How many maternity pads should I buy?

[PinkFondantFancy]

How many maternity pads should I buy? I've got 20 so far. When I had a MC at 8 weeks last year, I was soaking super strong Always through every hour for a few days - is bleeding after giving birth likely to be this heavy? I've bought Natracare maternity pads to take to hospital with me.

2 packs of 48 from Mothercare and I used every single one of them!

They were very kind to my stitches.

Good luck with your birth OP!

And Tesco basics cotton huuuuuuge pants for £2.50 for four pairs or something equally cheap.....so you can just throw the whole lot away.

I was actually given 10 pairs of black size 16-18 pants from Primark from a pal who had two DC I was a bit at first... but my goodness I was grateful!

Best pre birth present I got

The paper knickers (I have been told) are very uncomfortable.

I only bought one pack-they had them in the toilets at the hospital and you just helped yourself. I went onto normal pads after about a week.

Forgot to say-I also reccoment primark knickers. I bought the larger size(16/18) and they were really comfortable after cs. Sadly had to give them up-2 years later when dh threatened divorce

the discomfort of the disposal pants was totally made up for by the fact that you can just chuck them away.

I had no idea how important I would find that when it came to it!

I also had huge cheap big pants from tescos that seemed massively unsexy before birth but totally fab afterwards

I had 48, and lots of cheap black (colour is key here!) bucket knickers from Asda! Not very glamorous but did the job.

I found Kotex Nighttime towels to be way better than the maternity ones and they were soft and gentle on the bloody enourmous piles that childbirth left me with!

I had 6 packs and that saw me through with a few left over. It was hard to get me back to wearing normal ones after them; the giant fluffy cushions that they were.

Ah Pink that means I can wear mine for another year and 5 months then if 2 years is the deadline

After my first (MROP) I had to put 2 thick pads side by side and then one down the middle! I felt like I was wearing a nappy but it was absolutely necessary. I was like this for 4 weeks at least.

After my 3rd I was on single big pads for 5 days then onto normal thin ones for 2 weeks and that's it.

My other 2 births were somewhere in between.

It all depends on so many different factors but I'd rather be prepared, so 4 packs of 12 to start and see how you go!

Oh, and yes, couldn't agree more-paper pants for first day only possibly and then lots of cheap black cotton knickers.

I always buy lots as I end up using 2 or 3 at a time for the first couple of days. If you breastfeed you may go through more pads as makes your womb contract and I would flood each time I fed.

Also, if your waters break at home you'll most likely get through a fair few pads whilst waiting to give birth, I certainly did.

Last time, I switched to Tesco maternity pads after about day 4, they are very thin but still better than the likes of Always etc.

i used them for a couple of days then went to always and body form i didnt bleed for more than a fortnight at a push but did have a lovely brown discharge up untill about 8 weeks

I would say buy at least 4 packs.
I really needed them the first few days but after about day 5 prob could have got away with sanitary towels. I bled for 5 wqeeks post partum but after day 5 was v light. Think possibly because had pph? Definitely buy enough to lar a couple of weeks, and if you need more, hopefully by then you'll be able to go andget some more/ someone else can pick them up for you

Agree with the preson who pointed out that if you have stitches, you need the maternity pads and not Always.

i had stitches both sides after DD and managed fine with always but everyones different :)

I had a PPH and many stitches i needed as much comfort and the most absorbant pads i could find, turns out boots, asda and tesco were all muchthe same!

Just bought 2 packs of 10 maternity pads, 1 pack of 8 tena lady and 2 packs of 5 disposable pants. Should do me for my hospital bag for now.

Oh yes- good point about waters breaking. Mine broke 2 days before birth and I went through about 20 pads before the event.

get some of these
i found them more useful than boxes of maxi's, you can use them as a changing mat too.