These DIY padsicles are freezing as heck, yet so soothing, and are absolutely a postpartum must-have. Helping to aid in postpartum recovery, these are easy and perfect pads for after birth.
I LOVE DIY PADSICLES! I used so many of these throughout my postpartum recovery. All day, every day. They helped soothe the pain I was feeling and helped me to heal more comfortably. I am SO happy that these were in my freezer after I had my baby. I couldn’t recommend them enough and I think that padsicles are the best pads for after birth.
What are padsicles?
Padsicles are handy dandy cooling pads that you put in your underwear or in your postpartum diaper after you have a baby. These postpartum pads contain delicious ingredients that make your swollen crotch happier. They were created to help soothe your lady bits after you have a baby and assist in the healing process. You can either make them yourself, buy them online or buy them at the store.
DIY Frozen Postpartum Pads
If you choose to make them, these DIY padsicles will be placed in the freezer until you are ready to use them. This coolness factor plays a role in the soothing properties. Ice packs (these included) are extremely beneficial when it comes to alleviating pain around the vagina and perineum.
DIY Padsicles
The ingredients you will need:
- 100% Aloe Vera
- 100% Witch Hazel
- Lavender essential oil or tea tree oil (optional)
- Maxi Pads (I used Equate Maxi Pads Super from Walmart, but you can choose any. I would just recommend that they be heavy pads)
- Freezer ziplock bag (I used a gallon size)
How to make padsicles:
I know of two different ways to make padsicles, and honestly, it just depends on your mood and personal preference.
In the first method, you mix everything together in a bowl BEFORE you put them on the padsicles. In the second method, you place each ingredient onto the pad directly, one by one, and the products mix on their own.
I found myself using method one to ensure adequate mixing, but I think most people use method two. In the end, I don’t think it makes much of a difference.
DIY Padsicles Method One:
- Mix 1 cup of Aloe Vera Gel and ½ cup of Witch Hazel in a clean, glass container.
- Add 10-12 drops of Lavender essential oil (or tea tree oil).
- Open the pad, but leave the wrapper attached to the sticky back.
- Spread about 4-5 tablespoons of the mixture over the pad. The amount you use depends on how much of the mixture you prefer, however, I would do enough to coat most of the pad from top to bottom with a good, even layer. You want to keep in mind that with postpartum recovery comes lots of bleeding and discharge, so you still want the pad to be absorbent.
- Fold back up and repeat for the desired number of pads.
- Put pads in a large ziplock bag and put them in the freezer until set. This usually takes about an hour.
- When you are ready to use, remove a single pad from the freezer and let it thaw for 2-3 minutes.
- This recipe makes about 5-6 padsicles, however, it depends on the size of the pad and the amount of mixture you prefer to place on each pad. My husband was able to make between 8-10.
DIY Padsicles Method Two:
- Open the pads, but leave the wrapper attached to the sticky back. You can open as many pads as you want to make at a time.
- Cover the pads with Aloe Vera Gel, covering the white part of the pad generously. A good amount might be between 2-3 tablespoons. Again, keep in mind that you will be bleeding and releasing a lot of discharge, so you still want the pad to be absorbent.
- Place about 1-1.5 tablespoons of witch hazel down the middle of the pad.
- Add a few drops of either lavender essential oil or tea tree oil (optional).
- Fold the pads back up the way that they were.
- Put pads in a large ziplock bag and put them in the freezer until set. This usually takes about an hour.
- When you are ready to use, remove a single pad from the freezer and let it thaw for 2-3 minutes.
Why use Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, and Lavender Oil (or Tea Tree oil) to make padsicles?
Aloe Vera increases the speed of perineal healing. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
Witch Hazel for padsicles not only lessens inflammation, but is wonderful for soothing sensitive skin. It is also great for treating hemorrhoids that possibly developed during pregnancy or childbirth.
Lavender essential oil is used to reduce discomfort around your perineum. It is an antiseptic and contains healing properties.
Tea tree essential oil helps to fight infections and is very cleansing.
When mixed, these ingredients work together to provide the best healing and soothing properties, creating perfect padsicles postpartum!
How do you use a padsicle?
Using a padsicle is easy! And cold! If you have ever used a pad during your period, it’s the same idea.
Take out one padsicle and let it thaw for 2-3 minutes. Remove the wrapper and place the pad in your underwear. Or, if you’re like me and living in adult diapers after you have a baby, just place it in the diaper where your crotch goes.
After four hours (or sooner if preferred), you just throw it in the garbage! Easy-peezy.
When should I make padsicles?
When to make padsicles is completely up to you, HOWEVER, I highly recommend having some made and in the freezer BEFORE you have your baby. A good time frame would be around 34-36 weeks of pregnancy so you are prepared.
Honestly though, you could make these the day before delivery if you wanted, since they only need an hour to freeze. You can also have your partner make them for you (my husband made them for me!).
When should I start using padsicles?
Most moms will usually start using padsicles right after they give birth to their baby or right when they get home from the hospital.
If you have developed hemorrhoids during your pregnancy, padsicles help relieve any discomfort there, so you could start using padsicles before your baby is born if you’d like a small treatment for your hemorrhoids.
Do padsicles still absorb blood?
Padsicles are not as absorbent as dry pads, but they still do a decent job. I liked to put padsicles in the postpartum diapers I was wearing throughout my recovery.
Personally, I wouldn’t wear the padsicle in underwear only. I don’t think that the padsicles absorb enough postpartum bleeding for you to be able to do that (unless you aren’t bleeding much), and they can also be a little messy with the aloe and witch hazel as they thaw.
How long can you keep them in freezer?
People say that you can keep padsicles in the freezer for up to 3 months. I personally would use them sooner than this so that the ingredients are fresh! You don’t want them to lose their effectiveness or their potency. I’d say it’s best to use them within 4-6 weeks of freezing.
Should I bring padsicles to the hospital?
Hospitals will usually give you ice packs to use while you are there. They may also send you home with some. You can always call your hospital to make sure. I would definitely have some in the freezer ready to go when you get home though!
Why do we use padsicles after postpartum?
These frozen pads help with the discomfort of having a baby. They ease pain, reduce bruising and swelling, aid in healing, and help with any hemorrhoids that might have developed during pregnancy and childbirth.
There are many moms who haven’t used padsicles and they only use the ice packs from the hospital. But I think they are missing out! Personally, padsicles postpartum were KEY in my recovery!
How many pads do you go through a day postpartum?
This really depends on how often you change your pad. How often you change your pad is really based on your discomfort, your bleeding levels, or simply your personal preference. However, it is recommended that you change your pads at least once every four hours. With this in mind, you could potentially go through a minimum of 6 pads per day if you use them continuously.
How many padsicles to make?
How many padsicles to make depends on how many you use. They are VERY easy to make, so it might be worth it to only make a small batch of 5-10 pads to see if you even like using padsicles.
My husband ended up making around 35-40 padsicles for my postpartum recovery. I used them only two-three times a day when I felt like I really needed them. Looking back, I wish I would have used more throughout the day because I would have healed quicker (I didn’t quite understand this at the time). There are many women who have gone through 60 pads during their recovery!
How often do you change out your padsicle?
It is recommended that you replace your used pad with a new one once every four hours. You are welcome to change it more often, especially if you are needing extra cool comfort or if you still have a lot of postpartum bleeding.
Store bought padsicle options:
If you aren’t in the mood to make your own, there are definitely some padsicles you can buy at the store or online. Here are some options from Amazon below.
Postpartum Gel Bead Cool Packs
Lansinoh Hot and Cold Pads for Postpartum
I am a huge advocate for padsicles postpartum! If you don’t have any yet, I’d recommend you make some and these DIY padsicles are perfect! Take care of yourself and don’t overdo it. Enjoy your new baby while also enjoying the magical soothing-ness of these amazing pads.
This post was all about DIY Padsicles.
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