How to Make Padsicles for Postpartum Recovery

The postpartum period can be a daunting journey when you’re dealing with postpartum pain while caring for a newborn.

In order to form a balance between both tasks, a great way to do so is to prepare your body for a better recovery using padsicles.

A padsicle (short for pad and Popsicle) is a DIY postpartum care item that includes a sanitary pad wrapped with a healing ointment and then placed into the freezer for later use. It is often used for vaginal tear after birth and can help with your discomfort.

Although the idea of freezing pads may sound unappealing, the cold and chilled pad will act as a cold compress to reduce swelling.

To build your stockpile, I personally recommend creating padsicles in the third trimester before baby arrives. That way, you don’t have to worry about making these while caring for your newborn. However, there is no standard rule of when you should make them.

If you have already given birth and is currently recovering, I recommend you order items online or have your spouse or family pick up the items for you at the store. This will allow you more time to rest and care for your baby.

In this article, I will share with you how to make padsicles along with the things you need to make it.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclaimer for details. The information contained in these topics is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

What You Need

• A pack of maxi pads (any brand you prefer but I recommend pads with wings)
• A bottle of aloe vera gel
• Witch hazel astringent
• Lavender essential oil (I use Plant Therapy’s Lavender essential oil)
• Optional: Storage bags (to store your pads in the freezer) and a spoon (to lather the pad with the mixture)

Directions

The following directions will be used for one padsicle but you can repeat the steps for the rest of the pads.

Step 1

Grab a pad, unwrap it and apply large amounts of aloe vera gel over the pad.

To make it easier, you can use a spoon to apply the gel so that it covers all areas. You are probably most familiar with using aloe vera gel for sunburns to reduce redness and pain but it can also help with cuts and scrapes.

Aloe vera is a soothing gel that improves skin inflammation and can enhance the appearance of dry or damaged skin. 

Step 2

Pour or spray some witch hazel astringent over the pad.

There is no exact measurement for this but you may use it where it is enough to cover the area. Witch hazel astringent helps provide relief to the skin that is irritated, inflamed, red, or damaged.

Step 3

Next, you want to pour 1-2 drops of Lavender essential oil onto the pad.

Lavender is known to have healing properties and have long been used as an antibacterial agent, antiseptic, antidepressant, and other uses that can heal the mind and body. In one clinical trial, it was shown that Lavender essential oil significantly reduced redness in women who had undergone a vaginal delivery and episiotomy. With that said, it can help promote healing in the postpartum period. 

I love using Plant Therapy’s essential oils and used their Lavender essential oil for this recipe. 

Step 4

Wrap up the completed pad and place it into a storage bag for freezing. You may repeat the same steps for the remaining pads. 

Voila! You have created your first padsicle! Now you can create your stockpile so you have more to use for later.

How to Use It

Whenever you are ready to use a pad, you can simply take it out and wear it like you would wear a regular pad.

If it is too cold, set it aside until it warms to your ideal temperature before wearing.

Have you tried a padsicle before? If so, share with us your experience in the comments below!