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Hello,
Not sure if this is the best place to ask the question - Mods pls move if there is a better place.
This is my first bub and I am considering what I need for the post natal bleeding. I haven't really heard from anyone who has used cloth pads, and am wondering if they are suitable for post natal bleeding and how many etc would be needed, in contrast to what you used in terms of disposable pads?
All information is most most welcome. TIA.
Ooh, I'd be interested in knowing as well! I know I'd have to use disposable ones at the hospital, but it'd be nice to use "clothies" once I get home!
I am usually completely loyal to my clothies, I love them to bits. But for maternity, I bought three packs of disposables, because from what I know, you have to change them so often that my cloth stash would have to be huge. And it's not. I'm already struggling with pre-birth requirements!
I have made some nice big thick comfy ones for when I get home, and I'll use them when I can. But I figure I'm doing this but once or twice in my life, I'll put up with the plasticky squish and the landfill for a couple of weeks.
I only used sposies but honestly, the bleeding in the first week was too heavy for clothies. After that it settled and would be ok for clothies from about week 2 onwards.
Iv never used cloth, but the first few days or more was very heavy and i don't think cloth would work that well..
I was changing pads about every hour or so at first and it would have required a mammoth about of cloth pads to keep up. My cloth stash sees me through the flow of my period so I'm not going to get anymore but just use them as much as I can and supplement with disposables.
I'm with everyone else. Go disposable. You'll be spending too much time gazing into your little bub's eyes!
Don't stock up too much though. You might find it's not too bad for you, and you might just need heavy non maternity, (which are cheaper) after a day or two.
Can only agree with everyone else here, I used cloth when I got home so after 4 days and they were fine then, but especially the first couple of days it's pretty heavy.
I was hoping I could just get away with cloth, is there anyone that has just used cloth I wonder?
Definitely disposable, to be honest the hospital, gave me more than enough and the midwife packed a heap into the top of my bag as I left so I used them and after two or three weeks uSed regular pads, I bled for 7 weeks post partum.
You will not have the time to wash all the cloth, certainly won't feel like it with a new baby to play with and really you are not going to hurt the environment for those few weeks
:hello::
Yep that would be ME!!!!
I took a wet bag in to hospital with me, made myself about 15 hour glass pads and everynight DH took home the 'soiled' ones and washed and dried them for me to use again the next day.
I made sure that I prerinsed them...eg I had a morning shower and put them in the bottom of the shower with me to rinse out.
I had no troubles with leaking what so ever, i had time to wash them when I came home..bugger me I was washing clothes and nappies anyway.
I was aware of when I would 'gush' and made sure that I went and changed my pad straight afterwards.
Its not that hard...honestly..man Ive done cloth for over 4 years now and had 2 babies in that time and used cloth both times.
ETA - PMSL at the lot of you saying you wont have time to do anything...come on girls your making it sound like she's not going to have a life :ROFL: and for those who have never used cloth but think it wouldnt work...hmmmmm you cant go judging something when you havent tried it
If you want somemore help honey, you know were to find me :)
I also used cloth post partum....You can get post partum pads that are designed to absorb more flow...I bought I think 12 post partum pads and hubby took them home in a wet bag with bubbas cloth nappies and did the washing each day. I had a disposable placed on me in theatre when I had the c-section but as soon as the nurses had established I had a normal flow and didnt have any bleeding/haemorraging issues I started using the cloth ones, so maybe had sposies for 4 hours tops......
I had no leaks, nothing like that at all and it was nice to have something soft against my bits after all they had been through.....
I didn't know about cloth pads post partum but have used them for 2 years now and love them. Honesty after the first 6-24 hrs the bleeding wasn't that heavy anyway. I sent home plenty of soiled undies and bras with hubby to soak until I came home - stupid disposables always leak - so sending home cloth pads wouldn't be a problem. Would your partner wash them for you?
Btw don't forget cloth breast pads too they are the BEST
I have to agree with this as I heard these comments about using cloth nappies from birth and we used themfine without using disposables.:
My only concern about using cloth pads is the amount required for such a short time. With nappies I know I'll need lots for a while so the investment isn't a problem but I don't think I can justify buying that many cloth pads. If I could make them then that would be great :D
Meow - dont forget that after day 2 that your loose tends to 'quieten' down in comparison to day 0. J man took them home at the end of the night and washed them so I had fresh ones for the next day..In comparison to having my eldest 2, which I used disposables, I had no rawness, no harshness, none of that itch and the smell wasnt there. Cloth mould's to your body a hell of a lot better to sposies, its fabric its moveable and itsnt as stiff. this factor alone allows for less 'leakage' then in sposies.
:think: I think I know what to get you for your baby shower now S :nahnah:
We'll see how I go I guess. I agree cloth are way more comfy- but disposables are also good for sticking icypoles into :lol: We don't have a dryer so my pads wouldn't be dry that fast unless it's hot. I think I'll mix it up till the disposables I have run out.
Thanks Maz, good to know. I feel more confident about using cloth now. Will have to get the sewing machine out and sew myself some more- as dodgy as the ones a make are LOL and given that they take me 2hrs to make one :rofl: but bloody PUL is a bugger to sew and I velour top mine and thats also a bugger to sew! How many layers of bamboo do ya reckon?:
Plus i'll have more babies so will be able to use them again.
And having a homebirth I won't have to worry about DH being too scared to touch them, although maybe I can work on him. Also being summer shouldn't have a problem getting them dry.
Em, I had one layer for some and 2 layers for others. I made them a little longer then normal pads also for flooding ;)
Im more then happy to come around with my sewing machine and have a sew up with you soon hun :) I can bring the snap press :D
Maz: I've got a snap press cos I had started to make pads for myself. plus it's fun to put snaps on everything lol- was good for fixing my doona cover! (insert embarrassed face here) you would then have to see my utterly terrible way I sew haha Although maybe you could show me the propper way to do it.
Oh Maz - that's the world's greatest gift!! I have umm'ed and ahh'ed and have no 'real' idea about how it goes, but the idea of using sposies is a bit yuk now. I figure if I am going cloth nappies, then surely I should be as kind to myself and get cloth pads too. DH would most likely wash them for me, he's pretty amazing.
Ladies, I am so grateful for the responses... There is so much I don't know about what would be good etc to use and who to buy from and so on... so you have all been wonderful in educating me. I feel so much more confident going with cloth from now on!!
How many maternity pads would you recommend oh wise women?
who you be talking to Willis???? :ROFL::
if you can get them washed every night Id say 10 -12 if not then...up to 18 but id be waiting lovely...parcel will be posted to you anyway's so a little extra might have to make an appearance :nahnah:
Em - you so know its a date now dont you :dance: just tell me what you want me to bring and we'll arrange a day
Sonya - To easy babe :) I think you have enough cloth for monkey anyway atm :ROFL: OH and check out Bohemian Rainbow she has ace ones (I LOVVVVVEEEE them)
Come to my house! It's sunny....:
You might just have me convinced. I have a velour topped Obsidian Star pad which would be nowhere near adequate for maternity flow but I am so so so in love with it. Got no munnies to buy more, so probably have to make my own.
I hate the snaps though... no princess and the pea! Any other way to do it?
Ok well i had the same question and have been convinced to go cloth :D although im a bit worried as DH is "scared" of periods is there a way I could get him to wash them without being all freaked out over what they are (he wont even touch a tampon still in its wrapper!) obviously id rinse them out in the shower but having a c-sec last time i wasnt allowed to get out of bed for 2 days had the cathiter in that long too so the hospital would make me use 'sposies for that time i guess
Okay another question - what's the difference between: velour, flannel, bamboo etc in regards to use & comfort? (flannel makes me think of the good old flannie sheets and I start sweating just thinking about it lol).
Okey dokey
Flannel...(me not a fan) stains are harder to remove and whilst is soft its nothing in comparison to velour.
Bamboo...that should be hidden (under the top or skin layer and above the bottom or undy layer) to absorbe lose.
Velour......:heartbeat: I find it extremely soft on the woo who region, its cool and allows air flow as its polyester and wont hold onto moist as the bamboo beneith it suck's it away.
Most of mine are velour topped....again :heartbeat: my few flannel one's I do have are left for emergency's
Nik - I had c/s and told the nurses that I was using cloth...they were over the moon about it and did everything they could, I even came out of theatre with one of mine on. One trouble was....I had them all coming in and asking me the same questions over and over. You should have seen them when I whipped out my breast pads :ROFL:
Thanks Maz, that helps me try and work it all out!! Lol... at least this seems less horrid than having to purchase yucky sposies...
So much to know, and it's so nice to have someone to ask!!
I had 12 post partum pads and that was more than enough with hubby doing a daily wash. I also love the bamboo velour topped variety, have got rid of all my other cloth pads now that don't have velor on top....you either want bamboo or cotton velour tops....not polyester velour cos that will make you sweat like nothing on earth.
yourself, what else do I need haha. Ive got bamboo and Pul and velour and some snaps and a sewing machine (nothing fancy) oh and a snap press so should be right for things. Unless you have a better template for making the design then I do- mind you mine never turns out the same as my made up pattern that I made up, the material moves that much it ends up heaps smaller lol.:
well maz uuummmm *sucks up to the lovely one* im going to attempt to make my own (may need a little guidance) bbuuutttt if i fail will there be a pad and breast pad stocking before May - will need several reminders if there is!
ETA - will i need a press thingo (hope you know what im on about) for the snappy things or is there a different way i can do it?
Audax & Mrs S: you could always use velcro??
Guessing the snaps are for the wings?
(sorry, I've been lurking here all along ;) )
:lurk:
Yep- the snaps are for the wings. Velcro would be even bulkier and give you a rash if it rubs in your inner thighs wouldn't it? I've been trying to think how else to do it too. Do they run away if you use no wings?
Cloth user here too :) Did all but run out and had to send DH out to get a packet of sposies, used two and holy crap they are horrible. No leaks in cloth ;)
I've got 12 overnight/heavy pads - simply because i prefer the longer styled ones anyway. Bamboo velour ones are the best - so lush and soft.
I never thought I would be a cloth pad user, but when DD2 was born I was jealous of all her comfy fluff. Since I have started using them I have never looked back, the comfort is amazing.
My pussy is too good for plastic :P hee hee
eta my faves are twinkle lily - look out for ones with two snaps on the wings, they sit so much better, i find the single snap ones move about
I have two velcro ones that I made - snaps + bike saddle = not friends. Me without bike = sad panda.
They're good, but you have to make sure the hook bit is smaller than the loop bit, otherwise they stick to the wrong bits, and you have to round off the edged so you don't get any pokey bits.
Just wondering if there's any other ideas out there?
I like to top with cotton velour, but I did buy one that's just topped with a really pretty soft cotton, not sure exactly what, but could even be a poplin? It's PUL backed, and it's quite comfy. Not my favourite, but not bottom of the pile either...
After all the grand plans, I didn't manage to use cloth for immediately post partum due to very early delivery. However, today after DH washed my trial pack, I have a cloth pad on and it feels sooooo good! I just wanted to share that it feels great to have a nice pad on and I am hugely glad to have become a convert.
Thank you to all those who provided advice and info.. I am in your debt!!
I have it on good authority that a package containing some are heading your way :p
There was a special package on my door step when I got home today, and Maz, you outdid yourself in kindness!! It lightened my day to get the package of goodies.. Thank you for all of the love.