DIY Padsicles: A Step-by-Step Guide + Why They Work
Recovering postpartum doesn’t have to be overwhelming—DIY padsicles can make a big difference! These easy-to-make frozen pads, infused with healing ingredients, provide soothing relief and promote faster recovery after birth. Learn how to make your own and take one more step toward a smoother postpartum experience!
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Giving birth can be one of the most beautiful, sacred events of your life. It’s followed by what, for many women, is one of the most intense periods of healing and adjustment they’ll experience: postpartum.
While there are many ways to prepare for postpartum, one simple and effective hack stands out: DIY padsicles. These soothing, healing pads can make those early postpartum days a little more manageable.
What Are Padsicles?
DIY padsicles are maxi pads infused with healing ingredients and frozen to provide comfort and aid healing during postpartum recovery. You can buy premade padsicles, but making your own ensures you know exactly what’s in them—and you can customize them to suit your needs.
How Padsicles Work
DIY padsicles work in two powerful ways:
- Cold Therapy: The frozen pad helps reduce swelling of your perineum, ease discomfort, and may even speed up healing.
- Healing Ingredients: Soothing ingredients like aloe vera, witch hazel, and perineal tea promote healing, reduce inflammation, and encourage relaxation.
Ingredients for DIY Padsicles
To make your own DIY padsicles, you’ll need just a few ingredients and supplies:
- Aloe Vera. Make sure you get 100% pure aloe vera, not one with added ingredients. Aloe vera soothes and hydrates skin. It also increases the amount of collagen in your skin and improves how the collagen functions, so it can directly aid in healing.
- Witch Hazel. Get the alcohol-free kind. Witch hazel (which comes from a plant) relieves inflammation and is commonly used for discomfort from hemorrhoids. It can also reduce irritation and may even fight off infection.
- Perineal Tea. This herbal blend is designed to support postpartum healing. You can make your own or buy it. I used Sunstone Formulas’ perineal tea (use givelife10 for 10% off), which has comfrey leaf, lavender flower, red raspberry leaf, mint and more.
- Lavender Essential Oil (optional). Lavender oil can add extra soothing properties and a calming scent, if you want to use it.
- Heavy Maxi Pads. Since bleeding will be heavy those first few days, you’ll want some large, super-absorbent pads.
- Large Freezer Bags or Aluminum Foil. For storage, make sure you have a few gallon-size plastic freezer bags or some aluminum foil for wrapping.
How to Make DIY Padsicles, Step by Step
Making your own DIY padsicles is easy and only takes a few steps:
- Start Clean. Wash your hands and clean your workspace to avoid introducing any unwanted bacteria.
- Brew the Perineal Tea. Prepare the perineal tea according to the package instructions and let it cool.
- Prep the Maxi Pads. While the tea is brewing, get your pads ready. Don’t take them completely off the plastic backing. Just open each one so you can access the part that will come into contact with your skin.
- Add Aloe Vera. Add a thin layer of aloe vera to each pad. Don’t put a lot—you still have a few ingredients to add. And it doesn’t need to cover the entire surface, just the middle where it will touch your perineum.
- Add Witch Hazel. Next, add a small amount of witch hazel to each pad. Again, don’t put too much. You still need to add your tea and you don’t want the pads completely soaked—they still need to be able to handle bleeding too!
- Add Essential Oil (optional). Put a few drops of lavender oil on each pad.
- Add the Perineal Tea. Once it is steeped and cooled, add tea to each pad. Pour a fair amount, but not so much that it totally saturates the pad. You want enough that it freezes well and keeps you cool but dry enough that it doesn’t make a mess when it thaws.
- Wrap the Pads. To freeze and store the pads you can do one of two things: either place them flat and open in a large plastic freezer bag or wrap each individually in aluminum foil. Whichever you choose, don’t refold the pads or stack them on top of one another or they’ll freeze together.
Alternative Ingredients
If you prefer, you can simplify your DIY padsicles by leaving out certain ingredients. For example:
- Skip the aloe vera or witch hazel if you have sensitivities.
- Use only the perineal tea or plain water for a simpler option.
How Many Padsicles Should You Make?
When making DIY padsicles, it’s a good idea to make several so you’ve got a plentiful store for postpartum. But how many is enough?
I recommend making enough to last you 3–4 days. If you’re changing pads every 3–5 hours, that works out to be about 25 for a 4-day supply.
If you don’t have time to make that many, no problem! Even a few DIY padsicles can be a lifesaver.
Bonus: Some midwives might even make them for you during labor—mine did!
Feel Supported with DIY Padsicles
DIY padsicles are an incredible way to take care of yourself postpartum. Their cooling effect and natural healing ingredients can make a big difference in your recovery.
During those final weeks of pregnancy, set aside a little time to prepare your DIY padsicles. You’ll be glad you did when those first postpartum days feel a bit easier, and you’re healing faster and more comfortably.
Until next time,
Allison
READ MORE:
For the Husbands: What You Need to Know About Postpartum
Your Postpartum Essentials List: The 15 Items You Actually Need
