Do I need Maternity Sanitary Towels (or will ordinary ones do)?

[chickane]

Hi,

I'm expecting my first in January and am in the process of getting my hospital bag together. Do I need to buy sanitary towels specific for post-birth or will ordinary ones do?

I don't want to buy the special ones if they are just another way of getting expectant parents to part with their cash if the ordinary ones I already have will do.

Thanks all.

PS Mumsnet rocks!

The maternity ones are MUCH more absorbant and bigger. And you will need them! I went through quite a few packets.

Get the maternity ones! Straight after the birth I had to use 2 together! i was walking like John Wayne!

Maternity ones. They don't have the plastic backing that normal ones have so will breathe better.
Plus, they're nice and cushiony on your poor sore bits!

I think there is something in the always type (lock-=away) type ones which are not great for lady bits after birth.
Maternity towels are great, like old fashioned one, big soft comfy matresses and you will need far more than you think, and you may need to change them A LOT to begin with.

Avoid the Always brand - they make you sore. I used cheapy Boots own nighttime towels and they did the trick.

i used maternity ones and kotex nighttime ones which says on the packet they are suitable for after having a baby, anything less than them wouldnt have worked.

You defitely need them

agree, Kotex nightime are a good alternative

Some of the none maternity ones will stick to you and your stiches after birth. Night time and maternity ones are better. You can use normal ones after a couple of weeks. Get a packets of dark cotton knickers from somewhere cheap like primark or asda, so much more comfortable than paper knickers!

mothercare do some slim maternity pads but for the first week or so you will probably need the hardcore mattress ones

the regular ones aren't ideal especially if MW needs to monitor bloodloss (apparently)

Apparantly regular ones can mask any signs of infection because they are designed to lock all loss away and hide any smells etc.

I would use maternity pads for the first couple of weeks as they are so much more absorbent and also cushioning for your bits!!

I then moved onto the slim maternity ones for a week or so and then onto nighttime pads.

hopefully you'll only need them the first few days, and I think the ones I got were £1 a packet from Lloyds Chemist. After that you can move to more normal ones. Second BonjourIvresse's plan of getting some dark knickers - I would also recommend that they be Big Pants

I go this sooo wrong with my DD1, I bought a couple of (small) packets, naively thinking theyd last a while.

They didnt!

And non-maternity ones just dont compare.

This time I will not be caught out - i am buying bags full!

My midwife suggested both. And to alway use 2 at a time for the first few days.

Yes, and yes to the Granny Pants too

You need maternity towels and more of them than you would ever think you need! I was wearing three at a time for the first week or so, which I'm sure you're happy to know!

And big big big pants to hold it all in. This is not the time for skimpy shorts!

I bought diposible knickers and they were awful !!!! The lady near me had really cheap Primark granny pants and they looked far more comfortable.

Again, I second the need for loads of matnerity pads !!!!

xxx

I agree with what Northumberlandlass says about disposable knickers. I'd recommend buying a few value packs of big pants and just chucking them as and when you can't face washing them. I bought some M&S value packs and was so relieved not to be any more itchy and rustly in the pant department than necessary.

The knickers need to be bikinis or really big if you have a CS so thet the hem doesn't catch on the wound. I needed big pads for 2 weks, changing them every 2 hours for the first few days.

Definitely maternity ones (I used boots ones) and lots of them! If you have stitches they are much softer than normal ones. Unfortunately I ran out and used some normal - OUCH!!! And dark big pants definitely better than disposables too....

Best of luck!

definitely maternity ones, and more than you think you might need! I used asda own brand, and used their disposable knickers too, they did the job and comfy too

Def Maternity Pads as everyone else is saying and you will need them, as for the cost I found boots own brand the best and it was £1 a pack so didnt break the bank.

Used Maternity Pads 1st time but for 2nd and 3rd used Kotex Nighttime which I found great. With last one I went a bit overboard buying them on BOGOF from about 35wks, with each week's shopping, and 14mths later I still have a couple of packs kicking about my cupboard waiting for the return of AF!

Big pants def a good idea.

I ended up borrowing some of Mr Tobermorys jersey shorts which were so much more comfortable, every other pair i tried ended up sittign right on my CS scar!