Breast pads - washable or disposable?

[Fluffeh]

I'm finally getting myself organised and buying things for my hospital bag and the first couple of weeks after the birth. There's just this one thing I can't decide on.
Has anyone used the washable breast pads? Are they any good?
Looking at the price of disposables versus washable I think the latter work out cheaper in the long run but wonder if they are as useful?
Any personal experience with either you could share I would really appreciate, thanks :).

I bought washable pads. They got used, soaked, then put in the laundry basket. As I was still leaking milk, this wait for them to be washed and dried wasn't going to work. I used disposables and eventually the washable ones went in the bin.
I like Johnsons disposables personally. Sturdy so they don't get all scrunched up in your bra, and they don't come in annoying individual wrappers.

I used both, but quickly worked out the economics! More comfortable too. Just had a couple of pairs, one in the wash, one in the bra.

I used both. The washable ones were much more absorbent and cost effective. The only problem I had with the washable ones was that they would constantly get lost in the wash. If I had had my wits about me I would have washed them in a sock or something, sleep deprivation got the better of me.

Thanks.
I think I'll buy a pack of disposable for hospital use, in case I'm still there when the milk comes in. And buy a couple of packs of washable for using at home, I saw packs of 3 pairs yesterday so if I have 6 pairs that should be enough to allow time for washing and drying - hopefully!

Depends on how leaky you are, and how often you do laundry! 6 pairs of pads wouldn't have lasted me a day at the start, so make sure you have back-up.

I used both started with disposibles then moved to washables. I bought boots own brand and they come with a little wash bad.
I needed two packs to keep me going occasionally needing the odd disposible if I ran out/hadn't washed. I have bought some more this time. As I also liked the johnsons pads and they are usually £2 or more a pack so the price does add up.

I also started with disposables then moved to washables - much cheaper, though I second the idea of putting them in something to wash them. I only leaked massively on a couple of occasions so they were fine - only used to get a dribble. When you get a let-down on the non-feeding side you just clamp your hand over the other boob and it stops, so that side doesn't get soaked.

6 Pads would have also lasted me just a day to begin with (if I was lucky). Hence why buying the re-useables was so worth it in the end.

Ooh I'll try and keep up with the washing. I do a wash day now so hoping to keep that up after the birth. And I'll get an extra pack of disposables for emergencies :).

washable. disposable ones are really soggy. and they cost loads of money as you need to change them so much. Boots washable - get 3 boxes of them, that's 18 pads so will last a good long time

Definitely washables once you've got over the most leaky first few days. You've just reminded me that I used a laundry net like this to keep things together in the wash - better dig that (and the breast pads) out before DC2 arrives!

Also, I managed not to buy any disposable breast pads at all, because 2 friends who'd had babies in the last couple of years each gave me the end of a box. Might be worth scrounging around any not-so-new mums...

A wash day? Our do you mean a wash a day? Bass make a lot of washing...

Anyway, I also used disposables at first, then washables and now I only wear them if i'm going to miss feeds in case I can't express in time. Smoother fan of boots reusable (but not disposables)

I'd go with disposables.

I've got washable ones. My sister passed some on and I bought one box myself, so it should be enough. I hope!

I preferred the washable ones as they were more comfortable, especially in the early days when my nipples were sore. One of the brands (think it's johnsons) are a bit stiff before the first wash so you might want to prewashthem so they fit round your breast rather than making you look like you've got 2 little frisbees in your bra .

Washable ones were useless at first - especially at night but were fine once we started weaning and my supply went down. Johnsons were my favourite brand.

At 9 months, the amount of milk I'm producing has massively reduced so the reusable ones are fine. I'd advise getting one pack of disposable ones to start off with and then seeing how you go from there.

Also, I had 3 packs of 6 of the reusable ones which meant there were enough to change after every feed.

six months in and I can't hack the washable ones - I just have such a bloody great milk supply! I use them periodically but they last about an hour or so. Johnson's disposables seem to be the best and last a bit longer as someone said they don't scrunch up so much and they also feel cotton-like. Lanisoh ones very scrunchy and give a bumpy silhouette, boots ok but need regular changing. I also tried those Lilypads but they leaked massively. I inherited all the washable ones but have some quite god thicker lacy ones.

I'm going through about 8 disposable pads a day at the mo.
Dd is 5 weeks old and I'm leaking more now than when she was new! I have used washables in the past but they always looked like I had saucers in my bra so I'll stick with the disposables. Tescos own brand are cheap enough.

I had some silicon pads before, think they were called lillypadz or similar. Don't absorb the milk but pressure stops the flow. Can't remember how expensive they were but might be worth a look.

Something no-one has mentioned - I started with the washable ones but they were a really stupid shape and wearing them I looked like I had 4 inch wide nipples. The pads themselves showed through my tops completely! It was dreadful. I ended up using the disposable ones and even those looked freakish until I found nicely shaped ones. I think Johnson and Johnson ones looked the nicest.

Washable can be great if you get good ones. Avent are crap as they are really thick and they show through clothes. I had some bamboo ones that were lovely and soft and very abdorbent.

I mixed pads, some reuseable and some disposables. Agree you need a few washables, had 12 pairs in the end, disposables for times when they weren't dry or excessively leaking.

The first few weeks were disposables as I was a constant leaky mess, but once my supply settled I tended to use them if out and about as I often forgot about the damp reuseables in the change bag and would find them at the bottom stinking.

I've bought a pack of the lansinoh disposables, I think 36 in a box, enough to get me started.

The re-useables do come with a net pouch to put them in the wash so they don't get lost.

I found the disposable ones rubbed on my nipples and made them really sore, also soaked through in no time at all, so I vote for washable ones, you'll need a few though and a net bag to wash them in, if you end up being really leaky like me you'll be using them for months to come, which outweighs the cost of the washable ones!