re usable breast pads recommendations

[margherita76]

Although i have trawled though many threads I thought I should try my own-I think I am going to spend a fortune on breast pads unless I find some reusable ones. I would like some natural fibre reusable breast pads and would like some recommendations. I don't want the silicone ones as I hear they only last 4 weeks. Any advice much appreciated. If it makes any difference I am 5 weeks in and constantly spraying and walking around with old breast pads hanging off my clothes etc etc. How am I going to sort myself out?!

if you are any good at sewing, then I can recommend making your own, from one layer of fleece (next to bra), one to three layers of towelling (old flannels will be fine) and one layer of cotton next to the skin, then just sew round the edge.

failing that, all I can add is not avent ones, they don't really seem to soak anything up.

oh, and I have had success with lilypadz and they lasted months for me.

i have boots reusable ones, I find them comfortable but i don't know how good they are absorbancy-wise as i don't leak much. They also don't lie particularly smooth on me so might be visible under a tight top - but i suppose that depends on the size/shape of your boobs

ok thank you

so the lilypadz worked?! should i reconsider?

I can't imagine Lilypadz wear out that fast. I've not had mine long but I do have a silicone rubber mooncup I've been using for 8 years, boiling etc and it's still nearly good as new.

I found fabric ones a pain to wash, I lost one somewhere (they are small enough for the sock pixies to steal) and I kept running out of clean ones (I have 6 pairs).

I would agree that fabric ones are a total PITA, I tried boots ones not absorbent or soft at all and just ended up with a broken washing machine!

Also really hard to get the nipple cream out in the wash if you're still at the stage.

Lilypadz or lanisoh disposables i found to be best.

I bought a set of fabric ones by motherease from the Totnes Nappy Company.

www.totnesnappycompany.co.uk/shop/copy_of_Washable_Breastpads.html

They are great, very soft and stitched in a slight concave shape, so I have never had any problems with visibility under clothes.
Much better than they look in the picture.

Don't buy the Avent ones, they are tiny and rubbish!

I bought these at about 15 weeks and regretted not buying them sooner.

I'm glad you mentioned the sock thing Porcelain as the sock fairy is the bane of my life.

Nubbins - good idea re sewing and I thought about it but I know I won't get round to it!

Fishy- the last thing I want is a broken washing machine

branching out - they look like good ones, thank you for the link

So in conclusion- washables have their own drawbacks and the silicon ones are more durable than I was lead to believe but - do they deal with v leaky boobs?

thank you all

These Imse Vimse ones are lovely and soft even after washing.

I also have some hemp ones (from DS so can't remember where I got them from) that are also comfortable.

Much preferred the reusables to disposables last time so only using reusables with DD.

lilypadz are not great if you have a strong let down, best to wait till things have calmed down a bit for those. I am very leaky and use them some of the time (ds is nearly 5 months) I am still using the ones i bought when I was feeding my dd (now 2 1/2)

nb; if you are very leaky you'll probably need to change pads at every feed, just to bear in mind when you are shopping for them. And you can also get lots of pretty and funky ones too. Often from the same places as reusable nappies, it's definitely worth googling them.

I had some from mothercare , washable ones that is. I ahted the paperones and only used them if going out and needed to not be able to see them through my top.

I love these ones. Had the same lot for over a year now and they're still in fine condition.

Mine are bamboo. They're like little warm cosy blankets, and so soft...

I second duchess's recommendation, v good, I had some smaller ones that I didn't like much too so on very leaky days I wore the smaller one inside the motherease ones.

oh god - now i can't decide between bamboo and cotton.

As we are coming into winter don't get bamboo unless you have a tumble drier, they take a lot longer to dry

HTH

yup that helps a lot thank you

Or stick em on the radiator! We have a dehumidifier so they dry quickly.