The Postpartum Herbal Bath

The herbal bath is a relaxing and healing experience which is recommended for both mother and baby, or father and baby, shortly after birth. The herbal bath can be prepared after the placenta has been delivered and the mother's bleeding is under control, or it can be done leisurely on postpartum day two or three. If the birth pool does not get used for the birth, an herbal bathsock can prepared and steeped and placed into the birth pool for the entire family to enjoy.

Make sure your tub or pool has been scrubbed clean. The water temperature should be at least 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Check it with a regular thermometer for accuracy. Mom or Dad enters the bath first. An assistant should be present to help the mother into the tub, monitor her needs, keep the water warm, and hand her the baby. (The father may be the assistant.) Continue to standby to assist during the herbal bath.

Herbal Bath Recipe

Obtain ingredients for the bath and store together in one place:

• 1/4 C. Sea Salt
• 1 oz. Uva ursi
• 1 oz. Calendula flowers
• 2 oz. Comfrey leaf
• 1 oz. Shepherd's purse
• 1 large Bulb of Garlic
• Floating pool thermometer (optional)

There are two preparation methods.

Choose either Method A or Method B.

Method A:

(You will need 2 glass gallon jars, a plastic colander, and one package of cheesecloth) Place all of the calendula, comfrey and shepherd's purse into one jar. Peel garlic cloves and cut in quarters. Place quartered garlic, uva ursi and sea salt into the other glass gallon. Place the glass gallons into the sink before pouring the boiling water over the herbs Plan to pour boiling water over herbs at least 30 minutes before the bath. Steeping longer is also fine. Avoid metal tools when preparing medicinal plants.

For the bath, pour the steeped tea through the cheesecloth placed in the colander (protects the drain). Do this when you have almost filled the tub with very warm water.

Method B:

Place all ingredients, with garlic quartered, into a clean nylon stocking. Secure the top by tying tightly. Place the stocking in a manner so that the hot bath water runs over it as the tub fills. You can steep the sock in a glass gallon of boilng water for 10-20 minutes, and then add this to the birth pool if the pool was not used for the actual birth, of if the family wishes to clean the pool and use it for the herbal bath as a family ceremony on the day after the birth. Leave the herbal bath sock to steep in the tub or pool during the bath.

To place the newborn in the bath, allow the feet to enter first, slowly, then the legs. Watch the infant's reaction to the water temp. If the reaction is without startle, grimace, or crying, slowly place the baby's bottom in the bath. Wait a moment and if adjustment to the bath is good, continue to allow the baby's entire body into the water very slowly. Do not rush placing the baby into the bath. It is warm, and the newborn needs to adapt to the warm water on his/her skin. Give the baby to the mom once the baby has adapted to the water temp. Help the mother by keeping the bath at a comfortable 101-103 degrees. Thirty minutes is a good amount of time for the herbal bath experience after birthing.

Jacqui did the birth; Brandon does the bath.

Asa enjoys the newborn herbal bath