To ask if you’ve noticed this about sanitary towels??

[Suuudohnym]

Anyone else noticed that you can only seem to buy pads for ‘normal’ flows now?

You used to be able to get them for light/normal/heavy flow but now all I can find is ones for normal flow but in different lengths. I used to buy Boots, Sainsbury’s or Bodyform ones for a heavy flow but can only find them for normal flow now and they just don’t do the job!! Same for other brands - why is this???

You can still get all sort of flow - I have to use heavy/night pads all the time
horrendously expensive though! Last pack was around £3 for kotex nighttime 😫

Bodyform still do pads for heavy flow, find them in morrions & tesco all the time. Maybe they have been out of stock?

got kotex night-time in savers recently for one pound.
or are you buying giant packs ?

I'm sure I've seen maternity/night styles still available.

Just guessing, but maybe its because far more women use tampons now???

Just guessing, but maybe its because far more women use tampons now???

And mooncups, and washable period pants.

Yes, I’ve seen the night time ones but that’s it - there are lots that say “ultra” but they’re all for normal flow so I don’t know what they mean by ultra!

Maybe it is a stock issue?? But for all those brands??

I know I’m not the norm using pads instead of tampons - I just can’t get on with them.

For anyone who hasn’t tried them yet can I please ask that you all try period pants? They are amazing!!
even on my really heavy days I can rely on them for 12 hours. Game changer. I’ve never once leaked!
Primark now do them and (as with everything there) they are very cheap!!

Looking up bodyforms website the ones labelled as 'long' are for heavy flow. The long have a green bit on the label

I think the 'ultra' bit means thin a opposed to 'comfort' which means padded

yes, I use Always and their range has definitely changed. No light green pads, dark green pads ( Normal) are now less absorbent, the next ones are purple pads called Long

What is the sizing like? I'm quite a large size and every advert I see for period pants they look uncomfortably tight.

M&S period pants come in up to 28, and they're generously cut.

I don’t like feeling of period pants and don’t like tampons, I prefer Always pads. My DD wears period pants occasionally but doesn’t like them either, prefer pads. I know a couple of friends who use tampons only for swimming or while on holiday, otherwise pads. So pads are still popular.

I’m a size 18 and the primark large ones are really comfortable for me. Which is true to their size guide.

My GF used the Always black packets (I think they are made for nights) and I can buy them easily from Ocado but most supermarkets sell them also (I just don’t physical shop much nowadays). Personally I don’t use disposable sanitary towels because I started getting allergic reactions to just about all I could find and then I found 100% cotton and they were EXPENSIVE! I just bought some reusable ones online along with pantyliners and they have worked out fine for me before I got pregnant.. not sure what I will use after giving birth but will likely find another reusable version.

oh should you find the Always black packets, my gf recently tried the new ones which were meant to be super absorbent she bought off Amazon and said they were really bad! Leaked through every single one in no time! She went straight back to the original black pack (which I think you can also find on Amazon too).

I was the same as you OP, always used pads cause I just didn't like tampons. But I started finding it hard to find any unscented ones, I have allergies and eczema and if I use anything scented down there I'm sore for weeks 😖 toilet rolls becoming a big issue as well, no one needs scented bog roll!!
I switched to a menstrual cup and never looked back!

Incontinence pads are great for heavy periods, basically identical to sanitary towels but thicker. They come in various sizes. They are also very widely available, at least Tena is, but there are cheaper ones which are nearly as good.

I haven't noticed this. I usually buy mine from Sainsburys and I always use night ones as my flow can be really unpredictable and go from nothing to gushes/clots within 30 mins! Saying that I haven't bought any for a few months now as I'm pregnant so it's possible it's a recent thing.

Do you have a savers near you? They usually are the cheapest

Various flow types are definitely still available, but instead of it being written in words, little droplet symbols in a row are used, the more droplets, the more they are suitable for heavier flow

Op, I used to buy the blue always night ones but tended to buy online from the online chemists or ebay stores as much cheaper. I wondered whether it was a demand thing, that more women were using tampons so not bothering as much with sanitary towels.

bodyform have changed their packets

they used to be 'green' for heavier flow - now they are pink with a tiny green circle on them - hope that helps

Just to confuse us all the bodyform ones - do not do the drops in a row now - they do a triangle 'being filled with lines' - the more 'filled the triangle the more - they hold!

I get these if I can find them. Much more comfortable than the thin ones. But rarely see them now.

I find it easier to buy in bulk online, so a year’s worth for myself and DD from somewhere like BigGreenSmile or Ethical Superstore. Eco by Naty or Natracare both do long (night) pads which have no added perfume and are good for sensitive skin.

I always wear night time, the. Switch to lighter ones. Not noticed an issue.