Maternity pads - which ones are best?

[westlondongirl]

Hi, Have bought some ultra slim boots ones and some night time Always. Worried that neither will be adequate. Anyone have an opinion on which ones are best and how many to buy? Do you need maternity ones or are night-time sanitary towels ok?

I've just been stocking up too! So far I have a pack of Kotex night-time (the black pack, not specifically maternity - someone on here was raving about them), a pack each from Tesco (maternity) Boots (maternity) Sainsburys (just night-time heavy-flow ones) Then I also have some slim ones (but still for heavy flow) for later on.

I read that Always are a bit dodgy because of the special weave they have on top - it can, how to put this without making us all wince.... stick to your stitches!!

I think I have 60 in total - probably not enough but how do you know the first time round???

I have used maternity pads with all three of my DC, but then changed to thick/heavy sanitary pads and found these much better.

I usually find it best to use three at a time, especially early on, but not sure if I am odd in this. It was more to do with size than thickness IYSWIM? I used to put two 'in the front' on my pants amnd then one at the back, and that way I didn't seem to get any leaks.

All FTMI though....

expecting DC2 in 4 weeks & have bought 6 big packs of lovely jumbo maternity pads. Much nicer to have proper cotton ones than tesco plasticy ones...you go through loads...first day its best to stack one on top of the other & wear tight disposable pants to keep them both in place...sorry all TMI!
I needed to wear them while in labour too, the midwife seemed to get obsessed with looking at the contents

I used maternity pads cause it was like sitting on a cushion which was quite nice for my fanjo after what it went through. I changed to normal pads after, erm can't actaully remember something like 4/5 days.

BTW I wore a normal pad after waters had gone, as they went twice and wanted to make sure nothing else came out

Dont bother with the mothercare ones that have "wings" the way they are designed is silly, the wings always ended up stuck to the pad no matter how carefully I peeled the backing thingy off!
I quite liked the ASDA maternity ones, they were nice and comfy but my asda only did them in small packs of ten which wasnt very good.

Hopefully you havent got a DH like mine, who when sent out to get some pads came back with Tena lady...

Pile them on top of each other? Don't they make them absorbent enough?

Good lord, how much is going to come out? Bounty007 which ones do you advise instead of Tesco?

Thanks for the heads up on the Always InStyle sticking to stitches - won't be doing that!

AmazingBouncingFerret that made me laugh so much about your DH - exactly the kind of thing my DP would do!

So maternity pads - boots?

mothercare ones, they take up lots of room, but work well...good luck!

second the mothercare ones - I definitely needed proper maternity pads, night time sanitary towels would never have done it! Bleeding can be really heavy for the first few days. I think I was able to switch to heavy flow always after about a week, but I bled for 4 weeks in total.

The ultra slim boots ones are great for a week or so after the birth but would deffo recommend the proper boots maternity pads for the beginning.
Very absorbant and very comfy.

Superdrug own brand were the only ones that worked for me. I tried to get away with the always heavy flow/ night time ones and they just weren't thick enough. Don't under estimate how much you'll bleed aftewards.

I have some Mothercare ones with Aloe Vera on them for the first few days.

When I had dd I found that I used 2 in one go for a few days.

I also used to sleep on a bed mat to save my mattress from any leaks. I got a pack of 5 from Boots.

Just in case, if you end up having a cs the Tena Lady pants are wonderful. Big, comfy, supportive over the wound and very absorbent.

AmazingBouncingFerret it could have been just that little bit worse, he could have brought back spiral bound writing paper!

Oh bugger joymaker I laughed so loud at that I woke up DD!

I think midwives prefer you to use proper maternity pads while you are in hospital as it is easier for them to monitor blood loss.

I found kotex nighttime good for once i was home and used mothercare and boots maternity pads while i stayed in hospital with my previous 2DC.

This time i am having a homebirth so have 48 mothercare maternity pads plus 12 the midwives have in their box of tricks. I also have a pack of disposable incontinence pads that i can put on my bed to protect my mattress.

I then have some kotex again for once i am up and about. Can reccomend doubling up especially one at the front and one at the back for maximum leak proofing.

Also Marks and Spencers Black full briefs are fab for holding everything in place and much more comfy than paper pants.

Right have now got 48 mothercare maternity pants and a pack of M&S black full briefs - Thanks everyone!!

meant pads not pants!

oh i think i need to stock up a bit more...!! just bought from sainsburys the kotex nighttime ones, only a pack of 10! (though i know i need to get more). I cant remember how many i went through with my DD, but i remember i didnt use a whole pack of proper maternity ones as they were too bulky and just flopped all over the place! i think i used night ones and just doubled up- more for the length than anything else. I dont think my blood loss was that bad, more like a period after a day of the really heavy bleeding. Will probably be loads more this time round so will get some maternity ones just incase...!

I used boots maternity ones on top of an always night time pad while I was in hospital and for the first week or so as I found that the always pad was longer so caught any leaks.

This time (currently 33 weeks) I have 3 packs of boots, 3 from Sainsburys and 6 packs of always nighttime as I buy when they are on special offer

Found the Boots ones most comfy, too, first time round but totally misjudged the quantity needed. Kept sending poor dh out to get more. Better prepared this time and have stocked up with Boots thick ones to start with. Also thought the slim Mothercare ones were okay for a bit later, but hated plasticky uncomfortable Tesco ones.

get the largest night time pillows you can, just get night time for HEAVY periods, the maternity ones are crap

I always have found that the best ones are the Kotex night ones (as mentioned above) in the black packaging. Can get them at most of the bigger supermarkets. Also, for the first few days I wore disposable knickers too, not comfy but much easier to just throw them away, esp when at the hospital (I'm always there for a few days). And I agree with above posts, you def want to stock up on the pads as you need them for longer than you expect.

I used boots own. so cheap and so good.

They are long and very thick so it feels like your sitting on a cushion!

so worth the money!