The verdict is in . . .

[LizaBear]

No, post-partum bleeding does NOT stain infant pre-fold diapers !!

And they are 100 times more comfortable than the plastic topped, sticky bottomed, paper pads I used last time.

I went back to my regular mama-pads sometime during the day on Sunday (Lady Bug was born Friday afternoon), and other than a pre-fold at night, am using them exclusively now.

Things I wish I'd known with my first *sigh* . . .

[~*~MamaJava~*~]

good to know! thanks! i hate hate hate sposie pads but i don't have any mama cloth. so maybe i'll use some prefolds.

[todzwife]

Preemie prefolds work really well too- and they aren't as bulky

[poisonedapple]

Preemie prefolds work really well too

Thats what I was thinking would be a good alternative, and they arent very pricey.

[Mama~Love]

Thanks for the tip! I never would've thought to use them, but I'm not creative AT ALL : !

[AinNJ]

oh wow. good idea. now i'm thinking of taking my old infant prefolds and cutting/serging them into mama pads! sounds delightfully comfy!

[momsmyjob]

Thanks for the tip

[BetsyPage]

What a great idea! Glad to hear it worked for you. Sounds much more comfy.

A random question- is it common for hospitals to make you wear frozen diapers in your underwear after giving birth as an ice pack? And is there a better alternative to this? (For swelling, I assume).

[xenabyte]

They gave me a surgical glove filled with ice to sit on...hmm, I think I'd have preferred a frozen flatfold diaper!

:LOL

[lovelee]

"is it common for hospitals to make you wear frozen diapers in your underwear after giving birth as an ice pack? And is there a better alternative to this? (For swelling, I assume)."

Yes, for the first 12-hrs

I used infant prefolds for the first few days, then switched to preemies. They were great, didn't slip at all for me. I folded them in thirds. long ways.

The preemies are like $1 a piece!

[crunchymomma]

Originally Posted by BetsyPage

What a great idea! Glad to hear it worked for you. Sounds much more comfy.

A random question- is it common for hospitals to make you wear frozen diapers in your underwear after giving birth as an ice pack? And is there a better alternative to this? (For swelling, I assume).

I had to sit on ziplocks full of ice wrapped in paper towels. Afterwards, I used pads that I had made up ahead of time. I used disposable pads, but I can't see any reason that you couldn't use cloth ones for this:

Here's what you'll need:

-16 - 24 overnight maxi pads

-witch hazel

-lavender oil

-aloe vera gel (liquid, found in health food stores)

-tin foil

Unwrap each pad, and pour a little witch hazel, a little aloe vera gel and 3-4 drops of lavender on each pad. You want the pad damp, but not soaked. Wrap each pad in tin foil and stick them in the freezer. Witch hazel and lavender are natural astringents, so they'll help reduce swelling, and the aloe and the cold are very soothing.

These were AWESOME for the first few days after I gave birth!

[Pridelandsmommy]

Thanks so much......I have a ton of prefolds just staring at me......and my bank account thanks you too!

[LizaBear]

My bank account was one of the biggest things that turned me onto using the infant prefolds - we already had them here, I don't like using them on a brand-new baby (we have newborn fitteds instead), they wash like a dream, are more comfy, no chemicals or nasty grabby adhesive !