Breast pads

[K8eee]

How long after did you need them for and were you changing them like you would a maternity pad? I know it all depends on how long you breast feed for, I'm hoping To do a week or so (or however long my boobs will take it if at all!) but am going out to buy the bits for my hospital bag and toiletries I'll need so any help or suggestions much appreciated! Just after some idea how many pads I should buy and any other essentials?

The best ones in my experience are Lansinoh followed by tommee tippee. Individual wrapping will drive you nuts but those ones don't bunch up and stick well onto your bra. Once your milk comes in (and you will be like Dolly Parton) it will leak a lot, you'll want to change them 3-4 times a day I think at most. Hang in there, it gets much easier, it is a new skill for you and the baby, so if you go into it expecting it might take a little bit of time to get right first then you'll be fine. After 6 weeks your milk settles down and matches what your baby needs, so less leaking. Just feed your baby whenever they need it and trust your baby knows what they need.

Can't remember when I stopped using them though, I suppose at some point the same one stayed on all day and was dry?

I can't use lansinoh I'm allergic to lanolin...is there an alternative which is just as good? So basically I should stock up on both breast & maternity pads?

I'm not good with lanolin either, but was fine using the lansinoh cream. You'll need this because after a couple of days breast feeding your nipples will probably be sore, but use the cream frequently and it really helps for the couple of weeks before your nipples get used to feeding and it's not sore any more. I also used washable breast pads and they were good, saved lots of money that way too.

Not everyone needs them much. I used them for a few weeks with DD1 and for about a week with DD2. I rarely changed them during the day - sometimes just one side once. They were more there as a safeguard.

I much preferred washable breast pads, they were softer and more breathable. But they weren't waterproof backed so no good if you leak a lot.

I used them for about two months, and changed them probably twice a day. When the milk comes in, you do need them, as there can be leakage.

Thanks for this thread, OP, and the replies - I'm also gathering things for my hospital bag and got completely baffled by the breast pad selection in Boots and ended up not buying any. Sounds like the washable ones are the ones to go for.

But where to buy Lansinoh cream? I looked in all the aisles in Boots but couldn't find it. Is it an over-the-counter thing?

Buttercup I found some down the same aisle as the breast pads. It's with the toiletries for mums but in the baby dept. well I have 30 maternity pads and about 60 breast pads to get me through the beginning! Just picked up our changing bag from asda and I think I'll start putting my hospital bag together this weekend. Just need to source some open fronted nighties. Glad we could be of some help to you too!

Reusable ones are no good for me - not in any way absorbent enough. Lansinoh are the best. I was using right til I finished bf, including all night every night :(, which was about 9 months....

Thanks, K8eee, I had a look there but couldn't see any, maybe they'd run out (or maybe I missed them because I didn't really know what I was looking for!)

Stubbed - ah, so do lansinoh do breast pads (with cream in?) as well as cream?

Lansinoh pads are made by the same company who make the lanolin-based nipple cream but the pads do not contain lanolin, or any cream. They also make breast pumps and milk bags.

Lansinoh are the best by a country mile IMHO. Avoid Sainsbury's - I found that they just soaked through.

To be honest I didn't buy lansinoh I've got avents one, but it says to apply it before you breast feed which I'm assuming is a couple of months maybe before? I was thinking of applying it from when I turn 31 weeks on Sunday to soften the skin and keep it supple. Hopefully it'll work! I did look at the washable breast pads, but I know the throw away ones work for me, and it's less hassle, unless anyone really bangs on about how good they are I think I'll stick to what I know

If you get a cracking your nipple, change them frequently. I ended up with blood poisoning from infective mastitis caused by bacteria entering my body through a nipple crack.

I did wonder how you got mastitis! Ouch that sounds bloody painful

You can get lansinoh free on prescription but you have to ask your midwife and they aren't allowed to prescribe it until you have given birth. You stick it on your nipples just before each feed to lubricate things so that the babies tongue doesnt rub your nipples raw. Well done for giving bf a go. Even a few feeds will do your baby good and if it works well then you won't have to bother with all the faff of bottles. I am feeding my LO whilst writing this.

The instruction to apply cream before you feed is as in right before. No need to put anything on your nipples before lo is born afaik.

I always took 'apply before breastfeed' to mean immediately before BF not months before iyswim. I may be wrong tho.

Re. Breast pads I needed them for as long as I BF they are well worth having IMO, even if you plan to FF. I once started leaking at a party and had to explain to a male friend what the stain all down my top was. I'm not sure who was more embarrassed.

Ouch stargirl that sounds awful.

Don't bother applying until baby is born. It won't make any difference right now.

X post!

You can also get mastitis from wearing bras which are too tight or under wired (I made that error!) so make sure you get some comfy bras

stargirl170§ - ouch...

Great, so I'll look for Lansinoh pads in Boots/Superdrug etc and then ask midwife to prescribe the cream. Thanks!

Oven ever used breast pads. I might need them when I stop feeding but I'm just not a leaker.

I read somewhere recently that there's a natural alternative to Lansinoh. Maybe coconut oil? There's definitely something.

The joy if Lansinoh us that you don't have to wipe it off before you feed, which in the early days is really regularly! You can get other things that help heal your nipples that you can just use inbetween feeds and wipe off.

I only used Lansinoh for a week or so, and not for every feed.

Don't let this out you off breastfeeding. I've fed both ways, and at 12 weeks the balance is definitely in favour of breastfeeding at the mo!