Maternity pads

Just wondering if anyone has used the Kotex maternity pads ?

If so what did you think of them ? Are they any good?

If not what pad did you use?

I haven't used the Kotex ones, and I don't even think I can get them at my local supermarket actually. I used the Libra night time/maternity ones as they feel really good to wear (I use them for night time AF use). I don't like the stayfree ones as they have an odd shape and feel strange in my knickers.

I used the Kotex when I was in hospital - they were great for the first few days when my flow was quite heavy and then after the first week or so I went to the Stayfree ultra slim ones, as I didnt need the *surfboards* anymore! After about 3 weeks I went to normal ultra slim pads that I used to use for AF.
HtH!

i really like the kotex ones. i'm wearing one right now!

i used them for the first couple of days when i was really heavy then moved to libra maternity/goodnights as are much thinner and i dont like to feel like i am wearinga surfboard:) this time around i have bought 1 pack of kotex and 3 of the libras. There is nothing wrong with the kotex they are just thicker than what i like to wear IYKWIM

I used Libra goodnight. I had the stupid hospital ones as well for the first few days! But i find the Night ones did the same job as maternity ones and cost less.

I used the Kotex ones for the first couple weeks.. then just when I went out for extra protection and smaller liners for at home ...

I am more then happy with them.. already have some bought

hey there i used kotex for the first few days and for when my waters broke then went to ultra thin maternity now night time stayfree... i did find the kotex ones really good, i never leaked and they were comfy on the stitches i had which were tender... also i had really leaky bbs and kotex cut in half were the best thing for over night when i would leak through onto my clothes with normal breast pads

Same with the others. I used Kotex just for the first days (just bought one pack) and found it very comfortable on the ouchy stitches. Libra maternity/good nights (lots of them) after that, they're so thin and the bleeding wasnt as bad as before

I used Libra (they were a babyshower pressie from my mum!) and they were great. The Kotex ones are good too, I used them when the Libra ran out... I prefered the Libra, but both are good.

I used both, the libra were great on the stitches. If you go get yourself a pack of mens' undies they have a bit more room for the pad to sit in, which if you have a bit of ice for the stitches in there as well is very comfy. The hospital pads don't have a waterproof lining, so put them over an ultrathin for added protection.

our midwife from our classes recommended the kotex ones.. as thats what she used when she had her babies... so i will be giving them a go i think

I haven't used Kotex but will after reading this thread - last time I used Libra and have bought 2 packs. I definately will not use stayfree again though - they are like the pads I remeber wearing as a young teen before ultra thins - yukko!

I've bought the Libra ones this time around...used Stayfree and Kotex last time and it was like walking around with a towel in between your legs!

How many packs of pads are needed? Like to take to the hospital and have on standby for when you get home? I've heard some horror stories - why do people tell first-time-mums this stuff?!

Thanks in advance :)

I used the crappy hospital ones at first with DD1. Can't really remember after that. With DD2 I used Libra nights/ maternity. Just so you know I don't think anything stops the leak the first night, or after your first sleep. But it'll only be for the first day it'll be that bad. It settles & you can keep up with it after that.
Mine didn't with DD2 & I tried to tell the nurse two or three there was too much, but she wouldn't listen. Finally she went home & another one came on who listened. I had already run out of pants & had my sheets changed 3 or 4 times in only 6 or 7 hours. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. Just so you first timers know. The first nurse treated me like an idiot. The second listened & sorted it out. I was so scared, but all was OK. If you think its not normal check with another nurse just to be reassured.

I would buy at least three packs - take two to hospital and have one at home - you will be surprised how many you go through in the first couple of days but it slows right down after that :)

I went through four packs of Kotex (loved them, they were heaven for my stiches!), two and half packs of which was in hospital (five days). Used the rest at home and then some Stayfree ones I'd been given. All up I probably used maternity pads for about two weeks.

Will definitely use Kotex again next time.

I used the stayfree maternity pads for the first few days, which i found good. I took 2 packs to hospital but had to get DH to bring another pack in.

When the flow settled down a bit i used the libra goodnights / maternity. I just fund that the stayfree a bit thicker and absorbed more when the flow was huge.

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How many packs of pads are needed? Like to take to the hospital and have on standby for when you get home? I've heard some horror stories - why do people tell first-time-mums this stuff?!

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LOL ducky, I have no idea why they tend to tell you the worst maybe some people feel you need to know, who knows!
I took 2 pks with my first but in hindsight I would recomend preparing for a 5day stay even if it's not the plan. So I would recomend 3 pkts of maternity pads and keep a supply of normal af time pads at home. The first few days are the worst but it tappers off, and like someone said tell the nurse if you think it's too much. I found it tended to "gush" during feeding obviously cause the uterus contracts so just be prepared for the oopsies with some extra undies etc even double up for the first night if it's too much.

Tks joralyd!

I think the 'girl scout' approach on this one is best, and to just be prepared! After not having to deal with AF for 9 months, it's going to be a shock - amongst all of the others ;)

I'll get another couple of packs.....

Sorry to hijack your thread ducky, but does anyone know if the lochia flow is different if you have a c-section?

Keira I've only had c's but have heard from other mum's who have had both natural and C and they've said it seams to be lighter but still alot heavier than a normal af, they do suck alot out in surgery though. Still it's not the same for everyone and some mum's have a heavier time than others so like Ducky says the girl scout way is the best :lol:

Thanks Tiff :)

OK.............. here goes............ how embarrasing......... I boughtt six packets and had to buy another six packets afterwards........... it was insane.

I used the Libra ones BUT I had two on at once. How? So they were really, really long.

Dumb, eh? I was shocked. But, to be honest I went in to the whole pg with an air of "whatever". 7 weeks later the tap finally switched off.......... heh, heh. I nearly forgot about that part. Here I was thinking about going back and doing that again......... only joshin'.

PS. Using two worked REALLY well. Just weren't long enough.

I prefered the kotex ones as the extra padding was nice and soft on my tender stitched up bits.
I don't like the libra ones as they smell like wet newspaper!

I used the kotex, and will use them again. Yep they are nice and soft on the stitched bits. If you have stitched bits, switching to ultra thins isn't a very good idea, they are not soft enough.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised that after a normal VB my flow was no where near what I had expected. It did last for 5 weeks though.

My midwife got me a cloth nappy to fold and put under the pads for the first night as this catches any leakage. It meas there is a lot of stuff in your undies but it meant I didn't have to worry.

FYI, I was also told that if you have to change your pad more than once every 1-2 hours, you are bleeding too much. And if the midwife tells you not to worry and you know there is something wrong, demand to speak to someone else.

I'm different. I used the depend pad knickers that you can get at the supermarket. They were absolutely brilliant. I didn't overflow a single drop and they were really comfortable. After a few days I used the Libra maternity ultra slim pads.

Depend!!!! What A Great Idea!!

owww great idea!!!

My friend recommends Depends nickers if your waters break at home too!! I am definately getting some, considering that I went through 5 mat pads before I made it to my front door on the way to hosiptal. Ended up going to hospital with a towel between my legs.

do they come in different types or anything? and how many in a pack? I've never actually taken much notice of them before but what a great idea, It's as good as dissposible undies

I've never heard of them! Are they pads or knickers??

They're incontinence pads/undies but I've never actually bought or opened a packet so I really don't know much more than that

The ones that I bought were the knickers type ones. They are like the baby pull up training pants. They have a built in pad the goes from front to back a far way and then around the top and sides it is stretchy mesh which you can tear down the sides and take them off. I would have been lost without them both in labour and afterwards with my bleeding. They were great at keeping my waters contained while I was labouring so I always felt clean as it wasn't running everywhere (sorry for the TMI visual) and then my DH and midwife just tore the sides and they were off when they needed them off.
Afterwards they were great because I didn't leak at all not even a drop and they are suprising comfortable and absolutely no-one even noticed I was wearing them and they saved on so much washing. Another good thing is they held in the jelly belly a little bit too :). A girlfriend also used these after her c/s and she found that they didn't rub at all on her incision and didn't hurt it at all and actually gave it a bit of protection from the pants as they didn't rub directly on it.
When buying them be careful to look at the pack closely because there are two similiar. One is the full knickers (get these ones) and the other ones have the long pad but they are held on with a string on the sides and you still have to wear knickers. From memory they come in about 10 - 14 a packet depending on which size you buy and they are around $14 a pack from the supermarket. I took two packs with me to the hospital and then switched to pads as my lochia had really settled down.
I tell everyone about them and will definitely use them again with #2.

Just wondering do the depend pad knickers come in different sizes? Can the get ones for bigger women?

Thanks ND I'll keep an eye out for the full brief ones at the supermarket! I had a quick search on google and it seams they come in Large and Medium?? going by weight range.

Not entirely sure but I think they go up to extra large and I think I can remember seeing up to over 96kg.
Mind you this is coming from my pregnancy brain memory so lordy knows what I'm telling you. LOL!!!
Plus they are super stretchy too.

Dan, what an awesome idea!!! heading to supermarket now for some shopping.. so will definitely get some!!!!

xxx

Haroula let us know what they have :D