Maternity pads and disposable pants - which ones?

[Msbluesky32]

I'm starting to think about my hospital bag and wondered if anyone had any recommendations for pads and/or disposable knickers? I've had a browse in boots and the disposable pants don't look very comfortable -would I be better off buying some cheap black cotton ones and just using pads? If so which pads did you find best/most comfortable? Pre-pregnancy i used tampons and now I'm just using panty liners so pads are a little unfamiliar to me. I have no idea what to expect and welcome suggestions.

[shelley72]

in the past i have used the old fashioned kotex towels - very soft and bouncy - and just bought a pack or two of cheap black (big) pants from primark / supermarket. that way they can be pretty much disposable but so much more comfy than paper knickers

[emsyj]

The disposable pants are vile - my MIL bought me a pack (in XL bitch) and I wore one pair and then relegated the rest to the back of a drawer. Primark pants are better option IMO.

I used Always thick night time pads last time - the mattress thick ones, not the thin ones in the small packs, in a purple packet with wings. I've bought the same ones again this time. I used those for the first 2 weeks then moved on to normal sanitary towels.

[shelley72]

forgot to say i did buy special 'maternity' pads with my first but found them a bit scratchy - kotex much softer. and was advised by MW not to get anything 'breathable' like always pads, as they can cause you to sweat.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Def get big Primark granny knickers. Paper pants are terrible for the majority of people.

[Eletheomel]

Maternity pads are generally big bulky mattress type things, so I don't think it matters what brand you get, I just used Tesco's own brand, and they were fine. One bonus of the big pads is that they do offer your 'bruised bits' a bit of padding after the birth as well as being absorbent.

Re: pants, I did what you're thinking of doing, just bought a pack of 7 black briefs from primark, didn't really throw them out after each use (put them in the washing machine) but they weren't fancy but they were at least 'real pants' and I wasn't bothered if they got stained (threw them all out in the end once my lochia had ended)

[VinegarDrinker]

You need pads anyway whether you have disposable pants or not. I got given some - vile. Just bought big black granny pants from Primark instead. Had Boots own brand maternity pads which were fine.

[Msbluesky32]

Emsyj I laughed out loud, poor you, MILs -don't get me started...

Thank you ladies, I have to say the disposable pants looked really scratchy and I wasn't convinced by the packaging tbh

[MogwaiTheGremlin]

Really recommend Tena Lady disposable briefs for hospital - designed for incontinence but worked a treat and felt much more secure/discreet than big bulky pads/nasty scratchy knickers.
Baggy black Primark pants for afterwards with any brand maternity pads.

[TheTiger]

I bought big black cotton knickers from primark (5 for £2.50) and used tesco maternity pads. After having an episiotomy and stitches the maternity pads were like cushions when I sat down! Buy lots of pads. I used a 10 pack a day for the first few days.

[PogoBob]

I used big black granny pants from Asda, 4 for £4.

Been using maternity pads from Boots, Mothercare and Tesco and have found them all okay. Would also recommend getting some distilled witch hazel - a few drops on a pad wete really soothing on tears/grazes down there.

[Msbluesky32]

Yikes, ten a day! I had no idea...Also (dare i ask this) I thought the bleeding was for around two weeks - is it longer?

[WorkingtoohardMama]

I would really recommend the boots ultra thin maternity pads, they were the best I tried.

[tinkletinklestar]

I am currently using boots disposable paper pants and their maternity pads. They have so much room and dont make you hot down below.

Had my section friday and bleeding wise am not doing that bad I am still in hospital so when im home and moving more it may change

[lovethesun1]

Another for primark multipack of black pants here! Used various maternity towels then moved on to standard sanitary pads after around 3 days. I think I had bleeding on & off for around 10days,but wasn't v heavy after the first 3days. Talking to friends this varies hugely though. Good luck with everything :)

[Kelerina]

I've heard people mention witch Hazel before, where can you buy it?

[MrsHoarder]

Kept bleeding for about 5 weeks, but by week 3 I was generally just wearing a panty liner.

You want basic non-fragrenced stuff for the whole time and the thick maternity pads for the first week or two until you can sit down comfortably.

[MrsHoarder]

I changed them at eery toilet visit even if not strictly necessary too: wanted to keep my stitches clean. And I wore Tesco granny pants after leaving hospital (midwife put me in disposable pair).

[emsyj]

I bled for 6 weeks, but it was like a normal period after about 7-10 days (hard to remember exactly) and got lighter and lighter. The first few days were very heavy and I used 2 pads at a time (so they went from bellybutton to top of arse crack!!!!)

DD was early, so I ended up having to send my MIL out to buy me nursing bras, breast pads, maternity pads etc (DH was clueless) and the disposable pants were a 'thoughtful extra' that she picked up entirely of her own accord!

[Eletheomel]

emsyj - aw, I think your MIL sounds sweet :-D

I bled for about 6 weeks in total, but the last 2 weeks were probably just panty liners, really heavy for the first 2 weeks, and the middle weeks was probably just like a 'regular' period bleed - but it does totally vary from person to person, I took a pack of 10 maternity pads with me in the hospital (although, they actually gave me some to use while I was there, wasn't expecting that)

[SBoz12]

My advice is buy cheap pants a size or two bigger than you usually would for extra comfort. I used Boots or Asda Maternity Pads and then Boots thinner Maternity Pads as the bleeding got lighter. Everyone told me to avoid normal sani towels/pantliners as they're not as soft. Bought the disposables but never used them, they looked too uncomfy and I had an episiotomy so needed comfort!

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

Make sure you get high-waisted pants in case you have a CS - you don't want the elastic on your wound.

I had to wear two pads at a time for the first few days too, so really big high-waisted pants made me feel much more secure.

[surroundedbyblondes]

I was given stretchy net type disposable pants in hospital and found them comfy actually. I would have hated paper ones though!

Also had big mattress maternity pads (2 in at a time at first)

[eagleray]

Kelerina - I bought a bottle of witch hazel from Boots - had to ask a shop assistant though as struggled to find it!

As well as putting a few drops on pads, I have heard that you can dilute some in water in a sports bottle and aim and fire while you are peeing, to avoid pain/stinging (have yet to try this out but due at end of week...)

[CatPussRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

I used Dp's pants after I had DD! He wears the plain brief sort with elastic in the top and legs. They are thick, comfy, stay up and being for men, have plenty of room in the gusset for big thick towels. Cant do this next time, he is a skinny git and Im a fat bird! The Tena Lady sound like a good idea though, but possibly expensive?

[janji]

Boots maternity pads and cheapie black Knicks that can be binned.