Does your midwife do an herb bath for mom and baby?

[Barcino]

My midwife recommends an herb bath for after tha birth where mommy and baby get in. She says it helps the mom heal down there as well as with muscle pain etc.. it is very invigorating and she says it helps baby cord heal.
Sounds not appealing to me at all... I feel like I will want a clean bath not yucky water ... anybody have any experience with this?

[crunchymomof2]

I had an herb bath. It was my the infusion my mw made from my sitz herbs. Then she put flowers in there for pictures. It was nice.

[pamamidwife]

I have known midwives to do this, but since many of my clients have waterbirths, sometimes it isn't appealing. Most women want a shower and then cuddle in bed with their babies.

[momto l&a]

I always take a shower, dont want to be sitting in yucky water

[MamaTaraX]

I've worked with some midwives who do this and the moms have loved it.In fact, I'm going to call them and see if Ican get my hands on whatever they use. It smells fantastic. I don't know if my midwife does or not, ifshe doesn't, I'll definately get this stuff from some other midwives I know. I'm looking forward to it.

Namaste, Tara
mama to Doodle (7), Butterfly (2), and Rythm (due at home 1/06)

[ZeldasMom]

I did not bathe right after the birth. My midwife did make up a big pot of sitz bath herbs for me to use in my peri bottle (she left a couple of big bowls of it in the fridge). She also wet a bunch of pads in the solution and put them in the freezer. I also used a couple cups of it in my bath water when I took a bath the day after the birth. I do think this stuff is awesome--it felt really good on my sore bottom. I think this is what my midwife used:
www.birthwithlove.com/categories/itempage.asp?pagenum=15&Manuid=&Subcat=20BA&catid=03AA&prodid=Sitz+Bath+Herbs%2DMotherlove

We did not bathe our baby after the birth, though our midife said if we wanted to take her in the bath with us in those early pp days that would be fine. We just rubbed her vernix in and called it good. :) For cord care we broke open GoldenSeal capsules (that were also from Birth with Love) and dumped the powder over the umbilical area a few times a day. The cord stump fell off in 4 days. Woo-hoo! And it was so nice not swabbing alcohol on our baby like we did with DS.

[CarolynnMarilynn]

We make up herbal sitz baths for women if they choose it. It's not for right after the birth, but in the next few days after, particularly if they have some perineal grazes or a tear. The herbs get steeped in a pot and used either in a bath, or in a peri bottle. It appeals to some, and not to others. We went to a local herbalist for all the supplies, which were wildcrafted and as local as possible. I don't have the recipe we used committed to memory but it does include Calendula flowers, yarrow, plantain, St. John's Wort, rose, and a few other things. I love the packages even just sitting on the counter -- they smell and look so divine.

As for the cord, we advocate doing nothing: falls off the fastest, bath or no bath. Never had a cord infection, almost always falls off in 3-4 days.

[alegna]

We did and it was yummy. All sorts of nice smelling things.

-Angela

[aishy]

I really enjoyed mine. The smell of the herbs remind me of my favorite Ramon Noodles - hot n spicy. Two of my boys got in the tub with me (it wasn't hot enough after my 2nd birth) and their cords fell off within a week, #2 took way longer. So yeah, I think it does have an effect in that way. We'll definitely do our herb bath again this time! I also like to shower/wash my hair after just to feel good n clean.

aisling

[Barcino]

I am wondering if you midwife was Molly Germash in TX? was it? I have never heard of anybody else having a herb bath that smelled like food and that is how she described it to me ;)

With number two since you didnt put him in the bath did you have to do anything to the cord? Put anything in it or treat it in any way?

[aishy]

Yup thats my midwife. I went to her 6 weeks pg with my first & I've never had any motivation to find anyone else ;)

Uhm no we didn't treat his cord in any other way.

Aisling

[jplain]

Huh? Yucky? It wasn't yucky at all. Certainly no yuckier than a regular bath. You prepare and then strain a bath 'tea' ~ the water is see-through, tinted like herbal tea. But hey, if it isn't your cup of tea (hee hee), then don't do it!

We continued daily herbal baths for a week or so after DD's birth.
It was a nice family ritual; DH enjoyed preparing the baths for us and DD obviously loved them.

:) Carolyn

[Czen:)]

We do it but not right after the birth. Maybe the next day. I'm not a bath person regularily but this is fantastic! It feels so healing and invigorating! I can't wait to do that part again.

Czen

[milk4two]

Mine does not but it sounds nice.

[brandy111803]

I will have to ck out the site that one of you posted to create my own if the midwife I choose doesn't do it. So, you would just get in the bath after you have your initial cuddle time together? Then you just make it warm enough for you and baby and put the strained water in and soak it all up? I would have LOVED a nice, relaxing bath w/ my first. He was a hosp birth and I was so jazzed that I couldn't sleep. They gave me drugs whereas a nice, warm bath probably would have done the trick naturally! Can't wait for a homebirth this time around! Yippee!

[DoulaSarah]

It is sooooo important in my own opinion!! It is usually comfrey root, uva ursi, sea salts, comfrey leaves, whichazel...things like that. It is more for perineal healing then anything. It is like bathing in tea. You don't scrub your body or anything.

It is really important to get 3-4 hip baths a day. It washes away bacteria and promotes healing. One of those a day can have the sitz in it. It is wonderful and strained out, so you don't actually sit in the herbs, just their infusion. Good for your body. Good for hemmeroids, good for bleeding.


edited to add: I don't do anything immediately after the birth. I usually have the sitz in a bottle that I mix with warm water instead of toilet paper. I start my baths around 12-20 hours or so. I didn't bring my babes in until days later.

[LoveChild421]

I took a shower myself and a sitzbath with herbs but I wouldn't want to wash the baby because they smell so darn good! I didn't even sponge bathe ds until he was about 4-5 days old and that freshly born buttery baby smell had left.

[teachinmaof3]

My mw doesn't but I buy a herbal bath to take afterwards. I loved it! During the day we had it simmering in the crockpot..made the house smell SO good! It was great to soak in after the birth w/ my dd! It did help her cord come off sooner...less than a week if I remember right.

[PapayaVagina]

I really want to get some herbs together to offer herbal baths some day. I love post birth pics of mamas with their babies in the tub :). So sweet.

[witchbaby]

my midwives prepare one for you and, i must say, i'm looking forward to a warm, cozy, herbal bath with my little one! a can call my parents (who will be watching our daughter during the birth) and my best friend during that time, then we can all crawl into bed together for the newborn exam and some snacks!

[UmmBnB]

Two homebirths, two herbal baths. I had lots left over after each birth and took several over the first few weeks. Both times I took a shower later but the bath was very nice.

[kerikadi]

We did an herbal bath with both homebirths. The water looked like tea but it was so wonderful and I will never forget the smell of the herbs and sea salt :D I can also say that both of my HB babies lost their cords by 4 days and my bottom healed very quickly:)

Keri

[cutedipes]

I had an herbal bath with my 3rd and it was great! I wish that I had done it with my first 2. It was super relaxing and I nursed my nb in the tub. The baby loved it as well and the umbilical healed up quickly and nicely :)

[AngelBee]

Sounds great.....I will try it next time. :love

[aguacates]

We had a waterbirth, then I took a shower after to clean up, and did the herbal baths over the week after the birth. They were awesome, and definitely helped with healing.

[allgirls]

We had a waterbirth, then I took a shower after to clean up, and did the herbal baths over the week after the birth. They were awesome, and definitely helped with healing.


This is what I did too...it was awesome!

[Mama to 4]

Why would it be "yucky"? Cause of blood? I actually didnt bleed in the water at all...............it was one of my favorite memories of our last birth, a HB with a MW and this time we are doing it U/C but are ordering the exact herbal bath from inhishands.com it is called "Soothing After Birth Herbal Bath"--- it is only $8.50 for a big bag and it does smell like food b/cause it has garlic in it-- i cant descibe it but it is amazing.

[Spark]

Herbal Bath :heartbeat Lover here!

I just adore them after the birth... you know, after time to bond and hang out a bit. My perineum thanks me for it every time & my baby's cord stump is always grateful, too. :)

[Maialuna]

As a midwife I always bring a bouquet of flowers to my moms. (Unless I am rushing to the birth that is.) The herbs are brewed during labor for use in the peri bottle afterwards. If the mom wants to she can have an herbal bath with the flower tops floating in the water and some good smelling essential oils. It is a great photo opportunity. No soap is used and the babies are not 'washed'. Sometimes if their hair is really gunky the mom will rinse it out. After the bath the mom usually takes a shower. Those moms with long labors or who had waterbirths often choose to skip it. Then I just put the flowers in water for them.

Ya'll remember that you always have a choice. Most midwives come to a birth with a plan or routine. That is normal when it is your job. But we are happy to let you skip things or add other things. This is about YOU after all. :throb

[Birth Junky]

Beth Miller, the herbal bath with flower tops sounds GORGEOUS as well as healing! Makes me wish we had a bathtub in my house . . .

I am hoping that doesn't create a headache post-partum, either; I suppose I will have to get an ACTUAL Sitz bath(tub) to do the daily soaks. :irked:

[SusannahM]

I had an herbal bath after my birth. My midwife works at the same birthing center as Molly Germash, so I'm sure it's the same one that smelled like food, but honestly I can't remember how it smelled. I really loved it. I always take baths, never showers, I just don't like showers at all, so it was perfect after the birth, because I would have taken a bath anyway. The herbs made it even better. My baby's cord stump came off after 4 days (didn't really "fall" off, I'd been letting her get in the bath with me a little because I'd read that's okay immediately, and she ripped it off on the fourth day while it was softened from the bath, not much bleeding, though, and it healed just fine).

I think I will ask for extra herbs to put in my squirt bottle next time, I think I had a *tiny* bit of infection around the vaginal opening (no tear, just regular abrasion type stuff) after about a week while it was healing (Neosporin easily took care of it), the herbs probably would have helped that if I'd applied them with the squirt bottle.

[valeria_vi]

my mw did it and it was great! it wasn't a deep bath, though. just several inches of water, so nothing felt yuky at all. dd's cord stump fell off on the 4th day. I didn't tear, but had a skid mark that healed very quickly.

[Jessica-Ann]

Hi,

I wonder if you could answer this for me?

Can I do this if I have a c-section (trust me I would like nothing better then to not have a c-section, but I haven't gotten to avoiding one as of yet. I have 2 children, and I am still hoping and praying and visualizing a natural birth with this baby.)

Also both of my children's cords took weeks to fall off, would this help?

Thanks
Jess

[lilyka]

My midwfie did it I thought I would like it but it was yucky. I just felt like it was one more thing i wanted to wash off. All I wanted to do as take a quick shower and hop in bed. but instead I was sitting in this bath that had been built up as this huge beautful bonding thing. The water wasn't hot enough (because it was a mom and baby bath) so I was freezing. But I felt bad asking for a shower. I still left the option open in my next birth plan though. Just in case.

[muslima0midwife]

I have suggested the herbal bath to my clients... i give it as a free gift with other little nick-nacks for mom and baby. The ones that used it, loved it!
I also used it..... LOVED IT! I had a water birth and what i did was get the tub after my hubby rinse me off, and i rested for a while. Later that night or it might have been the next mornin, i took my herbal bath... OH THE JOY! :love
My baby was so content in the water. and all of the fragrances from the herbs just relaxed my mind and mind and made me feel so much better in my birthing spot :wink .
...and it doesnt have to be yucky. I put my herbs through a strainer after steep them in boiling water (of course i add cold water to the bath)... this way there r no little peices in the water...and no mess to clean out the tub. The water isnt yucky at all... it just looks tea. Oh and if u dont have a Big strainer - put the herbs in a knee high and tie the end of it and then put it in the pot to put and steep (steep as long as possible).
PLEASE TRY IT IF U HAVENT YET - EVERYONE! :thumb

[7kiddosmom]

I used an herbal bath after both my homebirths w/ a mw and my UC. I loved them. My mw makes her own, I have no clue what she puts into them, but it makes your skin feel so soft. I think she was selling them for a while. I bet you could email her to find out more info.

http://www.texas-midwife.com/index.htm

[carla72]

my midwife did one for us with comfrey and some other stuff I can't remember know..IT was GReat I can't stress that enough!! helped to heal me and dd's cord stump. It was so soothing for both of us.

[ashleylesh]

here is a picture of us in the herb bath after the birth. we loved it. ooh, it felt sooooo good. i even peed in there after the baby was out because i was scared of how much it would burn other wise. that was nice.
i always have to tell people that it is herbs and not blood in the bath.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ashley_lesh/detail?.dir=/238a&.dnm=e5a8.jpg&.src=ph

[EmmaJean]

My midwives recommended herbal baths, and I loved them! We made 5 bags for five baths, and it was a nice ritual to have the first few days. Soooo healing, soothing, etc.

Here's their recipe:

1/2 lb of each leaf herb:
--shepherd's purse
--comfrey
--uva ursi

1 lb. sea salt
5 whole garlic bulbs.

Divide herbs into 5 parts and fill 5 knee-high stockings/hosiery or in cheesecloth. Tie loosely. These can be prepared well before birth.

To prepare, simmer/boil a big pot of water. Cut through 1 garlic BULB a couple times, add to herb stocking and tie tightly. Add to pot and let steep 15-30 min.

Meanwhile, clean and fill tub w/ warm water and add a couple handfuls of the sea salt. Pour pot of herb water and herbs (still very contained in stocking!) into the tub. Hop in by yourself for a bit and then add baby when water has cooled a bit. (I always enjoyed playing w/ the bag of herbs and squishing the garlic, but that's just me!) Be sure to "swoosh" water to your perineum area to clean things and help heal.

Turn down the lights and add candles for a relaxing experience.

-----

I did this after both births, one long labor, one short labor/waterbirth. I loved it w/ the first b/c I felt so icky and tired and crazy after his birth and it was just so loving and cozy. A time to connect! And w/ Lily, her birth was so fast and crazy, I loved the healing, aromatic bath.

It's so nice to get into bed after a nice bath w/ baby! And YES, it makes your skin so soft!!! Such a nice, pampering thing to do the first few days after birth.....

PLEASE try this! I think all mothers should. It's amazing....

[EmmaJean]

Ashley, I love that bath pic!!! Thanks for sharing. :love