Sorry to g/c from pregancy again but I keep reading conflicting stories about maternity pads and need your help, as I'm so confused.

Would you recommend maternity pads or ordinary sanitary towels for after the birth?
Did you find any make better than others?
How many packs did you use in hospital?
How long after the birth did you have to continue using them?

Thanks so much xx

in my experiance hun . Id go for maternity pads . Without sounding gross its not just blood you are likely to be losing and its generally heavier than a period .

certainly normal pads would never have been enough for me and I had sections (supposed to bleed less with sections)

I took brought two packs of boots maternity pads and used them all then went on to always heavy flow pads eventially i came down to a normal pad and then a panty liner (bled for 6 weeks dd1 8 weeks dd2)

Maternity pads are defenitly worth it. They are more comfertable and there is another reason, but can not get it out of my head. I went through 4 packs of 10 in the first few days after birth and had to send hubby out to get some more. Did not find really a difference between brands, but than again they did not stay on long enough. I used boots own, asda's own, Johnsons and I think some from sainsbury's as well. I used them I think for about 2 weeks before I switched to normal sanitary towels.

hi,

i've always been told maternity pads are recommended as they have special linings etc that the mw's can detect infections etc from.

personally no amount of the thickest sanitary towels would have been enough for my loss!! sorry for the tmi!!

i used mothercare's own ones as i had a gift card for there and used that to get them but i think any specific maternity pads would do.

i took a whole pack with me but tbh i used the ones the mw's gave me for pretty much all my stay so didn't really need many til i got home.

I'll be honest with you i had to use them for prob 6-8wks, i have no idea whether that is typical or not but i did have quite a big bleed following the birth (despite it being a c-section) so that may have impacted on how long i bled for.

Lara xx

Totally agree with the others - maternity pads are the way to go!

I was using two at a time (lengthways not on top of each other ) for the first few days cos I was so heavy. I got through a pack whilst in hospital (stayed in one night) but I also used lots of the pads that the hospital supplied. Not all hospitals supply lots though so be prepared just in case they don't.

I think one of the reasons (other than the infection one) for maternity pads is the weave is slightly different so stitches don't get caught - not sure how true that is but ouchy if it is!!

I used them for about 3wks I think. Wouldn't bother with mothercare ones - they are exactly the same as Tesco/Sainsburys/Boots etc but about 4 times the price! Think I used Asda (99p for 10), Tesco and Morrisons - all were fine x

Good luck! x

Definitely go for proper maternity pads!

I had a vaginal delivery with stitches and the pad provided a good amount of cushioning as well as protection which was such a relief as everything felt quite tender afterwards.

I also got through alot of them, about 10 packs I think. I used boots own brand and they were fine and very cheap.

Good luck, I'm actually quite jealous as I'd love to go through my labour again!

x

Thanks so much for your words of advice, maternity pads it is in then and in abundance too.

Goonie - would happily let you go through my labour for me, no problem at all LOL xx

Definitely but I wouldn't advise buying too many. I stocked up as I like to be prepared! As I had a section, I only bled heavily for about a week, I spent most of that week in hospital (as I stayed a couple of days extra to be with the girls) and while I was there, I used the hospital's pads so I ended up with 2 packs of pads unused. When I got home, I switched to night time pads and then only to normal ones after a couple more weeks. So I would definitely get some but don't overdo it. I know it isn't glamorous but you can always send OH out for some more if you run out! x

i went through about 10 packs!!! also good trick midwife told me was to put one pad on top of another (especially when your just at home), which is super bulky, but if you have to have stitches, it makes sitting down a bit more comfortable!

xxxx

Definately go for maternity pads cos you're gonna need em! I went through bout 5 packs i think. xxx

Just to say, I also agree that maternity pads are essential for the first few days at least. TBH, I only used just short of 2 packs before switching to sanitary pads as my bleeding was relatively light. Perhaps just a couple of packs to start with will be sufficient and see how you go, you can always send someone out for more if you do need them?

x

I had stitches too and would definitely recommend maternity pads! I used about a pack a day for the first week (of 10) and used tesco own - they were fine! Then I carried on using them for abother couple of weeks (about 6 more oacks) and then switched to sanitary towels, using the night time ones then gradually lower absorbency.

I was in hospital one night and used one packet - the hospital never supplied them (this was over 18 houra)

maternity pads for difinte... they are big and bulkie but normal stantary towles would not do the same job..