Maternity pads / high waisted pants!!!

[New2020]

Not the most glamorous of subjects!!

I'm almost 27 weeks and a bit concerned as I've started to feel twinges like really mild cramps on my side and down below. I don't know if this is normal and as a FTM whether it's anything to worry about..

It's got me worrying about my hospital bag essentials now...

Are there any types of maternity pads I should be looking for or that work particularly well and how many would I need

Also I know I need to get the high waisted granny pants but I'm clueless as to which size..any help appreciated!

Thanks everyone this is so helpful!

I have bought lots of Boots maternity pads probably more than I need..but rather have too many than too few. I did get some of the always night pads but I think I'll avoid them and use them later down the line based on what people have said about irritation.

Have also got some high waisted full briefs! I was a 10/12 before pregnancy so gone for size 16 but did buy one pack of size 18 in case

Hope I've got it right!

@Megan2018 Was advised by the hospital and my midwife on that and she retired recently, so hardly inexperienced or ill-informed. She said it was important to leave everything well alone.

Nothing grim about it. It's blood like any other period. Definitely not an infection risk. There's more blood flowing past it at that point than will touch it from the pad.

@Megan2018 @kikibo yeah I've read that you need to change them regularly like every 2hrs to avoid infections and to keep any tears or stitches clean

Past the stitches, I meant.

I used Tena pants (medium size - was a ten pre-pregnancy) with cheap maternity pads to start with. The pants coped with any leakage off the pad, and also gave an extra layer of padding. I'd change the pad every time I went to the loo and the pants less often (but at least once a day). The pants did rip slightly when I removed the pad but never greatly enough to need to be changed.

Once I'd run out I switched to large black pants and Lillets maternity pads (with wings).

@kikibo I work with midwives (school of nursing and midwifery) and it’s not what they advise or teach!

I bought my ginormous knickers from Marks and Spencer. I normally wear a size 10 from there but got a size 12 in the No VPL Modal Cotton Full Briefs and they fit great. Also bought the Flexifit Modal Midi ones which look high enough for after c-section too. Pads wise I was just gonna take the maternity pads I got in my baby box, hopefully they'll be ok.

@Megan2018 Then maybe advice differs depending on the country. My midwife said infections are mainly caused in hospital rather than afterwards (which makes sense). She was quite adamant that one should leave everything alone down there unless there was an issue like pain. Though she did look regularly at the stitches I had with my first. Second not so much because my 2nd degree tear had been sewn by my ob who never has trouble, apparently.
Anyway, 'every few hours' is about three or four a day or do you get up in the night to change?

Anyone else between a size 10/12 pre pregnancy and what size did you opt for..

I'm overthinking this now I'm sure. I had worn size 10 underwear but they were well fitted and I wore size 12 in things like trousers and jeans as I didn't like them too tight and had put on a bit of weight from size 10! I think i just hadnt upgraded my underwear wardrobe but now I'm confused.

I'm normally a 10-12 and I got size 14 marks and spencer no vpl high waister black knickers. Theyre great and so comfortable that they've become my favourite ones 3 months post partum even though I've lost almost all baby weight. I think 16-18 could be a bit big.

Something else I'd recommend for immediately after birth is a portable bidet that you can get on amazon. It's basically a water bottle with a shower type nozzle that you can squeeze over your stitches when urinating to help reduce the stinging and make things more comfortable. I also loved using fem fresh soothing wipes when I changed my pads. They're so cooling and it's nice to feel cleaner.

Totally agree. Proper maternity pads are so much kinder to sore bits. I was stitched to within an inch of my life after baby number 1 and the bigger the pad the better.

Proper big pads and stash some in the freezer (in a sealed bag). The relief is more than you'd think!

Does anyone have any experience of cloth post partum pads? I'm due in a few weeks and am hoping to do cloth. I have a pack of disposables as a back up too.

OP, I'm a 10/12 normally and used size 12 big knickers. I'd have thought an 18 is just going to fall down on you!

About three packs of thick maternity pads is about right. For once things have settled down a bit, Tesco do some slimline ones as well.

Definitely no sanitary towels. I've been told the top later can catch on your stitches - no idea if it's true but I didn't want to find out!

Yeah size 18 if your in a 10 usually, and a 10/12 right now will be way too big. Just get a 12.