my last birth not to use Always or other stay-dry pads for freezing, bc they absorb all the liquid too deep down to feel much benefit after.  So look for a brand that's cheap and paper-y on top.  I just took the bottle of witch hazel and poured it lightly over the top and then froze them semi-flat.  Oh, and I used regular witch hazel with alcohol and it didn't bother me, tho I didn't have any tears either.