Use the warm pad before or during feeding or pumping. Place one gel pad flat in the microwave; do not fold or crumple it. Heat the pads separately: 40 seconds at 385 W or 25 seconds at 600 W. Check the temperature before use; the pad should be warm, not hot. Not warm enough? Heat for an additional 5 seconds. Use the pad for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time.