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I’m due to have my first baby a month from now, and I’m trying to get all the essentials together. The more I think about nursing pads, the more I wonder about why they are disposable.Since they are only catching milk, can’t they just be washed and reused? Am I missing something here?
Any advice on whether it’s a good idea to buy the reusable pads that are available online? Does anyone recommend particular brands? — Kristyna
Ariel had this to say:
Based on my own experience: I bought some adorable flannel nursing pads before my son was born … and once my milk came in, I immediately realized why some people use disposables: my leakage was so intense that the washable nursing pads simply could not keep up. The only way I could keep a shirt dry for more than an hour or two was using disposable pads that were super-absorbent thanks to being more like maxi-pads than nursing pads.Totally depends on your body, really … I will just say that for me, my adorable, eco-friendly nursing pads simply didn’t work.
In my experience, disposable nursing pads were the only ones that could absorb the sheer volume of breast milk that leaked — do you know of a more eco-friendly alternative that’s just as effective?
I never had an oversupply problem, and only leaked a moderate amount before I stopped needing to use pads at all around 4-6 months. That said, I used both reusable and disposables during that period, and this is what I found: the reusable cotton ones were soft and way more comfortable in the first month when I still had sore nipples. However, they were super visible through any but the heaviest nursing bra and thick button-down shirt. In the beginning the most comfortable nursing bra for me was made out of thin cotton. The reusables got bunched up and lumpy so I was constantly readjusting them, and you could see them from outside the bra and my summer tops. The disposables worked much better for modesty, and were better at laying flat (no edge poking through a thin bra) and staying put from the adhesive.
So, from a non-oversupply perspective: the reusables were better for the first month, when you’re mostly staying at home. The disposables were better for later on, and going out of the house.
But, as many others have commented, you have to just try out and see what works for you.
Bamboobies are sweet and worth EVERY PENNY! The overnight ones are the real deal and held up to my heavy initial leakage 🙂
Yes! I second the Bamboobies!!
I also agree with Bamboobies (I’m wearing them right now). With my first baby, I only used organic cotton or hemp pads. I would always double up and even then I frequently leaked through my shirts. This time with my second, I ordered some Bamboobies and they are so much better. Even though they are superthin, they protect as much as two of the other pads I was using and the waterproof layer stopped 95% of the leaks. I only leaked if I went too long between feedings. Bamboobies also don’t stick to sore, cracked nipples, which is a huge plus. My supply has pretty much regulated now at 4 months and the Bamboobies are perfect even for overnight.
Just a quick note to say whatever you buy, don’t buy too many! I bought a jumbo pack of disposable ones and never used any of them (not a single one) in the past 8 months of breastfeeding. I’m just not a leaker, I guess. Fortunately, I was able to pass the box along to a friend who could use them, but I wish I had bought just a few while pregnant. Oh well.
I would play the wait and see game. I thought that I would be a big leaker, but it turns out I wasn’t either day or night. I had a lot of supply, oversupply too, and never experienced that issue. I have a box of disposable nursing pads that I used only one or two pads from when my milk first came in cause I thought I was going to have an issue…but never did!
I was basically home for the first six weeks, which is when my leaking was crazy-pants anyway. I’d just stuff a cloth diaper in my shirt. I still leak, ten months in, but for most of that time, I’ve been using reusable cloth nursing pads. Love ’em! Try a bunch of stuff and see what sticks.
I am using these: http://www.amazon.com/BabyKicks-Set-Nursing-Pads-Jersey/dp/B001NAAQP0/ref=sr_1_10?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1325033767&sr=1-10 and I’m really happy with them! Baby is almost 8 weeks old and my supply has evened out. I did leak through them a few times in the beginning, but they work well now. At night, I use a regular washcloth on the breast that is not being used to catch random drips. I did need to switch to disposables for a while because I got a yeast infection on my nipples (possibly from antibiotics administered during labor) and I had to bleach the reusables and put them on the shelf until it cleared up. Baby got a yeast infection on his butt so he was in disposable diapers for a while too.
I have never had a problem with the reusable pads! I did start out with disposable though and definately recommend the lansinoh ones.
I started with organic cotton washable pads but I found the wetness on my skin uncomfortable, so I switched to disposables. I constantly struggled to keep my milk supply up but even with low supply, the washable ones were uncomfortable.
I tried half a dozen types of disposable pads and the Lansinoh were my favourite by far, despite the fact that they do come with too much packaging. I also liked the Johnson & Johnson ones.
Lansinoh diaper wipes were my favourite for my daughter too. We used wet baby washcloths at home but I always had disposable wipes in the diaper bag for when we were out.
I tried both organic cotton and wool reusables and they both worked fine. I never tried disposables. The thing I am surprised that no one has mentioned, is that it’s like menstrual pads or tampons in that if your flow is heavy, you can either switch them out more often, or use thicker pads. In the beginning, I had to switch my pads out frequently. Then less and less often over time. At night, I slept with an absorbent cloth under me. It was pretty leaky at night for a week or two, when my baby started sleeping longer, but then my body adjusted.
I would wait and see. I had to use disposables for the first little bit, although there at the end the washables worked really well, and baby wash cloths too, in a pinch. Or write to companies, and the might send you samples to try of disposables, so you have them if you need them. Eventually, you will be able to use the washables consistently, so go ahead and get those if you want.
My thought was if I wasn’t going to put those chemicals on my baby’s bottom (disposable pads have SAP in them) why would I put them where she put her mouth?
I used the Knickernappies pads and because they have PUL on one side I didn’t leak *through* them like I did flannel ones. Every once in a while I would leak around them from the sheer force of the milk though and I think that would have happened with the disposibles too.
I’ve nursed two kids. The first few weeks both times, I used a mix of disposable and reusable pads, sometimes choosing disposables if I knew I was going to be in public for a while, because disposables do work a little better. But after two weeks or so, the reusable pads were enough (just change them often so they don’t saturate too quickly). One other thing I did prefer about disposable pads was that they were wider and thinner, so they didn’t show through t-shirts. Kid 1 nursed 2.5 years and Kid 2 is still at it at 2 years. After the first few months, pads aren’t needed; your body reaches an equilibrium.
I’m just adding to the chorus now, but I found the reusable pads never worked for me either. I had a stash, but went straight from needing the coverage of disposables to not leaking at all sometime around the 5th month, so they didn’t even come in handy once my supply leveled out.
Again, there are several kinds of re-usables out there. It’s knowing and finding the right ones. . . maybe a pair with PUL in them would work better for leaks. . . works for cloth diapers!
I don’t know. I am sort of an eco-snot. I am trying to use EVERYTHING I can re-usable. It can really save money. It’s not just “eco friendly”.
I don’t use another disposable item in my house, save for toilet paper – not even paper towels. Nursing pads were the only thing, and believe me I tried several different varieties before succumbing to the disposable pad. I literally leaked right through every single one before I had a chance to notice they were getting wet.
Disposables pads were so very, very scratchy and uncomfortable, I couldn’t stand to torture my already wrecked nipples just to keep my shirt dry. I just dealt with the leaks. For the most part, my reusable pads handled it pretty well, but there were definitely some soaking wet days. I had the bamboo from Babies r Us, super soft. The real shame is that after we developed a wicked case of thrush, our midwife had us toss all the reusable pads. I’d definitely recommend regular boilings to keep them microbe free.
Oh, and Lily Pads felt like I was ripping a band-aid off every time I took them off.
I found that the reusable pads were sufficient to keep up with my leakage if I remembered to change them. The problem I had was they would stick to my nipples which kind of hurt when I went to peal them off and start nursing, even though I was using nipple ointment religiously. I had a real barracuda for a nursling, though. Though we have since settled into our nursing relationship and my nipples have healed, I still prefer the disposable ones as the synthetic material they are covered in does not stick to my skin at all. Lansinoh are my favorite. I found the Medela brand to be too thin.
Yes, this could be the case. . . but that depends on what they are made out of. Some are made with a velour side that is EXTRA soft and does not stick. . . at least to my nipples.
At night, I actually just use a cloth diaper and tri-fold it and shove it in a bra. . . it works best. You don’t have to have it perfectly in your bra then.
Just to let you know, I might not worry too much about it until it actually starts happening. In 7 months of breastfeeding I have leaked maybe 6 times? My body just seems to adapt quickly and not over-produce.
Koko Bebe makes some of the best nursing pads I have EVER used. Yes, they are reusable. And YES, they are AWESOME. I love them. I have tried many different reusable nursing pads made from some ladies on ETSY and by far KOKE BEBE is the best! Affordable too.
I always felt like I was wearing a diaper on my chest when I used disposable nursing pads – I immediately switched to re-usable with my first born. What is the point in using disposables when you can just hand wash them at night and use them the next day? or have a bit of a supply and throw them in the wash with everything else?
REUSABLES ALL THE WAY! yay!
GERBER NUK REUSABLES!! It took until my second baby to figure it out – they have one porous-yet-leak-proof side, so you sandwich them cotton sides together: one against the breast, one against the bra, and (if necessary) additional flannel layers in between.
You know, always neglected to put in the nursing pads and ended up wadding up toilet paper when I was out. Lol. But I have heard that you can use those cups people use to pull out inverted nipples to catch breast milk that leaks, and if you dump it often enough and get it in the fridge, you can actually save it like pumped milk! I’ve never actually tried it, but I’ve heard it several times, including during my doula training workshop.
PUL-backed fleecy or wool ones work best for me, but honestly you should wait until your milk comes in fully to know what you would prefer (maybe have a few basic pairs or a few different types eg: wool, PUL-Backed-Cotton and some HEAVY DUTY ones just for trying…)
At home I cut up cheap $2 sanitary pads because the disposables are ridiculously expensive – I save them for going out – and I have a TRUCKLOAD of milk! So the PUL were best for me. I love using my reusables though, they feel much nicer than paper/sanitary pad style disposables… 🙂
I didn’t like the cloth ones at all since they were too lumpy under my bras, would never stay put, and always left my boobs feeling damp. I’m not big on disposable things, but I only used them for a couple weeks and leaking hasn’t been an issue since.
I have an abundant milk supply, far too much for my son, who chokes on it every time. However, I rarely leak. I’ve only used cotton or wool breast pads, and they’ve worked great. I can see how hemp would be the best (we use hemp diapers for the super absorbency).
Do you think the reusables would work better if they were washed several times before using? I know that cloth diapers get more absorbent. I hate disposable things so I’m hoping this works.
I ended up buying 2 huge boxes of disposable nursing pads and have never once leaked (and I exclusively breastfed every 2 hours around the clock). They’re just sitting in the hallway closet until I think of some other use for them. I wouldn’t spend a ton of money, I’m mad that I spent even $40 on the ones I have.
Be sure to prep your reusables by washing them several times in a cloth-friendly detergent (no bleach or fabric softener) to make sure they are absorbent. If you use fabric softener, liquid in the soap or dryer sheets that will coat the fabric and make the nursing pads less absorbent!