Postpartum comfort

[JB0901]

Hi everyone, new member here. :) I am a nurse in postpartum and am curious about something. Our unit used to give our moms rice socks that they could heat up in the microwave to help with cramping, and also incisional pain; however, JCAHO and risk management made us get rid of those. We now have these disposable warm packs, but they barely get warm and only last for about an hour. Our patients have really not liked them so far and we go through them so fast. What do other places use?

Also, just curious about what you use for ice packs for perineal swelling right after delivery? (We literally put ice in a plastic bag).

Thanks for the info!

[lisawall]

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.

[NurseNora, BSN, RN]

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.

[beachmom]

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.

[BrokePHIBroke]

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.