Disposable knickers or maternity pads post labour

[edin16]

Hi all,

What are people's opinions for post birth?

Disposable pants or maternity pads?

Also if you think disposable pants which would you recommend?

I always just bought a pack of stretchy black big knickers from Tesco, and a big pack of super absorbent nighttime sanitary towels. Imo there is no need to buy specific maternity items. The knickers can be worn for several weeks until you fit back into your normal ones properly

Big knickers in a much bigger size and maternity pads. I found I swapped to eco nighttime maxi pads as soon as possible though.

I had disposable pants in the early days. Asda ones. Rinse in the shower, hang on the taps. Re use that evening!!
Maternity pads are important to keep tabs on your 'loss' too absorbant heavy flow can be missed - and can be an issue. Your mw will ask at least the first 10 days if it is OK....
Important..
Night time ones after that are great.
Post baby /bleeding but not quite back to thong size (), a Primark do a fab pack of stretch pants for a fiver!! (on a hanger set)

100% tena pants! Used for my third child and I wished I'd had them for the other 2! Try them on before hand though just to check they fit

You need both as they perform different jobs.

Pants you can just get a pack of cheap oversized supermarket ones - think granny, go for the biggest, stretchiest you can find as you do not want pressure on your tummy after birth. They might get stained and yuck so buy things you don't mind throwing away. I didn't get disposable because they seemed scratchy!

I preferred maternity pads to sanitary towels. Nicer on your bits as they are designed to go up against stitches, whereas sanitary towels often have a mesh top layer which can get stuck they also provide a bit of padding to sit on. You can (and I recommend) layer one on top of the other for the first couple of days! Also, get a tube of Weleda nappy change calendula cream. You can liberally squeeze this onto some of the pads and put them in the freezer. Absolute heaven for sore bits and helps you to heal up. They did this at the hospital I gave birth in in Germany and even had a little mini fridge on the ward with more!

i also vote for tena pants, they were great, even with a normal pad combo..nice and soft, especially when trying to sit down..

Last time I just wore big black granny pants with maxi pads (kotex etc.) that was comfortable for me and I got the big full/high waisted briefs as they went over my section scar. Managed to get a 5 pack from Debenhams for £4.50 last week so got a few packs as I'll probably be in them for a while after c-section.

I'll be trying out the disposable maternity pants you pop a pad into this time aswell, my sister bought too many in her last pregnancy so I've got a few boxes of those. They don't seem very comfortable though and i can imagine them getting a bit sweaty and uncomfortable. They do seem convenient for the hospital stay though.

I had disposable with pads for the first few days but wouldn't have said they are really necessary. I bought apple catchers in black and I'm still wearing them 17 years on... so comfy

I used my most elderly cotton knickers, and mat pads.

Disposable pants (tena lady) for the first few days when the bleeding is very heavy. Comfy and you dont have to worry about the pads moving or leaking if you lie down or on your side as the pants cover everything.

After that big maternity pads or sanitary towels.

pads. softer and cushioned. And get high waisted pants but not in a wildly different size to usual because if they’re too big they’ll not hold the pad close to you!

I was told not to use sanitary towels because the plastic backing increases the infection risk. The maternity pads I bought didn’t have any backing.
I had disposable pants for the first few days in the hospital but was glad to get back into normal ones, more comfortable.

Always pants for the first week or so. Handy as I'm sure I peed myself a few times when I stood up.

The joy of reusable sanitary towels (the most cushioned thing ever) just about made me cry last time. I am buying a couple more for my next post partum.