How To Use the Postpartum Herbal Bath as a Healing ‘Do-Over’
Herbal baths have traditionally been used by midwives to help mothers and babies soothe and heal after birth. The herbs are specifically chosen for their synergistic healing properties, and because of the careful preparation and ingredients, they are generally safe in situations in which you should otherwise not be immersed. Consequently, they are revered for their extraordinary ability to soothe sore moms in the first week postpartum, reduce post-surgical pain after a C-section, or dry up the newborn’s stinky cord site. If you are new to herbal baths, there are lots of pictures and stories to get you up to speed on our herbal bath page.
Sometimes however, as we know, birth does not go as hoped and planned. There may be grief about small details, or tremendous pain from difficult circumstances. Sometimes homebirths need to transport to medical facilities. Sometimes there is separation and worry, catastrophic trauma or so sadly, a loss. It was in response to these challenging times that mothers and I came up with “The Do-Over Bath.”
In this case, the herbal bath is used as a ceremonial time to honor the closing of a chapter, and to make room for an emotional reset. Some mothers may just need a fresh chance to bond with baby, have some closure, and begin again. Depending on how traumatized moms are, their response may vary from a satisfied sigh, to it representing just one small step on a longer journey. In all cases, the mothers’ who’ve embraced a “Do-Over Bath” have shared later that they felt more peaceful and ‘put together.’
Mom guides the process.
What follows are just the suggestions so she doesn’t have to think too much, the experience is easily personalized.
It need not be complicated, and in fact it’s probably better if it’s not. Mothers may be ready for the Do-Over Bath in weeks, or not for months. The only absolute is that if there is still fresh physical healing in progress, such as postpartum bleeding or stitches less than 10-days-old, the bath must be prepared as directed to protect mom and baby from risk of infection and not dissolve the stitches early.
I trust Indigo Forest’s baths because I’ve crafted the recipe myself as an herbalist, and my OB/Gyn colleague, Dr. Elizabeth, and I have both used them with outstanding results for years. There are, of course, a lot of lovely baths out there. For safety’s sake, do make sure that your bath includes at least ¼ cup of salt, several cups of plant material (yes, this may use up several bags of other brands), and that it’s seeped in a large volume of water (at least a gallon) for several hours or more. We want it to be potent plant medicine and aromatherapy, which is very different from a cup of tea. Read my simple directions here for details to start, then consider -
Before beginning, prepare the bathing space and the landing zone for when she gets out.
Pick a quiet household time, maybe when the big kids are off to activities or school.
Soften the lights in the bathroom. Create a healing atmosphere with candles, natural light, or by unscrewing a few of the bulbs.
Make sure the bathroom is cozy, warm, and relatively tidy.
If the baby is unavailable to join her in the bath (in the NICU or born still), perhaps she’d like a photo, memento, flowers, or special candle to hold space for her wee one.
Draw the bath, mom will know if she wants company or not. I’ve had mothers ask for alone time while I hold space for her, or hold the baby, in another room. Others have wanted quiet company, or specifically requested pictures as the only ‘normal’ pictures they have of their expected birth experience.
Bring in the baby when she’s ready. The warm bathroom will help keep the baby calm. Mom can hold the baby’s head in one hand, and baby’s hands together over its chest with the other. Keep all but its face submerged in water for warmth, yes even the ears! There is no time limit, except to keep to less than 15 minutes if stitches are present.
If possible, I suggest mother and baby go to bed together afterwards, just like they would have if the birth went smoothly.
For many women, this intentional ceremony is the first time that they feel they can fully relax, inwardly let their guard down, and trust that the bumpy ride is ‘over.’ After she takes her time freshly meeting her baby again - admiring those toes, smelling her baby’s soft head - we tuck them in for cozy nap together. Depending on them, it can be lovely to be skin-to-skin, wearing just underwear/diapers. And then as arranged beforehand, the helper quietly puts the bathroom back together and slips out.
I have found that simmering the bath at the mama’s home is part of the ceremony. As the simmering hour passes, it gives us a chance to chit-chat, and invariably she begins to share her thoughts and feelings; being listened-to is a healing experience in itself. The bath’s wonderful aroma brings a sense of peace and contentment to the whole house, a memorable beginning, and ending, to the healing Do-Over bath.