About postpartum herbal bathing
Plant herbals are known for healing properties, and when combined with florals they produce an aromatic delight. This soak is so inviting postpartum because it has a luxurious and relaxing feel, while it helps to release tension from labor and birth -for both you and baby.
In addition, it’s helpful to know that bath preparation is easy, and simple as brewing a large pot of tea. Only this is with a bath sachet that’s simmered for an hour then poured into the tub, adding floral and essential oils per-preference. Some mothers even use natural homemade soaps while in the fancy soak.
Our herbal floral soak is unique, and gives home birth our complementary boutique feel. Also we find warm water emersion can enhance bonding with baby, promote relaxed latch-on feeding. Further, this may even offer an opportune time for beautiful floral photographs!
"Our herbal -floral soak is unique, and gives home birth our complementary boutique feel."
Benefits of herbal bathing
Having the beneficial blend of herbals in this bath soak, offer a drying effect for baby’s umbilical cord, and antiseptic healing properties for ones tender private parts. Moreover, it’s soothing to sore perineal muscles and hemorrhoids, minimizes swelling to the area. Similar to a large sitz bath, the warm water increases circulation to areas that need to heal.
In addition, the large bath sachet is multi-use and can be opened after the brewing process, using the plant matter to create several healing poultice. Equally important, herbals used topically as a poultice helps with swelling of tissue, abrasions, lacerations, and even hemorrhoids. For those reasons alone the herbal bath became a popular hit!
Preparing ahead for your birth
Next if you enjoy being pampered, or you need to soak for healing, then this may be something for you to repeat throughout the first week postpartum. Again, this is a common tradition that’s popular these days. Therefore in preparation for your birth, you may want to set aside several sachet, and voice your desire for a herbal -floral bath to your care provider.
When you are under our care, we are happy to offer the celebration bath as a service we provide. In addition to the immediate postpartum, we can also put your herbal bath on to simmer during a postpartum check up appointment. This would be when we return on day two.
Also, did you know herbal sachet’s can be ordered already pre-made and ready for pick up! Just let us know ahead of the birth. Moreover, as a do it yourself project, you could place a large bulk order of herbals by the pound, to mix your own bath blend. Making sure to order your sea salt, sachet bags, essential oils or flowers and any extras you desire. Lastly, this is a link to purchase organic herbals by the pound.
Postpartum blend of soothing, healing, and antiseptic herbals
Standard/additional herbals to mix & consider, or optional/maybe herbals.
- Measure 1 cup -8 ounce comfrey leaf
- Add 1 cup -8 ounce calendula flowers
- Add 1 cup -8 ounce lavender flowers
- Include 1 cup -8 ounce Shepherd’s Purse
- Include 1/2 cup -4 ounce dried uva-ursi leaves
- Blend 1/2 cup sea salt
- Consider 1 ounce yarrow blossoms
- Consider 1 ounce rosemary leaf
- Maybe 1 ounce of sage
- Maybe 1 ounce of plantain
- Optional 1/2 ounce myrrh powder
- Optional 6 cloves of fresh garlic
How to brew an herbal bath
An herbal bath blend, is your choice of mix dried plant material. Placing them into a sachet or brewing bag, will help make the preparation process easier. Next, fill a large pot with water that has a cover, and bring to a boil. Once you have a boil, lower heat to simmer, adding the sachet and cover with a lid. Finally, turn stove burner to simmer brewing the sachet for over an hour, before adding your bath brew to the tub to soak. The longer the brewing process, the more darker and more robust the bath.
What’s more, you can plan to prepare a large batch of brew after birth that can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Next, the remaining can be added to the postpartum peri-bottle for rinsing off at each bathroom visit. Again, you may need to order a few extra peri-bottles for fill use.
Finally, prepare your tub for your herbal bathing experience. Thoroughly scrub your bathtub and rinse it well so that no soap residue remains. Next, if you want to refrain from using harsh chemicals to clean your tub, mix fresh lemon juice or vinegar, with baking soda.
When adding florals or essential oils to your bath
When combining florals or oils to produce an aromatic and visual delight we have a few key points to remember. First, make sure to purchase flowers that are not sprayed with insecticides, dyes or preservatives. Secondly, make sure your essential oils are of quality, and that you know dosage, and proper use properties. Third, make sure of safety of added florals and oils, especially if the bath is also going to be for your baby. Lastly, certain fresh florals may be irritating to ones skin, so use with caution. The following typically can be added to your herbal bath:
- Rose buds & Petals
- Sun Flowers
- Lavender
- German Chamomile
- Mint
- Carnations
- Jasmine
- Calendula
- Daisies
- Peonies
DISCLAIMER: This post is not meant to treat an illness or disease. If you have concerns consult your doctor before application of any herbal bath blends, or florals. If you have skin sensitivities it’s best to skip this natural modality altogether.