How do you heat rice pack at hossy?

BlessedBottomz · 06-09-2007, 11:55 AM

I have my first birth coming any day now and she is delivering in a hossy that I've never been to before. How do you heat your rice packs? Are the nurses pretty good about letting you use their microwave? Do you use hot water in some way (like put it in a plastic bag and run hot water over it)? Do you bring along a thermos with your own hot water?

doula Michele · 06-09-2007, 02:29 PM

They are banned at our hospital. We can not use them or heat them in the microwave.

gentlegreeting · 06-09-2007, 02:30 PM

I just use the microwave in the pantry. The hospital I usually work at has a pantry with Juices, snacks, a microwave, a refrigerator, a soda machine and a coffee pot. Maybe I'm just spoiled?

Amber

fearlessbirth · 06-09-2007, 02:51 PM

That's been my experience as well....There's a 'nutrition' room with micro, etc. and I just pop it in.

I can't believe some hospitals ban them...what in the world??? What is their reasoning behind that? Don't want a woman to get too comfy during her birth? Anesthesiologist need a new car? Lol

RosyDoula · 06-09-2007, 02:53 PM

Yeah, find the nourishment room or pantry. Just ask a nurse. If they're banned, you can probably find hot packs that get warm by squeezing or crunching them. I found them at the dollar store.

doula Michele · 06-09-2007, 03:02 PM

I think they are banned because of liability issues. It is not a hospital product, fire in the mircowave, etc...

I dunno. but there is a sign right on the microwave " Do not use to heat up rice socks"...and since I am good little doula, I will follow the rules.

Acacia · 06-09-2007, 03:21 PM

I buy "hot hands" heat packs. You can find them in the outdoor section of most stores. They stay hot for quite a long time and in order to activate them you just take it out of the package and shake it. They are also fairly compact making it easier travel with. They make them in a variety of sizes.

UtahDoula · 06-09-2007, 03:55 PM

I use the hospital microwave, but I put the rice sock in a gallon size ziplock before warming it. This keeps any food smell from getting on the rice sock and anything from the rice sock getting into the microwave. I use the freezer kind - they are sturdier. The bags don't melt or burst or anything, either.
The only time anyone at a hospital has questioned me about it as a nurse concerned I might burn the mom. But I just explained to her that my rule is that if I can carry it back to the room draped over my arm (the inner part where they tell bottle feeding moms to check the temp of the fomula) without it hurting me, and then wrap in a towel, it would be fine for the mom, too. And I assured her I always check for redness etc.

BlessedBottomz · 06-09-2007, 04:11 PM

What a great/non abrasive way to tell the nursing staff. Thanks ladies.

DoulaCBE · 06-09-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doula Michele

I think they are banned because of liability issues. It is not a hospital product, fire in the mircowave, etc...

I dunno. but there is a sign right on the microwave " Do not use to heat up rice socks"...and since I am good little doula, I will follow the rules.

I'm a doula who likes to walk just the other side of the line.
If it says no rice socks, I won't (don't anyway) heat up a rice sock. But I will make a hot pack out of washcloths and ziploc bags. Hey, they said rice socks, not heat packs!

DL · 06-09-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UtahDoula

I use the hospital microwave, but I put the rice sock in a gallon size ziplock before warming it. This keeps any food smell from getting on the rice sock and anything from the rice sock getting into the microwave. I use the freezer kind - they are sturdier. The bags don't melt or burst or anything, either.

Me, too.

DL · 06-09-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaCBE

I'm a doula who likes to walk just the other side of the line.
If it says no rice socks, I won't (don't anyway) heat up a rice sock. But I will make a hot pack out of washcloths and ziploc bags. Hey, they said rice socks, not heat packs!

That's something I could see myself doing, as well. It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission, they say!

doula Michele · 06-10-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaCBE

I'm a doula who likes to walk just the other side of the line.
If it says no rice socks, I won't (don't anyway) heat up a rice sock. But I will make a hot pack out of washcloths and ziploc bags. Hey, they said rice socks, not heat packs!

never thought of that...
I always just ask the nurses for a hot pack, and they are more than accomodating. Guess since I don't piss them off, they usually are really nice to me. LOL and they are so damn busy that they appreciate the help I give them.

I really want to stay on their good side, but thats just me.

birthsister · 06-10-2007, 10:06 PM

some hospitals have banned them because well-meaning people have left them on when mom had an epidural or too much pressure was used and mom got burned.

DoulaCBE · 06-10-2007, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doula Michele

never thought of that...
I always just ask the nurses for a hot pack, and they are more than accomodating. Guess since I don't piss them off, they usually are really nice to me. LOL and they are so damn busy that they appreciate the help I give them.

I really want to stay on their good side, but thats just me.

Just to clarify, I haven't been on the bad side of a nurse yet.
So just because I walk the other side of the line with semantics doesn't mean I"m out to tick the staff off..