Note from Mommypotamus: Today’s guest post comes from Becky Webb, a childbirth doula, Nutritional Therapist, and blogger at Rooted Blessings. Becky sent me a care package with this sitz bath to use after Levi was born and it is truly a soothing and relaxing treat. Thank you, Becky!
I am constantly in awe . . .
At the body’s ability to birth a tiny little person. As a doula, I get the privilege of supporting moms in accomplishing this awesome feat on a regular basis.
Mamas are amazing. They are able to push themselves beyond the limits of where they think they can go. Labor is almost always hard work, and physically exhausting, but so rewarding in the end. After all the hard work is said and done her body has the most inspiring capacity to heal itself postpartum.
We live in a fast paced society where we want to hit the ground running as fast as we can, even after a life changing event like birthing a new family member. Historically, women were encouraged to take a 28 to 40 day rest period where they were cared for by older women in order to recover from pregnancy and birth. After birth, mama’s time was reserved to bond with baby and allow her body to fully heal. Many times moms weren’t even expected to get out of bed. Meals prepared for recovering mothers were extremely nutrient rich to increase lactation and speed healing.
Even today, many Asian and European cultures still practice caring for the mother this way. The Western six-week postpartum visit is based on this model, that mom’s health and energy would be restored after 6 weeks of rest. What would life be like if we encouraged American mothers to do the same by spending time pampering themselves and bonding with their baby? We may see less frazzled mothers, more established lactation, and a decrease in postpartum depression.
Many mothers, myself included, need the permission to take much needed rest time to heal after the birth of a baby. Even if you are not able to take the full rest period that ancient cultures encouraged, perhaps we can begin to move towards getting back to the way things once were. In order to speed healing in the sensitive area where baby has made an appearance, this postpartum herbal sitz bath recipe will soothe soreness, aid in healing hemorrhoids and prevent infection.
This recipe is not only wonderful for mom to make herself, but it is a fantastic gift as well. Moms get so many gifts for their new baby and often do not get gifts to encourage her to take care of herself. Give her a gift to help her relax and help her heal quickly.
Ingredients
Sea Salt
This natural detoxifier will provided the needed minerals to help the body heal quickly. It can also encourage peaceful sleep for both mama and baby.
Lavender
This relaxing floral scent and was an important ingredient in ancient Roman Baths. It is not only promotes restfulness, but is antibacterial, antifungal, and an antioxidant. (Find them here)
Plantain Leaf
This herb has been used for centuries in order to heal inflammation and promote quick healing. (Find it here)
Witch Hazel
An ancient herb used for hemorrhoid relief and treatment is known for its anti-inflmmatory and astringent properties. (Find it here)
Yarrow
Both the dried herb and flowers can be used with similar properties. Yarrow has wonderful antibacterial and antifungal compounds that are helpful in replenishing the interstinal flora. It is also helpful in stopping bleeding from hemorrhage. (Find it here)
Calendula
This herb is known for its amazing anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown its effectiveness in healing wounds. (Find it here)
Chamomile
This herb has an relaxing scent an is helpful to soothe anxiety, and inflammation. It is also a natural antibiotic, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. (Find it here)
Herbal Sitz Bath Recipe
Equipment: Cotton muslin bags Ingredients:
- 1 cup or 9 ounces of unrefined sea salt
- 2 ounces lavender blossoms
- 2 ounces plantain leaf
- 2 ounces witch hazel
- 2 ounces yarrow
- 2 ounces calendula
- 2 ounces chamomile
Combine all ingredients well and fill muslin bags. After the birth of baby fill tub with water as hot as possible. Drop one muslin bag into the water and allow salt to dissolve and contents to steep. Once the temperature of the water is tolerable enjoy a relaxing, heavenly scented bath. Please Note: For those who have stitches limit yourself to only one sitz bath a day. If you have no stitches you can enjoy multiple baths a day. Continue baths until you feel comfortable.
About Becky
Becky Webb is a mom of 3, childbirth doula, Nutritional Therapist, and blogger. She loves everything about birth and natural health and fights an addiction to reading everything she can get her hands on about the topics. Find her blogging at Rooted Blessings about bellies, babies & nourishing foods and connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Maybe I’m missing something, but how do you add the witch hazel to the dry ingredients and have that in a muslin bag? Doesn’t that make all the ingredients damp? If so, then how well does it store?
Hi Melanie,
You can by witch hazel in a dried herb. It is recommended in this recipe.
Which kind? Bark or leaf? Mountain Rose Herbs offers both…
What size muslin bag do you use?
The large muslin bags are best. They are usually around the size of 4″ x 6″.
At 9+ months preggers with twins, just getting in and out of the car causes the need for a nap. 😀 Wish there was a way to buy this pre-made/packaged. Just do not have the energy to hunt down the ingredients at the local healthfood stores and put it together myself. Fantastic idea though.
Hi! Just wanted you to know that I sell a very similar product on my etsy website if you do not feel like making this yourself. And the herbs come in a disposable tea bag, because sometimes with a newborn, even just washing out a muslin bag can feel daunting… Check it out:https://www.etsy.com/listing/155999156/post-partum-herbal-bath-soak
HI SHanna,
I am 2 weeks post-partum and have been enjoying an herbal/sitz bath that I got in my birth kit I ordered. It looks like they have a couple different choices, and you can order them individually (my midwife has a premade birth kit and the herbal bath bag came with it).
http://www.inhishands.com/soothing-herbal-bath/
How many bags does this make? And how to add witchhazel
It makes 4-6 bags and you can use dried witch hazel.
Congrats on the birth of your baby boy!
Gosh, I’m loving your blog. So many things I’ve been looking for! How could I not have found you sooner?
What a beautiful and useful gift idea. Thanks for this post!
oh really?
is it safe for babiesÉ
A note regarding the quantity–I doubled this and it made 23.5 nearly full 4×6″ muslin bags!
Could one use epsom salt instead of sea salt? It’s what I have in large, affordable quantities…
Yes, you could!
Is this safe after a c-section?
That’s a great question. I’m not sure, but I think it would be worth asking when getting doctors orders regarding post-op care.
If you are allowed to take submerged baths, then it should be. If you aren’t yet, but had a rough delivery and are still wanting to use it for your nether regions, then just fill the bath enough to sit in, and not enough to submerge the scar. 🙂
I just bought the ingredients at a local store (The Herb Bar is great if you live in Austin, TX) and filled three large muslin bags for postnatal self-care. This recipe made quite a bit so I will wash, dry, and reuse the muslin bags until I use all of the mixture. This recipe would still make plenty if halved for those of you wondering how much it makes. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for this great post!
I am looking forward to making this. Fortunately half of the ingredients grow right in my yard but several I will have to order.
I am also wondering if I should order witch hazel leaves or bark?
If I do not want to buy muslin bags do you think I could put this in reusable mesh tea infusers and drop those in the tub? I have two and if I use them both I am thinking it would work just fine.
Thanks so much for sharing this!
Hi! So, I have some cloth bags I’m planning to use instead of the muslim bags. Any suggestions on about how much “mix” to put in? A cup? 1/2 cup? Just wanted to try and make the “strength” appropriate!
Thanks!
Same question!
Hello, I just found you through the internet. I am from Germany and herbal sitz baths are not at all common here! My midwife looked at me very astonished when I told here that I would like to have an herbal bath with my newborn because of my bleeding. I had a vaginal birth. So I hope you could tell me if the bleeding is “unhealthy” for the baby and I? The midwife said, when the blood comes to my breasts it would be not healthy? I mean one day the bleeding is stronger and the other day not, but I could imagine that through the warm water and would be stronger and all “come” out? Excuse my bad English! It would be so nice to here your opinion! Thank you so much! Best regards from southern Germany! Janina
Hi,
I understand that this recipe makes about 4-6 muslin bags, but how long or how many times can you reuse one bag of herbs?? I would remove the bag prior to using it hygiene purposes or maybe make a few bottles of it and store it in the fridge for future use but I’m just wondering if each bag is just for one time use or if its possible to steep the same bag a few times. Thanks
Thanks for the recipe. How many bag does this recipe make? I have 4×6 Muslim bags and will use in bath tub.
I’m wondering how long ahead of time you can make them up? If you seal them in a dry jar, or in a dark cool place, how long will they last for?
Can this bath be used DURING pregnancy?
I saw that you mentioned it fills 4-6 bags, but another commenter said the recipe made over 11 bags. Maybe their error, but just wanted to be sure 🙂 also, I don’t think I’ll be able to get the bags in time for my friend’s birth, so if I provided it in a jar, how many cups/tablespoons should she put in the bath? If she uses cheesecloth or something, the herbs couldn’t be re-used right? that would prob be unsanitary? thank you!!
I love this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing!
This is such a great idea. Anything that help is moms after birth is definitely worth a try!
Wondering if adding lavender essential oil to the sitz bath muslin bag is safe or if it’s considered a debatable issue when breastfeeding (and if so, I’ll leave it out). I’ve made the recipe, 7 bags with extra into a glass lidded jar (because it’s so pretty) and will add a bamboo scoop when I gift it to my DIL, but when one of the bags is used in a tub of water, there was no aromatherapy (and my DIL may want to relax in a full tub of bath water for her sitz baths)…