Giving Birth Is a Real Pain in the You-Know-What — Soothe It With These Postpartum Ice Packs
Giving Birth Is a Real Pain in the You-Know-What — Soothe It With These Postpartum Ice Packs
I love my children more than life itself, but I would rather chew on live toads than give birth ever again. The postpartum swelling and pain are unholy, and until I learned about perineal ice packs, I was forced to rely on nothing but ibuprofen and spray-on pain relief, which just wasn't sustainable. Perineal ice packs were a serious lifesaver for me, and they provide major relief to those who have given birth vaginally.
What to Consider
According to Dr. Peter Rizk, OB-GYN, women’s health expert for Fairhaven Health, “Frozen diapers (like perineal ice packs) and witch hazel pads are great for for postpartum perineal pain relief — and it’s very important to bring products like these with you to the hospital.” Since it’s very common for a woman to tear down there, Rizk adds, “Most women come away from childbirth with bruising and stitches – and obviously the worse the tear, the more stitches Mom receives.”
Having used many of these products myself, and after talking to many parents who have also used them, I can tell you that the best perineal ice packs are either disposable or easy to clean, freeze firmly, but not solid, and cover the majority of your vulva, over your vaginal opening, perineum, and rectum.
Some of them, like the Frida Mom liners, are good straight from the freezer, fridge, or at room temperature because they're soaked in witch hazel. Others, like the PhysioNatural pads, are best straight out of the freezer and are better for parents who have sensitive skin because they're soft and washable. Whether you choose medicated or disposable, washable or not, Dr. Rizk suggests using them in conjunction with a perineal massage cream like BabyIT, which is also included below.
Every perineal postpartum ice pack on this list has been vetted by me, and recommended by tons of parents for their quality and design. Check out the best perineal ice packs below — and don't forget to pack them in your hospital bag!
1) Perineal Medicated Witch Hazel Full-Length Cooling Pad Liners
FridaBaby
amazon.com
$11.97
These are essentially very long witch-hazel pads. However, every mom I spoke to who used these kept them in the fridge. One user told me, “You have no idea just how badly everything is swollen and painful until these pads take that away, at least temporarily.”
There are 24 pads per pack, so expect that you'll need three or more of these packs while you're healing. You'll want to change them pretty frequently.
2) Hot and Cold Pads
Lansinoh
amazon.com
$16.99
Looking for a multipurpose perineal postpartum ice pack? Let me introduce you to Lansinoh's hot or cold pack. It can be used as a perineal ice pack or as a cramp reliever when you're not postpartum, thanks to its ability to be frozen or microwaved. Though users do note that you should heat it up in short increments if you're not looking for lava-hot relief.
It's flexible no matter the temperature, and it's just about the size of an overnight maxi pad, making everything well-covered.
3) Perineal Ice Packs for Postpartum, With Adhesive Strip
LEONNS
amazon.com
$39.99
These are a portable, instant delight. If you've ever played sports, you know all about instant ice packs. You fold them in half and boom! Ice pack. That is what these are — and they're designed for your unruly undercarriage.
This is a pack of 24, and really only designed for travel or emergencies, but don't worry — they work just as well on a stubbed toe or insect bite as they do on your vagina.
4) Reusable Perineal Ice Packs with Washable Sleeves
PhysioNatural
amazon.com
$31.70
You get to choose if you want wings to attach these postpartum perineal ice packs to your underwear or if you prefer a basic sleeve.
The ice packs themselves are generously sized, freeze in just a few hours, and are easy to clean. The sleeves are machine-washable, fairly absorbent, and black, which just makes sense.
5) Hemorrhoid and Perineal Clay Ice Packs
FOMI
amazon.com
$14.50
I was dubious when friends started telling me about the “all-natural clay” perineal ice pack. At first, I struggled with how it all made sense, but apparently, the filling on these malleable ice packs is a special clay and essential oils that combine to make a very sturdy product — and they’re absolutely amazing.
The fact that there’s no “chemical” gel inside of the pads is not the only draw, either. Parents love the shape of these pads, noting that they fit against the body and in panties easily.
6) Reusable Perineal Cooling Pad
HI FINE CARE
amazon.com
$8.29
If you not only suffer from just having pushed a human that you created out of your body, but also the carpal tunnel that often accompanies pregnancy? These ice packs are your new best friend. Why you ask? Because owners say that they fit almost perfectly around most wrists, and they also fit well for people looking for slimmer coverage in their perineal area.
7) Perineal Ice Pack Pain Relief for Postpartum and Hemorrhoid
WORLD-BIO
amazon.com
$25.80
After giving birth, you bleed quite a bit. These perineal ice packs don’t have an artificial fragrance to deal with like so many pads do. And they aren’t just cooling, they’re also super absorbent, according to reviewers, who love how one-step these are.
8) BabyIt Perineal Massage & Postpartum Comfort Recovery Gel
Fairhaven Health
amazon.com
$19.95
Dr. Rizk loves this perineal massage gel and says, “It works in two ways: it prepares the body for delivery by stretching that area to make room for baby to be delivered, and it provides postpartum pain relief,” and he suggests all postpartum parents use this product.
BabyIt supports a healthy vaginal pH and is isotonic — meaning it won’t dehydrate vaginal cells — contains no parabens, glycerol, coating oils, or added fragrance. ”
The best perineal ice packs are either disposable or easy to clean, freeze firmly, but not solid, and cover the majority of the affected area. Check out our recommendations.