Pads

[kathywiehl]

My first two babies were born in the hospital. Both natural, no episiotomy but of course I was still very sore and the pads that I was given were sanitary napkins with ice packs built in and I really felt great relief when wearing them. I would just bend it a few times to get the cooling stuff activated and then I would wear it just as any other pad. I have no idea what they were called or where to buy them for my homebirth but I'd love to buy them if they can be purchased through medical supplie stores. Do any of you have any suggestions or have you heard of these?

Also, as I was searching online, I found a site that suggested wetting then freezing regular disposable pads. Has anyone tried this? I can't imagine a wet frozen pad absorbing anything, so this seems a bit silly to me but if someone can tell me it works then I'll do it.

[Pandora114]

I would suggest, buying some cloth pads.

You can soak em, freeze em, and they'll still absorb, they also will prevent the condition known as "Pad Crotch" aka Diaper Rash.

AAAAND you can keep on reusing them for other AF's and you'll save yerself a bloody bundle *oh man that's a bad pun..*

[captain crunchy]

What I am doing is... I wet some pads with witch hazel (supposed to be soothing I guess) and froze them.. and if/when I am really sore I plan on just sitting on them with a chux pad under and going au natural... now I am having a homebirth so that will be something that I am able to do-- I dunno if you are having your baby in a hospital or what so I imagine you might not wanna do that if that is the case... but I figure the chux will absorb anything while I am sitting on the frozen witch hazel pad...

or... I have heard too, of getting some *depends* type underwear things and putting the frozen pads in there too... I plan on maybe doing that... sure it isn't glamorous or cute, but hey, if it works...

[Pandora114]

Honestly, go with the depends undies. the last thing you wanna do after having a kid is look "sexy"

[Persephone]

http://www.1cascade.com/ <-- that place sells both hot and cold pads. As well as a TON of other birth supplies, and educational supplies, and herbs, and well, darn near everything. And no, I am not affilitated with them, nor have I ordered from them, but I am really impressed with their selection.

[kathywiehl]

Thanks for the suggestions mamas. I do prefer cloth pads and I almost have a decent supply but nothing that would work for pospartum. You'd think I would just make some, I have everything I need as I do make diapers as my home biz but I just haven't gotten around to it! I guess maybe today is the day to do that, then I'll freeze them. I'm assuming it's okay to just wet them freeze them in ziploc baggies and leave until the birth?

I'm due in 11 days, I wonder how long an order would take from that company you mentioned. I'm thinking I'll still want some of those cold pads like I had in the hospital just for the first day. That way I won't have to worry about laundry. DH doesn't have a clue so I'll be doing all of the diaper and pad laundry even while I recover. I know, I know, but I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to dh doing household chores. We always argue cause I can't just let him do it his way and then nothing gets done. Sad, huh?

[Pandora114]

lol I totally get you.

One day my DH decided to give me a "break" and told me to sit back and relax while he took care of 2yo DD and cooked, and cleaned and install a new doorknob on DD's room.

When it came to bath time he's like "Get off the computer, you take care of her, I've been working my @ss off for 4+hrs strait and I'm exhausted"

hehehehe And he STILL doesn't quite *get it*

[Artisan]

I liked the cold pads in the hospital too. I decided to freeze some pads with witch hazel for after my birth center birth. Didn't like them, they weren't necessary, never used them!

I didn't get the kind you're talking about because I was concerned about what was in them (what makes them feel cold?) -- I didn't want those chemicals next to my vulnerable skin.

[kathywiehl]

That's what I was thinking too, about the chemicals or whatever that makes them cold. Normally I'm pretty crunchy-well, not as much as some others but I do typically stay away from these things. Part of me is thinking that if I'm really sore, it wont' matter much to me what the heck is in them as long as they feel good, kwim?

[ecomama123]

I do something completely different. We take large unlubed condoms, fill them 1/2 with alcohol and 1/2 water. Then freeze them. The alcohol keeps them from freezing solid, they end up slushier, and are more comfy to sit on than a solid frozen pad. I would use them right on top of my pad. Because they are rubber, they are rinseable and reusable. So a pack of 3 and you'd be set for your pp period.

Amalie

[Pandora114]

Originally Posted by ecomama123

I do something completely different. We take large unlubed condoms, fill them 1/2 with alcohol and 1/2 water. Then freeze them. The alcohol keeps them from freezing solid, they end up slushier, and are more comfy to sit on than a solid frozen pad. I would use them right on top of my pad. Because they are rubber, they are rinseable and reusable. So a pack of 3 and you'd be set for your pp period.

Amalie

That's a good idea, barring latex allergies

[WinterBaby]

Originally Posted by Pandora114

That's a good idea, barring latex allergies

I'm sure the polyurethane or animal based condoms would work as well. (I have that latex sensitivity and am interested in trying that condom thing next baby, hehe.)

But - that wet frozen pad thing with the disposables - I wouldn't suggest soaking the pad when using paper/plastic pads. Just sprinkle them down with whatever liquid for freezing. Cloth or disposable would just get stiff if frozen after being soaked. So - enough liquid to get a nice cold going on, not enough to freeze a pad hard.

[ZeldasMom]

okay, I am totally, shamelessly hijacking. Please forgive me kathy! If anyone could answer any of these questions I would be most grateful...

I remember reading somewhere that frozen cloth pads are most comfy if you spritz them with water (or whatever solution you think would be most soothing) rather than completely submerging them and freezing. Has anyone else heard/tried this?

Also, I wash my regular mama cloth with dark clothing in the washer. But I am thinking of washing my post partum pads with the regular diaper laundry. Is there any reason you shouldn't do this?

I am feeling cheap and not too into the idea of dropping a lot of money on great big post partum cloth pads that I won't use afterwards (now I use sweet cheeks pads). I have heard of people using prefolds. Anyone know if this actually works, or does it just make a mess? and what size? I was thinking maybe infant.

[WinterBaby]

Originally Posted by ZeldasMom

Also, I wash my regular mama cloth with dark clothing in the washer. But I am thinking of washing my post partum pads with the regular diaper laundry. Is there any reason you shouldn't do this?

I wash my diapers on hot, which is not so great for getting blood stains out. Also a hot dry, which can be tough on poly fleeces or PUL, (although I might sun instead if it's a nice day for it - but mostly hot dry.) However, I do a soak and prewash on cold which handles stains. Besides, I like the hot wash for pads too, really. And I'm willing to live with the wear of the dry. So... my pads go right in with diaper laundry. I can't think of any reason that I'd not.

[AngelBee]

:

[witchbaby]

Originally Posted by Persephone

http://www.1cascade.com/ <-- that place sells both hot and cold pads. As well as a TON of other birth supplies, and educational supplies, and herbs, and well, darn near everything. And no, I am not affilitated with them, nor have I ordered from them, but I am really impressed with their selection.

*squee* isn't that place the greatest?! my midwives are having us order our kit from there and i just love flipping through the cataloge! they've even got anatomically correct newborn dolls for sale-- i'm thinking about getting one for k for her birthday: i'm due right around then and she LOVES babies and dolls, i think it might be a nice transition so we both have our own babies!
okay, just wanted to share in the cascade love

[kathywiehl]

I've always washed my regular mama pads with the diaper laundry. In fact, after I rinse them, I just toss them in the diaper pail. I don't even have a pail in the bathroom just for pads. It never occurred to me not to do them this way. I also wash my dirty dish rags and towels with the diapers, too. Just makes it easier to keep a nice supply going when I'm washing every other day anyway.

[proudmamanow]

I bought 'sposie pads and soaked them with water & witch hazel and froze them....my dw also made me a dozen cloth pads which I used when the flow calmed down a bit.
But the frozen pads didn't work nearly as well as I'd hoped: 1) getting them from the freezer to the bathroom was beyond me the first few days pp, and getting someone else to bring them meant they sat there in the bathroom and thawed by the time I was ready for them.... also, and this is just me, but I couldn't STAND the smell of witch hazel after about 48 hours of feeling like I was constantly bathing in it. It just made me feel gross, go figure!

I agree that cloth pads are great for preventing 'diaper rash' but I know that mine were NOT up to my flow for the first 10 days or so...my mama pads have been washed with our dipes w/o any problem too...

Cascade sounds great!

[healthnutmama]

My midwife has suggested soaking pantyliners in a strong infusion of comfrey tea before freezing them. I guess b/c liners are smaller, they won't freeze stiff. Has anybody else tried freezing pantyliners?

[MamaTaraX]

Just wanted to share something we do at the hospital (i know homenbirthers who have done this too): Take a newborn (disposable) diaper and open it up. You can spread apart one end and it makes a sort of tube out of the diaper. Fill it with ice and you're good to go. Moms love these things. Also good is using a glove (latex or non-latex) with ice, which I personally loved quite a bit though it did have to be wiped off frequently at times. That's the neat thing with the diapers, they soak up a lot.
Namaste, Tara