Maternity pads???

[PipIsOutNow]

Ok ladies which are the best maternity pads out there? I'm 31 weeks and have already been in and out of hospital with everything so I'm starting to think about packing my hospital bag soonish. Just don't know where to start!!!

[Jokat]

How exciting The ones I found the most comfortable were one of the supermarkets' own brand super night towels. Can't remmeber if they were Tesco's or Sainsbury's ones. They were so much more padded than others, very comfy. Avoid Always etc because they are so thin. I'm normally a thin-pad girl, but after giving birth (and a few stitches) I was very grateful for the support (and soaking ability) of a big fat pad

[scampidoodle]

Mothercare are good - seem very old-fashioned and thick compared to usual towels but are very soft and good for the first few days. Boots are ok too but I remember thinking most of them except Mothercare are just like the extra super night-time (or whatever they're called) sanitary towels so it's not worth spending more money on them if they cost more just because they're in a maternity range... Take a lot as well - I ended up staying in hospital for a week (completely unforseen) and DH had to go and buy some more. Not his field of expertise...

[backwardpossom]

Any. I had a mix of Mothercare, Superdrug and Tesco ones last time. And you need about 5 times as many as you expect.

[crunchingautumnleaves]

My advice? Forget maternity pads & go for Tena lady. At first go for the maxi night ones then go for the extra plus when the flow has lessened a bit after first 2-3 days. They're super comfy, brilliantly thick & long (hardly any leaks compared to maternity pads). Yes bit more pricey but sooo worth it. And don't forget, whilst you can get cheap knickers to throw away, if there's much of a leak you really don't want to be faffing around spot cleaning trousers, especially if in hospital!

[crunchingautumnleaves]

Midwives actually recommended Tena lady pants to me, so you may want to try those too.

[rrreow]

I liked Superdrug own brand maternity pads. They were thick and soft and also very reasonably priced.

[Jakeyblueblue]

The big fat supermarket own ones. I bought a selection of different types before I had ds and this included a pack of expensive ultra thin maternity towels.....They were awful!
You need the extra padding the big fat ones give you, especially if you are sore and have had stitches. They also hold what seems like gallons!

[welovedaddy]

I've been picking up a pack of fat supermarket own ones each time I shop - didn't have any problem with them last time, and switched to thinner ones once it became more period like!

[Kellz92]

im the same as you. I bought some mothercare ones but wasnt sure if they would be best or no

[PipIsOutNow]

Oooh thanks ladies!!! I will pick some up on the weekend. With Christmas just round the corner I want to be as organised as possible!

[3rdbump]

I have the kotex night time heavy flow towels - i used them last time, very soft and padded and thick!! there in a black pack with a red candle/tealight on the packet - home and bargain sell them very cheap - around 99p for 10 :)

[Kellz92]

think I might go get some of them kotex ones too. a lot cheaper than the mother care ones x

[Jergens]

I tried several and would def say boots own brand are the best. Super thick ones for first few days then the thin ones with wings.

[Flisspaps]

Please remember that sanitary towels and maternity pads are not the same thing.

Many sanitary towels now have a plastic layer which helps you keep dry, but this plastic layer doesn't allow any wound (stitches/tears) to breathe properly, sanitary towels absorb more (convenient) but make it harder for you to monitor blood loss and/or infection.

Maternity pads are mostly akin to a mattress in your pants, but having suffered chafing and infection after DS, I wish I'd only used maternity pads after his birth! Tesco and ASDA do packs for around £1.

[Kellz92]

I only have maternity pads so far. but as this is my first pregnancy I dont really know what will be best for me so will have to just try a few different ones

[Spellcheck]

I second Flisspaps - avoid the plasticky ones! As well as needing to monitor loss, you need cottony ones that don't make you sweat and keep your recently-bashed bits aired and dry. The smell can be awful !!

[Purplecatti]

I used Sainsburys own brand and Mothercare ones with wings. The sainsburys ones felt the nicest and tbh the wings on the mothercare ones just annoyed me. I also had some puppy training pads to sleep on in the first couple of nights. They worked amazingly well. And the rest are now used on the playmat for bum out time for LO.

[Marmiteisyummy]

I used the fat tesco ones on top of always ultra night, so I didn't get leakage. Worked really well. Must have got through a good 10 packs all told, including a whole pack whilst in hospital!