Postpartum comfort

We also use peri pads cut up then rinsed in water and frozen. We call them "Fish sticks." We also have the fancy twist and break the seal cool peri pads but usually only use those right after delivery and then go the less expensive "fish sticks" later.

For heat we use Thermacare menstrual cramp pads. They really do work for about 8 hours and I have personally had to take them off b/c I felt it was getting too warm on my tummy. Most patients love them!!! Especially multips.

To all of you nurses out there who struggle with perineal post partum cold therapy. I am a buyer in Purchasing and we have these same issues at our 7 hospitals in our state. We are working with Medline on a new product designed specifically for post partum cold therapy. It is is a slightly wider peri pad with 2 layers of "enclosed" poly filling. We used baby diapers with ice, like many of you, but the airborne particles when you open the diaper became a problem. We had to stop using them.

On the new pad, you place ice between the layers of poly and then close the end with a tape closure. The bottom layer of poly absorbs the melting ice and provides the cold therapy with protection to the perinium from direct ice. The top layer absorbs the lochia. It will be out very soon. If you are interested in this, please email me and I can get your information to the Medline staff. I anticipate the catalog # will be available in the next month or so. We were using this product from another supplier but their manufacturer went away. Our nurses loved them and we cannot wait to get them back again.

Regarding the blog about the new product from Medline, I will post the catalog number once it becomes available. I did not realize that my email is not available through this website.

This is the first hospital I've ever worked that OKs using the microwave to heat hot packs. We put a wet towel in a chux and tape the chux shut so there are no leaks and microwave it. I don't feel safe with the microwave and just run hot water over a towel, put it in a plastic bag and then in a pillowcase to protect the skin. We do sometimes use K pads, but it is an extra patient charge.

For iced peri pads, we put ice in a diaper. It was easier to do that before they started using the fluid absorbing gel in the diapers. I still prefer using an ice filled glove in a washcloth, especially if you're concerned with a possible PPH. You can't weigh the ice filled diapers to gauge blood loss. But you can throw out the ice glove and weigh the wash cloth along with the blue pad underneath for estimating blood loss. I've used the condoms, but they're more expensive than the gloves.

We also put ice in diapers. It's the right shape. It absorbs moisture. On ortho they put ice in baggies covered with a towel, but when the ice melts and Ziploc opens, you have a wet bed. Also, towel can slip off, and you have ice next to skin.

I don't know if JACHO would like this, but we put really hot water on a towel, and put the towel in a plastic bag. We test it with our hand to make sure it's not too hot. Our people are A&O enough not to burn themselves. (Wouldn't do this on an older confused person.) It's hotter than the blanket out of the warmer, which is what the rest of the hospital does for warm compresses.

We use k-Pads or get a blanket out of the blanket warmer (we have both adult & infant), as well as ice packs for their peri area. Ours are made out of condoms with a mesh cloth wrapped around to soften it up. The volunteers fill them up and put them in the freezer for us. Sometimes we use the Pampers and rip the top of them open and put ice chips in them and then fold them up so they don't leak out. Our moms also have "SAM" kits (self administration medication) that contain tylenol & motrin, stool softener, & Americaine spray. also, a hot cup of chicken broth always helps. i encourage all my pts. to take a hot shower whenever possible, because it always makes them feel soothed, refreshed, and clean.