Rice Packs

[Tracey]

Hi ladies, I need help, I would like to make a heat pack but can't seem to find the info that I need, any ideas? Also are there any companies that you know of in Ontario that gaive out samples to Doulas? Any help would be great.
Keep on doing and loving what you do !!!!!!

[MothertheMother]

Do you mean like a rice sock you can heat up in the microwave?

[AussieDoula]

I make mine with rice or flax seeds and sometimes lavendar or herbal tea thrown in, but here are two great tutorials with pictures on how to make your own rice hot/cold pack*:

How to sew a soft rice bag (with three panels).

How to make a rice sock (no sewing necessary - has some great additional hints and tips under the instructions).

There really isn't a limit to what you can do to make a rice pack. It can be wide, skinny, long, short, paneled, or just an old sock. There are several different things you can fill it with that will retain warmth, a variety of ways to scent it if you want to, and you can make covers that can be removed for washing, etc.
Be sure to post pictures when you're done!

*Rice doesn't hold the cold very well. For a cold pack, you could fill the bag with gel crystals from a garden center (polymer crystals - the kind used to keep houseplants from drying out). Never heat a gel pack in the microwave.

[tlcdoula]

When I make mine I buy a hand towel and rice, fold it in half and sew it into a square. It makes a nice larger surface for when moms want to apply it to their lower backs.

[MothertheMother]

If you use rice I would highly suggest you try scenting it. When the rice is heated it does smell a bit and that is surely going to be offensive to a pregnant mama!

On that note, I use essential oils but does anyone use dried herb/flowers? If so, where do you get them?

[HamiltonBirthRevolution]

I made a heat sack with oatmeal and scented it with clove essential oil. It seems to hold heat well. Don't know about cold. It was the easiest thing ever to make.

[Tracey]

Thank you all so much, sounds pretty easy, even me who does not sew well at all can manage that

[heathenmamaof5]

Thank You from me too! I need to make a few of these and didn't have any instructions either!

AllDoula's is soooo awesome!

[Tashina Marker]

When I took my ALACE workshop almost 2 yrs ago,my trainer had beautiful ones she was selling,but I passed it up . I think the title says it all .I need a place that will take a MO (money order).

[RosyDoula]

http://www.doulashop.com/products/ju...las/index.html

But honestly, its so much cheaper to just buy a bag of rice and some men's socks at the dollar store.

[MyDoulaStacia]

Why don't you just make some at home? I use the big thick tube socks and buy the white rice in bulk. You can add essential oil to the rice and mix it around before filling the socks and sewing the end closed.

[RosyDoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyDoulaStacia sewing the end closed.

Or you can just tie a knot if you're lazy like me.

[DL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RosyDoula Or you can just tie a knot if you're lazy like me.

That's what I do, too! I justify it by telling the mom that after a while, if she needs to replace the rice, she can just unknot it and fill it with fresh rice mixed with a few drops of essential oil. It's not as easy to just refill if it's sewn.

My mil bought flannel receiving blanket material and sewed little covers (like little pillow cases) for me to just slip over top of the men's tube socks. That makes them look special.

Oh, that reminds me....I have to fill a couple socks tonight. I am now on call!

[tlcdoula]

When I make mine I take a small hand towel and fold it in half and sew it closed and fill it with rice. I am not a sewer but they still work out great Otherwise using a tube sock is easy too and the best part is no sewing.

[Luv2bemommy]

I know they have them on ebay too!

I am SO making me a few of these before it's my time to have this baby. It is one of the best inventions EVER!