Question about maternity pads

[NCPuffin]

I am currently 31 weeks pregnant and stocking up on supplies for after the birth. I use reusable pads for my period, which is light/moderate, and plan to use reusables for the postpartum time too. Could anyone give me an idea of how heavy their flow was and how long you bled for?

Very light from day one, lighter than my usual light periods. I was on panty liners by day 7 and pad free by day 10.

I don't think your lochia is related to how heavy or not your periods are bit both of mine are light. Hoping for the same this time.

I didn't bleed particularly heavily. I used imse vimse night time pads for a week or so then my normal pads (earthwise medium) for another week or so I think.

I bled really heavily for the first week then continued to bleed lightly for 9 weeks. I got through loads of packs of maternity pads and found the Boots own brand ones to be the best. Best to get more than you think you'll need and you can either donate any you don't use or perhaps keep for any future babies.

Don't use normal sanitary towels, particularly if you have stitches, as the plastic backing may inhibit healing.

3rd baby due in a week and I have 5 packs of disposables. I was using 2 (in a horizontal line) between each pee and still had to change my undies at least twice a day due to leaking for the first 3-4 days. After that I was fine with 1 and the only time things got dicey was if there were clots. It really is a bit of a horror show down there for the first few days .

I bled for 6 weeks and at first it was just dripping out of me. I needed the mega thick pads and was changing them regularly as I’d had an episiotomy and didn’t want to get an infection. I’m thinking about buying some reusables for the next time but for the first few weeks I will definitely go for the big cushiony ones.

I’m thinking of topping my reusable pads for post birth. I thought a pack or two of maternity pads. Then maybe 6 extra postpartum ones. Giving me about ten overnight/heavy pads.

Last time I feel I switched panty liners pretty early on under ten days and I’ve got loads of those already.

Just trying to workout if I should buy the lovely handmade pads or get some eBay cheapies.

Might have to cope with a bit of urine leakage too! Another reason for pads in the early days

Lots and lots of heavy bleeding for a few weeks and then lots of the lochia light flow for about six weeks. But my stitches were agony. Second degree tear including a stich in the labia and one at the bottom that fell out before healing... Soooo definitely needed the thick cotton pads not normal ones. Sainsbury's do wonderful maternity pads. And I weed in baths and showers for weeks but only because that pesky stich fell out!

I only took thick sanitary pads with me for my first labour (bad preparation) and obviously they were never going to be enough. The hospital gave me some of their super-thick, non-reusable, post-labour pads and I lived in them for like 3 weeks, they were so comfy.

By all means take some reusable ones if that's your preference but do feel free to ask the hospital for some of theirs if yours aren't cutting it/are too much extra effort with a newborn.

I'm due on Monday and following advise I have heavy flow sanitary towels smeared with aloe vera in the freezer- apparently this is bliss.

Heavy flow sanitary towels- you may be going through one every 20-30 minutes the first few days. They hold nothing like a maternity towel. Maybe you’ve had babies and don’t bleed heavily afterwards🤷🏻‍♀️ But if you haven’t, don’t underestimate the amount of blood there will be, it’s not like having a heavy period. But good luck! You are almost there, exciting times!!

I'm a reusable sanitary pad user and wouldn't dream of using my pads for at least the first week.

I bled for 6 weeks with my frat two children, first week very heavy then more like a normal period.

I used the natracare ones and they were good. Went through 4 boxes, I think. Was too poorly after labour to be bothered with extra laundry, as I’d have needed to scrape clots off etc (ugh!) so chucking them was great.

I also got some puppy training pads to sit/lie on and air my stitches (do not do this if you’re expecting postman/Morrison’s delivery/whatever, but as a general rule plenty of air on breastfeeding nipples and healing bits is a good plan)

Very light, was finished after 10 days and only needed a panty liner after day 5.

I got the biggest maternity pads I could and I used 2 at a time because I overlapped them near my bottom to give my poor piles a bit more padding

It also stopped any leaks when I was lying on my back because the and pads literally spanned my whole pants!

Lilets maternity pads are the best. They're thick and huge and exactly what you need to soak up spills and leaks at the front, back and sides. 5 days pp here and my flow has varied from very heavy to light to heavy again.