wondering if I should buy those witch hazel pads (tucks) or just buy a bottle of witch hazel and pouring that directly on the pad? I asked my MW about this and she said none of that stuff was really necessary and it's just one of those "nice to have" things. Is it more for pain relief or does it actually speed healing?
Re: tucks or just witch hazel?
I had a thrombosed hemorrhoid in 2nd tri and LIVED for Tucks pads. They are great for shrinking tissues and cooling for pain. For after birth, it's great to line your pads with Tucks pads. I also got a bottle of witch hazel. I saw a recipe for frozen with hazel pads that I plan to try
Started fertility treatments 11/2010
Ovarian dysfunction, LPD, male factor
6 failed medicated IUI's
Pregnant 5/2011 - Miscarriage at 6 weeks due to triploidy
Decided to adopt - 6/2012
SURPRISE! Pregnant without intervention - 7/2012
Sweet Baby James Born 3/2013
Decided to be "One and Done"
....OR NOT.
Pregnant 12/2018 despite birth control pills
Here we go again...
Due 8/26/19!
yes, but I'm in Canada and when we did our hospital tour, there was no mention of it. Just pads and diapers.
My hospital didn't provide Tucks pads or witch hazel.
Tucks are far more expensive for essentially the same product. I would buy a bottle of witch hazel and a package of those cotton rounds they sell near the Q-tips and cotton balls.
Witch hazel is not technically a pain reliever, though the coolness of it might give relief. It actually is an astringent and it tightens the skin. So it's really helpful for shrinking hemorrhoids. Also great for the puffy under-eye area and to cleanse the face instead of soap (if you have sensitive skin).
Witch Hazel helps with itching also. I would get the tucks witch hazel pads. It is just easier than trying to maneuver extra things while going to the bathroom and they really are soothing. I would think a pad would just absorb it.
The hospital may give you some to take home but I used them for like 2 weeks so I would buy some and keep them in each bathroom you are going to be using along with a squirt bottle, big pads, hydrocoritzone cream, and hemorrhoid cream.
When you start going to the bathroom again you just squirt warm water on your vagina while peeing to prevent burning and to wash away pee/blood. Then dab with toilet paper lightly to dry.
Layer in big girl panties your pad, then a few overlapping witch hazel tucks pad, squirt a thin line of hydrocortizone cream. Add hemorrhoid cream to your butt as needed. Pull up your panties and relax!
Natural M/c 12/13/08 at 8w5d
Mine didn't either.
Not everybody's hospital provides the same stuff....
Thanks for the advice, but dang this has me scared!!
Mine didn't either. They had some for me to use while I was there, but not to take home.
I bought the Tucks because we couldn't find just a bottle of witch hazel. I barely used them once I got home, though.
My friends raved about the Dermoblast (plast?) spray so I bought a bottle of that, too. HATED IT. Used it once and couldn't deal with the numbness. I've since learned of Earth Mama, Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray. I've bought a couple of bottles for friends, one of which had her son a couple of weeks ago. She said it was something short of amazing. If you can find it it might be worth a try.
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
I used Tucks because that's what the hospital gave me. I'd like to add that post-partum, "nice to have" and "necessary" are practically the same thing. You never know what little thing is going to be the thing that saves your sanity! I didn't even have tearing or hemorrhoids and I still consider Tucks to be a necessity.