herbal sitz bath?

[beautiful_mama]

Herbal bath

I saw this on another thread as good for after birth...whats in it and where can I get some or how can I make my own?

[Gray's Mommy]

When we bought our birth kit, there was an awesome herbal bath in the kit. We bought our stuff from inhishands.com

[prettymom]

My midwife gave me an herbal mix after my birth. I didn't find it very helpful because sitting on a sitz bath slowed my recovery more than the herbs helped or soothed. It doesn't work to put the herbs in the tub because they get too diluted.

[bryonyvaughn]

Here's the recipe my former MW gave me...

Post-partum Herbal Bath
1/2 c comfrey
1/2 c shepherds purse
1/2 c uva ursi
1/2 c sea salt
1 bulb garlic

Add everything but garlic to a big pot of water, heat to barely breaking a boil, then reduce heat to barely a simmer. Meanwhile peel and crush the cloves of garlic. After 20 minutes of simmer, remove from heat, strain out herbs, and add crushed garlic.

You can add the "tea" directly to the bath, refrigerate for later use, or soak cloths in it for compresses, or soak pads in them to freeze for postpartum use.

If you want to use it right away draw a bath hot enough for momma's comfort and add the PPHB. It will start out light tea color and darken almost to black as it oxidizes. As the bath cools you can put the baby in. Most babies find it very relaxing and it encourages them to nurse. It's also wonderful for newborn skin and cord stump.

I was never excited about it as I've never had a damaged perineum. What convinced me it was such a great thing was the responses of the women I've made these baths for who've suffered extensive tearing. Their effusive gratitude was embarrassing *but* it showed me how effective the PPHB was.

~BV

[nest~of~four]

This is what I got from our MW:

- witch hazel
- comfrey
- yarrow
- rosemary

Mix equal parts of each ingredient; add one tsp. herbs to each cup of boiling water; cover and seep for 15 mins; add to approx. 4" of warm bathtub water; sit down in it and relax for 10 mins. Tear or no tear, it is a very comforting bath.

[Jilian]

I know sites like cascade sell pp herbal mixes.

[beautiful_mama]

Originally Posted by bryonyvaughn

Here's the recipe my former MW gave me...

Post-partum Herbal Bath
1/2 c comfrey
1/2 c shepherds purse
1/2 c uva ursi
1/2 c sea salt
1 bulb garlic

Add everything but garlic to a big pot of water, heat to barely breaking a boil, then reduce heat to barely a simmer. Meanwhile peel and crush the cloves of garlic. After 20 minutes of simmer, remove from heat, strain out herbs, and add crushed garlic.

You can add the "tea" directly to the bath, refrigerate for later use, or soak cloths in it for compresses, or soak pads in them to freeze for postpartum use.

If you want to use it right away draw a bath hot enough for momma's comfort and add the PPHB. It will start out light tea color and darken almost to black as it oxidizes. As the bath cools you can put the baby in. Most babies find it very relaxing and it encourages them to nurse. It's also wonderful for newborn skin and cord stump.

I was never excited about it as I've never had a damaged perineum. What convinced me it was such a great thing was the responses of the women I've made these baths for who've suffered extensive tearing. Their effusive gratitude was embarrassing *but* it showed me how effective the PPHB was.

~BV

oooh this is awesome! I just hope I can find most of these here in my little town or near by or maybe Whole foods? I can swing a trip up there this week I think.

I am thinking it maybe a good idea for me, seeing as I almost always tear somehow along my old episiotomy line from my first birth :/ I use ice packs which help tremendously and I barely tore with my last one, but I love the idea of soaking in one with my new bambina

Thanks so much! All of these examples are good.

[Isaac'sMa]

I used one from Wish Garden Herbs

http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/

[ChickyMama]

check out this thread from yesterday, http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ghlight=recipe

[balancedmama]

I also used the wishgarden herbs PP herbal sitz bath and loved it.

[hubris]

Wanted to add that my MW was discussing the herbal bath with me on Tuesday and has asked me to buy 3-4 oz of ground cloves to add to the mixture she will bring. Cloves have antibacterial properties and also, in her words, help to take the "sting" out if you have any tearing, including teeny little skid-mark tears.