When do you use the maternity pad?

[ardenbird]

I'm packing my hospital bag and trying to figure out how much if what to put it. It occurred to me that I had been assuming the maternity pads (and disposable/cheap knickers) were for afterwards to sop up any bleeding. But might you wear them in early labour too? I had been imagining that when I got in I'd change into just a big t-shirt and leave the bottom half free, but if your water breaks, would you wear pads to keep from leaking all over?

Yes pads are good if waters are leaking, although prob not much use if your waters gush. However they are good cushioning material for any stitches/grazes you may have. You can never have too many.

No - they're not for labour, you were right first time :)

Depends on when they go really - with DS1 my waters didn't go until about 9cm dilated, so I just had a disposable mat on the bed under me.

With DS2 I was induced & waters were broken at 3cm, right at the beginning of labour, so I wore pads for the first few hours until I had my epidural.

The hospital supplied them though, I only used my own after the birth!

My waters leaked so I had to use my maternity pads to get to the hospital, and to show the MW when I got there. Nice!

I wore them during labour. My waters were leaking for about 2 days before DD was finally born.

And be prepared for a lot of bleeding afterwards-it gave me quite a shock.

Thanks! Right, I'll assume they'll give me pads for waters if needed (now I recall an early visit when they checked my panty liner for leaking I reported and gave me in replacement this giant whopper of a thing!) and pack for after. I'll keep a stock at home for before hospital and afterwards, too. Good point about the cushioning - I'd read nighttime pads were good substitutes, but they're not nearly so cushiony I imagine. I'll get some of both...

I got through a pack between the delivery room and ward. TMI I know but at one point I had 3 maternity pads on and still ended up stood in a pool of blood! I'd take at least 3 or 4 packs just in case you do bleed heavily because other friends had similar experiences so I don't think I'm a rarity.

I got through a pack between the delivery room and ward. TMI I know but at one point I had 3 maternity pads on and still ended up stood in a pool of blood! I'd take at least 3 or 4 packs just in case you do bleed heavily because other friends had similar experiences so I don't think I'm a rarity.

You want proper maternity pads, not sanitary towels, as the latter aren't as breathable for preventing infection (I think this is why, happy to be corrected, but I do know you want proper maternity pads.)

Good luck!

I found them oddly comfortable, much less sweaty than always type pads too.

Lady and Swivel it's because normal pads are plastic based and are better at wicking moisture away, but the plastic does make you feel sweatier (rather than natural fibres) and doesn't you monitor blood loss as well as you can't see how much is really going in the pad. I think they're so good at absorbing blood that they also make it hard for you to notice any odd smell which can indicate infection.

That's what I think is the case anyway...