Postpartum "drugs" and alternatives « Back to Group Discussions

[Alexandria]

Last time I used lots of Arnica gel, took salt baths, and used a stool softener (Miralax) to make bowel movements less scary for a few weeks- anybody have an alternative to Miralax? I don't know what its health effects really are and would rather do something more natural if possible. That said, you do what you have to do to stay comfortable....(I had a 2.5 degree tear that was making me nervous about bms).

[DiannaK]

do you put arnica gel directly on your momma bits? 

I have this in my bag (having some bad issues with hemorrhoids and vaginal variscoscities) --

Tucks

Aloe vera spray gel

EMAB New Mama Bottom Spray

EMAB New Mama Bottom cream

I'm taking EMAB herbal bath packs (use in the sitz bath)

I really like this piece from Kitchen Stewardship about post partum care -- make sure you look in the comments for suggestions as well. Witch Hazel frozen pads sound amazing. 

Anyone know where to get straight witch hazel? Is there a strength/concentration I should look for? 

Thoughts about the Miralax --

Do you ever eat chia seeds? They help me to poop. (TMI, no doubt). Also, if I'm taking Floradix on a regular basis,it helps as well. 

[AmandaMamma]

I got a bottle of witch hazel right from the regular pharmacy section of the grocery store. It was near all the first aid stuff / insect bite treatment stuff.

[PrincessSputnik]

The natural witch hazel I have is Earthwise brand. It doesn't specify a strength/concentration though.

The drugstore stuff specifically says it contains ethyl alcohol.

I *try* to eat chia seeds often, by stirring them in yogurt or baking them into muffins... Lemon chia seed muffins (instead of poppy seeds) work well. I will also put pears and fibre1 cereal on DH's post-partum grocery list, as I've found those have been the most "productive" fiber sources for me.

I am slightly TERRIFIED of the tearing/stitches aspect of this whole thing... Any other suggestions for that??

[LionessMom]

the only thing i take for a stool softener is colace.

[tinams8]

Magnesium works as a stool softener, like Natural Calm.  Honestly though I'd not want to mess around postpartum, because what if you don't take enough. I'm going to stick with Colace. 

I've heard so much about the EMAB bottom spray... I keep thinking maybe I won't need it, but I should probably order it anyway...as insurance! Murphy's Law.

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by DiannaK 

do you put arnica gel directly on your momma bits? 

I have this in my bag (having some bad issues with hemorrhoids and vaginal variscoscities) --

Tucks

Aloe vera spray gel

EMAB New Mama Bottom Spray

EMAB New Mama Bottom cream

I'm taking EMAB herbal bath packs (use in the sitz bath)

I really like this piece from Kitchen Stewardship about post partum care -- make sure you look in the comments for suggestions as well. Witch Hazel frozen pads sound amazing. 

Anyone know where to get straight witch hazel? Is there a strength/concentration I should look for? 

Thoughts about the Miralax --

Do you ever eat chia seeds? They help me to poop. (TMI, no doubt). Also, if I'm taking Floradix on a regular basis,it helps as well. 

Yeah I put Arnica directly on even though it says to not put it on open cuts etc...it was per instruction from my childbirth teacher who is a really really experienced doula. It worked very well. I think I will buy all the EMAB products mentioned though too! Can't be too prepared to feel normalish after the birth and I love those products.

Going to do some more research on the stool softeners but maybe Colace would be better than Miralax (I saw some threads about M being questioned by the FDA anyway but who knows). I'll plan on using something "medical" for at least the first week and then maybe try to wean myself to natural remedies after that.

Thanks for all the tips ladies!

[alicewyf]

Hmm. Last time I around I remember being bothered by two things:

1. I had a labial tear (left unstitched on purpose, as I was told it would likely re-tear with subsequent kids) that burned when I peed, so I loved my peri bottle.

2. The afterpains while nursing SUCKED (like hurt so bad I was hitting the chair I was nursing in, ha). I hear those get worse with more kids.

I never really had swollen ladybits or needed ice down there or anything.

So I guess my plan is ibuprofen/ tylenol (see what my OB suggests) and a peri bottle. I don't remember having issues with pooping last time, but I almost never do anyway and do not during pregnancy. I am birthing in the hospital this time so I'm wondering if the hospital food might stop me up. I eat a lot of fiber so I generally don't have to worry about it.

Once the baby is out and it's probably safe for breastfeeding, I don't hesitate to take meds. My motivation for avoiding them is immediately gone when the baby is out...LOL.

[AndtheStars]

I use Senna (sp?) which is a generic for Senokot.  I just got a store brand at K-Mart or target.  This was with DS.  The pharmacist was nice enough to look up Colace and Senna for me in the big pharmacy book.  Colace had some language about it being unknown if it passes through breastmilk and if it was safe for breastfeeding while the Senna specifically said that it DIDN'T pass through breastmilk and was breastfeeding safe.  Not in those nice clear terms but the pharmacist translated for me.  So I went with the Senna.  I still have some from DS so I'll just use that again.  I had a 3rd degree tear with DS so Senna was a must.  I was so terrified to have that first BM, I asked my mom to come in the bathroom with me.    I needed her more for that than for the actual labor.

I also used witch hazel in a peri bottle like it was going out of style and Tucks pads.  I went through two of the Costco sized tubs in 3 months.  There is no better feeling than a cold Tucks pad on your perineum after birth.

Interesting about the Arnica directly on the lady bits even if they are 'open'.  I have arnica cream instead of gel...does it matter? 

[mudhugger]

Last time I used Senna too -- the thing that worked most immediately also was warm prune juice.  My sister (the labor & delivery nurse) told me to go warm up a big mug of it, and drink it all -- not super pleasant, but I consoled myself knowing it had a bunch of iron too.  It worked within like 10 min... so that's my back-up plan again this time.  I plan on taking TONS of emergenC right after this time too-- that's great for replacing electrolytes and is really flushing. 

I got alcohol-free witch hazel on Vitacost I believe.

I'm wetting some cloth pads with a comfrey tea and then freezing -- supposed to help amazingly.  Aside from a peribottle with an herbal mixture, I was also thinking of mixing honey, calendula oil, and neem oil infused with lavender...maybe I'll add some arnica oil to that too.
 

[Monkey's Mum]

I was planning on using milk of magnesia for a stool softener that I have left over from earlier in the pregnancy. It worked pretty well then. I was also planning on putting witch hazel in my peribottle. 

[mforeback]

Where do you buy peribottles? I can't find one.

[sraplayas]

peribottles----i finally bought one online from a homebirth supply site. yesterday i picked up a bottle at a salon that could double as a peribottle--it is a squeeze bottle that has a long, slanted tip, and very inexpensive!

this time i'm going to take arnica internally after the birth. 200C 1x, then 30C every few hours following for several days. i'll be combining this with 2 other homeopathics, and hoping that it will really help!

the frozen pads didn't work for me last time--the icy part felt good but they were uncomfortable to wear. maybe i'll just stick with the peri bottle mix this time!