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I am after recommendations for the best cloth breast pads you have/do use. I have a few pairs of itti bittis (i haven't tried yet) and some random old ones that aren't very good. So considering I have always needed some sort of absorption for the first 4months or so its probably worth my while getting some more reusable pads to save me money (and time hunting down the only disposable kind I like!).
I was pretty happy with the Avent ones :)
Depends on how much you leak, but I liked the Mazalicious ones. She does some with PUL lining and some without. She also does varying sizes...cos not all boobs are the same size ;)
I've tried Mazalicious and BBH ones. found no real difference except the size. I do prefer to support the little people though (WAHM).
I made my own, and they work really well. I use a smaller circle of microfibre as an inner, a larger circle of suedecloth against the skin and then zigzag stitch it to an equally large circle of PUL for the outer layer. It took me about an hour to cut and sew up about 10 pairs of them. I don't leak large volumes, though, so this low level of absorbency is perfect for me.
I've got the avent ones for overnight and some bamboo eBay cheapies for during the day. I tend to get oversupply.
I use the avent ones and they have done me for 5 kids breastfeeding for roughly a year each so that's pretty good value I reckon :) I have a huge supply too so needed some that were super absorbent.
Hmm looks like its probably worth getting some avent ones then, at least they are really easy to get hold of. I'd been thinking of getting some mazalicious ones to just not sure which size the bigger ones seem really big but maybe good for night time and/or the first few weeks. FWIW my boobs aren't huge just Es normally but obviously get pretty massive with initial engorgement. I do tend to have a pretty fullon let down though that doesn't really settle for at least 3mths.
Thanks for the recommendations ladies, has anyone tried bubblebubs ones?
I have E's, and I was fine with the normal size HSM ;)
I like the Avent ones. The lace on one one side is a nice touch and they are not bulky. The brushed cotton on the other side is nice and soft.
Pea Pods bamboo ones are by far the best ones I've used. So comfy, so absorbent and plain so not as easy to see under clothing :D
the disposable breastpads (supposedly cotton ones you get from chemist) irritated my skin so much, ditched them quickly, plus i found them too small (i was DDcup at the time).
i ended up using cloth washable ones that were 14cm across, this looked hUGE to me, but once i put them on, i actually needed that size. i like plain ones too, with the PUL backs. I washed them in the zippered laundry bags, to not lose the pairs. Leaked like a sieve for 8 months, so very glad i got them (before that, was changing my shirt many many times per day, and continually being told "you have wet circles on your shirt" :redface:
If you need organic fibres, you can get bps with hemp or bamboo or wool on the skin layer.
If you want the staydry effect, you can get bps with microfleece, suedecloth, minky on the skin layer
so much choice.
Yes the disposable ones aren't great for long term use- I find they aren't breathable and made my boobs/nipples sweaty.
I got dermatitis on both nipples from disposable breast pads :o
Oh no taurean you poor thing that wouldve been horrible! The only disposables I've not really minded using were pigeon brand but had to be the premium kind and last time they were getting really hard to find and I have a feeling they've discontinued altogether now so don't know what ill get for back up eep
Btw how many would you all recommend having? I've been trying to work it out/guess and i suppose 'a LOT' is the closest I've gotten to an answer right now lol
They wash and dry pretty quick. do you know if you are a big leaker? you might only need one or 2 sets a day, so if you had 4 (or 6 sets) you would have enough.
It was horrid! Especially on top of damaged nipples from DD2's tongue tie!!
I had two packs of the Pea Pods so 8 sets. I found that sufficient for me. I might buy another pack when we have a third though as I did have to fish out my old Avent ones a couple of times (as my PPs were all in the wash) and I really don't like them. I actually ditched my Avent ones once my leaking slowed down.
I only had 4pairs. I struggled to keep up with washing them. (washing heaps anyway cause of mcns) and I am a massive leaker. up until a week again ago my non feeding boob would still sqirt across the room with let down. spocks 10months and magically one day I stopped leaking.
I
so hard to predict:
i'm sure everyone is different
if i REALLY had to guess, i would say, get six pairs. ANd if that is not working out, get a few more pair.
IF your baby sleeps alot
IF you recover well/quickly from labour
IF you are not busy with other stuff (other children, sick bub, etc)
maybe handwashing them, (to speed up having dry pairs to use) would be do-able.
I had a baby that woke every two hours (for 20 months), around the clock, all day all night, 7 days a week
i had a pear shaped labour that meant i was in so much pain, for many months, that i coudln't walk/stand normally
so handwashing was out of the question. (i washed them on the delicate cycle of the washing machine, not with the nappies). If it's winter, leave them on a hanging peg rack, with an electric fan blowing in their direction. They need moving air, not heat, to dry.
and i leaked like a sieve for eight months.
when you need them, you REALLY need them!
i found them very good too, when i had sore nipples (establishing bf-ing). Not just to soak up milk, but to soothe.
i'd put links, but i am not sure that is allowed, so i suggest you google "theclothpadshop" and click on Breast Pads (several WAHM's make them on that site), and google "mazalicious" it's a congocart site, once again, click on Breast pads.
I had 12 pairs. Started with 6 but some got a bit scungy from a build up of Lansinoh. So I got another box of 6 as I found strip washing didn't help much.
So, I'm in need of some more cloth breast pads as I'm leaking through the ones I've got (pea pods) - does anyone know if they lose their 'waterproofness' after awhile? Not sure I want pea pods again though. I've only got small breasts (B cup), so they can't be big, but they need to be quite absorbent, especially for night. Where can I get Avent ones? Would love to support some WAHM's too, but need something NOW! Any other recommendations?
I found the Lansinoh stuck to it bit by bit making it less absorbent. Strip washing helps.
I got my Avents from Target.
Good luck!
I love the itti bitti bamboo ones.i found they were bigger than some other brands so I bought about 12 pairs when they were on special. I've used them for 2 babies and haven't had to do a strip wash as yet and I use marcalan nipple cream.
Interested in this thread but excuse my ignorance: what is PUL backing? I'm using Avent overnight and disposables by day- I find changing pads morning and night is enough for me, so two sets a day. It's great having a few sets though so I don't have to wash every day. I also wash in delicates bag in the machine.
I got my Avent ones from BabyBunting, but saw them the other day at BigW as well. (If I'd known that it could have saved me quite a drive…)
I find they're fine most of the time. Sometimes overnight I have a bit of a leak. I normally use 2 a day, or 4 if they get soaked. I have 9 pairs. So much cheaper than the disposable ones.
Possum magic - PUL is the waterproof plasticky backing.
I strip washed mine with my MCN's before Bub arrived - have only been using them 6 days, so it's unlikely they're in need of another so soon.
Thanks :)
I had the Avent ones I think? Super soft fleecy liner and pretty lace on the back (not that anyone can see it but it made me feel nice :) )
I also had some Nature's Child ones, worked fine but felt bulky.