As a doula and a mom of three, I know how important it is to care for yourself in the early postpartum weeks. One of the best things I did to prepare for the fourth trimester was to make DIY postpartum care items that would help support me in my healing after my baby arrived.

With a few simple ingredients you may already have at home (no need to go to the store while we’re all doing our best to stay home), you can make your own postpartum care items that are nourishing and supportive for both your physical and emotional well-being. Another bonus is that making these items yourself is much less expensive!

Postpartum “Padcicles”

My best friend was due a month before me, and she raved about how much “padcicles” helped her postpartum. I made mine about two weeks before I was due, and they were ready to go when I brought my baby home.

You will need:

• 1 pack of extra-absorbent overnight pads
• 1 12 oz bottle of witch hazel
• 1 bottle of 100% pure aloe vera gel (unscented, uncolored)
• an airtight container or Ziploc bag

Keeping the wrapping attached, open each pad up and cover it with witch hazel. It will absorb, but that’s okay! Then squirt a line of aloe vera down the length of the pad and spread it until the pad is covered in a thin layer. Refold each pad. When you’re finished, place the pads in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and store it in your freezer. These brought my friends and me so much relief postpartum that I now recommend them to every expectant mama in my life. 

Postpartum Spray

This is the one item I cannot be without postpartum! I would spray this on after using a peri bottle and found that it brought me so much relief! 

You will need:

• 4 oz spray bottle
• 2 oz of witch hazel
• 1 oz 100% pure aloe vera (unscented, uncolored)
• distilled water 

Add the witch hazel and aloe vera to your spray bottle and top it off with distilled water. Shake the bottle well to mix the ingredients. You can also add essential oils if that is something you feel comfortable doing. Do your research to find oils that are safe and supportive. 

Sitz Bath

An herbal sitz bath is a mixture of herbs and salts that can help promote the healing of hemorrhoids, soothe the perineum, and provide relaxation. There are many places you can purchase premade herbal mixtures, or you can mix your own. The following herbs are great options for postpartum healing:

• Comfrey leaf
• Calendula flowers
• Lavender flowers
• Yarrow flowers
• Plantain leaf

Make sure to clear these herbs with your OB-GYN or midwife before using.

You will need:

• a variety of herbs
• 1 bag of Epsom salt
• an airtight container

Mix ½ cup Epsom salt with 2 cups total of your herbs of choice. Store in an airtight container. To use, steep about 1 cup of the mixture in hot water and strain (almost like making loose-leaf tea). Whether you’re using a sitz basin or a bathtub, fill it with a few inches of warm water and then add the strained liquid. Soak for 10-20 minutes. 

Hand-Sanitizing Spray

Good handwashing habits are essential, especially with a new baby in the home and with the Covid-19 pandemic. When soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer is a good backup option. It’s currently hard to come by at most stores, but you can make your own! The CDC recommends that to be effective hand sanitizer needs to include at least 60% isopropyl alcohol.

You will need:

• a spray bottle (this mixture makes 8 oz, so two 4 oz bottles or one 8 oz bottle)
• ¾ cup isopropyl alcohol
• 2 ¼ cup pure aloe vera gel 
• essential oils of choice (not necessary, but they help make it smell great!)
• distilled water

Using a small funnel, pour ingredients into your spray bottle. Top off the bottle with distilled water and shake well. Use this spray on your hands, shopping carts, and surfaces.

Click the photo to check out the comfiest postpartum panties!

It can sometimes feel overwhelming to take on DIY projects, but all of these postpartum items can be completed in under ten minutes, and you’ll be so glad to have an arsenal of care products ready to go when you bring your baby home. 

DIY projects are also a great way to pass the time and avoid going to the store. If you don’t have an ingredient, everything mentioned here can be purchased online, so you can stay home while getting crafty!

Any other tips for DIY postpartum care items? We’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!