Recommend a type of breast pads to use both in pregnancy and nursing

[rainand]

Hi,

I've had a look into breast pads and though I'm still 20 weeks I want to buy them early as my nipple area as well as breasts are sore and I've already started using lansinoh cream.

There seems to be different types of breast pads (The NCT shop for example), from disposable to silk to cotton. Which one would you recommend?

I never tried reusable so can't say about those. I did however try every brand going of disposable and by far the best we're the lansinoh ones. All the others would be screwed up into tiny balls if paper after an hour or so especially at night. Never ever happened with lansinoh and I never leaked either. Defo worth the extra money x

I tried reusables but found them uncomfortable. They moved around and after a few washes the edges became very rigid so they'd chafe / itch a lot (I live in a very hard water area).

I ended up using Johnson's disposable ones throughout breastfeeding and I really liked them. Very soft and the sticky tape on them works well. Despite being a branded product they were also actually cheaper than most other ones I saw in Boots/Superdrug, even own brand ones. I tried Boots own brand but the sticky tape was useless so they'd move around and their absorbency was also crap so I'd end up with leaks and milk just dripping everywhere in my bra.

I found for thd first few months I liked thicker ones I loved j and j in thd pink box were nice. I really rated the TT and lanosil ones when back at work as they were the only ones you coukdn't see under clothes and they stated put! I tried Boors own, asda, sainsburys, Mothercare own etc and found them to all screw up/wander if leak or to look ridiculously obvious with any remotely fitted tops.

Lansinoh are by far the best I think. Very soft, don't leak and have two sticky strips to hold them firmly to your bra. They are part of the 1/3 off baby promotion on in Sainsbury's at the moment too.

Another fan of the Johnsons disposable ones here x

Another fan of the johnsons disposible ones. Used them for the first couple of months or so. I later bought some reusables from boots they are also good though my supply had settled down so not sure if they would last long during the first month or so as I was very leaky.

I'm getting two packs of boots reusables and some disposibles to start of with this time hopefully needing to use less disposibles. Due to how much I leaked it was also quite expensive to get disposibles all the time as how many I would go through iyswim.

These:

weenotions.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=312&zenid=orf0mphl50hrk4dg6bescpgst6

You want the three layers one with the minky next to your skin. Mine never went crispy and I never tumble dried them.

I recommend Little Lamb bamboo pads v highly. On month 3 now and still lovely and soft and absorbent. I got I think mothercare reusables before and they did go all hard and uncomfortable with washing but not so with the bamboo. Also 5 pair pack so don't have to wash every single day. reckon Boots ultra slim disposables are ok too when I need them occasionally.

How often do you have to wash the bamboo ones msinterpret? I'm pregnant with dc 2 now and am debating whether to go to reusable but I leaked soooo much I'm not sure how long one would last!

I have Boots reusables but find that they tend to leak out the bottom - also I can't chuck them in with muslins as they're apparently supposed to be washed at 40 C. Can you wash the bamboo/minky ones at 50?

Going to look out for Lansinoh/ J&J disposables now, given the recs here.

Lansinoh were a million times better than any of the others I tried. Didn't know about them first time round, heavily recommend after discovering them. Yes, more expensive but definitely worth it.
Individually wrapped, so perhaps wasteful but oh, so useful. Stay on - I had slippage problems with all the others, especially Johnsons. Also, they are folded so you can put them on without having to paw the front, which is good with the early days when you want everything nice and clean. They have lansinoh balm on, which moisturises and prevents cracked nipples. They changed early days breastfeeding for me. :)

Oh, and you can't see the Lansinoh ones under your clothes, which is a problem with all the others I used.

Lansinoh - I found johnsons stuck to me ( like when you get paper stuck to damp lip)

Yes, and ripped bits of nipple tissue out! Ouch I remember that!

I loved both the johnsons ones and the tommee tippee ones. Johnsons are thicker but TT are thinner and less noticeable under clothes.

I liked the size and shape of Lansinoh ones. Sometimes when I ran out of those and couldn;t get them as readily as others - the tommee tippee ones were ok but lansinoh were the best for me.

Johnsons disposable ones are shaped too, so dead comfy!

Lansinoh were fab for me, and I had major leakage issues. They're a good size and never got lost in my bra (unlike some). A bit pricey but worth getting plenty in when they're on special offer

Mothercare have the lansinoh ones 3 for 2 which may work out cheaper than Sainsburys baby event?

I loved the Johnsons disposable ones, I had major leakage issues and they were the best and I tried a lot!

You could try silicone reusables...either mamma pads or Lily Padz. They are totally invisible and once your milk settles down (so you may need disposables for a few weeks after birth) great (you do have to keep properly clean to keep them sticky!). Perfect for now if you just want to put lansinoh cream on!

www.simplylily.co.uk/

Sorry I can't link on my phone...

Thank you everyone!! You are all fab! :) :)

So post birth the best vote seems to go for the Lasinoh or Johnsons (I think I will for Lasinoh as it has the cream on already).

During pregnancy however I might go for a reusable like Lily Padz, as I just need it to cover the Lasinoh cream. Actually it may be cheaper to buy the Lasinoh pads instead ...

Little lambs bamboo are fab.

Wee Notions minky topped! Minky is sooo soft and non-scratchy

Another lansinoh fan here, anything cheaper was a false economy as i'm quite leaky!

Buy cheap ones while you're still pregnant though, you won't leak very much at all.