Padsicles are frozen postpartum pads soaked with healing ingredients that are used for pain relief and to promote healing after childbirth.

Some women experience no tearing or trauma during birth, but for those that do, they are a lifesaver.

Padsicles are helpful for recovery from swelling, bruising, hemorrhoids, lacerations, stitches, and episiotomies.

If you’ve come here looking for instructions about how to make your own padsicles at home, you’ve come to the right place. If you’ve got questions, I’ve got answers. Let’s get started!

Padsicles – FAQ’s

The first part of this article will address the frequently asked questions many parents have regarding padsicles.

If you want to skip to the tutorial about how to make your own at home, scroll allllll the way down.

Why Use Padsicles?

Padsicles are helpful for women who’ve recently had a vaginal delivery as they reduce swelling, heal bruising, lessen pain, provide relief from hemorrhoids, encourage healing of tears and episiotomies, and smell great to boot.

How do Padsicles Work?

Padsicles work by periodically placing very cold, healing ingredients directly on or next to a woman’s vulva immediately following a vaginal delivery until symptoms subside.

When to Make Padsicles

Making padsicles is an excellent third trimester activity. Aim to finish these special pads during the last month of pregnancy.

Don’t wait too long, however, as some babies come before their due date. Babies do what babies want! 😉

Are Padsicles Necessary?

No, padsicles aren’t necessary, but they are a life-saver for many women! Since they don’t do any harm, you may as well try them, right?

You’ve got nothing to lose!

Are Padsicles Absorbent?

Yes, padsicles are absorbent. However, because the first few days of postpartum bleeding are heavier than others, and a regular pad isn’t sufficient, I recommend wearing a padsicle inside of a postpartum diaper.

If at any point during this heavier bleeding stage you would like the relief of a padsicle but are worried about absorbency, simply put one into a fresh adult diaper.

NOTE:  When making padsicles follow instructions closely. Don’t over do it! If a pad is over-saturated from the healing ingredients it will be less able to do its job (absorb postpartum bleeding).

Are Padsicles Messy?

If you use a heavy flow pad that is absorbent, no, a padsicle shouldn’t be messy. However, to eliminate any potential mess in the first few days wear a padsicle inside of an adult diaper.

How to Wear Padsicles

During the first few days after a vaginal delivery, bleeding is heavy and a normal pad is not enough. My favorite postpartum pad for this stage is actually an adult diaper. If you would like to use a padsicle during heavy bleeding, simply place one inside an adult diaper.

Once bleeding lessens, padsicles can be worn without an adult diaper. Simply place it inside underwear as you would a normal pad.

How Many Padsicles Should I Make?

It is impossible to know how many padsicles a woman will use during the first two weeks postpartum. If a woman experiences minimal swelling, bruising, lacerations, tearing, sutoring, etc., she will not need as many as someone who did.

The following is an estimate of how many padsicles a woman could use during the first two weeks after delivery.

• Days 1 – 2, 1 – 4
• Days 3 – 5, 1 – 3
• Days 6 – 9, 1 – 2
• Days 10 – 14, 1 – 5

This two week padsicle plan (lol) uses somewhere between 14 and 30 pads. It would make sense to buy around that many pads and use all the pads in a pack to make a bunch of padsicles.

NOTE:  It is unadvisable to sit in a padsicle all day long. Padsicles are for temporary relief, not an all day thing. Our lady bits need air and to not not be in a constant state of moisture. Once a padsicle is ready to be changed, replace it with a regular pad or – sit on a chux pad with all bottoms removed to air things out. #freebleeding (I’m pretty sure that’s a thing.)

How Long Do Padsicles Work?

The benefits of a cold padsicle will wear off within the hour, but the healing ingredients will continue to work after everything has melted. Wear the padsicle as a normal pad until it needs to be changed.

Are Padsicles Helpful for Cesarean Birth?

Padsicles are typically used for women that have had a vaginal delivery, not a cesarean birth. However, if a woman labored and even pushed prior to her cesarean, especially if a vacuum extraction was attempted, she may benefit from a padsicle.

Also, all women that suffer from hemorrhoids will benefit from these soothing ingredients, no matter what type of birth they experienced. Since women who give birth by cesarean are also bleeding postpartum, it makes sense for them to sometimes use padsicles too.

Can Parents Buy Padsicles?

Padsicles cannot be bought at a store and must be made at home. That being said, I could see this being a wonderful baby shower gift or activity at a mother blessing.

Wouldn’t that be wonderful to be gifted these healing pads?

How to Make Sitz Bath Padsicles

If instead of using the ingredients described below, you would prefer a sitz bath pad, head on over to this post about postpartum herbal/sitz baths. (This recipe’s ingredients contain calendula, comfrey, lavender, chamomile, salt and essential oils.)

How to Make Padsicles Without Witch Hazel, Aloe, and/or Lavender

So far we’ve made pads with witch hazel.  If you would prefer a padsicle without witch hazel, aloe, or lavender, simply leave that particular ingredient out of the recipe. You will still benefit from them with only one ingredient missing.

If you would prefer to make your pads with a postpartum herbal bath solution instead, hop on over here. (This recipe contains calendula, comfrey, lavender, chamomile, salt and essential oils.)

What are Witch Hazel Pads?

Witch hazel pads for postpartum recovery are a soothing and effective way to heal the body after birth. Witch hazel is an astringent that can reduce inflammation caused by common end of pregnancy and postpartum complaints like hemorrhoids, bruising, tearing, and stitches.

How to Freeze Padsicles?

To freeze padsicles, simply re-wrap each soaked pad in its original wrapper and place inside a gallon ziploc bag. Keep pads in freezer until ready to use. Pull out one at a time, as needed.

How Can I Prevent Padsicles from Sticking Together?

By freezing each padsicle in its original wrapper and adhesive coverings, you will prevent them from sticking together.

My Padsicles Are Too Cold!

If you find that your padsicles are too cold, after putting one on, but before sitting on it directly, walk around for a few minutes. After that, sit in a reclined position so that the pad isn’t directly underneath your bottom.

Things should warm up after a few minutes of being at room temperature and near body heat.

Can I Make Padsicles with Always Infinity Pads?

In my opinion, padsicles made with Always Infinity pads won’t work. These are not a good choice for postpartum pads. However, I don’t have personal experience with this. (Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!)

If you prefer using Always’ products, I would buy Always Maxi Overnight Pads (the purple pads), since bleeding is so heavy during those first few days.

Postpartum requires the big pads!

Can I Make Padsicles with Cloth Pads?

Yes, you can make padsicles with cloth pads. Do know, however, that cloth pads do not wick away moisture like their counterparts. For a good discussion on the use of cloth pads for postpartum, head on over here.

How to Make Padsicles at Home

The following is a quick tutorial on how to make padsicles at home. The recipe is at the end of this post. Have fun!

1. Combine liquid ingredients in a mixing bowl.

First, add the witch hazel and then aloe vera gel. (Notice my weird double jointed thumb.)

Next, add essential oils.

2. Remove pad from outer wrapper.

3. Without removing adhesive strips, open pad.

4. Spread 1 TBS of healing ingredients throughout the center third of the pad.

5. Fold pad to its original form.

6. Tuck pad back into original outer wrapper.

7. Place padsicle in Ziploc bag.

8. Repeat process until all pads are completed.

How to Make Padsicles

Yield: 28 Padsicles

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $45

Padsicles are helpful for postpartum recovery from swelling, bruising, hemorrhoids, lacerations, stitches, and episiotomies.

Print

Materials

• 3/4 cup Thayers Alcohol-Free Unscented Witch Hazel
• 1/2 cup Aloe Vera Gel
• 10 drops Organic Lavender Essential Oil
• 28 Seventh Generation Maxi Pads
• 1 Gallon Freezer Ziploc Bag

Tools

• Tablespoon
• Mixing Bowl

Instructions

1. Combine liquid ingredients in mixing bowl.
2. Remove pad from outer wrapper.
3. Without removing adhesive strips, open pad.
4. Spread 1 TBS of healing ingredients throughout the center third of the pad.
5. Fold pad to its original form.
6. Tuck pad back into original outer wrapper.
7. Place padsicle in ziploc bag.
8. Repeat process until all pads are completed.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Thayers Alcohol-free Unscented Witch Hazel Toner (12-oz.)
• 
  Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Maxi Pads - Overnight With Wings - 14 Pads (Pack of 2)
• 
  Lily Of The Desert - Aloe Vera Gelly Tube, 4 fl oz gel
• 
  Plant Therapy USDA Certified Organic Lavender Essential Oil. 100% Pure, Undiluted, Therapeutic Grade. 10 ml (1/3 oz).
• 
  Ziploc Freezer Bag, Gallon, 28 Count
• 
  Depend Silhouette Incontinence Underwear for Women, Maximum Absorbency, S/M, Beige (Packaging may vary)

Leave a Comment 

Leave a comment and share your postpartum padsicle experience. Did you make your own? Did a friend make them for you? What would you do differently next time?