Infrared Heat for Postnatal Recovery

Infrared Heat for Postnatal Recovery: Why the Koanna Sauna Blanket Deserves a Spot in Your Healing Toolkit

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been doing the kind of gardening that involves dragging bags of compost, wrestling brambles and wondering why on earth I didn’t start stretching in my thirties. Just a few hours of hard work had me feeling like I was 98 not 48!

Which got me thinking…

If I’m feeling this battered from a bit of enthusiastic weeding, what about those of you recovering from birth? That deep, bone-level tiredness. The aching hips. The stiffness that settles into your back from hours of feeding, lifting, rocking and adjusting tiny sleepsuits in the dark.

And that’s where infrared therapy comes in.

I’ve been using it as part of my own recovery from life lately but it occurred to me that it could be an absolute game changer for anyone navigating the early weeks and months postpartum. So let’s talk about how infrared heat can support your recovery and why the Koanna blanket is such a helpful (and blissfully cosy) option. AND… don’t worry! It’s not as expensive as you think – you don’t need to install a big sauna in your house.

What is Infrared Heat?

Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air around you, infrared heat uses far-infrared wavelengths to gently warm the body directly. It penetrates deeper into the tissues and muscles, encouraging circulation and healing without overheating the room or leaving you drenched.

It’s not intense or overwhelming. Just steady, soothing warmth that makes your body say, ahhh, thank you.

How Infrared Heat Supports Postnatal Recovery

1. Relieves Aches & Tension

Whether you’ve had a vaginal birth or a c-section, your body has been through something monumental. And then it’s straight into hours (and hours) of feeding, carrying, pacing and sleeping at strange angles.

Infrared heat helps soothe overworked muscles, reduce inflammation and encourage tissue repair all from the comfort of your own bed or sofa.

2. Supports Natural Detoxification

In the early weeks, your body is shedding excess fluid, rebalancing hormones and trying to find its new normal. Gentle infrared-induced sweating supports lymphatic drainage and detox in a far more pleasant way than a bootcamp or green juice fast.

3. Calms the Nervous System

Let’s face it motherhood can be… a lot. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally.
Infrared heat helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system (your “rest and digest” mode), which can ease anxiety, reduce that jittery, wired feeling and help you actually relax, not just collapse.

4. Helps with Restorative Sleep

No, it won’t make your baby sleep longer (sorry). But using the sauna blanket before bed can help you fall asleep faster and reach deeper rest between feeds. So, those broken nights feel a little less brutal.

5. Encourages “Me Time”

So much postnatal self-care is surface level. But infrared heat supports real, physiological healing. Curling up in your Koanna for 30 minutes with a glass of water and a podcast? That’s nourishment. That’s repair. Not sure how realistic I’m being but it is worth a try!

What About Breastfeeding?

If you’re breastfeeding, good news: infrared heat is generally considered safe, provided you take a few sensible precautions. Stay well hydrated (you’re already losing fluid through feeding and sweating adds to that), avoid overheating by using lower settings and shorter sessions and steer clear of directing heat toward the chest area, especially if you’re experiencing engorgement, blocked ducts or mastitis. Many breastfeeding mums actually find infrared heat helpful for easing tension, improving circulation and supporting that all important sense of calm. As always, listen to your body and if in doubt check in with your midwife or GP.

I am really lucky that Koanna kindly gifted me a blanket to try. I have been really impressed with their customer services – I needed to ask a couple of questions, delivery was prompt, packaging was all in tact and the blanket comes with a towel bag so you can keep it clean, hand towel and head band. The whole thing just feels like great quality.

Low EMF and non-toxic materials – safe for regular use, especially when your body is in recovery mode.
Lightweight and compact – no need for a spare room or fancy setup.
Adjustable heat and timer settings – so you’re always in control.
Easy to clean – ideal in the postpartum phase.
Wraps around you like a hug – which, frankly, we all need more of.
I have just started using mine after a spell of garden-related aches and a run of long work days but I really think it is a serious contender to help with postnatal recovery.

A Note on Safety

If you’re still in the early days postpartum, always check with your midwife or GP before using any heat therapy – especially if you’ve had a c-section, complications or ongoing bleeding. Once you’re cleared, start low and slow: short sessions, gentle heat and lots of hydration.

And never use infrared heat if you’re feeling faint, feverish or unwell.

Final Thoughts from The Honest Midwife

Postnatal recovery isn’t just about waiting to feel normal again. It’s about actively supporting your body as it heals, gently, kindly, and consistently.

The Koanna Sauna Blanket won’t wash bottles or bounce the baby but it will soothe, calm your mind and help you feel more like yourself again.

And if it works wonders after a day of middle-aged gardening, just imagine what it can do for you after growing and birthing a whole human.

PS: If you’d like my tips for safe postnatal use or want to know how I build infrared sessions into a weekly recovery routine, drop me a message on Instagram – I always love a good nerdy wellness chat

As you nurture your own recovery, don’t forget to nurture your little one’s development too, explore our Postnatal Classes to learn more about your child’s milestones and how to support their growth in those precious early months.