Freeze them for engorgement, warm them before a feed. Two gel pads with soft washable covers, shaped to sit inside a nursing bra so you can keep them on while you get on with something else.
How to use them
- Cold: at least 4 hours in the freezer. Use after feeding or pumping to take the swelling down.
- Warm: 2 minutes in boiling water, or 70 seconds in the microwave at 350W. Use before a feed to help letdown.
Put the pad inside its fabric cover before it touches your skin, hot or cold, and check the temperature against the inside of your wrist first. If it feels too hot, it is too hot: let it stand until it doesn't.
The covers are shaped to sit inside a nursing bra, so once a pad is in place you can put your bra back on and carry on. Most people keep both in the freezer and warm one when they need it.
Why it works
- Both temperatures, same pad. Cold for the swollen, painful hours after a feed. Warm before a feed, when things need to start moving. You don't need two products.
- Shaped for a bra. Contoured to sit inside a nursing bra rather than being held in place, which is the difference between using them and meaning to.
- Soft covers, not bare gel. The fabric cover goes between the pad and your skin, which is what makes either temperature bearable for more than a minute.
- Washable covers. The covers come off and go in the machine, which matters with anything used this often.
- No sizing, no decisions. One size, one option, works with any nursing bra.
What comes in the box
- Two gel pads
- Two soft fabric covers
Materials & care
- Gel is BPA and BPS free
- Covers are machine washable. Wash cold, lay flat to dry
- Wipe the gel pads themselves clean, don't put them through the machine
- Check the pads for splits before each use and stop using one if the seal is damaged
- Don't heat a pad for longer than the times above, and never heat one in an oven or on a stove top
When to call someone instead
General comfort measures, not medical treatment. If you have signs of mastitis (fever, a hard red area, flu-like aching), call your midwife or doctor.
The same goes for a blocked duct that isn't clearing, a cracked or bleeding nipple, or pain that is getting worse rather than better. Warm and cold pads make a hard few days more bearable. They don't treat an infection, and we're not able to give medical advice. A lactation consultant, midwife or doctor can look at what is actually happening, and is worth calling sooner than you probably think.
Common questions
How long do they stay cold?
Long enough for a session, though it depends on the room and on how warm you are. Some people buy two sets so there is always a cold pair waiting in the freezer.
Can I use them while I'm pumping?
Yes. Warmth before and during a session is a common way to help things flow, and the pads sit inside the bra alongside the flange.
Do they leak?
The gel is sealed inside the pad. Check the seal now and then, and stop using a pad if it splits.
Are they only useful while breastfeeding?
Mostly, yes. People also reach for the cold pads if they are engorged while weaning or not feeding at all. If that is your situation, talk to your midwife or doctor about what will help.
