Congratulations, on your expected bundle of joy. As a new mother you are probably trying to decide if you want to breast feed your baby or not, if you choose to breast feed your baby, then you will need to determine which kind of breast/nursing pads that you want to use to protect your clothes from leaking milk.
While you are pregnant your body is preparing for your baby’s nutritional needs and you may even notice some of these changes. When you are pregnant your breast will often times become bigger due to increased blood flow and other hormonal changes. Don’t be alarmed if your breast increase a full cup size and you have to buy new bras to support your new breasts.
Disclosure: This post is for informational purposes. I am not a lactation consultant or a certified breastfeeding expert. The opinions in this post are based upon my own experiences.
Breast Changes During Pregnancy
During your third month of pregnancy, your body will begin producing colostrum. Colostrum is a form of milk that contains antibodies to help protect your newborn after he or she is born, it is yellow in color, contains a lower fat content, it is packed with protein, and it has a mild laxative effect to help your baby pass their first stool called meconium. As your baby continues to nurse, your body will begin transitioning your colostrum to milk. It does take a few days for your milk to come in, don’t be alarmed if it takes more than three days for your milk to fully come in. It is important that you continue to nurse your baby often and resist the urge to feed your baby formula instead.
Once your milk comes in, you will find that your breast will begin leaking milk especially if they are full or engorged. Breast pads are made to place inside of your bra to help protect your clothes from getting wet or stained with milk. They are also designed to help keep your nipples dry and helps reduce the risks of infections.
There are several different types of breast pads available for mom’s to choose from: disposable or reusable.
Reusable Nursing Pads
Reusable nursing pads are earth friendly and can help you save money in the long run. They have a higher up front cost because you will need to purchase enough breast pads to last a few days so that you don’t run out. Most reusable breast pads are made up of a soft cotton fabric that are absorbent and comfortable to wear. Some brands even come with an anti-slip layer, which helps prevent the breast pad from shifting, moving, or even falling out of your bra/shirt.
The breast pads can easily be washing the washing machine or by hand depending upon your preference. If you use the washing machine, it is best to purchase a zippered laundry bag. This will prevent the breast pads from getting separated, lost or misplaced, just like those unmatched socks that end up on top of the dryer.
Disposable Nursing Pads
Disposable nursing pads are convenient and you don’t have to worry about having enough clean nursing pads washed each day. You just grab what you need out of the box and go. Not all disposable breast pads are created equally; therefore, you have to find the nursing pads that work for you. Some are made with a cotton like material while others have a thin layer of plastic in them to help keep milk from leaking through the nursing pad.
Disposable Breast Pad Reviews
- Gerber Nuk Nursing Pad Review - While these breast pads are cheaper compared to other brands; however, after using several other brands these breast pads these are considerably thinner and don’t absorb quite as much milk. Often times I would wake up with wet clothes during the middle of the night. They are practical and would work well during the day, when the breasts are less likely to become engorged with milk
- Philips Avent Nursing Pad Review - These breast pads come wrapped in individual packages for sanitary purposes, which allows you to carry them in your purse, diaper bag, ect without worrying about them becoming contaminated. These breast pads are thicker and more absorbent. While using these breast pads, I no longer was waking up with wet clothes. They are similar to a baby diaper as they trap milk inside the breast pad which helps keep your nipples dry. These breast pads come with a small piece of sticky tape on the backside of the pad, so that you can easily attach it to your bra so that it doesn’t move or fall out of your bra. They are thin and no one can even tell that you are wearing a breast pad.
- Medela Nursing Pad Review - These breast pads are very similar to the Philips Avent breast pads; however, they are a bit more expensive. These pads are also very absorbent and again I no longer woke up with wet clothes. They are made with the same type of absorbency that is similar to a baby’s diaper, the breast pad traps milk inside of its absorbent material and keeping moisture away from your breast. Medela also has a piece of sticky tape on the backside of the breast pad, so that you can stick the breast pad in your nursing bra to keep it from moving around or falling out.
To get weekly updates to Uplifting Families, please subscribe to my newsletter or join in the conversation with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and G+.
Originally written on June 14, 2012.
What type of nursing pads to you use when you are breastfeeding?
