Apologies if TMI - talk to me about maternity pads

[bikerunski]

So -

Some people have said that only specific maternity pads will do.

Some have said that Always night times ones are more comfy because of the wings and just as absorbent.

Advice please!

[HuwEdwards]

certainly at first only maternity!

[toomuchmonthatendofthemoney]

i bled like a sacrificed bison for 6 weeks, needed the maternity pads definitely.

things with wings means things that leak out the sides leaving you with large red streaks down the legs of your jammies/trackies. not a good look at the ante-natal reunion lunch.

think how many pads you could possibly need for 9 months of missed periods suddenly all turning up at once in your knickers. and then double it. then send dp/dh out to Boots to buy them and add another six packs on top.

are you scared yet? sorry!!

[claricebeansmum]

Maternity.

And then buy cheapo pants that you can throw away. You will leak and you don't want to ruin your lucky pants!

[thisisyesterday]

I HATE maternity pads with a passion.

I used always nighttime ones both times (and believe me, I bled a LOT) and they were fine.

[gigglewitch]

defo maternity ones, and make it smooth cotton covered ones (Boots and mothercare the experts imo)- in case you have stitches, they are much more comfy, oh and some disposable knickers. There is no underestimating how much "protection" you need after little bundle arrives. Get lots of both disp undies (size bigger than you usually take to start with, more comfy) and maternity pads.

[claricebeansmum]

It will feel like wearing a brick in your knickers but your mind will be on other things...leaky breast pads, leaking nappies, tears (yours and PFB)...

It's very damp this whole maternity business isn't it?

[PotPourri]

'Always' chafe (sp?) - ok a couple of weeks in.

Def maternity pads, they are lovely and soft. And if pos get wings, expeec for first 5 days.

[Olihan]

Do not under any circumstances, buy those teeny, paper thin sanitary towels for at least the first week - 10 days. If you have a VB you will want the extra cushioning of proper maternity pads.

Also, without meaning to worry you, the bleeding in the first 24 hours is immense. I didn't realise how bad it would be - for the first day I was wearing 2 pads and changing them constantly. IME, even night pads wouldn't have done the job.

I also bought cheapo massive granny pants for the first few days, instead of paper pants. They're more comfy and you can bin them if they get really stained.

[sherbetdipdab]

Maternity definitely.

Apparently you need to see what is coming away (slightly gross I know) to check for tissue loss and bits of placenta etc and the Always type will suck it all up and you can't see as well. Sorry for that piece of info!

Can I also confess that I actually only bled when I went to the toilet, but I did wear pads for 6 weeks just in case.

[fledtoscotland]

you must use maternity pads at first as normal sanitary towels draw the blood away and reduce healing. also your m/w may need to see your lochia.

i found boots ones useless and highly recommend tesco's own (10 for 97p) as they were soft, thick and never leaked.

[EyeballsintheSky]

Proper maternity pads, no substitutes, 3 at a time in my case. Huuuuge pants that come up to your ears. And you'll still leak, but hey.

[hellymelly]

I used the night time ones,in fact i mainly used ordinary ones and they were fine.The midwife saw them in my case and told me to "get my husband to buy some big ones"but I didn't get any maternity jobbies.I had c-sections,I don't know if that affects the amount of blood? I bought size 16 pants from marks in a high waist style, not too frumpy really as I bought them in black and the bigger size meant they didn't dig in.little briefs are no good with a scar.

[fillybuster]

Another vote for Always - but I like the ones which don't have wings...no chafing or leaking but a lot more absorbent and comfy than maternity pads. And believe me, I bleed!! But its all trial and error - I went through about 8 different brands/styles after my first dc until I figured out what worked best for me...

I also second the cheap knickers suggestion - M&S have got a BOGO half price offer on their cotton knicker packs at the moment....no point in ruining the pretty stuff and cotton is more comfortable anyway...

Good luck!

[Olihan]

My dsis had a cs and only had bleeding like an ordinary period (I think they clean out quite a lot of thhe gunk during the op), whereas I had VBs and bled massively.

[DontNeedAnything]

Start with proper maternity pads for the first 3-5 days.

Then downgrade to always nighttime

Then downgrade to a proper full thickness non paper thin sanitary towel.

They all have aplace but you will need at least 2-3 packs of each, depending on how long you bleed for.

[MadameOvary]

I was in for days because of my CS, but at one point I thought I'd wet myself, there was such a gush - had two midwives tearing off my disposable pants in case I had PPH.
I was too tired to be embarrassed tho...

Point is that you can bleed a LOT.so defo proper maternity pads.

[littlelamb]

Always night time with wings and then a big fat maternity pad on top. I only worked this out with my second baby. You do need the softness of the maternity pads, but Always are HUUUUGE and the wings mean you don't worry so much about leaks. In the first few days I had knickers stuffed with two always and a maternity pad. Sooooooooo attractive

[Ambi]

I only had them at the hospital and just had big sanitary towels, when I got home later that day, wrked fine for me no leakages but changed pretty regularly. I used witch hazel gel on the pads too, slight tinglyness at first then soothes like nothing else, wonderful. A few weeks later I also used arnica cream too to help healing.

[Dummymumm]

i LOVED tena lady pants not pads for the first bit. much bigger, more secure and no leaks. considering you wont be back in pre-pg clothes immediately they are actually quite discreet. and even mat pads feel like a nappy anyway

[Teaandcake]

Def maternity pads. Don't get the Boots ones though, they have a 'nylon' feel cover which is v unpleasant. Mothercare ones were much softer. Do not underestimate how many you will need. Just buy lots, they're pretty inexpensive anyway.

I also second buying some v cheap, big knickers (in black) which can be thrown away. Try Ethel Austin.

[bikerunski]

Thank you ladies, I am now very scared!

[Moomin]

Don't be scared! Like someone else said, it will be the least of your problems concerns when PFB arrives. I had 2 c-s and still used tesco's maternity pads and massive M&S cheapo granny pants and I felt nice and safe in the first few weeks.

[Moomin]

In fact, I used a maternity pad along my scar to help keep it cushioned. Good tip if you end up with a c-s!

[LazyLinePainterJane]

I didn't use maternity pads, I found normal ones better and more comfortable. What I did do was to wear two pairs of knickers, I felt more "secure" like that

[WheresTheAuPair]

lol at 'bled like a sacrificed bison' - that so sums it up!
I found i was allergic to disposable knickers and on top of the heavy bleeding my skin peeled off on my bikini line!!! to say i was a mess after my cs was an understatement- heavy bleeding/raw bikini line/lumpy leaky boobs and cs wound...arghh! and those horrid knickers cut right into the cs scar
This time around i've bought giant primarni granny knickers in size 20.