'Vagina ice pops': New father recommends frozen condoms to ease mother's pain after childbirth
Postpartum pain can be horrendous for some women
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Post-birth pain is not something people talk about often, but many mothers will be be able to testify to its existence.
After labour, most women experience pain, swelling and soreness of their vaginas, which is highly uncomfortable to say the least.
However one man has shared an inventive solution that eases his wife’s pain: essentially, vagina ice pops.
Writing on DAD, new father Martin Wanless explains how he fills condoms with water and freezes them before giving them to his wife.
“Filled with water and frozen, they’re the perfect shape to rest in between new mum’s legs and ease a bit of pain and swelling,” he explains.
It wasn’t actually Wanless’ idea though: “Don’t believe me? This is actually a thing. Shortly after giving birth in hospital, my wife was taken to a fridge full of frozen condoms,” he says.
The technique may sound strange, but many new mothers swear by it.
Certified nurse-midwife from Virginia, Katie Page, for example, recommends frozen condoms for easing postpartum pain too: “Fill up a condom with water, tie the end and freeze it to make a tube of ice. Wrap it in a clean, cotton T-shirt.
“It fits really nicely against the perineum,” she says.
As well as stocking up on condoms - albeit not for their original usage - Wanless recommends dads invest in a piles cushion (“essentially a rubber ring”), a breast pump and bath salts for their partners.
For her part, Page suggests new mothers sit in baths with added herbs or oatmeal, put soaked black tea bags in their knickers and dab sensitive spots with a medicated witch hazel cooling pad to ease pain.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments