Help. After birth underdwear coming home...what to pack? TMI stuff

[gabysmom617]

Ok so.....................I'm trying to pack a hospital bag and...

Undies and pads?

Will pads be thick enough?

Is after birth flow heavier with the second child?

Completely drawing a blank here.

[feminist~mama]

I'm an L&D nurse, not in your DDC.

Our hospitals (and all others that I've worked at) have disposable stretchy panties that we provide- as well as pads. The panties are super stretchy and really have fit everyone I've ever given them to.

HTH!

ETA: Your flow won't be heavier with your second, but you will likely cramp more.

[Norasmomma]

I'm also not in your DDC, but I brought black undies(for obvious reasons) with me because the stretchy ones in the hospital were so weird. I wore the pads that I brought, the ones at the hospital were HUGE.

I also went to Walmart and bought a pack of cheapo undies I didn't really care about, so if they got stained I just tossed them.

[Baby_Cakes]

Just from personal experience, I used Depends and super pads the first few days. The flow was too much for just the pads and would totally run over the sides and get on the Depends. If I hadn't had them, I would have ruined all my undies for sure. Since the hospital will probably be providing the disposable underpants and pads, you could just bring your favorite pads (super) and use their disposable underpants.

[gabysmom617]

Ok thanks! Tucking all these suggestions and hints away for packing purposes.

[JBaxter]

They have MONDO pads at the hospital and it isnt along ride home. Im bringing a regular pair of briefs you remember the heavy flow day underwear LOL. Thats all Ive ever brought to wear home. I also have a xl pair of shape wear underwear Im brining because my belly always feels like jello and the extra support keeps the pads from shifting.

[Bellasmom]

I have never liked the hospital pads - I have delivered at two different hospitals and their pads have had very little adhesive and no wings - I much prefer some of the overnight pads with wings, and my own underwear that I can toss if need be. Also, afterpains are much stronger with the second, and I found the Thermacare self-heating pads to be worth their weight in gold the first couple of days. Hospitals will not give you a heating pad because of risk of burns. The thermacare stay in place and are warm for 8+ hours.

[NicaG]

I used Kotex overnight long pads and they worked well. They're thin and comfy and have wings. The hospital pads and panties are a little too weird to wear home. My bleeding had slowed down quite a bit by the time I left the hospital, but everyone's different. I agree about the afterpains, much worse with dc#2, especially during/after nursing.

[ledzepplon]

I'm not even bringing my own underwear. I've used the hospital mesh ones and their giant pads when my other kids were born, and I see no reason to change that now! They worked well and then you don't have to worry about ruining yours.

[gabysmom617]

Ok, so now you guys got me afraid of after pains. : Are they really horrible?

[coyotemist]

Sliding over from November...

I've always used the hospital mesh underwear. They rinse out great if they get messy, and dry quickly. At both the hospital where my DS was born, and the one where this little guy will be born they provide pads that are wide in the front and back and narrow in the middle. Not quite depends, but they work very well! However, with DS I ran out and asked for more and they would not give me more. So I'm bringing some of my own. 10 years ago when my DD was born they had the long narrow thick pads with not enough sticky stuff...glad they stopped using those at this hospital!

I always bleed a lot.

Afterpains, for me, are easier than my worst period cramps. Ibuprofin helps a lot!

[Soogie]

Originally Posted by gabysmom617

Ok, so now you guys got me afraid of after pains. : Are they really horrible?

For me, they got worse with each subsequent pg. With my last, I swear at times, labor pains felt better. But what really helped me was taking the tincture After Ease. It really does take the edge off of them.

[mommysaurus]

Originally Posted by Soogie

For me, they got worse with each subsequent pg. With my last, I swear at times, labor pains felt better. But what really helped me was taking the tincture After Ease. It really does take the edge off of them.

Ditto!!! AfterEase is awesome! I've already got mine ready to go!

[peaceful_mama]

I like the Always really-thin but ultra-absorbent overnight pads. I started using them after I got home i think (so 48 hours post-birth?) and did not have issues.

this time I am homebirthing...at someone else's home thanks to the lovely laws in my state. (20 miles or so away I am over the border LOL) and have a small pack of the hospital type pads in my birth kit but will likely bring the always too. Oh and i have a pair of hospital panties in there too.

yeah I probably changed the Always more with post-partum than a normal period but they work. and they are more comfortable than those diaper pads LOL

[ibusymomto5]

I used these Depends type pull on pads with an extra pad(the ones that came in the birth kit) tucked inside. It's amazing how much flow there in the first few hours following birth(a lot more than a normal period), but by the 2nd day it's much, much lighter. I switched to ultra thin Kotex overnight with wings after that and my regular low rise bikini undies. Before that I was so thankful to have the Depend type things.