This homemade version of the cooling pads handed out in hospitals will help comfort irritated areas, alleviate pain, and heal torn tissue after giving birth. It’s a must-have for your postpartum healing!

After giving birth to my daughter Isla, one of the sweet nurses on staff at the hospital introduced me to cooling pads. With a quick snap and shake, these maxi pad-shaped disposal ice packs gave instantaneous relief to my sore private parts. Once home from the hospital, I headed to my medicine cabinet to concoct a similar, but spruced-up, version of the cold packs.

Made with only non-toxic, all-natural ingredients, these Postpartum Cold Packs are something you can feel comfortable using on your delicate tissue “down under.” They help comfort irritated areas, alleviate pain, heal torn tissue, and are a must-have for your postpartum healing!

My only regret… not coming across them sooner so I could have made a stash before my due date.

Also known as witch hazel pads and padsicles, these cooling packs are essentially frozen maxi pads soaked with a combination of ingredients that help soothe and heal. The cooling packs help aid in postpartum recovery, healing and pain relief.

• Thick overnight maxi pads (preferably organic, chlorine-free, and unscented, as these don’t contain harmful byproducts like dioxin)
• Witch hazel
• Aloe vera
• Essential oils + a spray bottle (completely optional)
• A gallon-sized Ziploc bag to store the padsicles in the freezer

Aloe vera: Aloe is incredibly calming for the skin. It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant properties that aid in healing, making it fantastic for soothing pain and reducing inflammation. Check to make sure it’s pure aloe vera—nothing scented or with additional chemicals, alcohol or additives in it.

Witch hazel: Witch hazel acts as a toner on the inflamed and swollen tissue. It can reduce swelling, pain and bruising. It also helps relieve itching and inflammation associated with hemorrhoids. Many store-bought brands can contain more alcohol than witch hazel, which can be drying. Look for double-distilled witch hazel, such as this one.

Calendula oil: This essential oil is derived from a flowering plant. It’s been shown to effectively help speed up skin healing, especially when used in combination with aloe vera gel. It also offers antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Lavender essential oil: Another superstar for recovery and relief, lavender has been shown to help soothe skin and promote healing.

Yes! I can say with complete confidence these work. I used them after giving birth to my daughter Isla, along with this DIY perineal soothing spray, and they were complete lifesavers! Each of the ingredients in these cooling pads offers pain relief and healing properties. It’s a simple, effective way to alleviate discomfort and heal from childbirth. Bonus: They can even help with hemorrhoids.

We recommend nesting moms prepare at least a dozen cooling packs ahead, so there’s a good supply post-delivery. It’s best to make these in your third trimester, about a month before your expected delivery date.

Yes, you can make these without freezing them. Simply keep a stash of pads in the bathroom with your witch hazel and aloe vera.

Secure the pad on your panty, shake a few drops of witch hazel and squeeze a quarter-sized dollop of aloe over the middle of the pad. You may want to keep a small spoon close by to smear the aloe. Wear the pad, just as you would a regular pad. This will offer the same healing benefits from the witch hazel and aloe vera, it just won’t have the same cooling effect that the frozen pads do.