If you’ve been following any birth or newborn photographers on social media, you’ve likely seen the gorgeous images of a mom and her new baby soaking in a tub of tea-colored water. There are usually rose petals or orchids floating on the surface and a blissed-out mom and baby relaxed and soaking up the nourishing water and relaxing scents.
As you can imagine, growing a baby and giving birth are hard work. Women are practicing self-care by utilizing the healing and relaxation properties of a postpartum herbal bath. Postpartum herbal bath, chocked full of herbs that fight inflammation and promote healing in the skin and tissues, can not only be a way to provide comfort for a sore body, but it can be a beautiful opportunity to bond with a freshly born baby.
Postpartum herbal bath, which includes plantain, comfrey, yarrow, uva ursi, and a variety of other healing herbs, can be added to boiling water, but removed from the heat of the stove. The herbs should steep for 20 minutes, and then be strained. What remains is a powerful brew that can be used to heal and comfort sore and bruised tissues, combat inflammation, and promote relaxation and well-being.
The herbal bath brew can be used in many ways:
1. It can be added to a bathtub of warm water for a relaxing soak. This can not only be a way for mom to relax, but it can be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy and bond with baby as well.
2. The herbal brew can be added to a peri-bottle to rinse mom’s bottom after using the restroom.
3. The brew can be added to a maxi-pad and frozen to be used as a perineal ice pack to soothe swollen tissues. Conversely, using the herbal brew on a warm compress can be a comforting relief.
4. It may also be conveniently added to a sitz bath to soak mom’s bottom in the day following birth.
If you are planning an upcoming birth and want to treat yourself and baby, consider a warm soak in a relaxing herbal bath. You and your baby worked hard, you both deserve it.
Our herbal bath and other products can be found on our Etsy page.
**Please check with your care provider before taking a bath in the immediate days postpartum.**
