What did you use for bleeding after birth?

[JennyC520]

I'm preparing my hospital bag and after-birth stuff:)
So what do/did people use for the bleeding after birth?

Tena pants?
Tena pads?
Night sanitary towels?
Maxi pads?

I've read some blogs and some used Tena pants, some used night towels. What's more practical? Or is it more personal preference?
Just wanted to see what the majority of mums used before I went out and got a load of pads/pants!!

I just used those pads you use for your period, the nighttime ones.

Extra huge night pads, two of them. And huge great black granny pants from primark to keep them on!

It's personal preference. I used tena pants, I couldn't bear the pressure of pads.

The big maternity pads (green & white here) for the first few days, and then the big padded nighttime pads after that.

Tena pants for the first week or so - found them much comfier than the big maternity pads, especially at night. Then usual Always night time pads.

I used maternity pads - specific ones from Tesco or Mothercare.

In reality, you won't know how much you'll bleed until it happens so it's wiser to go for the towels with the highest absorbency.

With DS1 & DS2 I got through a lot of maternity pads but, for some reason, bled a lot less with DD (DC3) and Always Night pads were perfectly fine then.

If I were having another baby I'm not I'd buy some maternity pads again.

I had maternity pads last time. They're like mattresses that are alarmingly narrow.

I hadn't thought of tena pants - I like that idea. Do they feel more secure?

Might invest in some...!

I think they recommend the maternity ones over sanitary the first week as something to do with the maternity containing it on top rather than absorbed so it can be checked easier if they think you have any kind of infection? I think anyway

Big thick maternity pads for weeks here. I've bleed heavily for ages both times. Normal sanitary towels wouldn't have cut the mustard!

Enormous maternity pads.

Black asda pants 1-2 sizes bigger and Kotex maxi night pads. They come in a black packet and I got mine in £ shop. I found them far more absorbent than maternity pads.

Maternity pads. I didn't bleed massively, but the thickness was heaven for my many stitches. I went to thin pads after the first week but switched back to the thick ones for the padding!

Mine wasn't that heavy so just Always nighttime pads, but I think they've scented them now, so I'll look for something else next time.

I hear the Tena pants are good because they're secure and oyu dont need extra underwear, but now thinking about it... you'd have to take off all your trousers/leggings when you use the bathroom right?.. seems like a hassle now.. Or is it like a nappy where u can rip it off?

I totally forgot about specific maternity pads...
So perhaps Tena pants, then Mat pads, then night towels! Feel like I'm going overboard, 1st time mum troubles!

Those big maternity pads from Boots. Didn't really see the point of them until I used them. Bliss. Like sitting on a cushion! Much needed postpartum!

Maxi pads. I didn't get heavy bleeding though

Maternity pads followed by non scented night pads. Non scented being crucial for me

Maternity pads, soaked in witch hazel - cooling healing bliss on the stitches (trust me)

Maternity pads, for a couple of weeks. I sent DH out to replenish my stocks about a week after birth and he came back with nighttime pads, which really didn't cut the mustard at all.

Another vote for maternity pads, I didn't bleed much but nobody warned me the risk of being incontinent afterwards! Took a few weeks to settle down and am fine now but literally couldn't feel my bladder for the first 2 days (normal delivery, small tear) and the big pads saved me from much embarrassment! (My friend had the same too)

Maternity pads, the massive ones. Three at a time during the first couple of weeks in paper knickers with big knickers over the top. Other options were not as effective.

I used always night with lavender oil on. Worked fine but the smell of lavender makes me feel sick now haha.

I used some maternity pads but I didn't like the fact they didn't have wings on.

Superdrug incontinence pants. Cheaper than tena!

i started with the supermarket maternity pads, but someone told me kotex pads were just the same. got more of them for your money if i remember correctly, so i used them when i ran out of the others. i found they were actually better and stuck with them.

Tena pads were amazing, they come off in the same was as maternity pads. Depending on what kind of birth you has, blood may not be the only ahem issue you're dealing with down there