Maternity pads... your advice please!

[Indadhanu]

Oooo, we're getting into the business end now, and I have to think about maternity pads.

Well I naively decided "oh I'll just pick some up from woolies when we do groceries", and just do that like with the baby stuff.

I got there and there are a million different brands, for all occassions it seems. So I stood in the pad isle as I mused about maternity pads (which I find really amusing, as its usually in and out with that isle, and last week I stood there for about 5 minutes thinking TMI out loud, and thoroughly embarrassing Shel ). Until I cam eot the conclusion I've got NO IDEA what I'll need, how many I'll need, or even what a good brand to buy is!

So what are your opinions on brands, what is good for what time (no such thing as TMI here), are any reknowned for leaking, which ones are like sandpaper and which are nice and soft, how many should I have for the hospital? Any other info I don't know. You gotta help me girls!

[Phteven]

I like the ones in the purple pack (the libra I think) but not the super skinny ones because a bit of padding in that area is nice after baby has come out of it. I'm not fond of wings because they're not very comfy but in the first few days they're good because there is a lot of blood.
They have interesting facts on the peice of paper so you have something to read on the loo.

[Pretty Butterfly]

I have always bought the big cheap ones for the first couple of days, as you seriously change soo often, and they are expensive!!

After that I too have bought the purple Libras. Very comfy and work well. Dont get the skinnys till it settles down though!!

Dach, the toilet bins at hossie are always filled with the little facts sheet... I think those pads are pretty popular!!

[Beach Mama]

It is so confusing isn't it hun! I had a c/s but still needed to use the thick 'surfboards" for about a week and I found that the Kotex ones were great. I think they are in a green packet? I took 2 packets with me to hospital and that ended up being for 5 days but I only used one pack and my hospital provided a pack too even though they didn't tell me that they did before I went in. A rough guide is 8-10 a day but I think I used a little less than that.

After the first week when the flow lessened a bit, I used the Stayfree ultra thin maternity ones. They are much thinner and better for a light/medium flow. I needed pads for 6 weeks, and ended up back on just regular stayfree ultrathins, that I used to use at night with my period.
HtH and good luck! Remember you can always get Shel or a visitor to duck out for you if you are in for longer than you think or if you run out.

[Pandora]

Kotex.
Give me the surfboards any day.
If you are one of the almost70% or women who needs stitches, you will appreciate being able to trear it open to stuff an icypole inside!

[Olive]

kotex here too!! and yes i found ones with wings chaffed on my legs! after the heavy stuff it was trial and error as to which ones were suited to me and my very swollen bits!!
someone has mentioned before using depend undergarments as well and commented on how good they were, i *think* it was nurse dan

[Janie]

Kotex maternity all the way here! Gotta love the surfboards, I used them for two weeks while my stiches were healing, and they were a godsend. I know they look ugly now, but trust me, you'll be kissing them afterwards I had some Stayfree maternity as well, but I didn't like them half as much.

OMG Ray, I'd forgotten! My hossy had these ace little ice packs for your bits, I LOVED them LOL!

[sneakysparkle]

Another vote for Kotex here too! I used Kotex for the first couple of weeks (I think around 3 packs?) then moved on to the Libra maternity ones I'll be doing the same again this time!
Oh, if you want another option for the first couple of days you can put two cheaper "surfboards" together lengthways (overlapping a bit) and thats great as there is just sooooo much going on down there! Lol

[Olive]

yep i had the ice packs as well then when we got home it was condoms with water in them and frozen!!!

[sirenz]

i used kotex maternity too... i had a c/s so i can't comment on the comfort factor after pushing a baby out but they worked well for me.. i took 2 packs into hospital (i didn't know i was having a c/s) but i only needed one.

[XRMummy]

Another Kotex Fan here ..... they are surfboards but the extra padding helps...... A Girlfriend of mine used Kotex and she also brought a packet the homebrand ones and used them on top of the kotex for xtra padding as she had over 100 stitches (poor girl)