The all Natural-Homemade Postpartum Care Kit | Just too good for mothers on confinement

Giving birth requires a lot of work to recover and hence in Asia context, we have our one month confinement to nurse back our health and at the same time bond with the newborn. Not forgetting that healing can be painful and challenging.

For first time mothers especially, I recalled myself shortage of things that I actually need but never prepare. Luckily, in Singapore, shops are not too far away to send husbands to run an errand to. =p

However, maybe we can relook at our already available home items that we can make used of. And also saving on costs.


Preparing for postpartum in advance is also essential for helping guard your adjusting body against the baby blues and postpartum depression that you are susceptible to after birth.

Please note that information here are merely to educate, inspire, and motivate you to look into these issues more on your own, or to speak with your own medical practitioner for more information.


1.Postpartum Salt BathFor women going through natural birth, and there's a cut or tear to the perineum area, soak yourself for 5-10 minutes or even wash the area with a bath bath to help healing faster. Fill up warm water in a basin and dissolve in a tablespoon of salt. This can be your table salt. No, it does not sting. We tried it and it indeed help heal the perineum area faster and helps soothes the pain. You can either sit in the solution for 5-10 minutes or wash your perineum area with this after using the loo.

2. Refreshing Perineum SprayFill a small spray bottle with witch hazel and a few drops of lavender essential oil and apply to your perineum after you use the restroom.

3. Postpartum Blues SprayGeranium or bergamot essential oils are excellent to prevent post-partum depression, so dilute a 2-3 drops in a small spray bottle or diffuse around the room to help balance all those adjusting hormones. A small spray bottle with this concoction is another great gift for a new mommy.

4. Homemade Mother’s Milk TeaYes, you need it for the hearty production of your milk supply.
Please refer to the recipe at this link.

If you have more good ideas to share, please drop us a note so that mothers can get prepared. =)

All Natural-Homemade Mother’s Milk Tea Recipe

Here's a good receipe for an all natural homemade Mother's Milk Tea for nursing mothers.

Mother’s Milk Tea
1/2 cup nettle leaf, dried (a vitamin factory, high in calcium, iron, potassium, etc. -strengthens and tones entire system)
1/2 cup red raspberry leaf, dried (nourishing tonic for the reproductive system, high in calcium)
1/4 cup alfalfa leaf, dried (a superlative restorative tonic, rebuilding vitality and boosting milk supply)
1/4 cup dandelion leaf, dried (beneficial for all conditions due to the wonderful source of minerals, vitamins, fiber, and micronutrients)
1/4 cup fennel seed (Increase milk production and tone the digestive system, curtailing colic and indigestion) – you could also substitute fennel with any of these seeds: anise, cumin, caraway, coriander or dill
1/4 cup blessed thistle, dried (Stimulates the milk flow and helps restore vitality to weary mothers)
ground cinnamon, to flavor

You can coose to make a smaller or larger portion; just adjust accordingly the proportions.

Combine herbs well and cover securely with a lid. Store in a dark cupboard as light will cause nutrition lose. Use about 1 tablespoon herbs per cup of boiling water. Allow to steep covered for 15 minutes before consuming. Best results if you consumed 3-5 cups per day. You can change this recipe as desired, if you do not have access to all these herbs. The best galactic herbs are nettle, alfalfa, blessed thistle, and red raspberry leaf. The other herbs add wonderful nutrition and are healing to the body. The herbs can be rather bland and grassy tasting on their own, so I added cinnamon (about 1-2 tsp for this quantity), which provided a delightful flavoring. You could try chamomile or lemon balm as an alternative. A teaspoon of honey tops it off for a refreshing tea beverage.

Use french press or tea bags for this recipe with perfect results. If this are not available, simply filter it off with sift.

Some other methods of increasing milk supply include:

Oatmeal- a good bowl of oatmeal daily is an excellent means of increasing your milk supply. Have it as breakfast.

Bump Up the Calcium – Loading up on calcium is very valuable.

Liquids – drink lots of water and papaya fish soup!

Rest – when the body is weary, it will not be so inclined to produce milk.

Fenugreek – I have been taking a fenugreek supplement in capsule form for its helpful benefits of increasing milk supply. Fenugreek can also be added to the mother’s milk tea listed above.

Protect your children!

With the current H1N1 flu scare; and a few pregnant mummies-to-be and kids getting this virus, it is wise for parents to be extremely caution in their personal hygiene as well as the places they are visiting; be it themselves or their little ones.

Fearing not only for themselves, but for their children too, the common thought parents have in their mind is not to catch this virus so that they do not pass it to their love ones especially their children who are still so young and fragile. The biggest problem most faced is that the flu virus spreads before one really falls ill. That’s kind of scary. =(

We can do all the necessary precautions ourselves but how about the public? Are they as considerate too? This is always a debatable topic. On one hand, we blame those virus carriers for not staying at home and go out spreading the virus; while on the other hand, people are defending them by saying that they are clueless about it too. Well, to each his own, I think…

We can just hope that it will be over soon and of course Singaporeans and whoever who stepped into our country are considerate and responsible enough to practice personal hygiene!!!

We wanted to share an info we received earlier and we thought that was a piece of info that all new mummies should know. If you are a member of Mothercare, most probably you have received it in an email. The article was talking about how we can prevent and fight the H1N1 flu virus through breastfeeding for our babies. And truly enough, breastmilk is still the best for all babies, regardless if there is a virus or not. It contains the antibodies that formula does not have. Therefore, mummies and mummies to be out there, always breastfeed your babies if you can. It should not be a consideration. Parents spent bucks sending their children to schools to discover their talent hoping that their children excel better than other people’s kids. Well, put that thought to use when you delivered your baby. Giving the best ie breastmilk is the best start for him or her. Having a healthy kid is the best. I believe all parents agree too.

And if you are interested to read about this article I have mentioned, visit www.mothercare.com.sg.