Padsicles are frozen postpartum pads soaked in soothing ingredients like aloe vera and witch hazel. They take about 10 minutes to assemble, and you can make a whole batch weeks before your due date so they’re ready when you need them. Here’s exactly what you need and how to put them together.
Why Padsicles Work
After a vaginal delivery, the perineal area is swollen, sore, and often bruised. Cold therapy applied for 5 to 15 minutes lowers the skin temperature enough to constrict blood vessels in the area, which reduces swelling, slows fluid buildup in the tissue, and provides real pain relief. Padsicles deliver that cooling effect while doubling as a regular postpartum pad that catches lochia (postpartum bleeding), so you’re not juggling a separate ice pack on top of everything else.
The ingredients add their own benefits. Aloe vera gel has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Witch hazel reduces swelling, bruising, and the itching that often comes with hemorrhoids, which are extremely common after delivery. Together with the cold from the freezer, they make the first few days postpartum noticeably more comfortable.
What You Need
Gather these supplies before you start:
- Overnight maxi pads: The largest, most absorbent ones you can find (typically size 4 or 5). Always Infinity pads are a popular choice because they soak up the liquid ingredients well while still absorbing discharge later. Whatever brand you pick, make sure they’re fragrance-free. Wings are helpful for keeping the pad in place.
- Alcohol-free witch hazel: This is important. Witch hazel that contains alcohol will sting on raw, healing tissue. Look for “alcohol-free” on the label. A spray bottle version makes application easier, but a pour bottle works fine.
- 100% pure aloe vera gel: Unscented, with no dyes or added chemicals. Check the ingredient list carefully, as many drugstore aloe gels contain additives. A squeeze bottle is easiest, but if yours comes in a jar, use a spoon to spread it.
- Lavender essential oil (optional): A clinical trial on postpartum perineal healing found lavender oil applied to the area caused minimal side effects (slight irritation in only 2 out of 120 women). If you choose to add it, use only 1 to 2 drops per pad.
- Aluminum foil or large freezer bags: For wrapping and storing the finished pads.
Step-by-Step Assembly
Open one pad and lay it flat on a clean surface, sticky side down. Keep the backing paper on so you can re-fold and store it easily.
Squeeze a generous layer of aloe vera gel across the entire top surface of the pad. Don’t be shy here. You want good coverage from front to back, since you won’t know exactly which area will need the most relief. If you’re using a jar, scoop it out with a spoon and spread it evenly.
Next, pour or spray alcohol-free witch hazel over the aloe layer. The pad should be well-saturated but not dripping. The overnight absorbency will soak up a good amount of liquid, so it can handle more than you’d expect.
If you’re using lavender essential oil, add 1 to 2 drops now. That’s all you need. Essential oils are concentrated, and you’re applying this to sensitive, possibly broken skin.
Fold the pad back into its original shape. Wrap it in a sheet of aluminum foil or slip it into a freezer bag. If you’re using bags, you can stack several pads in one bag to save space. Place them in the freezer.
How Many to Make
Most people find padsicles most useful during the first week postpartum, when swelling and soreness peak. You’ll likely use several per day during that window. Making 15 to 20 gives you a comfortable supply without overdoing it. The whole batch takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Many people prep them around a month before their due date, and the pads hold up well in the freezer for weeks.
How to Use Them
Pull a padsicle from the freezer and let it sit for a minute or two before putting it on. You want it cold, not rigid. It should feel icy but flexible enough to conform to your body. Place it in your underwear just like a regular pad, sticky side down.
The cold sensation is most intense for the first 5 to 15 minutes, which is the window where cooling therapy does the most to reduce swelling and numb pain. After that, the pad gradually warms to body temperature and continues working as a normal postpartum pad, with the aloe and witch hazel still in contact with your skin. Swap it out for a fresh one whenever you’d normally change a pad, or whenever you want another round of cold relief.
You can use padsicles whether you had a tear, an episiotomy, or no perineal injury at all. The area will be swollen and tender regardless. If you did have stitches, the cold can actually help by keeping swelling down around the repair site. Just make sure your ingredients are pure and fragrance-free to avoid irritating healing tissue.
Tips for Better Padsicles
Set up an assembly line. Lay out five or six pads at once, apply aloe to all of them, then witch hazel to all of them, then wrap. It’s much faster than doing them one at a time.
Some people add a small amount of water to the pad before freezing to boost the cooling effect. This works, but too much water makes the pad stiff and uncomfortable. A light sprinkle is enough.
Store them toward the front of the freezer where you (or your partner) can grab them easily. In the first few days postpartum, the less effort it takes to get one, the better. Having a few in a clearly labeled bag means someone else can hand you a fresh one without any guesswork.