Do I really need Depends?

[Iamhappy2BAmom]

So today I did my one last "preparation" shopping for bare essentials and I broke down and bought things on the "for mom to take to the hospital" list. This included nursing bra, nightgown, thin robe, etc. Anyway- I stopped and stared at the wide variety of heavy pads and almost bought the 36 pack Depends with a strap pad, I think it was $14 and some medicated tucks. How necessary are these items- is the flow post birth really that much? And assuming a vaginal birth- is medicated Tucks really what is used to wipe? Thoughts?

(*sigh*) I have three weeks left YAY!!! No contractions yet of any kind, but boy is the preassure on my pee pee really painful. Just standing and sitting or turning over causes pain down there.

[Shell_Ell]

I don't know... I used really big Poise pads last time and that's what came with my birth kit this time. They worked just fine. The flow for me was only really heavy the first few days and then I could use regular pads.

I think it's a personal preference.

I never used Tucks pads either. I wasn't that sore.

[MandyB]

With both kids I used the kotex super thing extra long nighttime pads. They worked FINE for me. I would imagine that the depends would be a bit uncomfortable and the pads they give you in the hospital are ENORMOUS! With my first babe, the first few days I did use the tucks to wipe with, because the witch hazel in them is soothing. I also used frozen newborn diapers the first few days to bring relief down there.

With my second babe (homebirth) my midwives made up a nice perenial wash for me to rinse with and they squirted a bit of it on my pads, then put my pads in the freezer. This was SO much better than the tucks pads (it was made with witch hazel and something else) and the frozen pads were much less bulky than the frozen diapers.

Hope that helps!

[onelilguysmommy]

i didnt with my first. im due in 4 weeks, and so idont know, but i wouldnt say ou need them exactly, but theyre definitely useful for not getting underwear messed up or leaking if yo use the regular diaper like ones...
i did use a few because i was paranoid though lol, but only as regular underwear with the pad i had on touching me, just in case i did leak...yeah, waste of money for me.

this is when i used sposie ones, and i just used the regular sposie always ultra thin regulars from the birth day on

never used tucks, either...i just had a squirt bottle with warm water

[saratchka]

I didn't use Depends last time at all. I was in the hospital, using their pads (big, but not as enormous as everyone had led me to believe) for the first couple days. I used them with my own underwear as the mesh panties that everyone talks about never materialized in my hospital. Then I used overnight disposables and cloth at home. Both worked fine. The bleeding was significant, but not so bad that I leaked. You should make sure to avoid your favorite panties for a week, or so, though. Murphy's law would ensure that they were the one pair you'd leak all over!

As for the Tucks, they were great for me. I felt like a moist wipe helped to get everything a little cleaner, and the witch hazel did make my small tear feel better. If I hadn't torn, I don't think I'd have used them, but for the cost, I think they're worth having around. Or you could make your own witch hazel solution to use with cloth or paper wipes if needed.

[willoLevin]

I did NOT use Depends. I used the hospital pads while I was there (and the mesh panties--figured why make more laundry than I needed to?) and I switched to the largest "period pads" I could find once at home.

My bleeding wasn't so heavy that I needed more than a long menstrual pad, but I know amount of bleeding varies from woman to woman (and perhaps pregnancy to pregnancy?)

I still had half a container of generic hospital brand "medicated wipes" that I brought home from the hospital. I found them pleasant and comfortable--more so than regular TP--so I used them up at home and I think bought one more container myself. (FWIW, I did have an episiotomy and then tore as well, so perhaps that is a factor in how much it will help a person?)

Considering that I really prefer the flushable wipes for myself for after a BM at all times, this may just be a personal preference issue. ??? But I think the cooling sensation was/is good.

--willo

[Keeping up]

Hmmm ...

I did use the Tucks with #1 - forceps, episiotomy and huge tear - so I was really really sore - they were glorious (kept them in the fridge too so cold!!!) Didn't use with #2 and #3 - I would hold off getting them and send DH if you need them (I was shocked at how pricey they were).

Depends - I would also hold off. Off note, after #3 I had continence issues (pee only that time around) and the depends may have been helpful. It only last a few days thank goodness - I would pratically pee myself everytime I changed the babe's diaper (it was marginally hysterical) - I sat there cross-legged quickly changing a diap before I had to run to the bathroom. It did only last a few days - obviously, pad don't really help with that. I would never have needed more than a heavy flow pad for the blood.

[jbobys]

my mw gave me depends after she broke my water with Zach (she did this to innitiate labor and then sent me home...) what made them great was that i could move around in a position and these giant panties moved with me, so no need to worry about leakage. after i had zach i grabbed a couple pair for home and i NEVER wanted to take them off! so comfy and i didnt have to worry about leakage..no matter if i was laying down, lounging or sitting

i used the hospital pads and mesh panties at the hospital with Lexa and HATED both! used my normal always pads after birth, which were ok, but theyre just not terribly comfy (plus i hate underwear )

this time i got a box of depends...will use them if my water breaks and/or after #3 is born. i regretted not having them last time!

[Marvelleaux]

I used Depends when my water broke. After the birth I needed much less protection and used very long pads. These were good because I found myself lying down a lot.