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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Do I really need disposable knickers?

62 replies

WigglyWigglyWoo · 04/02/2015 13:53

Forward planning but thinking about my labour bag. Lots of people seem to suggest disposable knickers. Are these to wear during the labour? I sort of presumed I would be knicker-less. I'm guessing they are suggesting disposable because they get so manky they need to be binned afterwards?

I really can't see them being comfortable. Would it be ok just to buy a really cheap multipack of normal cotton knickers from a supermarket or am I missing a crucial point?

Sorry if it's a stupid question but this is my first and I want to be prepared!

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PrincessOfChina · 04/02/2015 13:55

They're for afterwards. Most people I know have bought Primarni cheapies and binned afterwards.

hestialou · 04/02/2015 13:55

Marking my place, I want to know also!

weeblueberry · 04/02/2015 13:56

I definitely just got a couple of packs of Asda cheapie granny pants for afterwards (just made sure they came right above the tum in case I had a c section). Much better than disposable pants which we bought, took one look at and never ever used.

TheRealMaryMillington · 04/02/2015 13:56

No they are for the first couple of days after birth. Get cheap ones. Get them nice and roomy.

JuniperTisane · 04/02/2015 13:58

I just used my normal old knickers afterward and threw away any that didn't survive the post-birth bleeding. So none then, they all survived intact. Maybe its worse for post CS? I can see the point of buying a size bigger to cover the scar maybe.

thehumanjam · 04/02/2015 13:59

I found them uncomfortable and they dug into my csection scar. They have obviously been designed by someone who has not had a baby. I prefered cheapo extra large knickers. I used maternity pads and bled less than I do on my period.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 04/02/2015 13:59

Agree with princess - to be honest, I've bought cheap supermarket one's with the intention of binningeach time and found that they washed completely fine afterwards! Same with towel etc, pack some you don't mind being destroyed but they will probably be perfectly okay to use again after a hot wash.

toddlerwrangling · 04/02/2015 13:59

Get some really cheap giant cotton ones from the supermarket. The disposable ones never for properly!

toddlerwrangling · 04/02/2015 13:59

Fit not for!

jmojo · 04/02/2015 14:00

Nope, not a stupid question. You are generally knickerless if you are bed bound, but whilst you are mobile you will need knickers to hold a sanitary pad on (to collect show and/or waters if they are broken as they leak throughout your labour once they break). And you will definitely want them post delivery as you will bleed fore a week or two. Take what you want. So long as you are Ok with them being ruined or chucked out potentially. Cotton is definitely nicer than paper but it is all personal preference. (and thongs don't work to hold a sanitary pad on...you may laugh but believe me I have seen it tried!)

tinymeteor · 04/02/2015 14:01

No. They're horrible. Get some comfy black cotton ones that won't show light staining, and if they get really manky, bin them. Childbirth is unglamorous enough without adding paper underwear to the picture!

BossWitch · 04/02/2015 14:02

Get cheap cotton knickers from supermarket, primark etc. Big and comfy and BLACK! Combine with the fattest maternity pads you can buy (I found boots ones were the best) for the days/weeks of bleeding after the birth. The thin sanitary pad style ones are shit - avoid!

GoooRooo · 04/02/2015 14:02

Don't bother. Just buy big old granny knickers and bin them when you're done or keep wearing them like I have because I got used to being comfy

Original poster

WigglyWigglyWoo · 04/02/2015 14:02

Thanks! That's all really helpful. I will just get some cheap ones. I normally wear m&s cotton bikini style ones which go under my bump- do I need to buy the granny ones that come up really high?

OP posts:

NancyJones · 04/02/2015 14:04

They are awful, hideous things that itch like a bastard and goodness knows how more uncomfortable they would have been if I had needed a CS as they sit right where the scar would have been.

For future pregnancies I opted for tesco granny multi packs. Not only were they unbelievably more comfortable but they were also cheaper. They were something like £4 for 7 plain pairs. I bought 3 packs and used then binned. I needed a few changes in the first few days so they lasted around a fortnight which was perfect. Disposable knickers are the work of the Devil.

Happilymarried155 · 04/02/2015 14:06

I've got some cheap ones to chuck. I would some huge granny ones incase of csection etc...

Tftpoo · 04/02/2015 14:08

Like everyone else has said, they're for after you give birth. I bought the biggest, cheapest ones I could find from the supermarket. They were huge but still not big enough to cover the scar from the c-section I ended up having. Whilst I was in recovery after the section I sent DH home to get some of his boxers which I wore for the next couple of days. It was a little difficult to fit a maternity pad into boxers as but it worked ok and I was (relatively) comfy. I would just get the biggest, cheapest
pants you can find so you won't mind what happens to them - good luck (with the birth, not just getting the right pants)!

worldgonecrazy · 04/02/2015 14:09

I just had a pair of slightly big comfy knickers which washed fine afterwards.

The most important thing for comfort was very soft maternity pads/towels and witchhazel.

NancyJones · 04/02/2015 14:09

I'd go with the granny ones for 2 reasons:

you may need a CS in which case you won't want anything low rise.
however slim and fit you are, for the first wk or two after birth you have a horrid empty, sack like tummy. Not pleasant but esp in the first few days, it sort of hangs over creating a little crease under it which will get hot and sweaty. Not pleasant but honest. You do not want knicker elastic rubbing against you and chafing you. The crease will lessen as your body bounces back but you will be very aware of it the first few days (though less so with first). Go with cheap granny knickers you can be comfy and relax in. If you do end up needing a CS or even if you are just in a bruised and battered state then you don't want to need to be thinking about uncomfortable knickers on top of everything else.

Number3cometome · 04/02/2015 14:10

Nah just get big, comfy, cheap knickers.

I found disposables very uncomfy and horrid.

LuxuryTrifle · 04/02/2015 14:13

I took mumsney advice and got
Giant roomy cotton knickers and they were SO uncomfortable. Luckily I also got a packet of the NCT mesh disposable knickers and they were amazing - I got the largest size though, despite only being size 12 really, so I think that is why I didn't feel them dig into c section scar. But wow they were so great - really let all get air and helped the scar heal very quickly - much more breathable even than cotton. So for me, over-large NCT disposable were great.

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/02/2015 14:15

I continued to wear the same pants I wore surrounding my births.
Its what washing machines are for,no

Original poster

WigglyWigglyWoo · 04/02/2015 14:19

Ok so I think I'll get a pack of normal low rise ones and a pack of granny ones to cover all eventualities!

Pre-pregnancy I was size 8 but I've recently moved into size 10 knickers. What size should I buy?

OP posts:

RiverTam · 04/02/2015 14:20

I got a couple of packs from Primark, one normal bikini-style, one granny. 5 years on, a few are still in use as period pants!

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 04/02/2015 14:20

black cotton pants, as big as you like. I'd think the bikini style ones could be a bit small. Like a pp said if you have a section then big full briefs come up over the area you're scar will be, and even if you don't have a section your tummy will not be its usual self for a while and so big knickers might be more comfortable. also they tend to have a wider gusset (hate that word) so better for the maternity pad.

I'd also stick to maternity pads for the first week at least as you are wearing them all day and the ones with gel in can irritate your skin and stiches. once the flow settles down then move onto towels that aren't quite so bulky.

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