by Kelly Wilbanks posted in Parenting

Smells are powerful, and can send you back in time. I was reminded of this as I sat on the toilet recently, post-delivery, lining my maxipad with Tucks Hemorrhoidal Pads with witch hazel. Just a hint of that slightly floral, slightly herbal, heavily diluted alcoholic scent stirred memories of the hazy postpartum days with my first child, now 5.
I decided to ask other mamas what scents triggered memories of their postpartum period. These smells were mentioned repeatedly: blood, witch hazel, lavender, the disinfectant smell of the hospital, and that sweet, sweet baby smell.

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but here are a few distinct birth and postpartum smells we remember.
1. Blood Some remember the smell of blood like pennies in the air.
When asked what postpartum smell she remembered, Jamaica Renee Zogalman writes "Honestly... the metallic smell of blood. It doesn't bother me... but it does forcefully remind me of those days right after birth."
Lea Michelle Draven said "I had two home water births. Both times the same smell lingered; it was blood and baby. Not sure how else to describe it."
Fellow BabyCenter mama and very funny blogger Becky Vieira writes, "This is gross, but if I'm being honest it's lochia. Nothing like having your nearest and dearest gather around to meet your baby, forced to inhale the scent of your postpartum discharge. Okay, maybe they couldn't smell it but I was hyper aw...