Right after my baby is born next month (!), I’ll be slipping into a bath. Well — after that initial hour of nursing and bonding, anyway. (I’m always reluctant to finally cut the cord — literally — and hand baby over to anyone else. I mean, baby has just arrived and s/he is mine….) Anyway, things will be a little tender that soon after birth, which is why I’ll be adding these herbs.
The herbs in this bath mix are known to promote healing. That’s a good thing. It’s also super easy to mix up and use. While I’ll probably only do this once, for mamas who have tears, it’s good to do daily for the first few days after birth. You can even take baby in the tub with you and snuggle together skin-to-skin while you have some healing time. I do that a lot (with or without herbs) and have my husband come get the baby just before I’m ready to get out, so I can wash and move without upsetting the baby.
I encourage you to mix this up ahead of time, if you’re expecting a baby. If you’re not, this could still be good for general soreness or other minor injuries.
Postpartum Herbal Bath Mix
All of these herbs are known to be soothing and promote healing. Comfrey in particular speeds healing, and Epsom salts are good for detox and are soothing. This recipe makes 1 bath, so if you think you will want more, go ahead and double or triple (or more!) the recipe now.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 c. comfrey leaves
- 1/4 c. witch hazel bark
- 1/4 c. uva ursi leaves
- 1/2 c. Epsom salts
Directions:
Combine all the dry herbs and salt in a container; shake to combine.
To use:
Add the herbs to very hot water and steep for 15 – 20 minutes. Strain, and pour the “tea” into a warm bath. Soak for 10 – 15 minutes or as desired. If you want, you can also add the herbs to a large muslin bag to steep directly in the bath; this may not be as effective but it is easy!
