Sanitary towels are atrocious

[HannahsLife]

Had DS via Section about a month ago, still bleeding on and off and can't use tampons until 6 week check so using Always towels.

Have they always been this bad?! I remember using them as a teen with no major issues but these are awful! My vagina is trying to eat them, they move constantly, they're so uncomfortable that I keep wanting to rub the area (so I probably have thrush too!) and I'm pretty sure my baby doesn't have diaper rash but I do!

Just a lighthearted rant.

I had to buy some the other week for the first time in years as I needed disposables.
They were dreadful, never again.

I never wear Always, only Bodyform or Kotex. Always are scented and have that horrible mesh layer that sticks to you. They make me itch. Bodyform are so much better - make sure to choose unscented. In terms of maternity pads, I used to wear Kotex thick ones in the black and red packaging (not specifically maternity but so so so soft).

Bodyform great. Fed up of Always most of the packs are scented

Always are horrific; I wouldn’t use them if you paid me, I’d rather bleed out. Probably designed by a man eh. Body form are better, Natracare better still.

Im not into reusables yet but friends swear by Dame for reusables.

Have you tried period pants? Total game changer. Good luck!

Thanks all. I'm not in the UK (US) so I don't have a lot of the brands you've suggested but good to know not all are the same! I remember Always being the 'good' brand from my younger years! So assumed they'd still be the best, but that could just be what my family used

And I'm not wearing maternity pads anymore because the bleeding is much lighter 4 weeks in - I obviously did at the start! Now it's just enough to be annoying so I moved to regular pads but haven't used them in years.

I used to use target own brand in the USA, or Safeway ... always were scented then

I use pads and tampons, I cannot use Always because I’m so allergic to them, I use bodyform or supermarket night time towels for very heavy days. Always are awful.

I use Kotex , they have a super soft surface, and they sell them in our local community pharmacy (uk)

Tena are good. Even if not designed for exactly that purpose.

Otherwise washable don't itch.

Not for everyone. Washable pads gave me an awful rub/blister on my bits. Hurt like buggery! I love the idea in principle but there's just too much bulk in them for me.

Another vote for Flo pads. They are so soft, I couldnt believe I had put up with plasticy always pads my whole life.

Another bodyform fan here. Always are awful

Don’t use those - you need maternity pads.

yes Always were the market leader, not sure if they are now but the product is awful, I avoid now and buy own brand or Bodyform.

Sanitary towels are awful. It makes you sit in your own blood for hours. They are also made of the most awful uncomfortable itchy material.

They are definitely not the best thing to use for periods. A mini nappy made of uncomfortable itchy material, that doesn't stick very well.

Who dreamt that up?

Before reusable pads made of natural material were widely available, I realised myself that nearly all other material is more comfortable than sanitary pads .

For example one time I bought a thick wooly sock and used that in my knickers to try it out.it was very very comfy and soft on my vagina. You could really use any soft material. Natural fibres are good for our vaginas. Not scratchy synthetic plastic that these manufacturers make.

I find body form better than always

Yes, most of the Bodyform ones are unscented

Another vote for bodyform

For example one time I bought a thick wooly sock and used that in my knickers to try it out.it was very very comfy and soft on my vagina

Are you serious? This is what grannies had to make do with before sanitary pads were invented. I've always felt sorry for them

I'm not in the UK (US) so I don't have a lot of the brands you've suggested

Shame as I was going to suggest a supermarket or Boots own brand, or maternity pads. Otherwise they have scent for some reason.

Interestingly I got some Kotex night pads and notice they were the same as Boots normal maternity pads. Boots were cheaper....

Bodyform are less plasticy feeling, although I'm sure they are still actually very plastic!

I used tampons from my second period at age 13 onwards, so it was hell of a shock to have to use pads again following the birth of my two children.

I absolutely hated using all of them - maternity pads or sanitary towels - all the brands, scented or not. They all felt incredibly uncomfortable, made me
sweat and made me smell, I felt that I was constantly on the brink of an infection. All cleared up after I stopped needing to use them, the smell too, thank god.

Still using tampons.

I personally hope that Always go out of business never to be heard of again.
When I was last in the USA I used something made by seventh generation, they were padded quite thickly but I am sure they have slimmer offerings:

www.harristeeter.com/p/seventh-generation-regular-absorbency-maxi-pads/0073291345000?fulfillment=PICKUP&searchType=default_search

Also I have bought period pants and look forward to trying them out in around 29 days time!!

Boots thin maternity towels are very good. They are very absorbent.
Also like Yoni (but expensive). Other natural brands eg Natracare just fall to bits v quickly in my opinion

I had to use them after a MC and the pain they put me through. They seriously irritated certain areas and I couldn't walk for a couple of days after. I don't really get periods anymore, but when I do I just use tampons, much more comfortable for me.

If they are causing you to have nappy rash change the brand you're using immediately

I had to give up disposables years ago, long before commercial reusable products were readily available. They are absolutely awful, rash inducing things.

I bought my dd both to let her make up her one mind and she uses reusable without fail. The same pack of disposables have been sitting in the cabinet for almost a year.