Device insights: Cool Mom

Product: Cool Mom

Company: Ingrid + Isabel

Background

While I have had the privileges of attending thousands of births, I have neither birthed a baby nor breastfed one, so I cannot truly claim firsthand knowledge of postpartum perineal and nipple discomfort. Nonetheless I am all-in believing the pain is real and worthy of addressing. While pillows, sitz baths and witch hazel are all tried and true and have been used for centuries, it is still hard to beat the soothing relief offered by cold packs. But traditional cold packs do have their challenges. For one, when they contain only frozen water, they are rigid and that can be irritating for sensitive areas such as between the legs. When cold packs are the single-use instant variety, they usually contain toxic chemicals like ammonium nitrate and, because they are single-use, they can be expensive and wasteful. Fortunately, Ingrid had Isabel and that experience set her creative mind to work creating lots of pregnancies-related items, the most recent of which is Cool Mom.

Design/Functionality

The Cool Mom post-birth and breastfeeding gel packs are pretty much what you would expect from a gel pack except that they are specifically designed for postpartum people and where the pads are to be applied. To that end, the medical-grade capsules are soft and devoid any rigid edges and the “secret squirrel” gel inside is both non-toxic and biodegradable and remains pliable even when coming out of the freezer. Also, they can double up as warm compresses as long as they do not go in the microwave or boiling water. In my simulated testing (I put them on my chest and neck), both products were very soothing and there were no sharp edges to irritate my skin.

Innovation

From an innovation standpoint, Cool Mom is not super-disruptive technology, but it is well-designed for its target market. In particular, the lack of rigid edges and the forever pliable non-toxic gel are clever pluses that should appeal to new mothers in need of a little cool soothing ‘down there.’

Summary

Spoiler alert–I generally love simple clever ideas that address niche needs and Cool Mom lands right in my wheelhouse. While it is unlikely to dramatically change global postpartum care, it can certainly offer a lot of new moms a little practical relief where they need it.

Editor’s note: The views of the author are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Contemporary OB/GYN. Greenberg personally trials all the products he reviews. Greenberg has no conflicts of interest with this product or the company that produces it.