Tell me about breast/nursing pads

669 Views 16 Replies 15 Participants Last post by wombatclay, Apr 10, 2006

KaliD

Discussion Starter · Apr 7, 2006

I need to get something and was leaning towards washable nursing pads for when I'm out and about. After looking at a few I'm soo confused. I've found hemp (jersey and fleece), silk, wool (merino, cashmere and plain "wool"), cotton and any combination of the above. I'm sure I left something out!

So what's the best combination? I'm sure the different fabrics are great for specific situations, I just don't know which would be best for me, kwim? And I don't know what questions to ask to figure that out

Any suggestions and any spam is welcome (Ignore the spam request if that's not allowed in this forum)

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1 - 17 of 17 Posts

aisraeltax

· #2 · Apr 7, 2006

i use the Under The Nile organic cotton ones and love them. Medela ? also makes some cotton ones that i love.
dont know about the other kind..i have a whole box of disposable ones that ive never used.

wek524

· #3 · Apr 7, 2006

I use these wool pads and I love love love them...
http://www.danishwool.com/products/l..._nurs_pads.htm
I bought two pairs and I switch back and forth to let them dry. I bought their wool wash to re-lanolize them. So I wash them with that about once every week or two. They're really comfortable. Before I started using them a few months ago I was having re-occuring plugged ducts every few weeks. Ever since I got these, I haven't had a single one. I have no idea if it's just coincidence or not.

It's a little bit of an investment, but for me it was well worth it. I bought a pack of cotton washable ones at Target (I don't remember what brand) and they leaked really quickly and came out of the wash all balled up and were really lumpy in my bra.

guestmama9911

· #4 · Apr 7, 2006

I like the Medela ones because they are big. Most commercial breast pads are too small, IMO. If you use fleece, don't use it next to your nipples - my nipples stick to it! Ouch!

mom2olivia

· #5 · Apr 7, 2006

I thought with summer coming I'd offer a disposable alternative....The Gerber Ultratrim pads. These are super absorbent and discrete. I know I was more than a little concerned about leaking when returning to work, but I didn't want everyone in the world to know I was wearing breast pads.

For when I was home I used some I purchased from motherwear, they are wonderfully absorbent, and not too fluffy! They are white, cotton/flannel maybe? I don't recall, but I'm pretty sure there is no hemp in them.

The one thing I wished someone told me was to have the cloth ones upon the birth of my dd, I can't tell you how many disposables I went through before finding out about these! I was a leaky seive too!!! I still nurse, but after about 4 months I no longer needed pads.

timneh_mom

· #6 · Apr 7, 2006

I would completely drench cloth pads and found Lansinoh disposables to be really great. They are very thin and they hold a lot!!

rmzbm

· #7 · Apr 7, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by timneh_mom
I would completely drench cloth pads and found Lansinoh disposables to be really great. They are very thin and they hold a lot!!

YES!!!!! My cloth ones are ALWAYS drenched!! The Lansinoh ones are wonderful!!

MommyTorf

· #8 · Apr 7, 2006

I bought some hemp nursing pads on eBay from Little Lambs- I think she has a website too (she also makes GREAT diapers). They washed and dried (line or dryer) great. They also laid flat in my bra and didn't buch up.

I got a box of the Lansinoh nursing pads as a gift. They are thin and individually wrapped, so I stashed them all over the place for back-up.

Stayathomemommy

· #9 · Apr 7, 2006

I have tried many types of disposable and i am a hyper lactator, the Lansinoh disposables were the only ones that kept me dry and were incredibly thin so you cant see them through your shirt. dont waste your money on any other brand. i always had cloth ones for home use but i have about 6 pairs and go through them like crazy and would have to be washing them all the time or have a billion pairs. i only use them at home because i usually soak through. my friend got me breast shells and i have never used it but i am excited to thy them. it allows you to air out but if you a leaker like me i guess it catches the milk.

guestmama9911

· #10 · Apr 7, 2006

NAK

The Lansinoh disposables always bunched up in my bra. Maybe it matters what size you are. The diaper making ladies say the best fabrics for diapers are hemp and bamboo because they are super absorbent so you don't need as many layers. I bet that would be the same if you made your own. Wool is also great, as it can absorb 30% of its weight in moisture and still feel dry, which is why it is very popular for a night-time diaper cover. You could pick up some cheap wool sweaters at a second hand store and cut out circles. If you crochet or knit, you could use 100% wool yarn made into circles and either leave them at that or wash them on hot to felt them.

I make them out of leftover diaper fabric - The layer next to my skin is made of my husband's old polo shirts, the middle layers are birdseye cotton, and the outer layer is polar fleece, which is water resistent. This combo doesn't look the best under clothes, but works great around the house and great at night. Mother says she used to make them out of prefolds.

Just some ideas.

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eirual

· #11 · Apr 7, 2006

I've never had to use them...I had a bit of leakage in the first couple weeks pp, but i was home and it didn't matter anyways, but since then I haven't had to use any at all. (Mind you i'll be starting school in the fall, so ds will be in daycare....maybe going such a long stretch w/o nursing would be different?)

KaliD

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 8, 2006

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I was avoiding disposable pads, only because they end up balled up after lowering the nursing flap on my bra one time. Very frustrating

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PinkPixie

· #13 · Apr 8, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by wek524
I use these wool pads and I love love love them...
http://www.danishwool.com/products/l..._nurs_pads.htm
I bought two pairs and I switch back and forth to let them dry. I bought their wool wash to re-lanolize them. So I wash them with that about once every week or two. They're really comfortable. Before I started using them a few months ago I was having re-occuring plugged ducts every few weeks. Ever since I got these, I haven't had a single one. I have no idea if it's just coincidence or not.

It's a little bit of an investment, but for me it was well worth it. I bought a pack of cotton washable ones at Target (I don't remember what brand) and they leaked really quickly and came out of the wash all balled up and were really lumpy in my bra.

I agree that wool bpads ar the best, and you only need 2-3 pairs for your whole breastfeeding life. My favorite are the LANA merino wool bpads, and they actually DO prevent blocked ducts! Wool creates a gentle heat plus it is naturally anti-bacterial and very absorbent! I have tried many kinds of bpads (disposable, cotton, meshlinning or plastic backing) and wool is by far the best!
They do run more expensive but are worth it IMO

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heather_c

· #14 · Apr 9, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stayathomemommy
I have tried many types of disposable and i am a hyper lactator, the Lansinoh disposables were the only ones that kept me dry and were incredibly thin so you cant see them through your shirt. dont waste your money on any other brand. i always had cloth ones for home use but i have about 6 pairs and go through them like crazy and would have to be washing them all the time or have a billion pairs. i only use them at home because i usually soak through.

: I love the Lansinoh disposables for out of the house. I never have to worry about leaking.

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ericswifey27

· #15 · Apr 9, 2006

I love the Medela cloth ones- they are terry with a layer of stay dry material, they worked great for me and bigger than a lot of the teeny weeny pads out there

I think I am going to try some wool ones next though from the feedback here...

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newbie_mary

· #16 · Apr 9, 2006

I have some hemp ones that I bought from Blue Penguin website, and they are AWESOME. No bunching, not very obvious in the bra, and VERY absorbant.

I also bought some larger cotton ones at Babies R Us and they SUCK. Don't know what brand, but they totally leaked and they bunch up really badly.

Mary

wombatclay

· #17 · Apr 10, 2006

Quote:

I was avoiding disposable pads, only because they end up balled up after lowering the nursing flap on my bra one time. Very frustrating

Good luck with the fabric pads! I wound up going back to disposable since I soaked through all my cloth pads (and this is after a year! Companies should hire me to test their pads!) but I hear you on the "balled up" problem.

If you do wind up back with disposables, try a couple different brands. As a pp mentioned, breast size and shape can play a big part in how well a certain brand will work.

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