Description
- Sore nipples
- Cooling gel
- 4 sterile pads
Hydrogel pads for sore, cracked nipples
Medela hydrogel pads (once called Tender Care) are cooling gel pads you wear in your bra between feeds. Medela says they give instant relief for sore or cracked nipples and support healing. Each pad lasts up to 24 hours.
For the first-week feeds that make you wince.
Are hydrogel pads right for you?
Best for
- Sore or cracked nipples in the early days of breastfeeding
- Cooling relief between feeds or pumping sessions
- Keeping tender skin from rubbing on your bra
Maybe not for
- Leaking milk: absorbent nursing pads soak it up instead
- Pain that doesn’t ease, bleeding or burning: see a lactation consultant or your doctor
How to use hydrogel pads
- Place a pad gel side down on your nipple, inside your bra.
- Before you feed, take it off and set it gel side up on a clean surface. Rinse your breast with warm water and pat dry.
- Put the same pad back after the feed. Toss it after 24 hours, or sooner if it turns milky.
Want it cooler? Keep unopened pads in the fridge.
Questions moms ask about hydrogel pads
Do I take it off to breastfeed?
Yes. Remove the pad before each feed, rinse your breast with warm water, and put the pad back afterward.
Can I reuse a pad?
Within 24 hours, yes. After that, or once it looks milky or dirty, throw it away. Don’t wash it with soap.
Is it safe for my baby?
Medela says the pads are safe for breastfeeding moms and dermatologically tested. Medela’s instructions are to take the pad off and rinse your breast before every feed.
Get your breast pump through insurance
Most health plans, including Marketplace plans, must cover a breast pump under federal rules (HealthCare.gov). We check your plan, get the prescription from your doctor, and ship a covered pump to your door. Still pregnant? A virtual prenatal lactation consult can be covered too.
Start your order through insurance
Don’t see your plan? We work with hundreds, including state Medicaid programs. Questions first? See our pumping FAQ.
