Postpartum

Natural remedies for postpartum

Pregnancy and childbirth put a strain on your body. You have brought into the world, raised and given birth to a child, you have done something miraculous and the time has come to take care of your body too. With natural treatments it is possible to help and promote the healing of a laceration, pains of the whole body so as to return to normal.

Vaginal laceration: Frozen pads

Frozen pads will be your best friend during the postpartum period. They are a natural astringent and help reduce swelling.

The main protagonist, after the tampon, is chamomile . It is an excellent anti-inflammatory so it relaxes the sore perineum and leaves you feeling fresh.

You can also use essential oils such as lavender, rosemary and chamomile. Not only do they smell good but they are natural astringents that help reduce swelling.

  • Lavender essential oil has a wonderful calming scent that can help treat nervous breakdowns, restlessness, emotional stress, nervous tension, migraines, anxiety. Lavender oil is great for improving blood circulation in the body, hence complete healing in the perineum area.
  • Rosemary essential oil has the ability to strengthen the entire body and relieve pain (like lavender).
  • Chamomile essential oil is anti-septic, antibiotic.

Get big pads with wings. Prepare a chamomile tea and pour it over the tampons wetting them abundantly in the central part, the very one that will come into contact with the vagina. Put a few drops of essential oil, the ones you want, 4-5 are enough. Put in the freezer and use them for the first few days. Frozen chamomile tea pads reduce swelling.

Herbal baths

When it comes to healing wounds on the perineum, relaxing and reducing hemorrhoids , a bath can work wonders and if you add some herbs it is perfect.

Here are the ingredients you need for your herbal bath:

  • 1/2 cup Epsom salt
  • 1/2 cup shepherd’s purse
  • 1/2 cup of marigold flowers
  • 2 tablespoons of baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 8 drops of lavender essential oil
  • 8 drops of chamomile essential oil

Mix the herbs in a plastic bag or glass jar. Add the herbs to two liters of boiling water and let them rest for 20 minutes. Then add more water to the tub to the desired height. You can also take a bath with the baby because it accelerates the healing of the cord.

Vegetable or animal broth

It is important that the broth is prepared with fresh vegetables or meat (do not use the preparation) so that it is incredibly nutritious while feeding your baby and recovering energy. You can start your day with a cup of broth or you can also use it to cook rice, vegetables or soup.

The benefits of broth are many, including:

  • It helps you absorb other nutrients from food.
  • It’s great for your bones! It has calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
  • Boosts the immune system.

Ask for help

This is the most important point of the whole list, ask your friends, neighbors, your family for help. We often find people at home who don’t quite know how to help you or think they are doing it but are actually doing it wrong.

A small suggestion I can give you is to create a list with people and meals that these people have to cook for you, so as to have the first 2 weeks (or more) of your return home free from the thought of having to cook. Every day a different person (or different family) to bring you food. This is a valuable suggestion because in this way you will have more time to spend with your child. You can even freeze food so you have a few meals ready for weeks to come.

With a little help from natural remedies and from your community (family and friends), you can face your postpartum with serenity and time.

Dr Kathryn Barlow

Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.

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