Natural Home Remedies to Ease Post-birth Recovery

Having a baby is a pretty momentous experience, both physically and emotionally. Doctors and midwives will tend to your immediate physical needs whilst you’re in hospital, but once you go home there is still plenty of healing that needs to happen in order for you to feel ‘normal’ again. Rather than spend up at the chemist on products that may help you feel better, there are plenty of natural home remedies to ease post-birth recovery that are simple to put together and easy on the budget.

Padsicles

These frozen maternity pads are loaded up with aloe vera gel, witch hazel and lavender oil, which are all know to aid healing. When the ache kicks in, these are your go-to. They are easy to make and easy to store and you can make up a supply before your baby arrives, ready for you to use once you arrive home.

What you need:

• 1 x packet of overnight maternity pads
• 1 x bottle of aloevera gel
• Witch Hazel and lavender essential oil (available at your local supermarket or pharmacy)

How to Make:

Partially unwrap the pads, squeeze a generous amount of aloe vera gel all over the pad, pour a teaspoon of witch hazel in to the middle of the pad then add a couple of drops of lavender oil.

Roll each pad back up and store in a zip-lock bag in the freezer. Use one by one, as needed. (Thaw for a few minutes before using).

Sitz Bath

A sitz bath is a shallow bath that will help sooth the pain of haemorrhoids, a tear, an episiotomy, or any bruising or grazing that may have happened during child birth. You can buy a sitz bath from your local chemist for around $20, and it rests over the toilet for easy sitting. For a cheaper alternative, you can prepare one in your full size bath.

The key to a sitz bath is that your bottom, perineum and vagina are immersed in the water so you can reap the healing and cleansing benefits.

Add the following ingredients to your sitz bath:

• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons witch hazel
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil
• 8 drops lavender essential oil
• 8 drops chamomile essential oil

The essential oils are optional and can be left out if you prefer. Soak in your sitz bath for at least 20 minutes. If you are using a normal size bath, double the quantities in the recipe above.

Cabbage Leaves

I know it probably sounds strange to be recommending cabbages leaves for post-birth care, but research has shown that cabbage leaves effectively help reduce breast engorgement that sometimes occurs with breast feeding.

Green cabbage leaves have naturally-occurring anti-inflammatory properties and have been used by generations of women to help ease the discomfort of breast feeding and engorgement. Place the large leaves of the cabbage in the fridge or freezer, when sufficiently cool, place two large leaves in your bra, one for each breast. Wear for a couple of hours at a time.

Coconut Oil

While coconut oil seems to be the latest wellness must-have, it’s really useful to have some handy as it can be used in lots of ways for you and your baby and it’s completely safe. It’s also available on supermarket shelves these days, so no special trip to the health food shop required. Be sure to purchase organic extra virgin oil.

Applying a little coconut oil to your nipples both before and after a breast feed will help protect them against grazing and cracking, and because it’s anti fungal it offers some protection against fungal infections such as thrush.

Taking a couple of spoonfuls of coconut oil will also help increase your milk supply and ease constipation.

So there is plenty you can do to help ease those post-birth aches and pains, without too much effort or financial investment, safe in the knowledge that it’s all natural, so it’s all safe for you and your bub.