Maternity Pads

I know I'll need these in bulk after baby comes but really how many should I buy and which is the best brand for comfort and absorbability? Can i get away with heavy flow Always pads after a few days, or am I looking at the huge proper maternity ones for weeks after baby comes...?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

TIA x

I got them cheap in Tesco for the first couple of weeks then I used Boots slimline towels - I doubt heavy duty STs would have worked n the early days tbh.

 

I bought 2 boxes of Mothercares brand then used Always Ultra night time pads. I did bleed for 6 weeks after birth so just bought these from asda as and when required.

Were Tesco/Mothercare quite soft? Sorry for TMI but I've always needed super sensitive pads for 'down below' so the softer the better for Maternity Pads....

Hepburn:

Were Tesco/Mothercare quite soft? Sorry for TMI but I've always needed super sensitive pads for 'down below' so the softer the better for Maternity Pads....

Yes very gentle on the nether regions - you don't want anything with a topweave at the beginning in case it sticks (esp if you have stitches etc)

I can't remember them not being soft iyswim.

fishtree:

Hepburn:

Were Tesco/Mothercare quite soft? Sorry for TMI but I've always needed super sensitive pads for 'down below' so the softer the better for Maternity Pads....

Yes very gentle on the nether regions - you don't want anything with a topweave at the beginning in case it sticks (esp if you have stitches etc)

WFS

I got through 4 packs of Tesco pads, I think they were less than £1 and then switched to Always. (my lochia went on for 5 weeks) I had stitches so needed something that was appropriate for this for the first couple of weeks.

 

 

Thanks all

When you say 'packs' how many tend to be in a pack?

The mothercare ones come in packs of 48 but boots only in packs of 10?

I shouldn't have read this thread! I know it's going to happen but i am not looking forward to it

I went through loads. I know I had bought about 3 packs of 10 before hand but these didn't last any time at all. Plus my lochia went on for about 5 weeks I think. But other people have a lot less than that.

Definitely nothing with a dry weave top if you've got stitches.

How close do you live to the shops? My H was just sent out to get some more when needed but its only a 10 minute walk for us so it wasn't too much of a problem.

 

I think i had about 5 packs of Boots fat pads and then a few packs of the slimline Boots maternity pads. 

I had lochia for about 6 weeks i think, can't quite remember, but it was really light and nothing as bad as i was expecting!

I don't think it is recommended that you use normal towels like always etc as they can dry stitches out too quickly and can cause irritation.

You may well be glad of the extra padding initially!

x

The shops aren't far at all Cedar so I guess I only need enough for the first few days.

I initially had 10 packs on my shopping list whihc is 100 pads, but am thinking this may be excessive?!

Would 20 pads for hospital bag and maybe another 20 for home be about right do you think?

I think 10 packs to start with is about right. I got through 2-3 in hospital, I stayed after giving birth at 1am Friday until 3pm Sunday. I think I changed them around once every 1-2 hours for the first 24 hours, a little less frequently after that. Take a couple of packs and your H can bring in more if you need them. After a few days I switched to slimline ones during the day. I used boots own brand. I have a feeling you're meant to use proper maternity pads, not sanitary towels, I think maternity pads stop you getting dry down there ... Or something! I also used tesco own brand. I don't remember but I think for some reason I preferred the boots ones.

I used the boots fat maternity pads - probably in total 6 or 7 packs = i think 10ish to a pack (i bled for 2-3 weeks).

I was grateful for the padding in terms of comfort as i had stitches and bruising.

I sent H out some more after first couple of days - i know sainsburys do them as i've seem them since (H couldn't find them there at the time though!)

ETA as others have said you should use proper maternity pads as they won't dry out stitches etc

Hepburn:

The shops aren't far at all Cedar so I guess I only need enough for the first few days.

I initially had 10 packs on my shopping list whihc is 100 pads, but am thinking this may be excessive?!

Would 20 pads for hospital bag and maybe another 20 for home be about right do you think?

You can always buy more as and when you need them, and also when you know what sort of birth you have had (if you have had stitches for example)

I think I had 3 packs of 10 and used about 20 pads in hospital (I was there 5 days). It was good having an excuse to get out and about even if it was to buy maternity pads. Dull, I know, but otherwise it's very easy to sit inside all the time and get cabin fever. If IRC, your baby is due in July? You will want to be out in the nice weather, even if it is to walk to the shop for stuff