Is it really necessary to get special maternity pads?

[MadamePlatypus]

With DS I dutifully bought maternity pads from mothercare. However, they were really rubbish. I think I read somewhere that Always style pads are 'over absorbent'. However, I don't really see how this can be a problem as long as you change them regularly. I'll ask my midwife about this next week when I see her, but was just wondering what other people had done.

Hi, I found maternity pads really uncomfortable and not very good. I used the always nightime for first week and then used always normal after that. I had no problems, stiches healed normally, so I wouldn't worry just use whatever makes you feel comfortable and normal!!

I used Kotex nighttime and they were fine.

I used nighttime pads with DD, after having concluded maternity ones were rubbish with DS. Found nighttime pads much more comfortable, and much more absorbent. I did use 3 at once though to begin with!

I used tesco maternity pads because the boots ones were really uncomfy! I think they might be more absorbent? Anyway, I got a giant tampon shoved up me after I gave birth so I didnt need them for a while

I think in hospital they like you to have maternity pads just in case there are any clots etc. Once I got home I didn't use then just always.

q'pie I had one of those as well. But didn't stop me flooding everywhere as soon as I stood up in the postnatal bath.

MP, my midwife advised against using Always as there is apparently an increased risk of thrush or something? So I bought some Tesco maternity and night-time pads, and iirc there wasn't much difference tbh except the night-time ones were cheaper. I would go for mattress-style night-time pads to begin with or whatever makes you most comfortable, and it shouldn't be long before you can switch to regular ones. When are you due?

I used Always and dutifully changed them every couple of hours. Those maternity jobbies were like strapping on a saddle.

Baby Platypus #2 due mid October.

I think I can vaguely recall something about checking the pad in hospital and blood clots now you mention it heavenis. I suppose an Always pad might absorb too much of the blood for them to be able to analyse it?

Never had a pad checked. Used ordinary pads, could not walk with the maternity ones.

Just as CrocodileKate.
The pads that I used have never been checked, actually never heard that using something else was a problm before...
Just used Always night time . I looked for the mostaborbant ones for just after the birth.

I got the old-fashioned 'thick' night time always ones with wigs so they stayed put. Found the thick ones were more comfortable because I tore and needed some padding when I sat down

[pmsl at pads with wigs - liquidclocks you have made me laugh out loud in a crowded office ]

always night with wings!!!!

The midwife was horrified when she was getting some things out of my bag for me (after c-section) to see Alway night time (with wings) I told her to look further and she would find the maternity ones.
They remind me of the ones I worn when I first started my periods. I was the female version of John Wayne (get off your horse and drink ya milk)

I liked the maternity ones - and, look away now if you are squeamish! - I found that they were better than sanitary towels because the sanitary towels have a gauze over the top which caught on my stitches (not as bad is it sounds but avoidable). And yes there is something strangely comforting about those school day sanitary towels that we used to have whilst reading about Judy Blume and Sweet Valley high!

You are supposed to as sanitary towels draw the blood into them and away from you and apparently this is not a good thing when you have had a baby - they are cheaper too and as you will go through loads of them I w3ould stick with them.

I used always and never had a problem.