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Original poster

Best maternity pads?

40 replies

captainshortie · 09/12/2018 12:05

So im thinking about my hospital bag, and i know ill need liners but do they specifically have to be maternity pads?
One of the girls i work with said Always wont be good enough, but so far one of the differences ive read is always normal are thin and maternity pad are thicker...
So would Always night or Kotex night work just as well??

I friggen HATE wearing pads, can never position it properly and quite frankly think im wearing a nappy, so I havent bought them since i was 11 (im 25 now) so just looking for a bit advice as its been a while!

P.s if youve got anymore hospital bag tips im all ears! Feeling totally overwhelmed with options!

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SnowdropFox · 09/12/2018 13:03

I used the boots ones for the first week or two then swapped to always night time.

WooYa · 09/12/2018 13:05

I got given hospital ones whilst there then swapped to asda maternity ones, they're a bit longer but aren't as thick then alternated between asda and bodyform.

PennyMordauntsLadyBrain · 09/12/2018 13:10

The Boots ones are nice and padded, which I was grateful for for the first week or so.

Like you, I haven’t worn pads for periods in years, so wearing maternity/ heavy flow pads after the birth really irritated the tops of my legs where they rubbed against the side of the pad, to the point it was peeling. I had to paste myself in sudocreme and it only cleared up once I could do away with pads.

This time round I’m buying some reusable pads which I’m hoping won’t be as irritating.

blackcat86 · 09/12/2018 13:35

I went with Superdrug maternity ones and they were pretty good. They are all quite thick and there was a mattress between your legs thing going on but it was the least of my worries. I didn't leak and that was the main thing

MrsStrowman · 09/12/2018 13:40

I bled heavily, too much for even a night time pad changed frequently. I was also grateful for the extra padding after an episiotomy. I've used Mothercare with aloe Vera and Tesco so far, mothercare slightly better as they have wings, but the Tesco ones are fine too and less expensive. Before birth I thought I'd hate them, I don't use pads for periods either, but they've been a cushioned godsend!

FourCandelabras · 09/12/2018 13:45

The maternity pads are annoyingly thick but are a godsend if you have any kind of tears - the normal period pads have a different surface material which doesn’t cushion the same way and can somehow ‘catch’ on the stitches. I really liked the natracare ones.

mortifiedmama · 09/12/2018 14:09

I also hate pads, but maternity pads are longer, thicker and softer than normal pads AND most importantly, don't have the plastic backing, making them more breathable and reducing risk of infection.

I was lucky I didn't bleed much, similar to my very light periods, so only needed pads for a week then switched to liners.

TerriB84 · 09/12/2018 14:14

Another reason for using maternity pads rather than general period pads is that maternity pads are unscented which is important as the scented type could potentially mask any signs of infection

UndercoverLauren · 09/12/2018 14:18

I used to work for Tena and I know sanitary pads are designed differently to incontinence pads, in terms of what they can absorb. I imagine it's the same for maternity pads. They told us in the antenatal class specifically to use a maternity pad when our waters break, as it will be easier for the midwife to see what's going on.
I hate sanitary towels too, I'm not looking forward to having to wear maternity pads for weeks.

SoyaSoy · 09/12/2018 14:22

Sod the pads, get the tena pants!! They're amazing! I had pads the first day and hated them. The pants were a bloomin' life and sanity saver.

anniehm · 09/12/2018 14:26

I used always night - they didn't even sell maternity specific in the US when I gave birth 2nd time (they provided pads for the 16 hours or so I was in the hospital post delivery though, private health! though they were billed to my insurer at 85c each!!!

Shmithecat · 09/12/2018 14:28

Boots Ultra Thin maternity pads. I had 30 something stitches for a 2nd degree tear and thick pads did NOTHING to help. As soon as I switched to thin, it was so much more tolerable.

PennyMordauntsLadyBrain · 09/12/2018 14:31

Soya I also used the Tena pants for the first two days and they were fantastic for the immediate post-birth bleeding.

coffeekittens · 09/12/2018 15:24

I loved the Asda ones when I had DD.

costacoffeecup · 09/12/2018 15:58

Do the maternity pants work with a c section scar?

Wavingwhiledrowning · 09/12/2018 16:01

Tesco do ultra thin maternity pads and they're excellent. I had a LOT of bleeding and they coped (used two at a time for the very worst bit). They're a good price and not at all bulky (used Boots ones previously and definitely prefer Tesco ones).

SoyaSoy · 09/12/2018 16:12

@costacoffeecup I couldn't comment as didn't have a c section but I know some brands do low rise ones. Might be worth a try?

I found them to be so much better than pads. They were super easy to use and I had a lot of lochia (to the point that I was being monitored for PPH). It was the midwife who was on the ward looking after me who advised me to use the pants in the beginning then move on to pads once the bleeding had eased off a bit.

Sorry couldn't be more helpful.

costacoffeecup · 09/12/2018 16:43

Thank you. I have to use the tena pants when out running after having dd (hence why I'm having a section this time!) but I have no idea where the section scar will be. I need to put maternity pads on my list and twice as many as I took last time I think!

MeOldChina · 09/12/2018 16:54

I had superdrug maternity, then just sainsburys own brand night time ones. Tbh i didn't bleed as much as I expected too. I wasn't much more than a heavy period that lasted a bit longer for me. But obviously plan for worst case scenario.

GingerRogers84 · 09/12/2018 16:56

I used Boots maternity pads and was very very grateful for the padding indeed. I think the maternity ones have a special outer layer that wont snag on stitches.
I switched to general pads after a week or so when it got a bit lighter.

GingerRogers84 · 09/12/2018 16:58

I might also add that I had an incredibly long labour and a second degree tear, so comfort was much needed.

OutPinked · 09/12/2018 18:08

I’ve always used Boots maternity pads, they were great. I switched to Kotex or Morrisons night time pads after the first week or so then just onto pantyliners once it died down to spotting.

For person asking about c section- you need absolutely huge granny pants whether you’ve had a vaginal delivery or c-section. Buy cheap primark ones and expect to need to dispose of some.

E20mom · 09/12/2018 18:30

Boots ones

BlytheSpiritsSpirit · 09/12/2018 18:36

I just used the thick Tesco ones, but found they weren't long enough so doubled them up and changed frequently.

I've used maternity reusable pads as well, which are the most comfortable option but also the most expensive. I use them as night pads now.

Scubalubs87 · 09/12/2018 18:38

I really recommend buying actual maternity pads. I bled so much more heavily on the first few days that nothing other than a maternity pad would have coped and I still leaked a few times. I hate pads. Never ever wear them. But, after giving birth, you really really don’t care. I used boots and sainsbury’s pads. They were longer thank normal pads which was definitely a plus. If you’ve had stitches the extra padding is a must.

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