Maternity pads?!

[Mumbofeet]

Just getting all the bits together for my hospital bag. Can anyone recommend any decent maternity pads? The postnatal bleeding is the bit I'm most worried about so I want to get some which won't let me down! Also how bloody many do I need?!
Any other tips for making labour/immediately after birth easier would also be much appreciated!

Seconding the Boots thick pads- they feel nice and cottony and cushioned!

Someone on here recommended the big Tena pants which I bought to the hospital- I used them for the first two days before moving on to the pads when the bleeding was less Saving Private Ryan-esque. 100% would recommend!

I have a week old baby (no prizes for guessing I'm awake doing a feed).
My advice is to stock up on painkillers. Put nipple cream on after EVERY feed. Put an extra sheet or towel on your bed for nipple leakage. Wee in the shower whenever possible (the water stops the stinging).
But it will be AMAZING when you have your baby in your arms, so you won't care if you look or feel like shit!

Don’t panic too much about the Lochia. It can be very heavy of course but mine was much less bad than I’d been expecting.

Tbh with everything else that was going on at the time I didn’t think about it too much.

(I do recommend great big over the bump pants though)

TENA Lady pants. You’re welcome

Has anyone used reusable cloth pads after? Sorry for hijacking!

I got ones from Sainsbury's no idea what they are like

All Tena are scented though so not good if sensitive.

I've bought tesco own.

@Paperchains1986 I got bad pad rash using the disposable pads for so long (a few weeks before dd was born as well as for the lochia afterwards) - for baby number two I'm definitely planning on buying reusables! I've been using a Mooncup for so long I think my neither regions just aren't used to pads anymore!

My bleeding wasn't too bad- so 3 packs of mothercare ones for the first 3-4 days and then onto ultra ones, for around 2 weeks I think.

Now breast pads.... tons!

Don't get the Sainsburys ones. They are awful.

I would definitely echo pp: you need the postnatal pads.

I bought a small pack of disposable Tena pants for the first few days. Really glad I did. Then moved onto hideous big pants (honestly I mistook them for husband's vests...on multiple occasions!) that were thrown away.

I bought my sister loads from mothercare. They were such good quality she said she was so glad of them when other women on her ward had cheaper ones that weren't up to the job. She was really grateful!

I bought 4 boxes of 10 natracare ones. Then another 4 boxes after about two weeks. I also mixed aloe vera, lavender and witch hazel together, spread on the pads and chucked them in the freezer a week before birth (in Ziploc bags with greaseproof paper between each one to separate). Then moved onto normal pads at about 5 or 6 weeks.

Please note that even if you plan to breastfeed, it does not guarantee your period return being delayed. I had already had one within a month of lochia stopping so stock up on normal pads too.

I used Tena lady pads after recommendations on here.

PAIN IN THE LITERAL ARSE

To change them I had to undress my lower half completely, I couldn’t just whip it out like a pad and change them.

If you went to the loo you had to either pull it back up dirty (eww) or change it, which again was annoying as they really really aren’t cheap and sometimes I wouldn’t have been wearing it very long.

They are also scented, I got thrush for the first time in my life wearing them (normally a mooncup user) The last thing you want with an already sore fanny and stitches is fucking thrush!

Tena lady pants that should have read.

Always Maxi night time did the job. Must be the thick maxi ones though.

Ooh, just seen the poster comments about Tena pants being a pain. I see the pants with a maternity pad - so double bubble. It definitely saved my blushes in the first few days.

Thinking back, I'm so glad I'm done with baby-making!!

Lochia- it's a bitch!

Get some Bridget Jones granny pants and maternity pads - any supermarket or brand as long as they are the above- normal period pads will not stop or help you.

I used Sainsburys own, a pound for 10 and very comfy considering I hate pads (instant kahookie wax when peeled off).

Never ever use tampons.

I loved the tesco maternity towels. They were lovely and soft, and didn't irritate my stitches. Thankfully I only needed them for 2 weeks, as by the third week I was fine to use normal always towels. And after the 3rd week the bleeding stopped.

I vote for boots x

Tena pants/pull ups don’t have scent. I use for heavy periods. Gave them to sister after birth and she found them very helpful. Especially when you have visitors and wearing pjs and are worried about flooding

You can get something that's actually designed for nappy rash or irritations on the below bits from a doctor or midwife prescription. You would probably get two tubes of yellow parafin and the base cream too which you mix up in a tub and use to help protect and soothe stitches etc.

It's called Sureprep and available at chemist too.

We use it for our wee girl who has a strawberry sensitivity and comes out in this almost caustic burn.

Boots own brand are fab! I used the hospitals own when I was in there and saved all my boots ones for when I got out. Invest in LOADS. They honestly don't tell you how long you bleed for afterwards. And omg lochia is the worse thing ever. And the smell 😷

Boots here too. I had 2nd degree tears with both mine and never noticed any stinging or pain when pooing or weeing afterwards...just thought I'd balance out the horror stories as I was really worried about this.
Lochia is heavy but actually I couldn't have cared less. Don't work yourself up about it. Best of luck!