Sitz Baths

(Image from: http://janshemorrhoids.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/got-pain-try-a-sitz-bath-for-hemorrhoids/)

Here is a beautiful thing you can do for yourself postpartum! This is an herbal bath that is soothing to your perineal area. The traditional sitz bath is a small tub to bathe the area from your waist down to your upper thigh, and everything in between. However, you can take a sitz bath in a regular bath tub to experience the same relief.

Midwifery Today shares these wonderful sitz bath recipes. If the mother has been given any type of drug, remember to research the drug and herb combination, and check with your care provider before using any herbs, or before trying a sitz bath.

Here is the information from http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/herbspostpartumcare.asp

Postpartum Sitz Bath:

2 parts plantain flower (Plantago major)
part calendula flower (Calendula officinalis)
1 part comfrey leaf (Symphytum officinale)
1 part burdock (Arctium lappa)
1/2 part violet flower and leaf (Viola odorata)
1 part yarrow flower (Achillea millefolium)
1/2 part lady's mantle flower and leaf (Alchemilla vulgaris)
1/2 part lemon balm leaf (Melissa officinalis)

Mix well. You can add sea salt to the mixture if you wish. Add approximately one cup of herb and salt blend to six quarts boiling water, strain and add to shallow bath. You can also use as a compress.

Or try the following blend:

1 part uva ursi leaf (Arctostaphylos uva ursi)
1 part shepherd's purse leaf, seed (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
1/2 part myrrh gum powder (Commiphora momol)
1/2 part garlic (Dried or fresh. If fresh, use 1–2 cloves. Use whole; do not cut or smash as fresh oil can be very strong and irritating.)
1/2 part comfrey root (Symphytum officinale)
1/2 part sea salt (optional)

Prepare in same manner as Postpartum Sitz Bath (see above).

Another popular sitz bath blend contains:

1 cup sea salt
1/2 cup plantain leaf (Plantago major)
1/2 cup calendula flower (Calendula officinalis)
Use six cups of water.

Oak bark (Quercus robur), rosemary leaf (Rosmarinus officinalis), witch hazel leaf or bark (Hamamelis virginiana) and yarrow flower (Achillea millefolium) are great for healing sitz baths. If the mother is stitched, limit the bath to once a day. Other great herbs and herbal sitz baths for the perineum are calendula flower (Calendula officinalis), St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) and essential oil of cypress or lavender

Handling postpartum issues naturally gives the mother more control and is generally less invasive then going to a doctor. Make sure the mother knows when to seek additional medical care.