Postpartum Bath Magic

a new mama soaking with her little one nearby

Growing up, my grandmother’s first line of defense for just about any ailment was a warm epsom salt bath. 

Fell and bruised your knee? Into the bath. 

Coming down with a stuffy nose? Into the bath.

Heartbroken? Into the bath!! 

Her wisdom about the magic of salty water has carried over into my adult life, both personally (hello ocean!) and professionally. And, her wisdom is corroborated by the ancients’. Specifically during postpartum time, many Indigenous and Asian cultures have practiced the tradition of drawing potent herbal baths for new mamas to soak and heal. My own lineage of Jewish women have practices around ritual bathing.

Bathing in herbal infusions helps promote healing on a physical level - soothing the stretched and worn out tissues around the vagina, speeding up recovery of any tearing, and helping address perinatal hemorrhoids. Herbal baths also work on the more subtle, energetic level. Soothing frayed nerves, grounding overwhelmed minds, and often bringing a sense of normalcy to an incredibly beautiful and bizarre transition. In Ayurveda, soaking in warm herbal water is essential for balancing the energy of Vata - air + ether - which is the most likely culprit for most postpartum ailments. If you’re concerned about the safety of bathing postpartum check out this wonderful article from Midwife Kelly Wong McGrath. 

You can purchase my hand blended postpartum bathing herbs here or DIY it with some of Aviva Romm’s recipes.  

How to prepare an herbal bath: 

• Add about 1 handful of loose herbs to 2 quarts of water. 

• Bring to a boil on stovetop, reduce to a simmer for 20-60 minutes until the water is very dark and fragrant. 

• Fill-up your bathtub with lukewarm water (or any temperature required to balance out the heat of the herbal infusion) and pour in your herbal infusion. Straining is not required but will make for an easier clean up. 

• Add ½ cup of epsom salt, and optionally, some rose petals and lavender for an extra boost of nervous system soothing and heart support.