I'm packing my hospital bag – what kind of knickers?

[esgill]

In my NHS antenatal class they said disposable knickers are good. Why? Is this because we're likely to bleed a lot post birth? I'll have the maternity pads anyway.

Can I get away with just bringing some knickers I don't care much about? I'd rather not have more waste than necessary.

Another vote for black full briefs a couple of sizes up. Absolute godsend!

Primark do packs of 5 big black pants, I bought 2 packs and they were great.

Another vote for big high waist, black/ dark colour, soft and comfy. Room for a mammoth maternity pad. Happy to just bin in the event of accidents, blood leak etc.

@esgill if you've worn the same size knickers throughout your pregnancy, I wouldn't worry about sizing up. I'd just use whatever you wear during a period and stock up on maternity pads (they truly are useful as they're more absorbent, less plasticky and don't stick to stitches).

I wore the same bikini style (they fitted under my bump) throughout pregnancy, but heeded the advice to size up and now have 5 pairs of horribly baggy black pants (even immediately post partum) that I found irritating and pointless! I also bought some disposable pants and they gave me heat rash.

With my second baby I just used my normal pants and maternity pads, much more comfortable!

Also. When ur packed. Add some more. And add some more pjs or nighties. I went through a ton of both. Would have sent my husband to Tesco for more but it was Xmas day. Add them in. And if u don’t use them great. I went thought three packs in an hour due to one thing or another.

Old pants, cheap black pants or disposable incontinence pants all work well. I had the recommended disposable maternity pants for my first and used regular underwear for my second

I'm with everyone else on here about the big, cheap, black undies, but just something to add. My SIL told me to use a thin pad across the gusset of my undies with a nice big, soft, thick pad over the top as normal. Thin pad acts like super absorbent wings. You can even use two or three along the gusset if your bleeding is really heavy.

Also, I had EMCS for my first and it was like a crime scene in the shower afterwards, heavy bleeding for several weeks. Two VBACS after that and no noticeable difference in amount of post partum bleeding. Sorry!

This time around I got a five pack of super high waisted pants from katakana in the next size up. They were such a treat at the end of pregnancy, and I still wear them now because they are so comfy and make me feel thin when I wear them 😂
For my first I just used my regular pants.
I didn't see the need for in throw away pants - I know everyone is different but the post birth bleeding is a very heavy period for me. So always a little tentative about standing up first thing in the morning, but not so terrible you need to throw away your underwear....

I went to primark and just got big black comfy looking knickers. Cheap and cheerful. Boots maternity pads are the best. I've had 2 kids and never used 'disposable' underwear so it's not essential.

I got the ‘always discreet’ disposable incontinence underwear after a recommendation and it was the best recommendation I had. I had to have a C Section and they were so good. Didn’t have to worry about leaks or pads slipping. I used them for about a week in the end before changing to maternity pads. Good luck! X

Am I the only one who normally wears black multipack undies?

The bleeding is the same for vaginal birth or C-section, why would it be different, it’s the placental wound bleeding in both instances?

If you do wear underwear you already have it won’t automatically be ruined anyway, wash them in cold water before washing in hot water and the cold water will wash out the blood, washing in hot water first sets the protein/the stain and then it’ll never go.

I used tena pants for every birth after my first , so comfy and no faffing with pads.

Absolutely agree with this, I got black full briefs from MandS and they were amazing. I had a c-section in the end and they were perfect for afterwards as the band sat way above my scar. I was using maternity towels to protect my scar and the m and s full pants kept everything in place.

Also, take your own maternity pads as the NHS ones are horrible

Same! I've never gone back to wee pants. I just got used to having high waisted ones to keep the band well away from my scar that they have now become my fave shape haha

I took the big black pants last time and they were fine, it was a csection. This time I saw the Frida mom csection ones recommended so I got them. I found even when I came home I wanted to wear them rather than the big black ones. They just felt much better and it was ideal being able to bin the whole thing rather than peel off very bloody pads when I was feeling that pathetic

Disposable are good. Especially if you have a section as normal knickers can rub on the incision.

Plus the bleeding is really quite heavy so can just throw them away if you bleed on them

Agree. I was a size 10 pre pregnancy. I got size 16 massive black knickers from matalan. Meant to chuck em but they got worn to death post pregnancy. I had some disposable but they were so uncomfortable. Presumably disposable pants get thrown away unworn. I can't see the point.

Get loads of those cheap maternity pads. You need them.

Big ones.

I didn’t bother with disposable ones for either of my babies.

I found full coverage pants in 2 sizes bigger than my dress size were good. I also loved the H and M maternity pants - they were brilliant.

If you decide you do need disposable ones, they are easy enough for someone to pick up and bring to you.

I was responding to a PP who said that she had very light bleeding after a C-section and suggested that they give you a clean out when they remove the baby. 😄

I was going to write exactly this!

Definitely guilty of still wearing them 3 years on 🙈

I've never understood why they advise disposable knickers, they're bloody awful. That advice hasn't changed since I had my eldest 25 years ago. Like others, I just bought a pack of full cut knickers a size too big. Absolutely hideous but oh so comfy! Primark do 100% cotton ones in packs for approx £3.

Normal sized, cotton, comfy, cheap pants.

I didn't get disposables, did buy a couple of nice pairs of sloggi ones and they got wrecked.

Get the biggest pads you can buy, just incase.

Its not complete bonkers honestly! Obviously it's different for everyone but I'm sure I've read that it is often lighter and that was certainly my experience.

Both times when I was discharged (no pun intended) from the midwife on day 10, they asked if my lochia had stopped, and seemed reassured rather than surprised when I said that it had.

I've literally just done a Google search, and it totally backs me up on this. They manually give you a clean which often means there's less blood to come out.

I just got a few multipacks of massive black knickers. Have never had to throw any away, just get lots of maternity pads (Superdrug own brand are the best IMO) and go for the big ones to begin with - there is a time for slimline pads, and the immediate aftermath of childbirth ain’t it.