As a first time mama-to-be, it can be overwhelming trying to filter through all of the “need-to-know”. Nursery essentials, registry must-haves, hospital bag checklists, birth plans, baby schedules, tests and screenings, prenatal nutrition, supplements, breastfeeding tips and the list goes on.
It’s hard not to think about all the things we need to do instead of just focusing on taking care of ourselves. While I’m totally guilty of this, I’ve been making a conscious effort to prioritize self-care throughout my pregnancy. But it doesn’t stop there. It’s just as important to take care of your postpartum body.
If you have a tear or episiotomy during birth, you will likely require perineal stitches. Even without stitches, the area between the vagina and anus may feel sore, bruised and swollen. While a cold pack can help reduce swelling, cleansing the perineum after urinating or a bowel movement can be really painful. Many women opt for a warm bath or medicated cooling pads to help ease the pain.
This Postpartum Perineal Healing Brew takes it one step further by not only soothing and cleansing the area, but also helping it to heal naturally after delivery. It contains healing herbs like comfrey leaf, shepherds purse and calendula petals, as well as St John’s wort and vitamin E oils to help soothe and repair the damaged tissues.
I’m so thankful to my naturopath, Hilary Chambers, for this recipe and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share it with you! Gathering all the ingredients can be a challenge, but once that’s done, it’s super simple to make. I’m a little late in the game, but it’s recommended to make your brew well in advance and store it in the freezer until needed. Not only will you be feeling your best (say, during your second trimester), you’re also guaranteed to get it out of the way before baby’s arrival.
The recipe suggests using 4-6 peri bottles (squirt bottles) to store your herbal brew, but feel free to use any airtight container. I opted for mason jars as I’m planning to thaw one at a time and transfer it to my FridaBaby Fridet Momwasher. This is similar to a peri bottle only it has an angled neck, making it much easier to use while sitting on the toilet. You can even use a spray bottle if that works for you.
Once thawed, the Postpartum Perineal Healing Brew will keep for up to two days. I recommend keeping a bottle on the back of your toilet and using it after each urination or bowel movement. If you want to take it one step further, set aside 2 cups of your brew to make postpartum “padsicles”. Simply wet 8-10 overnight pads and stack them in a ziploc bag in the freezer. These can be used to help with swelling and bruising during the first few days following delivery.
- 3L filtered water
- 1 cup comfrey leaf
- 1 cup calendula petals
- 1 cup uva ursi leaf
- 1 cup shepherd's purse leaf
- ½ cup dried sage
- ½ cup pink rose petals (optional)
- 2 tbsp St. John's Wort oil
- 2 tbsp vitamin E oil
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil over the stove.
- Turn off heat and add herbs, allowing to steep for 30 minutes (while covered).
- Using a mesh sieve, strain and discard herbs.
- Allow herbal brew to cool before stirring in St. John's Wort and vitamin E oils.
- Divide into 4-6 peri bottles and freeze, thawing one bottle at a time as needed.
- Use after each urination or bowel movement to cleanse, soothe and aid in healing.
*Set aside 2 cups of your brew if you wish to make postpartum padsicles.
Do you have any special plans for postpartum care? Please share your tips and advice in the comments below!
Leave a Reply