Maternity pads are a postpartum essential that are often overlooked when packing your hospital bag. How to choose the best postpartum pads for your situation? What are the best pads on the market in 2021? Read the full article to understand more!
Reading plan:
How to choose the best postpartum pads?
When do I need to call a doctor?
Being a woman is all sorts of amazing things and beautiful happenings. The ability to conceive and bring life to this world is one of those things - but it is not all rainbows and butterflies. Starting with having monthly menstruation, up to the amazing process of conception, giving birth, and everything that is being a mother.
Starting from fertilization of the egg cell, the woman’s body undergoes many changes that will help her body adjust to becoming the home of her baby for more or less nine months. After giving birth, it takes some time for the body to go back to its pre-pregnancy state.
As women, we were always told that having a baby means having sleepless nights and sore breasts and nipples, but there is this one thing that is often forgotten. This is the preparation for the postpartum bleeding.
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What is postpartum bleeding?
As discussed in the previous article, postpartum bleeding or lochia is vaginal discharge after normal delivery. It is a lot like menstrual discharge with a stale and musty odor. In the first three days after delivery, it is usually dark red, and you can see small blood clots not larger than the size of a plum. This is normal.
From day 4 to day 10, after giving birth, the lochia changes its color from dark red to pinkish to brownish, and it will also be watery. During days 7 to 10, up to day 14 after delivery, the lochia gradually turns yellowish and will have a creamy consistency.
Those who undergo C-section delivery may have less lochia after 24 hours than those who undergo normal delivery.
Usually, the postpartum bleeding should stop within 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth. During the bleeding, you should know that maternity pads will be your best friend – but why do I need maternity pads, and how do you choose the pads for after birth?
*Related: 10 Things I Wish I Knew as a First Time Mom Before Having a Newborn Baby
Why do I need maternity pads?
Maternity pads work like your regular menstruation pads – but with better absorption abilities and usually bigger in size. These pads will absorb all the bleeding that will come from your uterus, mainly from where the placenta was previously attached. A few hours after giving birth, the bleeding will be the heaviest and will gradually ease off in the next few days postpartum as your body begins to recover.
This is why it is essential to stock up on postpartum pads and include them in your hospital bag. Look for longer, wider, and thicker pads to ensure leak protection in the duration of your bleeding.
How to choose the best postpartum pads?
During postpartum bleeding, it is not recommended to insert anything in your vagina, so tampons are a no-no! It is very wise to invest and try a few different brands and few types of pads. It should be comfortable to wear for your body type, free from leaks, and highly absorbent.
Just like the pads you use for regular menstruation, it should prevent blood from staining your panties and clothing, and most importantly, it should be comfortable to wear without irritating your skin.
There are a lot of maternity pads in the market but we found a few ones with great reviews from Amazon:
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Postpartum Diapers
Postpartum diapers are the best choice especially in the first few days after giving birth when the postpartum bleeding will most probably be the heaviest. Always Discreet Boutique postpartum underwear is one of the favorites of new moms everywhere. It is made of silky-soft fabric with delicate lacy prints, unlike regular adult diapers. It is super absorbent, perfect for heavy leak protection. It can also get rid of odors right away.
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Always Purple Pads
Always Discreet Extra Heavy Incontinence Pads offer excellent leak-free protection, and many women can testify how great these pads are. This is best used in the first few weeks after your delivery, when the postpartum discharge would be the heaviest.
With over 17,000 reviews on Amazon, this has become one of the new moms’ favorites as maternity pads. It is comfortable, and it has a discreet fit that is barely noticeable under clothes. It can also neutralize odors and can keep away wetness or leaks from the sides. You can also choose the right size for you by checking the Always Discreet My Fit chart.
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Always Yellow Pads
By the time you reach two weeks postpartum, the discharge would be lesser. This means that you would not need the heavy pads anymore. The best thing about Always Ultra Thin Pads is that they offer the Always My Fit Chart so that you can have the best protection by having your perfectly fit your flow and panty size. Choosing the wrong pad size can lead to leaks, and choosing one size up would be great to help prevent leaks. This pad has a flexible design that will help you move more comfortably throughout the day.
*Related: The ultimate new mom care package: The best gifts for new moms!
When do I need to call a doctor?
Ideally, postpartum bleeding should get lighter in time. If you see that your bleeding becomes heavier after a few days or weeks after birth, it is best to consult your doctor. There is a possibility that this can be a postpartum hemorrhage, which can be life-threatening if not diagnosed immediately.
If you notice that your bleeding increases after two to three weeks postpartum, this means that the uterus may not have adequately healed yet. This is why, after giving birth, it is essential to have enough rest, allow your body to heal, and refrain from doing a lot of physical activities.
Call your doctor or your midwife if you pass a clot larger than a golf ball, or if your postpartum bleeding completely stops for a day or more, then starts again, and if there is an unusual, foul smell from the vagina.
Emergency medical care may be necessary if you feel confused, lightheaded or if you faint, or if you pass many large clots in a short period. Also, check for excessive blood discharge – if you soak through each pad in 15 minutes or less.
Should you need any medical care and assistance, it is vital to take notes of all the specific symptoms you are experiencing for a more accurate and faster diagnosis.
Conclusion
Choosing the best postpartum pads is extremely important. Maybe not the most interesting or pleasant topic, but essential part of our lives. We know that you cannot find such information on many blogs and that is why we decided to write this blog post. We hope that it helped understand more about this topic and you will be able to make informed decision. Share it with friends and on your social media if you think that it will be helpful to others!
Blessings,
Wallecom Team
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