If only I had been wise after the birth of my first two children. Advil was taken. Medicated pads were used. The water that they gave me to “rinse myself” with wasn't cutting the mustard. And the uterine cramping when I first began nursing was almost unbearable.
As my sister prepared for having her first baby a few months ago, I knew that I wanted desperately to alleviate some of that discomfort for her. And since I'm set to give birth to my third in just a few more weeks, I figured it was the perfect time to experiment and think up a few post-baby-natural-remedies. Like this postpartum vaginal spray.
Because as anyone who has had a baby knows – it ain't pretty. Dignity is lost. Modesty is thrown out the window. Pain is experienced.
Luckily, there are wonderful and effective natural options for the crunchy Mama.
Not the least of which is this postpartum soothing spray.
Yes. If you're going to have another baby, you're going to need it. Perfect for that post-baby-“area.”
Postpartum Vaginal Spray
You will need:
– 6 tablespoons witch hazel
– 3 tablespoons aloe vera
– 6 drops Frankincense essential oil (I recommend this brand for their quality)
– 3 drops Clary Sage essential oil (I recommend this brand for their quality)
– 4 tablespoons filtered water
– Glass spray bottle (this helps to avoid any plastic contamination and maintains the quality of the essential oils)
Simply combine the ingredients together in the spray bottle. Gently shake to combine. Once you're ready to use post-baby, keeping it refrigerated will help to increase the “cooling relief” of the aloe and frankly, makes it quite refreshing for anyone to use. No judgement here, man.
Alternatively, this same solution can be doubled/tripled/quadrupled/etc. and poured over a feminine pad to slip into the ‘ol panties for a few days post-baby. That would be wonnnnnderful. As would an ice pack.
Hoping this healing spray brings you and your nether-regions great relief! I'm off to make a million batches. Ya know. Just to be prepared.
And Amen.
Angela/Parisienne Farmgirl
Hey girl – this looks awesome. How about adding some calendula oil to that? I spray that on my girlfriend after each birth — it’s like heaven. And, I soak my pads and freeze ’em, you could wet them with this concoction, freeze them and use them that way. Love that you talk about “down there” stuff. It cracks me up.
Shaye Elliott
Oh I’m totally freezing some. Girlfriend will thank me 😉
AshleyB
This sounds like a lovely concoction to pour on pads and then freeze! (or at least refrigerate 🙂
Alicia
I used something like this with my second delivery, after I found that Tucks pad I used the first time were mostly witch hazel. The frozen witch hazel pads were my best friends with all three of my births! I still send my midwife an annual thank you card for that tip. Now I keep witch hazel in a spray bottle to mist my legs after shaving before I coat them with my coconut oil concoction.
I love, love, LOVE your blog. It really inspires me to find out what more I can do in my neck woods (across the mountains from you). Thank you for sharing your family with us!
Shaye Elliott
Thanks for reading, Alicia!
Lynn C.
I’m past the baby making stage ~ would this spray work to refresh down there and how about using it on hemmrhoids?
Thanks.
Kara
I’m due in 3 months and will definitely be making some of this! Thank you for the recipe. A quick question though… I noticed that in your photo, it’s aloe vera GEL, but the link is for aloe vera JUICE. Does it matter which to use?
Shaye Elliott
Nope, it doesn’t!
Melinda
I’ve never had a baby, but I’ve been suffering with a horrible itch “down there” for a couple of years. My gyno has no idea what to do, and going to a specialist is not an option at the moment. Would this spray alleviate itchiness? Washing and applying creams are not really doing a great job, and waking up in the middle of the night because it feels like there are ants in my pants is making me crazy. Thanks in advance for the response.
Shaye Elliott
Melinda, I’m not sure if it would alleviate that but it’d definitely be worth a shot, I’d say! Have you ever tried just straight coconut oil?
Beth
I went through horrible yeast infection like symptoms for almost two years before I was able to see a specialist and get help. She advised getting rid of anything that uses scents (soaps, shampoos, lotions, sprays, etc). At the time I was using a homemade soap bartered with a friend but have since found that a 100% olive oil soap is best for all my skin (found cheap at the international food grocery store). Shampoo is harder, but you can find stripped down versions (or make your own). The point is, go scent free. Stop using all the on the market hygiene products you can, including the stuff marketed for itching. Instead, use a small amount of solid shortening. Yep, shortening. From the kitchen. You can use plant based, it doesn’t matter. But once a day rinse the whole area with cool water, then ‘lotion’ with shortening. Anytime you feel the itch, apply more lotion. You can use it to alleviate itch, to heal the skin, as a personal lubricant. The doctor proudly declares: “You can use it for anything!”
Now, I was really desperate at the point I saw the doc. I had already done the “usual” things – cotton underthings, line dry (no fabric softener), no scented products, cool water rinses (don’t scrub with anything), use only water to clean the area (no soap, no bathtub bubbles). So I tried out the shortening, and thankfully it worked. You only need a small amount each time.
As an aside, the specialist also found small amounts of yeast which are now being controlled by the use of boric acid tablets (boric acid is a POISON when swallowed!). So I’m sure it’s not just the shortening. But I’m a believer now. For the first time in a LONG time, I have relief.
I hope you are able to find some!
M.
Get the dr to do a skin biopsy for lichen sclerosis. Also if you do a Pinterest search on lichen sclerosis and essenti oils you will find a blog with some very helpful tips to heal naturally rather than with the steroid clopidegrol, which is what is typically prescribed. I hope that helps!
Jen
I’m wondering about which witch hazel and aloe you use.
In the link in the ingredients list you showed the Thayer witch hazel with aloe vera in it. I found a similar one with lavender and a number of other ingredients but didn’t know if that would be the right thing. In the picture you showed the Humphrey’s witch hazel. I found that one too, but it was a toner and so it had alcohol in it. I was nervous that the alcohol might cause some stinging. Have you used both with success or is there one you recommend over the other?
Similarly with the aloe, the link in the ingredients list was for the Lily of the Valley Aloe Juice, but the picture shows Aloe Gel. Does it matter which you use? I didn’t find anything but aloe vera gel. My only concern is that it would thicken the spray too much. Again, which do you recommend?
Thanks!
Shaye Elliott
Jen, the product must have changed. I would recommend the witch hazel WITHOUT the alcohol in it – just the plain witch hazel. Aloe vera gel is the same thing as ‘Aloe Juice’ and will work wonderfully in the spray, as long as you follow the recipe. Enjoy!
Cathy
This is a great post, thank you! And to Lynn, I too am past the baby making age and used witch hazel after my hemorrhoid surgery. It’s soothing and reduces inflammation, swelling and any bruising (just threw that last one in as useful info… not that hemorrhoid surgery bruises us 🙂 ). I imagine that if you can use it on your ‘girlfriend’, you can use it on hemorrhoids too.
Has anyone tried this?
Thanks, and keep up the great work Shaye!
Stacy
Witch Hazel is the bomb!! Scalp, face, under arms, “down there” both front and back, legs & feet. Being a former farm woman, the cows went in 2000, I really love your real life attitude on the farm. Thank you.
Allison
I want to give this as gifts to my friends having babies. How long does it last and is it ok to make some and just refrigerate it before I give it out?thanks
Shaye Elliott
It will last a long time – yes, just store it in the fridge!
Kristen
Do you think this would help with bug bites?
Kimberly Hubbard
I’m looking into buying frankincense essential oil for this spray, and I don’t know which one to buy: carterrii, serrata, sacra, or frereana? I know they each have their own healing properties, but don’t know which one I should want for this spray.
Shaye Elliott
Kimberly – I use and recommend doTERRA oils. Please email me! [email protected]
Kim
How long is the shelf life just made some today
Abby
Hello. I love this! I’m a doula and it would be perfect for my ladies!:) just curious do you know if it would work on a c-section incision?