shall i get washable or disposable breast pads?

[rubyslippers]

yes - thrilling question but am going shopping tomorrow for supplies so would be good to know

TIA

[thisisyesterday]

i prefer washable.

[suwoo]

I've gone for disposable ones, but will invest in washable ones if breastfeeding works out.

If you know you will bf, I'd go for washable.

[PigeonPie]

I preferred washable too

[thisisyesterday]

it's useful to have a few disposable ones as well actually though.
I use them now and then when my washing has got behind lol, and also used them when I had thrush

[rubyslippers]

oh - thanks

i went through loads last time, so was thinking washable would be better?

so, what do i need to get - 4 pairs??

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

preferred washable, more comfortable.

[PigeonPie]

I think I got six packs of six and just about had enough - but I did leak a lot!

[DitaVonCheese]

Depends how leaky you are ... I would much rather use washable but leak so much that they were constantly damp (and, in the case of the Advent ones, leaking through my clothes) so I couldn't keep up with the washing and was worried about thrush, so have been using disposable for nine months!

[PatTheHammer]

Much prefer washables, disposables tended to stick to me and needed peeling off in the early days.....ouchy!

[NellyTheElephant]

If you can survive with washables then go for it - how leaky were you last time? I would 100x rather use washables (I use washable nappies etc), but sadly I leak through them in about 30 seconds. Once a let down goes I am a soggy mess in seconds, I tried a couple of different brands of washables to no avail. In fact there are only certain brands of disposables I can use, with most I am a soggy mess almost immediately. Even once my milk supply settled down after a few months they were still no good.

[littlelamb]

I would get a mixture of both- I could happily use washables at night, but god they stand out a mile under clothes. I found tommee tippee disposables by far the best, avoid the tesco ones at all costs, I was picking fluff off myself before each feed

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

It depends on how many washing loads you do and will you have the time or the energy to do it? I prefer disposable ones because you can change them as often as you like without having to worry about washing and drying them in time for re-use and as each one is fresh there is no chance of any thrush bugs infecting you.

[rubyslippers]

thanks all

i was very leaky last time and my let down was ferocious!

looks like it may be a bit of trial and error - think i will get both to be on the safe side

[MamaG]

ruby I used disposables until I stopped leaking so much then went onto washable. I would have needed about 12 pairs in the early weeks! BabyG is now 8 months () and I don't leak at all now.

Ummmm would it horribly gross if I sent you some washable breast pads? Obv used but clean, just as back up for you? Assuming I can find them of course...

[MamaG]

(oh and I've got a couple of maternity nighties too if you'd like them, good for hospital, front fastening etc - don't want any money)

[rubyslippers]

mama - yes please!

thanks so much ...

[PigeonPie]

Ruby, I used shells on the side I wasn't feeding from when I was feeding the DSs so that I didn't drown - have you tried them? They were a real life saver for me!

[ilovemydogandmrobama]

washables -- think I had 8.

You also need a Bravado tank (or another brand) which is great as it looks like a camisole.

I have a medium black Bravado microfiber FFP if you want? CAT me if interested?

[mags98]

I have just gone onto washables at 8 weeks as I hated the disposables and they were making me itch a lot.

The washables are much more comfortable, but might not have been absorbent enough in the first few weeks.

The Avent washables are a bit rubbish though, they are not shaped and i found they kept falling out of place. I quite like the mothercare own brand ones actually.

[madlentileater]

if you get washable
DO put them in a net bag to wash them, or they WILL block thr outlet pipe of yor washing machine and repairman will be very puzzled, especialy when he comes for the second time to remove it.
Or you could just to learn how to unclog the outlet pipe of your washing machine.

[rubyslippers]

thank you all very much

especially advice re washing!

ILOVEMYDOG - yes please to FFP cami thingie

need to renew my CAT sub which i will do tonight

[Northernlurker]

I always used disposables. A friend lent me some washables but I just didn't like them - and soaked through them too much to be practical really.

[SusieDerkins]

I didn't like the washables. They went a funny shape and made me look like I had bumpy boobs.

[Jennylee]

I found the washables totally ineffective

[JudyBlume1019]

I found washable ones usel;ess too, leaked all the time. This time am going 100% for disposable, but they're not perfect, and if it wasn't for the leaking issue I bet they'd be much better. I find the disposables go fluffy after a few open/closes on the bra, and also, beware the tesco ones which are ENORMOUS (and irritatingly singularly packaged in plastic bags!)and get folded and stuck together and look lumpy and awful through clothes.