Maternity pads or just big sanitary towels

[cockermum85]

I'm starting to pack my hospital bag, only 30w but have had a few complications so I want to be ready to go really.

I have far too much stuff I need to get (all my bits, baby is sorted of course) and on this is big/disposable pants and maternity pads.

So my question is, do I go for disposable pants or just nip into primark and get some cheapo ones?

And is it definitely maternity pads or would heavy flow night time always do???

Also, everything I read online says I need 'loads'... are we talking a pack? 2 packs? 4 packs?

I have GD so I'll be in hospital for a couple of days after the birth.

[ninenicknames]

Defo big primark black pants!

Defo maternity pads .... you need the padding for comfort.

I would go for 4 packs

[Aliveinwanderland]

I initially had 2 packs but needed 2 more. I was changing them every 2 hours for the first few days.

I had cheap black pants. Much comfier than disposable and wth changing the pads often I didn't leak anyway.

[Doje]

Yup, agree. Big pants and big mat pads.

I think I used 2 packs and then went on to sanitary towels.

[LooksBetterWithAFilter]

I would say definitely maternity pads. They are thicker so give a bit of comfort if you feel a bit bruised afterwards, also a lot of normal sanitary towels have a kinda shiny dry too layer. Was told when I had one of mine they don't recommend them especially if you get stitches. I just used the disposable pants the first day because they were easy to get rid of when bleeding was new.

One random tip and I stole the idea from someone that was in wh0en I had my first. She wore pyjama bottoms with a night shirt over the top. When she sat down she pulled the night shirt up so she wqsny sitting on it. .want if she had any leaks when she stood up the night shirt covered them and she wasn't having to walk to the toilet passed everyone's visitors and things.

[spacefrog35]

Maternity pads all the way. I found the always type irritated stitches.

[FoxesSitOnBoxes]

Massive massive proper pants and maternity pads all the way!

[ASqueakingInTheShrubbery]

Definitely cheap black pants. I had to send DH out for more pads as I was stuck in hospital, and he came back with big Tena Lady. Not what I expected but they were fine.

[PotteringAlong]

Also, you need maternity pads not sanitary towels because sanitary towels are slightly scented and that can mask the signs of infection.

[AyeAmarok]

Maternity pads.

They are apparently different to sanitary towels, the material on the top is designed not to snag stitches and the midwife also told me that Always etc will smell with lochia, which you don't want.

I had my baby 3 weeks ago and I needed a lot. I think I went through 4 packets of 10/12 in the first 2 weeks. For the days after the birth when I was in hospital I had on two pads at once; the bleeding can be shocking.

Which brings me onto big pants! Best thing I bought. Big, black, high waisted (also useful if you have a C-section as can put a maternity pad on that too), wide gusset part and cotton. They will hold in the pad(s) in place and they feel nice and secure.

Good luck!

[MrsZumbaDancer]

Maternity pads- I used the boots ones (normal not slim) and they didn't irritate me -I had stitches both times too.

Big pants in a few sizes up-I'm a 10 normally but bought them in a 16-so comfy!

I probably went through at least 10 packs of maternity pads whilst the lochia subsided. I changed them very often.

[birdling]

Has anyone tried the tena lady pants? I'm thinking of trying them this time, certainly for the first day or so.

[welshweasel]

I used the always discreet pants (similar to Tena) for the first couple of days on advice from a friend. They were amazing. No leaks, felt lovely and dry and high enough not to rub c section wound. Then switched to cheap black pants and maternity pads. Everyone said to buy massive pants so I did, but they were far too big to hold pads effectively and the top kept rolling down into my wound. I'd go for you usual size but high waisted.

[LadyPenelope68]

Big, comfy Primark pants are the best, those disposable ones are sweaty and horrible. Maternity pads rather than regular nighttime, as they are unscented, have a different covering and are padded - a necessity with a bruised region!

[LadyPenelope68]

And definitely 4 packs, you'll need way more than you imagine!

[AyeAmarok]

I went for one size bigger than normal for the pants,but I think it would depend on how much weight you have put on during pregnancy.

[cheerylilthing]

I went for cheap primark pants a size up & maternity pads. In the end I think I used 6 packs of maternity pads but I had a forceps delivery & had stitches so I'm not sure if that meant more/prolonged blood loss

[redexpat]

Im overseas. I have no idea what maternity pads are. Only used sanitary towels except when I was at the hospital and they gave me net shorts with enormous pads that had no sticky bits. They were uncomfortable. Was such a reief to get my primarni pants on.

[ALongTimeComing]

About 4 packs of the massive ones then get a few packets of the slimmer maternity towels for later when it all dies down but you are still bleeding.

[EdithWeston]

Either maternity pads or the big (brick-like) soft and UNSCENTED overnight pads (becaus they are much the same thing). So look for makes like Bodyform and Kotex (as unlike Always, they haven't added freshener to most of their range - I suggest you stick with UNSCENTED for several periods after the birth too.

And cheap pants, not disposables, as you may well be wearing them for a few weeks as both bleeding and body size need to settle. Get biggish ones that fot you now, and some size down so you can have a choice and maximise the chances of having a size available that'll hold a pad securely.

[chloechloe]

Definitely not sanitary towels - they have a plastic coating which is not breathable and so not ideal for helping things heal down there.

redexpat and others not in the U.K. - it may be that you can only get maternity pads at the pharmacy. Oh how I miss Boots where you can buy everything!

[thecatsarecrazy]

I couldn't get on with maternity pads I used night time sanitary ones.

[Serafinaaa]

I quite liked the disposable maternity pants actually. I got a size 14-16 even though I'm a 10 and they came up to my belly button and well away from section scar. I like the fact that they were airy mesh type stuff so the wound got air and it was easier and more hygienic to keep throwing them away every day or more often.

[mum2Bomg]

I got some massive pants from Tesco for about a fiver and am living in them 13 days after having DD. I got maternity pads and then freaked about running out so bought three more packs. They are now unopened as I can use normal towels. If you'd like them then send me your address I will happily post them to you? It might sound weird but they're untouched in sealed boxes and it feels like a massive waste to chuck them away.

[mum2Bomg]

These are them...MUCH better than the ones the hospital has and now I have 30 of the buggers!

[BertieBotts]

Sanitary pads contain too many chemicals and can irritate. Some people get on OK with them. I found maternity pads were much better but even those bothered me after a while and I found cloth much more comfortable.