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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Maternity Towels!

29 replies

Nath · 22/05/2007 18:27

Hi - am wondering whether you really need to buy special huge thick maternity towels or would the strongest Always or similar work......??

I am clearly a first timer and to be honest a bit grossed out by the size of those things - are they really necessary?!?!

xxx

OP posts:

Report

SydneyB · 22/05/2007 18:34

Yes, they most definitely are! Get the biggest you can - Cotex nighttime are great and aren't special maternity pads but are lovely and thick. You won't believe the amount of 'stuff' that comes out. AND its lovely to have an extra comfy cushion to sit on too... Get in more than one pack. My mistake.

rowan1971 · 22/05/2007 18:35

I would say they are definitely necessary for the first few days. You would not belieeeeve the amount of stuff that....

Sorry.

I'd get some, honest... Paper pants too. Oh yes.

Good luck!

Bouquetsofdynomite · 22/05/2007 18:36

TBH you'll probably only need to wear them the first couple of days and nobody you know has to see them - you can be draped in a blanket! I'm too tight to buy Always for this purpose as you get through so many - you'd still want to change them as often. Keep an eye out for 2for1 offers on the cheap chunky ones.
Recommend cheap black pants from Matalan a size bigger than your usual size. Paper ones are crap and the Matalan ones are practically disposable costwise.

gigglinggoblin · 22/05/2007 18:41

asda do v cheap granny pants aswell, i was v glad i got the ones that go up to your waist when i ended up with cs. do not buy pads with plasticy lining, you will get sort of chapped down there as you will need them for a couple of weeks. thhe big fat ones allow airflow better. i also used kotex, they are perfect for the job

DaisyMOO · 22/05/2007 18:44

You can get the ultra-absorbent thin towels as a maternity version now I think.

The reason the normal maternity towels are so thick is that they don't have the gel in like the Always Ultra-type ones. I'm not convinced that maternity towels are any more absorbent than the most absorbent Always tbh. I used these and they were fine.

lulumama · 22/05/2007 18:46

boots do thin maternity towels, as daisy has said

and buy asda value knickers , £5 for 5 pairs, more comfy than the paper ones

clayre · 22/05/2007 18:48

i used kotex nighttime too, both times, i'm sure it says on the packet they are good maternity pads.

urstingug · 22/05/2007 18:49

Sometimes mw's like to check the bleeding to see that things look ok - maternity pads are better for this reason

Nath · 22/05/2007 19:00

Thanks guys, will have a look at the ultra thin ones!! I am sure I won't care what I wear when it comes to it......just being silly prob!

OP posts:

QueenofBleach · 22/05/2007 19:07

I got Kotex and also Tesco maternity pads were godd and cheap big knickers which you could throw away I think they were a couple of quid for 5

seamonster · 22/05/2007 19:11

I hated the maternity pads, and have sworn by always ultra night time with wings. I don't know if they last longer, but to be honest regular changing helps me feel a bit better. Definately get more than you think (or hope) you will need.

honeyapple · 22/05/2007 19:14

I just used normal ones. No way I was stuffing half a mattress down my knickers... and paper pants? PLEASEEEE.... have some dignity! Normal knickers are fine.

Nath · 22/05/2007 19:19

So seamonster - how many do you reckon I should buy then??!!

Honeyapple, spot on how I feel - just didn't know if I was being unrealistic !!

OP posts:

maisym · 22/05/2007 19:26

used nighttime towels with wings - much more comfy than the big matenity ones. Only downside was felt I got hot from the plastic backing.

honeyapple · 22/05/2007 19:28

Nath- I personally didnt have too much goo (as far as I was concerned anyway... not kind of something you can really compare ). Maybe you need to change the pad more often... but hell, I didnt want to sit around in it for that long anyway .

When are you due BTW? Best of luck xx

Nath · 22/05/2007 19:32

Due on 22nd July - know I have a while, I just like to get organised!!

Figured you would change them regularly anyway.......will give nighttime ones with wings a go. Worst case I can send my hubby out for mattress type ones later if I need them!!!

OP posts:

seamonster · 22/05/2007 19:35

Just buy loads, you can always use them up afterwards when you get your periods back again, unlike the bricks. And buy some cheap normal pants much better than chucking yet more stuff away. And perhaps an old towell to sit/lie on at first (just in case) You'll be bleeding for a few weeks (4-6 maybe), obviously its heavy at first, blobs and all but it gets less and less and ends up quite gooey at the end.
I'd check on how long it is with your midwife.
GOOD LUCK!

Princesspowersparkle · 22/05/2007 22:17

Hello girls- on the subject of maternity pads- do they have wings or are they just flat? If not I think I will go with just ultra massive nighttime ones with wings!
Cheers my lovelies!
X

hana · 22/05/2007 22:19

they are flat, no sticky bits or wings
get more than you think you need - I used to double them up in the first day or two, and overnight (eurghhhh....)

Princesspowersparkle · 22/05/2007 22:21

Ah- the glamourous part of pregnancy!

XX

bilblio · 22/05/2007 22:33

Hi Nath, I'm due about 3 days before you. We had this discussion in antenatal classes the other day, the MW said to avoid Always type pads and stick with the maternity pads because of the fact they were softer and more padded. Much better when you're very sore with stitches etc. They also said that they'd found that of the few women who got infected stitches they'd all been wearing Always type pads.

We've just been discussing maternity knickers on the July ante-natal thread. Asda do some smart price knickers, £1 for 3, but the general consensus is to buy them a size or 2 bigger as they're quite small.

PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt · 22/05/2007 22:53

I read on here that I needed to buy massive thick maternity towels, loads of them and massive paper pants. Like you, I balked. I bought Kotex night time (normal thickness) and m&S BLACK midis the same size as for end of pregnancy and I was absolutely fine - you just change the pad when necesary. The hospital gave me a really thick pad x 2 in at once and I found the extra thickness uncomfortable on my sore bits!

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ellenkpa · 22/05/2007 23:04

the maternity pads are good if you have stitches as you can put witch hazel on them and that makes it much more comfortable

rhubarb90 · 23/05/2007 10:35

I used Always-type things and was told by the MW to use proper maternity pads as I had stitches and they heal better without having that plastic lining stuff, apparently. So I suppose it depends how battered and bruised your bits are. If you'll excuse the rather revolting wording there.

RedFraggle · 23/05/2007 11:00

I got mothercare's towels. They do both the big fat ones and the thin ones too. I used the fat ones for the first week or so and then switched to the thin ones as things started to slow down...

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