Are Nursing Pads Necessary?
Nursing pads are removable, absorbent liners used between a woman’s nipples and her bra. They act as a barrier to keep garments dry and avoid stains by acting as a barrier for milk leakage.
They are available in many designs, sizes, and forms and can either be disposable or recycled. When choosing the best fit, go for the ones that fit tightly against your body, regardless of the style.
You have already made a lot of choices as a pregnant woman. The majority of your decisions concern how you want to raise your child.
Choosing to breastfeed or not is one of those choices, if you decide to breastfeed, you will need to buy nursing pads. You could get by without them for the first few days after your baby’s birth, but once your milk comes in, you will definitely need them.
You may come across nursing pads that look like flat circles, it is best to avoid these as they may clump up in your bra. Additionally, steer clear of nursing pads with waterproof or plastic liners because they tend to trap moisture against your skin. Instead, go for soft, absorbent ones that let your breasts breathe.
What Is The Best Time To Start Wearing Nursing Pads?
The last few weeks of pregnancy are the ideal time to begin using nursing pads. At this point, when your body begins to occasionally discharge milk, nursing pads can help you prevent leaks. If you have an overflow of milk or if you tend to leak, you might also want to start using nursing pads.
The following are a few indications that you might need to start using nursing pads:
- Your breasts are heavy or feel full.
- You noticed dampness in your bra.
- You have noticed that your nipples leak milk.
It is usually preferable to lean on the side of caution and begin using nursing pads as soon as possible if you are unsure of when you should start using them.
How Often Should I Change Nursing Pads?
A moisture barrier against your skin is something you should avoid in order to prevent irritation or infections. Make sure to maintain maximum dryness on your nipples by changing your wet nursing pads constantly.
Nursing pads should be changed as regularly as needed, preferably every 3 to 4 hours. Change them more frequently if you are leaking a lot of milk. To prevent the following, it is critical to consistently replace your pads.
Growth of bacteria. If you keep your pads damp or soiled for an extended period of time, germs may start growing since breast milk is a strong source of nutrition for bacteria. Infection may result from this, which is unpleasant and painful.
Irritated skin. Nursing pads that are wet or soiled might irritate your skin and cause redness, inflammation, or even a rash.
Leaks. Your pads may begin to leak if they are too soiled or moist, which may be unattractive and uncomfortable.
A spare set of nursing pads should be kept on hand so you may replace them as necessary. Remember the following extra factors when replacing nursing pads:
During the first few weeks after your baby is born, you may need to change your pads more frequently if you are nursing. This is because you could be leaking extra milk as your milk supply is still developing.
You can swap your pads while wearing a nursing bra without taking it off. Simply remove the old pad by reaching inside your bra. You can throw away any disposable pads you have used or wash reusable pads in the washing machine.
What Nursing Pads Should I Get?
Nursing pads come in both disposable and reusable varieties. Although more handy, disposable pads can sometimes be more costly and while reusable pads need more cleaning, they are more environmentally friendly.
As an alternative to disposable nursing pads, you can also use clean, folded handkerchiefs or cotton-based breast pads or even go for silicone or hydrogel ones.
You might wish to use organic or hypoallergenic nursing pads if you have sensitive skin. Let us look at the different options you have:
Disposable Nursing Pads – The material used to make disposable nursing pads is thin and absorbent. They have various levels of absorbency, much like sanitary napkins.
They are intended to be used only once before being thrown away. You might want to test a few different kinds to find the type you prefer as they come in a range of shapes and thicknesses. Due to the fact that you won’t have to bother about washing them, disposable pads are also excellent for use while you are going out or travelling. But because you have to keep buying fresh ones, the cost of disposables might add up over time.
You can buy a box of disposable pads with 50 to 200 or more inside because the more you buy, the cheaper it becomes.
Reusable Nursing Pads – These cloth nursing pads fit into your bra similarly to disposable pads and have an absorbent layer that is leak-resistant. The natural fibers offer improved air circulation and you can wash and dry them easily as brands allow you to clean them in the same machine as your baby’s clothes. Wash them in a laundry bag to keep pairs together.
Reusable nursing pads are more economical since you may wear, wash, and reuse them repeatedly. Additionally, because you will not be discarding several pads every day, they are ecologically beneficial. However, since you are going to need to replace them frequently, you will need to buy a few pairs, so you can keep a few pairs on hand while others are being laundered.
In essence, reusing your pads helps you save money in addition to the environment.
Silicone Nursing Pads: Nursing pads made of silicone are not absorbent. To stop leaks, they instead gently push on the breast. These pads are made of soft silicone and may be used with or without a bra due to their adhesive surface that sticks to your breast. They are frequently used for swimming or beneath fashionable apparel.
Homemade Nursing Pads: You can easily create nursing pads from a variety of materials. You could fold a clean handkerchief or other piece of cotton material over your breasts or, if you know how to sew, you could sew together several layers of absorbent material into a circular shape or any other shape that feels comfortable for you. You could also cut up disposable diapers or sanitary napkins to fit inside your bra. Refrain from using fake materials while constructing your own pads. It is important to choose 100% cotton fabric since it is softer on your skin and better at absorbing leaks.
Hydrogel Pads: Pads made of hydrogel are not used for leakage. They may be stored in the refrigerator or freezer to give cold comfort, and they are frequently used to help soothe and heal painful nipples. Hydrogel pads could be useful if you have painful, cracked nipples.
Alternatives To Nursing Pads
You and your baby could be at home and all your pads are in the laundry when you begin to notice your breasts leaking milk, the following are some suggested items you might use in place of the actual nursing pads:
Towel– Cut little circular pieces of old towel that you can use, even though they won’t be as absorbent as quality pads.
Baby Wash Clothes- You can fold up a new baby wash cloth to make a soft pad. It is best to use washcloths made from absorbent materials.
Burp Cloths Or Bibs – If you have extra baby bibs or burp cloths, you can turn those into alternative nursing pads.
Diapers: If you start to leak when out and about with your baby, you can always use a disposable diaper after cutting it up to fit your bra.
These can be used as short-term fixes until you get to the buy right ones for nursing.