Maternity pads absorb more liquid at a faster flow than overnight pads I believe so are more suited.
I bled for 5 weeks. Only 1 week of that was heavy. Rest was normal pads/panty liners.
The hospy had these funny looking backless pads in my drawer next to bed - I wore a mat pad, but I also had to have a catheter in for 48 hours afterwards (couldn't feel my bladder or pee after the birth so standard procedure if this happens to put catheter in) so if you have this it's a lot more tricky to control the bleeding as the damn catheter plastic bits -other then being freaking uncomfortable - create 'gapeage' and so lochia kept leaking down one side of my pants legs (sorry if TMI) so had to have at least 3 pads on, one bought maternity on bottom and two of the hospy's on either side of the catheter for 5 days which in hospy and that worked a treat. Only needed 2 packs or specific maternity pads for that reason.
If you want to be super prepared for what to expect - something I didn't read anywhere was that the Lochia smells real different from a normal period - I swear, I kept thinking I could smell that 'birth' smell for months afterwards (total nutter I know).