undies & pads at Hospital-HELP??

hondaguy07 · May 2011

I have a quick question to Mom's who went through this before. My friends who have recently given birth to their first babies...have shown me the tacky, embarrassing, stretchy, hair net looking underware they give you at the hospital to wear after the baby is born. Then on top of the they give you these huge diaper looking pads and then a smaller (normal size pade or poise type of pad) to put inside that. Can't I buy just overnight maximum moisure control pads and wear them with my own underwear? Or what have you all used for this instead of taking what the Hospital wants to give you? I know we will all be flowing like there's no tomorrow after birth but one of the pad companies has to make a SUPER ABSORBENT pad that is long enough, right? Any advise is appreciated!!

idonthavethis · May 2011

I just used those wonderful mesh panties. Why not? I didn't want to ruin any of my underwear.

dannie2011 · May 2011

With my other kids I used my own underwear and pads. I got the always heavy nights ones and the worked great. I didn't like the feeling of having a boat down there. So I will be doing the same again.

MustanGTbaby13 · May 2011

I kinda wish my hospital provided them...they charge you for everything (

They aren't necessary- but if they give you them for free why not utilize it!

88motown · May 2011

I can't speak for myself yet since this is my first but my friends who have recently had babies advised me to steal as many pairs of those mesh panties as I could get my hands on. My sister who just had her son last month had a c-section said they were the most comfortable underwear for the first few days.

KittahMama · May 2011

Those undies you hate the look of? You will be begging for extras to take home by the time you leave. They are seriously the most comfortable things.

You aren't realizing (and you won't til it happens) that after delivery you have destroyed your lady parts and in their anger and unhappy state they swell. Like four times the size at least of what they were. So those huge pads they give you at the hospital? You can't find them THAT big anywhere and you will need them. When you lay in whatever position you find that is somewhat comfy they will still find the flow and absorb away. Especially the first 48 hours or so you can look forward to changing all that stuff down there every 2-3 hours at least.

And the mesh panties are DA BOMB.

Actually if I remember correctly the entire contents of my under wear after birth went like this:
Mesh Panty
HUGE pad
three tucks pads (or witch hazel pads)
a glob of some numbing creme
an ice pack
I cleaned with a peri bottle, sprayed the spray numbing stuff then put all that together to make a crotch sandwich that made me feel a LOT better!

If you use your own underwear be ready to throw it away. Hell the hospital even gave me the bed pads (like 2' x 2' squares) to lay down on at home.

mskinner30 · May 2011

I am soon to be a second time mom and I hear exactly what you are saying as a first time mom.........I felt the same way.........big huge diaper pads and mesh underware....no way! lol. But believe me once you have delivered it is not a big a deal as you think. You are so sore down there and bleeding and stuff that you won't be worried about mesh panties and huge pads lol. And I am one who Never wears pads at all. I have only ever had to use regular absorbancy tampons my whole cycle when I have it. I say just use what they give you and the day you go home bring a pair of your own panties and a super absorbent pad to go home with. That should be good for the ride home and all. It gets really messy in the hospital and you don't want to ruin all your underware. Also my hospital gives you a newborn size diaper and they fill the lining with ice and you put that down there and it's like heaven!!!!!! It sounds nuts but it numbs the pain so well. They also give you a numbing spray that you spray down there after each bathroom use and it makes it feel better too. And sorry thought of another thing, Tucks pads! Get some for home too, not just for your butt, if you need it, but it also helps heal up your stitches/vag nice too:) I am so private about my nether regions but seriously once the baby is out you'll have nurses, husbands checking out down there alot to make sure it's healing etc. You'll get used to it quick and you'll need help in the bathroom too:) Good luck and don't worry you'll be fine:)

heather_09_15_07 · May 2011

Those mesh panties and giant pads are the most comfortable things ever.

thequeeenbee · May 2011

Mesh Panties = My Best Postpartum Friend.

I almost cried when I finally had to stop wearing them after I came home from the hospital. Sure, they are ugly, but they are also super useful. Honestly, I hate to put it this way, but your vagina is going to be pretty ugly too. Might as well cover it up with big ugly pads and panties that make it feel better.

trishb01 · May 2011

I agree with the PP's.... USE THEM!! They are actually quite comfy and they save your underwear!! And the pads are wonderful!! They hold alot more than your ordinary pads, but if you do use your own make sure that they are the really long and huge overnights!!

alicia023 · May 2011

I agree with PP, i think they were wonderful!!! I loved them. The pads are freakishly huge..but you will need them. With the ice packs,pads and cream they gave me plus the undies are heaven for your vag. You will be sore, but i'm sure you can always take your own undies and pads, but you might want to bring a lot because you will be changing them very frequent, as the store brand is not as big as the ones in the hospital.

desy_dawn · May 2011

KittahMama:
Actually if I remember correctly the entire contents of my under wear after birth went like this:
Mesh Panty
HUGE pad
three tucks pads (or witch hazel pads)
a glob of some numbing creme
an ice pack
I cleaned with a peri bottle, sprayed the spray numbing stuff then put all that together to make a crotch sandwich that made me feel a LOT better!

Oh my! This could not be anymore true! No one warns you about this. I almost died when the nurse came in there and wanted to show me how to clean myself. I was so modest and thought that I had it under control. I didn't! I am so thankful for her teaching me all kinds of tricks.

Also, if your room has one of those fancy sitz bath things, use it! It is like vagina heaven after birth!

janecanadian · May 2011

I felt the same way as you before I had my baby but then once she was here that all changed. The mesh panties and diapers you put in them are awesome! Our hospital would also dip maxi pads in water and then stick them in the freezer so I would stuff one of those in on top of the diaper...it was heaven! lol!

memali26 · May 2011

heather_09_15_07:
Those mesh panties and giant pads are the most comfortable things ever.

This. Wear them for a few days after giving birth - you will seriously not care what you look like, and will be walking/sitting funny anyway because you just pushed a human out of your bits, so the giant pad won't matter.

aeg51107 · May 2011

ditto what everyone else has said about the pads and undies!

also, if you use an ice pack in there, squirt some water on it first and it feels so much colder and wonderful!

Tikat · May 2011

I got some red VS Undies and will bring Extra Long Kotex Pads - as I prefer to miss out on the diaper as well!

jheideman · May 2011

memali26:
heather_09_15_07:
Those mesh panties and giant pads are the most comfortable things ever.
This. Wear them for a few days after giving birth - you will seriously not care what you look like, and will be walking/sitting funny anyway because you just pushed a human out of your bits, so the giant pad won't matter.

This. Plus, many other embarrassing things will happen to you when in labor. By the time you are done, those mesh panties will not "look" anymore tacky than the iv in your arm, hospital gown, or stitches in your lady parts.

madhatter2003 · May 2011

for the first day or so after birth you NEED the monster pads, ice pads, witch hazel pads, and meshies they give you.

This is one that you'll be thankful for at the time, trust me.

COMomma81 · May 2011

I absolutely loved those mesh underwear. In fact, took a box home with me. I did use the pads they provided in the hospital...why not? It wasn't a big deal...I was in a sense, already paying for them, why not use them if they're there. At home, used the Always overnights (I think) and they were fine too. Didn't notice a huge difference. I only bled heavy for about 3-4 days and moderately another few which turned into spotting. I was done bleeding 10 days postpartum (but I had a c-section).

ohfour · May 2011

KittahMama:
Those undies you hate the look of? You will be begging for extras to take home by the time you leave. They are seriously the most comfortable things.

You aren't realizing (and you won't til it happens) that after delivery you have destroyed your lady parts and in their anger and unhappy state they swell. Like four times the size at least of what they were. So those huge pads they give you at the hospital? You can't find them THAT big anywhere and you will need them. When you lay in whatever position you find that is somewhat comfy they will still find the flow and absorb away. Especially the first 48 hours or so you can look forward to changing all that stuff down there every 2-3 hours at least.

And the mesh panties are DA BOMB.

Actually if I remember correctly the entire contents of my under wear after birth went like this:
Mesh Panty
HUGE pad
three tucks pads (or witch hazel pads)
a glob of some numbing creme
an ice pack
I cleaned with a peri bottle, sprayed the spray numbing stuff then put all that together to make a crotch sandwich that made me feel a LOT better!

If you use your own underwear be ready to throw it away. Hell the hospital even gave me the bed pads (like 2' x 2' squares) to lay down on at home.

Couldn't have said it better.

MouseInLux · May 2011

I envy you, I have to bring my own! I had surgery to remove a cyst on my ovary a few years back and I have to say I want my mesh panties again, they were great!

mbritto4 · May 2011

There's no way I'd want anything I wouldn't immediately throw away on. Plus in the first 24hours I had an ice pack in there too.

rattlecanqueen · May 2011

I about laughed when they brought me my mesh underwear w/ the diaper, ice pack, and tucks pad in it. But holy smokes was it heaven for the first day! I didn't realize how much you actually bleed, plus getting in and out of bed w/a sore downstairs is=huge mess. I STRONGLY and HIGHLY recommend using the ugly diaper sized pads and mesh underwear for at least the first day, you won't be feeling too sexy anyway...I had an easy delivery w/no tearing or hemmoroids and I still thoroughly enjoyed my diapers! However, the next day the bleeding tapered off to like a regular period and I used my undies and a regular overnight pad the hospital provided.

Stellasmom · May 2011

Tikat:
I got some red VS Undies and will bring Extra Long Kotex Pads - as I prefer to miss out on the diaper as well!

OMG. Spare the $10 undies the dousing in bodily fluids they'll be subjected to!

I had a c-section and even I loved the mesh panties. They were really gentle on my incision, and even c-section ladies have really heavy PP bleeding. I soaked through my giant pad and my gown more than once.

Gummybear · May 2011

I wanted to add -- Kotex ain't cutting it. Have you seen Dexter? Remember when they found him in the cargo box with his dead mother? Yeah....Kotex is a mere q-tip in that mess.

Ivana_Stolichnaya · May 2011

1) You just gave birth,your vagina literally exploded. The last thing at that point that you are thinking about is how the "tacky, embarrassing, stretchy, hair net looking underware" looks on you.

2) You can go ahead and opt for the overnight pads you buy at the grocery store but I will guarrantee you will go through one within about 10 seconds. In the very beginning I was going through the huge hospital pads every hour or so. The over the counter ones would have done NOTHING for me. I was bleeding so much I destroyed two hospital gowns and had to have the bed changed twice.

3) I was so nervous about leaving the hospital with only one pair of mesh underwear I asked the nurse for a couple extra and a handful of large pads. You will need them. After about a week you can slowly feel comfortable to downsize to the overnights.

kathymarie · May 2011

Gummybear:
I wanted to add -- Kotex ain't cutting it. Have you seen Dexter? Remember when they found him in the cargo box with his dead mother? Yeah....Kotex is a mere q-tip in that mess.

I love you.

GingerCupcake · May 2011

You ladies are so lucky to get all of that stuff. The hospital I delivered DD1 at gave us 1 giant pad for immediately post partum and they did not have mesh undies. After that we were on our own with whatever we brought. So it was straight to heavy overnight pads and regular undies for me. There were no Tucks to be had and they gave me only 1 "ice pack" which was actually a rubber glove filled with water and frozen (CRAZY UNCOMFORTABLE!). When I begged for another ice pack they brought me some ice cubes wrapped in a washcloth.
I say if your are lucky enough to get mesh undies, crazy pads, ice packs, etc. USE THEM! I would have killed for them. Needless to say, I will not be delivering at that hospital again!

JUSTBEYOURSELF · May 2011

heather_09_15_07:
Those mesh panties and giant pads are the most comfortable things ever.

this

BobbiJanay07 · May 2011

kathymarie:
Gummybear:
I wanted to add -- Kotex ain't cutting it. Have you seen Dexter? Remember when they found him in the cargo box with his dead mother? Yeah....Kotex is a mere q-tip in that mess.
I love you.

Ditto.

collyflower · May 2011

KittahMama:
Actually if I remember correctly the entire contents of my under wear after birth went like this:
Mesh Panty
HUGE pad
three tucks pads (or witch hazel pads)
a glob of some numbing creme
an ice pack
I cleaned with a peri bottle, sprayed the spray numbing stuff then put all that together to make a crotch sandwich that made me feel a LOT better!

Yep, this sounds about right! For my 1st DD, my birthing teacher advised stashing away the goods slowly so you have a nice supply to bring home with you

calm_angel_2003 · May 2011

KittahMama:

Those undies you hate the look of? You will be begging for extras to take home by the time you leave. They are seriously the most comfortable things.

You aren't realizing (and you won't til it happens) that after delivery you have destroyed your lady parts and in their anger and unhappy state they swell. Like four times the size at least of what they were. So those huge pads they give you at the hospital? You can't find them THAT big anywhere and you will need them. When you lay in whatever position you find that is somewhat comfy they will still find the flow and absorb away. Especially the first 48 hours or so you can look forward to changing all that stuff down there every 2-3 hours at least.

And the mesh panties are DA BOMB.

Actually if I remember correctly the entire contents of my under wear after birth went like this:
Mesh Panty
HUGE pad
three tucks pads (or witch hazel pads)
a glob of some numbing creme
an ice pack
I cleaned with a peri bottle, sprayed the spray numbing stuff then put all that together to make a crotch sandwich that made me feel a LOT better!

If you use your own underwear be ready to throw it away. Hell the hospital even gave me the bed pads (like 2' x 2' squares) to lay down on at home.

exactly

sweetpea2003 · May 2011

I am lurking but had to comment...

We moved about 3 months after my son was born. My husband was going through our linen closet and came across my "stash" of post-baby products. I had something like 3 pairs of mesh undies, 5 ice-pack pads, a few huge diaper-esque pads, and a container of tucks.

He was like, "hey, can I throw this stuff away?". And even though we have no plans for a baby any time in the near future, I nearly panicked at the thought of throwing away those ice pack pads and mesh undies. My mind raced with pregnant friends who would benefit from them . I actually ended up taking them to a friend who - at the time - thought I was nuts. A few days after her son was born she called and thanked me because her hospital wouldn't give her extras to take home. So my stash "saved" her .

VS undies and cute Kotex pads are not going to cut it. Anyone who thinks they are is in DENIAL.

mizurchin · May 2011

All I can say is...Depends.

ASaldana85 · May 2011

Your visitors aren't going to be looking at what kind of underwear or pads you're wearing!! Who cares how they look, how many people look at your underwear now? Plus you're going to go through so many pairs of undies and pads you won't want to throw away your own undies! I went through 3 gowns, numerous pairs of the mesh undies and the gigantic pads? They were a life saver. It felt like there was an ocean coming out after I gave birth!

hondaguy07 · May 2011

Thank you Ladies! Very well put and I appreciate the overwhelming support. You all have given me a better understanding of why and how important they will be after birth. You definately don't think of this when you're having a baby for the first time. Nor by looking at it all do you think it's all going to help you let alone make you feel better by their looks, When they showed me these things and were so negative about it, it freaked me out -not going to lie. But you all have put it in better perspective for me. What you all have said makes perfect sense!! Thank you for all your comments as they're MUCH APPRECIATED and needed for this topic. Many, many thanks! Big Smile

I will be using them because as you say nobody cares about your underware. And yes, you did just push a human out of you. I'm so glad I asked. Thanks for making me feel better and calming my nerves.

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