Maternity pads

[Loobyloo1902]

If I may, could I call on the experience of any mums to suggest a really good brand of maternity pad to stock up on? I'm kind of thinking I'd prefer to to do the trial and error method so all advice welcomed please!

Thanks in advance

[ben5]

boots ones with the large size disposable pants.

[NineLadiesDancingThroughLife]

I had the boots ones and tesco ones, they were exactly the same.

And get the biggest disposable pants you can find. Medium-Large will fit the cast of Britain's Next Top Model (or I really was the size of a small country after pregnancy)

[stressheaderic]

I had Tesco ones, they were fine.
Re pants - I'm usually a 10, bought size 12-14 pants and they kept falling down in hospital to my further embarrassment, I only had a small bump and it 'deflated' very quickly!

[FiveColdRingsForSolo]

Tenalady are very absorbant and comfy IME.

[LittlePushka]

My advice would be getloads and loads of them - no one tells you bleed for weeks but still do not die (!). I do not reccomend disposable pants - I recommend getting some proper cotton ones big ones are best because the pads need a fair bit of gusset to adhere to. I found the sticky on the pad would often not stick right first time on the disposable pants:when you are stood up or moving and realise you need to adjust it it wont come off and re-stick on the disposable material. Plus they have no "give" in them and I think a girl needs pants to stretch a little when you are shuffling about afterwards.

I thought I would sling loads of my big parachute pants out immediately - but I ditched very few and washed them as normal. Comfort pants...that is what I advise

[hastingsmum]

Boots, and agree with above, get LOTS. I remember walking into town at least every other day or so to buy more.

[daisystone]

The Mothercare ones are fine. Also I bought some off Amazon. Just search for maternity pads on Amazon UK and they will come up. I think there was only one type on there and they sell really big packs and they were good and absorbant.

[daisystone]

And boots were good too

[theborrower]

I used the Boots ones - the huge thick ones for the first week (and nighttime) and the slimmer ones later on. I was wearing them for, oh, 5 weeks or so? Definitely get lots!

I'd recommend disposable knickers for the hospital too, but I wore the size I normally wear (i.e. the size of knickers you're wearing now). That way you don't have to worry about packing dirty laundry. It's also worth getting big high waisted cotton pants too in case you have a CS as I did, for going home/the first few weeks as they're dead comfy and will hold the pads in place. They avoided rubbing on my scar and were really comfortable, so imagine they would be anyway even if you don't have an EMCS. Only £4 for a pack of 5 in M&S.

[gallicgirl]

I think I'm in denial over this. I have 3 packs of the Boots pads (ie 30) and I've put one pack in my hospital bag. My brain refuses to acknowledge I might need more.

[wigglesrock]

I liked Tescos own brand - have used them with 2 births and am currently getting ready to get organised for dc3!!! Also used Tescos own "big full pants" for use before, during and after the birth. Thought disposable pants were really uncomfortable. Another tip get all towels, night dresses, pjs etc in dark colours.

Ps Triple at least the amount of pads you think you need, especially you gallicgirl

[mamijacacalys]

Always night time pads were fine.

Also what Wigglesrock said - buy loads!

Buy cheapie Asda cotton knickers and chuck them rather than going for the disposable knickers option. Post childbirth is uncomfortable enough without adding paper knickers to the mix!

[bb99]

Black cotton pants, cheapie supermarket ones - hide all sorts of things

I've always found the disposable ones rustle too much and aren't very comfortable...

Always pads (BIG or night time ones) were good, especially the 'silk' ones which I found the most comfy.

[Loobyloo1902]

Bless all of your tiny toes for such good advice, I'll be off to Boots to stock up with as many as they have and get some big black knickers.

Feel a little foolish at having bought myself some cream flannel PJs for the recovery but hey hoo, tonnes to learn eh?!

Thanks ladies

[Bobby99]

PJs sound nice - just wash them straight away if they get stained. I bought a load of cheapo big pants from Asda, just a cheap as disposables and they all survived the ordeal! Boots pads are good. I preferred the ones with wings. Mothercare do some slim ones which were comfy.

[ethelina]

If you have big enough pants and thick enough pads you will be fine with lovely cream PJs . Oh and if you deliver vaginally you will be grateful for the thickest bulkiest pads you can find for the first week.

[emski1972]

Boots and enormous pants from Primark 5 for £2.50. I'm wearing them right now in size enormous and am very comfortable!

Disposables I couldn't get over my hips..

Pads - try and get as many as you can from the hospital or midwifes when you are there. These were great for first 3 days..

And you will want the Boots pads handy for when waters break..

Quietly one of MW's said as they are not allowed to recommend products to stay away from Always as they are not great and said boots were best.

I also bought a cheap wrap over short dressing gown from Pradamark and was so pleased. Far more comfortable than a nightie and if in hospital it means you can skin to skin and feed and then get up without bothering with any clothes..I reluctantly just put it in the wash.

And I'm sitting in white sheets on day 5 so save your cream PJ's for a few days after..Cant imagine wearing Pyjamas I cant get my legs in anything (stitches) and have been wearing one sock for 2 hours now..

[theborrower]

Oh yeah, I wore a (black) nightie in hospital with feeding clips - couldn't have imagined wearing pjs at all (and would have been impossible anyway, having had the CS). But the cream ones sound nice for when you're back home and are babymooning :)

[deemented]

TBH i'd tend to stay away from the Always and use proper maternity pads, not period pads as i always found that the period pads tend to 'draw', iyswim?

Boots ones are fab, and a packet of pampers bed mats are really handy for the first few days, i found.

[PrincessScrumpy]

Ooooh, I used the pampers pads on the floor as I got out the bath/shower as I bled so heavily and have cream carpet in the bathroom (not our choice). Really useful!

I used mothercare pads but would probably get Boots ones next time (then I can get Boot points on the card!). I used disposable pants because I was given some - wouldn't bother next time.

[Longtinsellyjosie]

yy to getting loads. I tried to convince a pregnant woman in Boots once to buy all six packs on display but she didn't believe me! And cheapie supermarket pants rather than paper ones...

[Adair]

I didn't actually use loads and loads tbh. But I do agree with the getting cheap cotton pants not disposables.

I just got cheap own brand thick sanitary towels. The reason Always not recommended is that you don't want the weave-y top sheet if you have stitches as they might catch...

Wrap over short dressing gown BRILL idea, thanks!

[lurcherlover]

MW told me sanitary towels have chemicals in them which can irritate, so I avoided them. Boots were the best maternity towels I bought - the big fat ones to start with, definitely! But I found the best ones were the ones the hospital had - I'd love to know who supplies the NHS, wish I could've had more of those at home! Get loads more than you think - I was going through 8 pads a day for the first week I think...in total I was in pads for 5 weeks I think, then pantyliners after that for another couple. The bleeding settles down, but it is persistent! Also, make sure you have dark towels ready for your first few showers, and something to put on the bathroom floor before you can get your knickers on...

[deemented]

And to that end - i've always taken a pair of cheap flip-flops in with me specificaly for shower time...

[NineLadiesDancingThroughLife]

Oh yes, definitely take flip flops.

I was told not sanitary towels because they can mask the signs of infection as it's all whisked away.