Written July 10th 2021, a week or so before my first child was born.
I often think about how I would be preparing for postpartum if I was still in South Asia, which was our original plan. As an expat, you quickly realize that things often don’t go as planned, even though you think you are in control of so many things. I remember reading about postpartum sitz baths and looking up the herbs I would need, only to realize that most of them weren’t available where we live in Asia. I thought this was surprising since Asia has a plethora of plants and spices but I planned on making do with whatever I WAS able to get. If you don’t have access to many of these herbs, I have heard that adding essential oils to a sitz bath is another great way to get the same effects.
I tweaked a recipe that I found here and have the herbs in a jar all ready to go for whenever baby decides to come. I also feel like for a more natural mama who is interested in these things, this would be a great gift to make and give to others who have just had a baby.
Please keep in mind that I am not a medical professional. Please consult your healthcare provider about postpartum recovery. This is simply one way I have decided to prepare for recovery and the herbs I included after researching & talking to professionals myself.
Herbs in Sitz Bath
Comfrey Leaf: contains allantoin which helps new skin cells grow & reduces inflammation
Lavender Flower: aids in relaxation & promotes skin regeneration. Also has antibacterial properties.
Red Raspberry Leaf: can prevent oxidative stress & improve cell’s ability to expend energy
Calendula Flower: helps healing by softening skin and reducing inflammation
Epsom Salt: reduces swelling and can help prevent infection.
Recipe and label for Herbal Jar
I know when you have a newborn, it sometimes doesn’t feel like there is much time you can take for yourself, but prioritize rest and healing. An herbal bath is a great way to speed up your recovery time and nourish your body. You can even listen to Scripture on the Dwell Bible App, the Bible App or listen to a favorite podcast while you’re enjoying the tub.
Added Aug 2022: I am so glad I prepared the herbal sitz bath and directions before my son arrived. This was a huge part of helping me recover and allowed me to take a few moments each day to rest and focus on healing. Also, the directions came in handy because I didn’t have to explain hardly anything to my husband. He saw the jar, measuring cup scoop, and directions, and knew exactly how to serve me in this way during my postpartum recovery.
If you want more info about postpartum recovery necessities, check out this blog post I wrote.