Breast pads - disposable or washable

[SweetTeaVodka]

I find myself in need of more breast pads within the next day or two - completely underestimated how much my boobs would leak. I've been using disposable ones so far, but if I'm going to be needing lots I wonder if reusable washable ones would be a better investment?

So tell me, which did you get on with best and why? And will I need them for the duration of feeding, or will the amount I need decrease as my supply regulates (DD is 5 days old)?

[fuzzpig]

I loved the washable ones (I think they were johnsons? Or possibly boots brand, but I got them in boots), I used them with both babies.

I found the adhesive on disposables really painful if they got caught up and stuck to me, and they weren't that comfy.

Washables were much more comfy (especially if it's a bit cold...) and they came with a little wash bag too. Do make sure you use the washbag

[fuzzpig]

Oh and I didn't use them throughout the whole of BFing (fed my 2nd for 2yrs) - once your supply settles down enough you probably won't need them, but I guess it varies from person to person.

Congratulations by the way! :)

[Bluebell99]

I found washable didn't cope at all with the amount I was leaking, so disposal were better for me. And as fuzz pig says, I didn't use them for the whole of breastfeeding either. I found putting one of thoses shells that catches milk on the other breast whilst feeding really useful as that was when I leaked the most.

[GoldenGreen]

I didn't leak all that much, but still found the washables couldn't cope for more than an hour. Was disappointed. I found lansinoh disposables to be very good.

[MrsPennyapple]

I had problems with thrush in my nipples so got rid of my re-usable ones as I couldn't be sure they were sterile after I'd washed them. Plus, if you change them a couple of times a day you need loads, or you'd be washing them all the time. I preferred disposable ones.

[ellangirl]

I used lansinoh disposable ones- def the best in my opinion. Boots often has them on pffer so buy a good few boxes. My dd is 14 weeks, and I haven't worn pads for the last 3 weeks.i only leak very occasionally, and not very much, usually at night or when wearing her in a sling. not sure if I'm particularly lucky?

[ThreeWheelsGood]

I wanted to stick to washable but my BF counsellor said to use disposable - less risky if you get thrush (I've never had it, but you have to chuck all clothes you've had next to boobs, incl pads). I've decided to suck it up as an extra expense, it won't be forever (ie only a few more months of breastfeeding).

I love the Johnsons ones as they are shaped, but they are bulky, easier to trove when feeding rather fold out of the way. the Boots ultra slim are good, they fold out of the way - seem big and shapeless first but really absorbent, much cheaper too!

[ThreeWheelsGood]

*trove was meant to be "remove"

[notso]

I used a mixture of Lansinoh disposables and Lily Pads washable for DC4.
I used the Johnsons disposable ones before then but they seem to have changed.
The lansinoh ones are lovely and thin and not to rustley. The Lily Pads are silicone, they stick to the skin, you just give them a wash with warm water you can buy a special wash for them but I never did. They are fantastic IMO got me through a weekend of no BFing when DS was 7 months with no leaks.

[duchesse]

I always hated disposable ones and found them spikey where the paper edges fold in a little. My best ones ever were some motherease bamboo terry washable ones. So soft and just popped them in the machine every day. I wasn't a massive leaker though- that might affect how prone one is to thrush, I don't know.

[ChutesTooNarrow]

I'm using little lamb washables and they are great for the day. Still looking for decent night solution as i flood so heavily feeding that nothing copes other that a wadded up muslin smushed against the gushing side while I feed from the other.

I leaked for a good six months with my first, although it was a lot less after the first month or two.

[dinkystinky]

I loked the lansinoh and tommee tippee disposable ones.

[daimbardiva]

The one thing I found w washables is thstthey wwere quite stiff and visible

[McBaby]

Washable ones. Disposable ones made nipples sore and gave me thrush due to plastic backing. You just need to wash to kill bacteria and thrush (if you get it) so boil or steam iron if needed!

They get softer the more you wash them so wash a few times before using if you think they are hard or too stuff. I liked boots and Avent ones.

[Loislane78]

Washable ones after a couple of weeks in disposables. Didn't leak so much so fine for me, they were Boots own I think. I stopped needing any by at least 12 weeks, maybe sooner.

Only think I would say is they can be visible in some tops. That might be fine for you as my DD was a summer baby and with the sweats I was wearing t-shirts etc. - which probably won't be a problem you're experiencing atm!

[noblegiraffe]

I bought washable ones, they were soaked in an hour, then sat there taunting me to put a wash on (post c-section not happening), while I filled the gap with throw-aways. After a couple of washes I gave up on them completely.

You won't leak as much as you do in the first week forever though, after a few months I could bf without needing pads at all.

[RedKites]

I leak a lot in the early days (though it's settled down somewhat now), and find the disposable Lansinoh ones cope best (reduced on Amazon at the moment). I also have some of the Little Lamb bamboo reusables - if you do get reusables, it's worth washing them a few times before you use them, as they become more absorbent (am not entirely sure why this is, but it's advice I heard and reflects my experience). Even after washing them, I don't find them as absorbent as the Lansinoh ones, but they will last a few hours, and it's at least cutting down a bit on the cost and the wastage...

[dietcokeandwine]

Lansinoh disposables all the way for me...I don't tend to bother with the adhesive strips on the back though as I find they stay in place fine without them. The cheap disposables don't tend to be very absorbent.

I tried washable ones once but found they looked like stiff wooden coasters in my bra [hmmm].

Big thank you to Redkites for the heads up on the Amazon deal for Lansinoh pads Just come home from hospital with DC3, so have stocked up!