Maternity pads - Labour and birth

Jenniep2

24/08/2007 at 10:55

This may be a silly question but is there a difference between maternity pads and sanitary towels? I was buying stuff for my hosp bag yesterday and wasnt sure what to get. x

rooster34

24/08/2007 at 11:06

Must admit i have both for my bag, re; sanitary towels i have big super not ultra or anything thats thin or with wings.

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Danibub

24/08/2007 at 11:27

Hi Ya,

Maternity pads tend to be a bit more uncomfortable and thick rather that sanitary pads which are more comfy and have wings and stuff!!

Jenniep2

24/08/2007 at 11:36

It sounds like maternity pads are like old fashioned sanitary pads then... like before they were 'invisible'? Whats everyone here gonna do? I'm thinking of just going with heavy flow sanitary pads then.

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Jen_and_ERB Platinum member

24/08/2007 at 11:54

I have gone for the maternity pads as have heard that these are more comfy particularly if you've had stitches but boots do 2 types so think i'm gonna go for the big ones to begin with and then change to the thinner ones once things have settled down a bit.

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contactsarahw Platinum member

24/08/2007 at 12:59

i was watching on sky and an independant midwife said the big chunky cheap as cheaps is best as something to do with the plastic backing and heat and stitches and pain, all confusing so i think i shall get a pack of everything i see on the shelves just to be on the safe side !!!!!

frags_jones Platinum member

24/08/2007 at 13:18

Hi, I saw the programme too that said thin ones aren't best something to do with the plastic backing being closer to you and can be bad for you if you have had stiches. I bought a pack of Mothercare maternity pads and Always Maxi (You should get an ASDA voucher in your Bounty pack for them - well I did anyway!). The big chunky ones are more comfy if you have had stitches as I did and take plenty of old cotton knickers with you so you can bin them if necessary. Also, they are not just for afterwards - have some ready for when you are in labour incase you have alot of discharge/mucus. Good luck x:\)

saskia87

24/08/2007 at 13:33

Yeah the thick ugly ones are best at first as they are more comfy when you are sore, and they are more breathable - normal sanitary pads have plastic backing which creates moisture and increases the risk of stitches not healing and infection.

Emma_Gifford Platinum member

24/08/2007 at 14:48

Talking from experience the best ones I found were not maternity pads (the mothercare ones were unbelievably crap!) but always ultra night time pads - they were brilliant and i will use them again after this labour.

pen

25/08/2007 at 10:27

hi i use kotex night time pads. they are really thick and reassuring . especially if you bleed alot like i do after child birth. i have to wear 2 at a time the first 24 hours after having my babies. then i go to always night time maxi. xx

Emma_Gifford Platinum member

25/08/2007 at 12:26

thanks for the tip pen - think I may get some of those in too!

honestly peeps - my midwife actually laughed at my mothercare maternity pads!!

Allie73

25/08/2007 at 14:34

Whatever you do, don't get any pads with a dry-weave cover. If you have stitches, the stitches will get caught in them. I learned this the hard way a few days after my baby was born. I bought Boots maternity pads and they were fine. I only had heavy bleeding for a few days, then switched to regular pads. But like I said, dry weave is not your friend if you have stitches.

scubavic

25/08/2007 at 16:01

hi
I used Tesco, boots and mothercare maternity the tesco ones pink packet were the best they were nice and long and really soft and only 99p a packet i would really reccommend them.

Jenniep2

25/08/2007 at 20:34

Thanks for the tips people... i really didnt have a clue what to get. x x

kirst3

26/08/2007 at 03:57

i used kotex night towels for 1st 2 days then used always night towels as they are long and thin and very comfy
i tried mcare mat towels but found them big and uncomfy so binned em. xx

MelBee

28/08/2007 at 16:57

Hi, I used boots maternity pads for the first 3-4 days (2 pads together for the 1st 24 hours after giving birth). Then I used always ultra night time towels as they are really long. Plenty of old/cheap knickers which i just threw away as the blood gets everywhere. Another tip is I lived in my black maternity trousers for 2 wks after giving birth as i was so afraid of leaking. xx

carmitage

29/08/2007 at 08:26

Hi

i used the boots maternity ones, i found the thicker the better as i didnt realise how much you do bleed afterwards, i also bought the cheap throw away pants which i found good, least that way if they did get messed then you could just chuck them away easily !

Emma_Gifford Platinum member

29/08/2007 at 08:54

yes get to primark and get some cheap pants!

dont buy paper disposable pants they are horrible!!

CathyG

29/08/2007 at 09:07

i too used the Tesco ones, they were good, no problems, you need em thick, strong, long & like a brick. & get loads (more than you think you'll need) also disposable knickers, you won't want to wash the first few pairs after the birth!

sorrelt

30/06/2012 at 00:03

i agree with cathyg ive used other brands but allround like tescos, though i buy some cheap cotton pants as well as disposables.sorrelt