Any time you share your cloth pads in videos I'm always really impressed how stain free they are 🤯! Thanks for sharing your stash and for mentioning the brands where possible.
Wow, years and years ago when I was scared and wanting to try RUMPs I remmeber finding your chanel and it giving me the courage to go for it. And now you've been put in my recommended videos! Glad to see you are still educating!
Cheap puppy pads from pound shop or similar, keep one in change bag to use under change pad incase of spontaneous fountain! Also use in bathroom as when you shower you drip blood on the floor as you are getting dried. In hospital I used to grab a couple of hand towels and duck walk to the toilet. Dry my backside and sit down, put the towels in the sanitary bin and dry my legs. Put a pad and pants on then continue drying as usual.
If you don't want to buy/have icepacks for post partum, you could also put some thick sugar syrup ( think golden syrup/ treacle) in little sandwich bags and put them in the freezer. They dont freeze solid, stay moldable, and can easily be reused or just discarded depending on your preference! Also, in my country use of plastic backed disposable pads is advised against postpartum, as they may insulate a bit more and increase risk of infection of any tears/injuries postpartum.
Looks like a great stash! Word to the wise, though, keep stuff on hand even after you stop bleeding. With both my children, I had stopped bleeding for a week or two and then around week 6 post partum, I had a very sudden final cleanse of blood that would have been very embarrassing if I had been out and about. My midwife told me it was very common.
I absolutly love listening to people sharing information and talking about things they're passionate about. This video was really cool. Thanks for sharing. I wpuld love a review after the fact. Good luck with little man! Can't wait to see the whole journey
Oh, that sample one, is taking me back to when I bought my first reusable pads by you. My first pantyliners are exactly like that. They hold up quite well still.
Your cloth pads are fantastic for my lighter days and the quality is top notch I have a range of all the ones you sell. But please do longer pads as I can’t use yours on my heavy days due to endometriosis and I leak though . Good luck with your labour! ✨✨😊
I lived in the diapers for about a month postpartum. Not only for the bleeding but for the intense incontinence that I experienced. I eventually used a few regular pads but the diapers are so much easier. Not to mention the amount of laundry you have just with a newborn is insane, so adding my own messes to that wasn’t ideal.
@@graceelizabeth130 I had heavy bleeding for about a week and then light bleeding off and on for three weeks. I then had a “period” 8 weeks postpartum right after i started taking birth control again.
Totally agree with that. Sadly I had the same. I wished I could use cloth pads but couldn’t. I used them for 6 weeks after birth and had no choice because even in diapers my bleeding was so heavy for first 3 weeks I had massive leaks. And yeah - never thought how much spit ups, dirty clothes the newborn uses 😂 first 2 years it’s a constant washing - sometimes there were 2 full loads a day 🙈 glad to hear you’re better now. It took me 2 years to recover from it and still sometimes is not great when it’s a ‘cough season’. Birth can be really tricky sometimes
Best wishes for a smooth, safe delivery! I was super, super fortunate that I had very little postnatal bleeding, but everybody is different and it's awesome to be prepared. I was also surprised how light, easy and regular my periods were that first year after my daughter was born.
You have a lot of lovely pads to use. My one suggestion, which you probably already know, is massive granny pants. I got a pack of waist high black pants several sizes than my usual size from Primark. I thought if they got ruined it would not matter. I ended up with an emergency section the first time and they were the best. Because they were waist high they did not rest on my wound and irritate it. I then found once the, stitches had dissolved that I didn't want anything on my scar as it irritated it. I bought more granny pants in a smaller size. I had my second child 2 years later and my scar was still sensitive so was still wearing granny pants. I ended up with another emergency section after trying for a vbac, so all my granny pants came in useful again. I had my third almost 2 years later by a planned section and was still wearing granny pants. After around 3 years my scar wasn't so sensitive anymore. But I am still in the high wasted pants club as it hides my pooch better. I would get some granny pants in case. Good luck with however the birth goes. X
I used the always daily incontinence pads for the first week or so after birth because they specifically says they're for post partum (sure tena are the same) found them super easy and convenient. In my second and most recent birth which was a vaginal delivery my lochia tailed off after about 3-4 weeks after my vaginal birth BUT it started coming back and was a greeny colour and this was actually the first sign of an infection (I had a 2nd degree tear) so it is a good idea using a neutral coloured pad at least once a day so you can keep an eye on colour. Mine didn't actually smell either so keeping track of the colour is good. (Antibiotics sorted it all out very quickly 🙂) My first birth was an emergency csection under general anaesthetic, and because of how the anesthesia works it affects the way the uterus contracts back it caused a hemorrhage immediately post birth and following I had much more substantial bleeding initially and it lasted about 6 weeks. Hope that helps, I had no idea what to expect and wished someone had explained it to me ahead of my first!
Also just to say I recovered well and quickly from both births even my first which didn't go as hoped and I came out of each happily with healthy and contented babies so no matter what happens every birth can be beautiful in its own way xxx
Oh goodness... I remember when you originally showed that creations by five pad with the farm scene! I was at the beginning of my cloth transition and IMMEDIATELY ran to their shop to see what I could buy
I’m due tomorrow, planning on doing what you are doing with wearing disposables for the first 3 days or so then wear my cloth pads. My last birth had heavy bleeding for maybe 2-3 days, wore a adult diaper lined with a maxi pad. Used homemade padscicles with that too. Then after a couple days started wearing my cloth pads, I loved the bamboo valour ones because they are soooo soft and comforting.
I have missed these videos! I did my postpartum in cloth for my second child. It was so much more comfy! I highly recommended the adult nappies for the first few days though, they were amazing
I had stitches afterwards, and to make sort of Ice packs, we used just some absorbent gauze infused with chamomile tea, put it in the freezer and it worked wonders to calm the area down. I am sure you could do that too. Or looking at the size and shape of the pad where you could put the icepack in, you could do the same with a reusable diaper insert...
Years ago, I discovered in postpartum that I am allergic to disposable pads! It was not fun to be in a full allergic reaction while also recovering for birth. Ouch! Reusable pads have been a lifesaver.
This was awesome to see Bryony! I'd enjoy hearing how the pull ons, and the different reusable ones worked after you're back to work later! I'm so excited for you and am sending you love from afar with your delivery and recovery afterwards!
I used cloth pads in the hospital from the moment they took my catheter out. I had a 3rd degree tear (not all the way through my B, but bad enough I had a spinal block and my stitches were done in an operating theatre), so the cloth was so cushioning and comfortable for me. The midwives were really impressed, especially when I said I'd sewn the pads myself.
Me too, it was light and short for me, however it absolutely STANK to me, I was convinced I had an infection but apparently it's normal. I did bleed heavily after the birth and had an injection or two to stop it which might be why mine was lighter after
I looooved the adult diapers for postpartum with my first kiddo. I used them as underwear and stuck a cloth pad in there with them! And actually, this time (I'm due in August), I'm planning to wear them during labor as well. I know a lot of ladies go pantsless (and I think I did the first time as well) but this time I'm refusing cervical checks and this will make me more comfy, too. =) Also! I had a stash of postnatal pads ready for that birth, and loved them. Then after I had COVID and my cycle went absolutely bonkers, I actually used those postnatal pads monthly for a long time. And now I'm going to used then again for this birth. So don't destash too quickly afterwards if you end up with massive pads!
I have menstrual underwear I wore postpartum starting from like day 3 to day 7, so similar to cloth pads. I found it a lot more comfortable than the disposable diapers personally. We did cloth diapers (still do 12 months later), so they could get washed often. I wore a few a day initially, but I was happy to just change them out. Good luck giving birth!
Not sure if you’ve heard of them, you probably have with all your research, but look up Frida Mom (they do indeed sell their stuff here in the UK including on Amazon prime), several of my friends in the US (who have between 2-6 children each) refuse to not have her kits in their hospital bags. Witch hazel pads, frida mom upside down bottle for bathroom visits (spray as you wee!), there’s just so much she sells. Although pricey my friends wouldn’t be without it & anything leftover they’ve passed on. Just a heads up.
I gave birth 7 months ago. I found that I did not bleed as much as I thought I would. I actually had pads that were more absorbent than I needed. My postnatal bleeding was lighter than my normal period. You seem well stocked, good luck!
My experience PP wasn't that heavy either! People say it's a mega-period, but for me it was heavy-period-day for 3 days, and then light period day for 2 weeks. Spotted after that for another couple weeks but just needed a panty-liner. I just used long-overnight pads and no issue There were a lot of things difficult PP after a VB but at least the bleeding really wasn't that big a deal. haha
I had a natural birth, my lochia was heavy for like 2 hours after birth (at which time the nurses were doing frequent uterus massages and I was on a big disposable pad) then it got kind of like just a normal heavy period flow by the time I went to postpartum ward, and then I had light flow for like 2 weeks maybe? I found I bought longer lengths/heavier absorbencies thinking I'd need them but totally couldve used my existing pads exclusively. If one was to have a homebirth and planning to use cloth immediately right after birth, then I can see those ultra large/megapads by HE being helpful but delivering in any clinical setting, you get put with a disposable from the beginning and not much say in it, as nurses need to closely monitor lochia amounts due to hemorrhage risk.
I used the “pull ups” for my last 2 babies and it was a game changer! For the first 2 days I would line them with disposable pads and change the pad every 2-3hrs. The nurses also gave me little frozen icicles which would go inside to relieve some pain so when they melted it would help catch that. I would also put some calendula cream and sometimes arnica cream on the pad as it helps to rapidly heal everything, my first birth it took 2-3 weeks to heal and ease bleeding compared to last 2 I was not sore and pretty healed after a week and stopped bleeding by two weeks. I would also recommend a peri bottle to wash after toilet or was told to pat dry rather than wipe by nurses. I used the tom organic maternity pads. I live in Australia 😊
In the hospital, you will get disposable panties that are in the form of a netting. Those are super stretchable and don’t soak up anything even if your pads leak. They are ok if you stash them away too, so don’t forget to take some home with you. I also stacked 2 pads in the hospital, and that was quite effective too. The nurse even put one pad over my c section wound.
After my c-sections I couldn't use the "diapers" for several days, but after that they were a lifesaver! Being able to just pull something on rather than try to wrestle a pad into my underwear was so nice. I'm so excited to see baby boy!
I don’t know which or whether pads are offered in British hospitals, but here in Germany I can totally recommend the disposable pads that were provided by hospital. I haven’t given birth, but I had some really heavy blood loss, because of fibroids and was comfortable in those provided pads. ☺️
Just as there are a lot of sort of taboo subjects that aren't talked about in pregnancy with female bodies and how they change and what symptoms may occur, I also feel the same about what happens to female bodies AFTER birth. I feel like it's one big secret/mystery that no one honestly wants to open up about and honestly giving birth seems like the most terrifying bit just because I know so little about what actually happens to my body after the baby is out. (i'm not pregnant but one day maybe..) I didn't know that you bleed a LOT that you would need to wear special pads and stuff and so i'm curious to know: will you be continuing to share details about what will happen to your body, mental and physical health post-natal? I'm curious about things like how long after giving birth it hurts or is a struggle to go to the toilet, if there are any everyday tasks we take for granted that become difficult to do, anything that we assumed would be easy to cope with, with the baby but ultimately might be a struggle. how long until we can stand up and walk normally without pain after giving birth etc. It would be amazing if you could, but understandable if you can't. Much love and positive thoughts to you and your baby and good luck with the birth! I hope both you and baby are healthy and safe and that you have a relatively easy time xx
Commenting as I'd be interested to see Bryony's answers if she decides to share after the birth and once settled I imagine it varies a lot from person to person and how the birth goes down in regards to general pain and problems with to the toilet. I agree it's probably not talked about enough to prepare us for what might be to come once baby arrives.
The placenta rips off unceremoniously and leaves a large wound that takes about 6 weeks to fully heal. Also there is 9 months of built up womb lining to shed. For me I was a heavy bleeder but post natal was ridiculous. You feel a glood every time you cough, stand up, etc. You think it's slowing down then you take your baby out to meet people and discover it was way too much as the heavy bleeding returns for 3 days before starting to slow down again. I was in hospital 4 days with my first, I got very good at Learning how not to bleed on the floor between the shower and toilet (paper hand towels wedged between the legs as you exit the shower and kept there til you waddle across the room, dry your backside and sit on the toilet. Stay sat til you have disposed of the paper towels in the sanitary bin and have a pad and pants on. Someone said "you'll want a pad the size of a small country" she wasn't joking. I used kotex brand 15 and 13 yrs ago and found them comfortable.
Something I only learned recently is that you can have lochia (bleeding after pregnancy) that looks like discharge, white or yellowish and that it’s white blood cells leaving the body. This is usually at the tail end of the bleeding. My grandma was a midwife and I’ve always been around birth but I still was never told this can happen!
It’s something nobody really learns about until they go for their prenatal classes. I can only tell you that from my c section experience, I couldn’t get out of bed by myself for almost 2 weeks because our bed was too low. My husband had to pull me up to sitting position. Day 2 in the hospital the nurses will insist you start to walk, and you continue taking painkillers every 2 hours for 2 weeks. You gotta walk to the toilet so that they can remove the catheter from the urethra, so that you can start to pee by yourself again. Nobody told me I would be hooked to a urine bag for 2 days. Peeing would hurt for a week. Laughing and sneezing hurt. You walk funny for at least a month. 😂 even reaching over the table to get food is difficult with the c section wound. Ladies who had a vaginal delivery often have slight incontinence and trouble sitting due to tears. But most can walk pretty soon after delivery. But the pain they experienced during birth was definitely super intense. Oh yes, postpartum you would experience some dull pain in the womb, especially while breastfeeding, because the uterus has to shrink slowly from under your ribs back to where it original was. They feel like contractions but not exactly at the same spots. Very amazing.
every birth is so very different. My son was all natural with minimal tearing (2 stitches). I had very little pain after birth. i was expecting this excruciating pain that everyone described, but outside of peeing on my stitches, it wasn't so bad. I just had to use the little portable bidet bottles when I peed so it wouldn't hurt. I wore depends for about two weeks after because the bleeding was quite heavy, but I was rather used to heavy bleeding. I switched to cloth pads after I finally ditched the depends. I had horrible pregnancies, but very easy recoveries post-birth. I do chalk some of that up to having him naturally withotu any drugs. My daughter, on the other hand, was a c-section. It was an emergency c-section, and I lost a lot of blood. The only good thing about a c-section is they vaccum you out. So while, yes, you do have that dinner plate sized hole in you from the placenta being ripped off, they take most of the blood and lochia and such out. My post partum bleeding with her was like a super light period. I was prepared iwth depends, and I didn't need them at all. My incision was painful, but the worst part was when they taped it and I had an allergic reaction to the tape. Otherwise, it was uncomfortable but not unbearable. I didn't take any pain meds after I got home from the hospital except for advil. Funnily enough, post partum with my daughter I was probably in the best place mentally I've been in my adult life. I had the opposite of post partum depression. I didn't need my normal drugs. I was just...happy. Which was funny because it was the pandemic, and everything was truly scary. I was terrified and broke down a lot, but my mental health was honestly in as good a place as it could've been with everything going on. About 8 weeks post partum I had to go back on my depression medications. Because I started to get much worse. My body will never be what it was pre-babies. Your hips literlaly open up, and they don't go back. I have lower back pain from my tail bone that my son messed up on the way out. It was hard to sit for a while after I had him because of that bruised tailbone. I know people who had horrible recoveries, severe PPD, and they could barely function there were in so much pain. And others that had a fairly easy time. I've always thought my easy post partum was compensating for the fact that my pregnancies were so awful.
I LOVE the "Adult Diapers!". I wore them after my first and at night when I was on my period! I love the security of them! I plan on using them for my 2nd in May as well!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Best invention EVER!! Do you plan on sharing your birth story after you have little boy?
I think you overthinking how heavy its going to be... my periods are heavier than my 2 PP bleeding... I fully stopped bleeding within 5 days of giving birth and just used overnight sanitary pads or Kotex in the black pack, you'll be pleasantly surprised xx
I used cloth pads postpartum with all my kids. I loved them because they didn't irritate my skin. I did try disposables after my first and hated them as the plastic feel really irritated me. Your skin gets more sensitive the first few days after birth. I only needed the giant pads for the first 2 days after that my flow was like a heavy period for a week then down to my normal period levels after that. I also find how much you bleed pp will also depend on how much you bleed during the birth. I had a 2nd degree tear so cloth was much more comfortable Also wanted to add I used your pads pp too. I've had them for 8 years and are going strong. They are the rainbow ones with the white cotton top.
Even if you don’t use the adult diapers or many pads immediately post birth, your first actual period (whenever it returns) may be very heavy. I did not anticipate how heavy my period would be, THAT was when I needed the adult diapers because just a pad was not cutting it, and I actually used a diaper and a pad so I didn’t need to change the diaper as much.
i have only recently got cloth pad's as i wanted to use my stash of throw away ones before buying and got pack of 9 on amazon £6.99 and they are amazing
I finally bought diapers, I have interstitial cystitis and I can be randomly incontinent, I have been working on not feeling bad about it. It's a bit confusing because sometimes it seems something will trigger really bad bladder cramps and I will be struggling to hold it and the one time I have decided it is time to try the incontinence panties I was completely able to hold it wearing them and it was a bit difficult to get them up and down, I felt a bit silly. I think I did have a bath to hopefully settle the cramps, though. Really ideal to be wearing a dress, which I already strive to do when possible/ when I'm struggling because of pain and urgency, I am just not comfortable always wearing pants. Unfortunately, I have to wear pants for work. I had decided to wear a dress and jeans due to it being so cold and it was a bit of a rough experience.
Just a few notes on my own personal experience. I pre and post baby have had very heavy periods but my postnatal bleeding wasn’t very heavy it just lasted many weeks. But it was about the same or less flow compared to my period. Because of that i found the incontinence underwear unnecessary but nice to just not have to worry. I did get a few clots and found they stuck best to disposable products and didn’t slip out. Comfort was the main key for me. Everything hurts so I wanted whatever option bothered me the least. I found ice pads in the stretchiest pair of underwear was my favorite. Just thought I’d share my experience.
I wasn't warned that when you give birth vaginally, especially if you tear, that your sphincter is extremely weak. I had to wear diapers because I couldn't get to the bathroom in time after the fluids they gave me in the hospital gave me really bad diarrhea. Those diapers were a life saver.
Is there a reason you prefer pads over period underwear? I tend to find underwear less finicky :) The Emflower ones I use hold 4 tampons worth! After watching your video I want to try some more cloth pads though 😄
Have you made any cloth diapers for baby? I have heard wearing baby cloth diapers is handy for people who are heavy bleeders. Sorry for the TMI! As silly as it sounds is does work for some women. :)
I wish I would have used adult diapers for postpartum the pads they gave me in the hospital were horrible! After my daughter was done with her preemie prefolds I love using them as panty liners for mild bladder leakage! I haven’t tried them but I bet some of the yellow edge ones would make good overnight pads? I Have trouble with period underwear because I’m a front bleeder and they seem to cater towards protection in the back and not in the front!
Hi you have a wonderfull variety of options, i love that. But, probably you not gona need/use all of them. I had 2 natural births and as i had stiches ( bouth times) i enjoyed having a diaper on, because it was hanging lover and not touching parts that hurts the most, but getting all the blod very well. So diapers for 2-3 days. Then i used any overnight pads - single use and cloth pads. And i was ok.
I just had the random thought that one of these brand should have an option to print the picture of somebody you dislike on a pad, so you can bleed on them 🙈 I know that's super weird but wanted to share the weirdness😂
Also shout out to the smudge of chocolate on my lip that I didn't realise was there until I'd edited this video 🙌
shhh, pretend it's a cold sore
11 minutes in and I hadn’t noticed so you’re good
I didn't notice it at all.
Pregnancy problems 😂
Was it good chocolate
Any time you share your cloth pads in videos I'm always really impressed how stain free they are 🤯! Thanks for sharing your stash and for mentioning the brands where possible.
Wow, years and years ago when I was scared and wanting to try RUMPs I remmeber finding your chanel and it giving me the courage to go for it. And now you've been put in my recommended videos! Glad to see you are still educating!
Cheap puppy pads from pound shop or similar, keep one in change bag to use under change pad incase of spontaneous fountain! Also use in bathroom as when you shower you drip blood on the floor as you are getting dried. In hospital I used to grab a couple of hand towels and duck walk to the toilet. Dry my backside and sit down, put the towels in the sanitary bin and dry my legs. Put a pad and pants on then continue drying as usual.
If you don't want to buy/have icepacks for post partum, you could also put some thick sugar syrup ( think golden syrup/ treacle) in little sandwich bags and put them in the freezer. They dont freeze solid, stay moldable, and can easily be reused or just discarded depending on your preference!
Also, in my country use of plastic backed disposable pads is advised against postpartum, as they may insulate a bit more and increase risk of infection of any tears/injuries postpartum.
Looks like a great stash! Word to the wise, though, keep stuff on hand even after you stop bleeding. With both my children, I had stopped bleeding for a week or two and then around week 6 post partum, I had a very sudden final cleanse of blood that would have been very embarrassing if I had been out and about. My midwife told me it was very common.
I absolutly love listening to people sharing information and talking about things they're passionate about. This video was really cool. Thanks for sharing. I wpuld love a review after the fact. Good luck with little man! Can't wait to see the whole journey
Hello Bryony, maybe you can fit a gel eyemask inside the pad? You can put the eyemask in the fridge/freezer and then use it in the pad 🙂
Oh, that sample one, is taking me back to when I bought my first reusable pads by you. My first pantyliners are exactly like that. They hold up quite well still.
Your cloth pads are fantastic for my lighter days and the quality is top notch I have a range of all the ones you sell. But please do longer pads as I can’t use yours on my heavy days due to endometriosis and I leak though . Good luck with your labour! ✨✨😊
I made my post natal pads with a nursing theme fabric because in a nurse. It gave me so much joy using them!
That one with the unicorns is sew sweet creations ❤ I have a smaller one with the same print and love it!!
I lived in the diapers for about a month postpartum. Not only for the bleeding but for the intense incontinence that I experienced. I eventually used a few regular pads but the diapers are so much easier. Not to mention the amount of laundry you have just with a newborn is insane, so adding my own messes to that wasn’t ideal.
Ugh that sucks. I hope your okay now!
@@b10aa Oh yes, it’s gotten much better. Peeing yourself constantly sucks lol
I wish I would have bought diapers for postpartum!
@@graceelizabeth130 I had heavy bleeding for about a week and then light bleeding off and on for three weeks. I then had a “period” 8 weeks postpartum right after i started taking birth control again.
Totally agree with that. Sadly I had the same. I wished I could use cloth pads but couldn’t. I used them for 6 weeks after birth and had no choice because even in diapers my bleeding was so heavy for first 3 weeks I had massive leaks. And yeah - never thought how much spit ups, dirty clothes the newborn uses 😂 first 2 years it’s a constant washing - sometimes there were 2 full loads a day 🙈 glad to hear you’re better now. It took me 2 years to recover from it and still sometimes is not great when it’s a ‘cough season’. Birth can be really tricky sometimes
Wishing you the smoothest birth possible 🤞💕 good luck! 💖💐
Best wishes for a smooth, safe delivery! I was super, super fortunate that I had very little postnatal bleeding, but everybody is different and it's awesome to be prepared. I was also surprised how light, easy and regular my periods were that first year after my daughter was born.
You have a lot of lovely pads to use. My one suggestion, which you probably already know, is massive granny pants. I got a pack of waist high black pants several sizes than my usual size from Primark. I thought if they got ruined it would not matter. I ended up with an emergency section the first time and they were the best. Because they were waist high they did not rest on my wound and irritate it. I then found once the, stitches had dissolved that I didn't want anything on my scar as it irritated it. I bought more granny pants in a smaller size. I had my second child 2 years later and my scar was still sensitive so was still wearing granny pants. I ended up with another emergency section after trying for a vbac, so all my granny pants came in useful again. I had my third almost 2 years later by a planned section and was still wearing granny pants. After around 3 years my scar wasn't so sensitive anymore. But I am still in the high wasted pants club as it hides my pooch better. I would get some granny pants in case. Good luck with however the birth goes. X
I love minky! Wishing you the best for your birth journey and your new bundle of joy
I used the always daily incontinence pads for the first week or so after birth because they specifically says they're for post partum (sure tena are the same) found them super easy and convenient.
In my second and most recent birth which was a vaginal delivery my lochia tailed off after about 3-4 weeks after my vaginal birth BUT it started coming back and was a greeny colour and this was actually the first sign of an infection (I had a 2nd degree tear) so it is a good idea using a neutral coloured pad at least once a day so you can keep an eye on colour. Mine didn't actually smell either so keeping track of the colour is good. (Antibiotics sorted it all out very quickly 🙂)
My first birth was an emergency csection under general anaesthetic, and because of how the anesthesia works it affects the way the uterus contracts back it caused a hemorrhage immediately post birth and following I had much more substantial bleeding initially and it lasted about 6 weeks.
Hope that helps, I had no idea what to expect and wished someone had explained it to me ahead of my first!
Also just to say I recovered well and quickly from both births even my first which didn't go as hoped and I came out of each happily with healthy and contented babies so no matter what happens every birth can be beautiful in its own way xxx
Oh goodness... I remember when you originally showed that creations by five pad with the farm scene! I was at the beginning of my cloth transition and IMMEDIATELY ran to their shop to see what I could buy
I’m due tomorrow, planning on doing what you are doing with wearing disposables for the first 3 days or so then wear my cloth pads. My last birth had heavy bleeding for maybe 2-3 days, wore a adult diaper lined with a maxi pad. Used homemade padscicles with that too. Then after a couple days started wearing my cloth pads, I loved the bamboo valour ones because they are soooo soft and comforting.
I have missed these videos! I did my postpartum in cloth for my second child. It was so much more comfy! I highly recommended the adult nappies for the first few days though, they were amazing
Would love to hear a followup about what worked well and what didn't!
I had stitches afterwards, and to make sort of Ice packs, we used just some absorbent gauze infused with chamomile tea, put it in the freezer and it worked wonders to calm the area down. I am sure you could do that too. Or looking at the size and shape of the pad where you could put the icepack in, you could do the same with a reusable diaper insert...
Years ago, I discovered in postpartum that I am allergic to disposable pads! It was not fun to be in a full allergic reaction while also recovering for birth. Ouch! Reusable pads have been a lifesaver.
This was awesome to see Bryony! I'd enjoy hearing how the pull ons, and the different reusable ones worked after you're back to work later!
I'm so excited for you and am sending you love from afar with your delivery and recovery afterwards!
I used cloth pads in the hospital from the moment they took my catheter out. I had a 3rd degree tear (not all the way through my B, but bad enough I had a spinal block and my stitches were done in an operating theatre), so the cloth was so cushioning and comfortable for me. The midwives were really impressed, especially when I said I'd sewn the pads myself.
You might be pleasantly surprised with lighter bleeding. My most recent baby was lighter bleeding than a period! But lasted 6 weeks with liners
Jup you never know. I seriously had periods that were heavier than my postpartum bleeding.
Me too, it was light and short for me, however it absolutely STANK to me, I was convinced I had an infection but apparently it's normal. I did bleed heavily after the birth and had an injection or two to stop it which might be why mine was lighter after
I looooved the adult diapers for postpartum with my first kiddo. I used them as underwear and stuck a cloth pad in there with them! And actually, this time (I'm due in August), I'm planning to wear them during labor as well. I know a lot of ladies go pantsless (and I think I did the first time as well) but this time I'm refusing cervical checks and this will make me more comfy, too. =)
Also! I had a stash of postnatal pads ready for that birth, and loved them. Then after I had COVID and my cycle went absolutely bonkers, I actually used those postnatal pads monthly for a long time. And now I'm going to used then again for this birth. So don't destash too quickly afterwards if you end up with massive pads!
For me after giving birth it wasn't the amount of bleeding I had so much as the huge unexpected clots I had that caught me off guard.
I have menstrual underwear I wore postpartum starting from like day 3 to day 7, so similar to cloth pads. I found it a lot more comfortable than the disposable diapers personally. We did cloth diapers (still do 12 months later), so they could get washed often. I wore a few a day initially, but I was happy to just change them out. Good luck giving birth!
Not sure if you’ve heard of them, you probably have with all your research, but look up Frida Mom (they do indeed sell their stuff here in the UK including on Amazon prime), several of my friends in the US (who have between 2-6 children each) refuse to not have her kits in their hospital bags. Witch hazel pads, frida mom upside down bottle for bathroom visits (spray as you wee!), there’s just so much she sells. Although pricey my friends wouldn’t be without it & anything leftover they’ve passed on.
Just a heads up.
I gave birth 7 months ago. I found that I did not bleed as much as I thought I would. I actually had pads that were more absorbent than I needed. My postnatal bleeding was lighter than my normal period. You seem well stocked, good luck!
My experience PP wasn't that heavy either! People say it's a mega-period, but for me it was heavy-period-day for 3 days, and then light period day for 2 weeks. Spotted after that for another couple weeks but just needed a panty-liner. I just used long-overnight pads and no issue
There were a lot of things difficult PP after a VB but at least the bleeding really wasn't that big a deal. haha
Careful with fuzzy material pads and even disposable ones if you have stitches if you tear. They will snag
I had a natural birth, my lochia was heavy for like 2 hours after birth (at which time the nurses were doing frequent uterus massages and I was on a big disposable pad) then it got kind of like just a normal heavy period flow by the time I went to postpartum ward, and then I had light flow for like 2 weeks maybe? I found I bought longer lengths/heavier absorbencies thinking I'd need them but totally couldve used my existing pads exclusively. If one was to have a homebirth and planning to use cloth immediately right after birth, then I can see those ultra large/megapads by HE being helpful but delivering in any clinical setting, you get put with a disposable from the beginning and not much say in it, as nurses need to closely monitor lochia amounts due to hemorrhage risk.
I used the “pull ups” for my last 2 babies and it was a game changer! For the first 2 days I would line them with disposable pads and change the pad every 2-3hrs. The nurses also gave me little frozen icicles which would go inside to relieve some pain so when they melted it would help catch that.
I would also put some calendula cream and sometimes arnica cream on the pad as it helps to rapidly heal everything, my first birth it took 2-3 weeks to heal and ease bleeding compared to last 2 I was not sore and pretty healed after a week and stopped bleeding by two weeks.
I would also recommend a peri bottle to wash after toilet or was told to pat dry rather than wipe by nurses. I used the tom organic maternity pads. I live in Australia 😊
In the hospital, you will get disposable panties that are in the form of a netting. Those are super stretchable and don’t soak up anything even if your pads leak. They are ok if you stash them away too, so don’t forget to take some home with you.
I also stacked 2 pads in the hospital, and that was quite effective too. The nurse even put one pad over my c section wound.
I used pull ons after I had my son almost 13 years ago. It was the best decision I ever made
Thank you for sharing the names of the companies these were from so I can check them out for myself too! I really appreciate this!
I love my homestead emporium pads! They’re my fav
After my c-sections I couldn't use the "diapers" for several days, but after that they were a lifesaver! Being able to just pull something on rather than try to wrestle a pad into my underwear was so nice.
I'm so excited to see baby boy!
I don’t know which or whether pads are offered in British hospitals, but here in Germany I can totally recommend the disposable pads that were provided by hospital. I haven’t given birth, but I had some really heavy blood loss, because of fibroids and was comfortable in those provided pads. ☺️
Just as there are a lot of sort of taboo subjects that aren't talked about in pregnancy with female bodies and how they change and what symptoms may occur, I also feel the same about what happens to female bodies AFTER birth.
I feel like it's one big secret/mystery that no one honestly wants to open up about and honestly giving birth seems like the most terrifying bit just because I know so little about what actually happens to my body after the baby is out. (i'm not pregnant but one day maybe..)
I didn't know that you bleed a LOT that you would need to wear special pads and stuff and so i'm curious to know: will you be continuing to share details about what will happen to your body, mental and physical health post-natal?
I'm curious about things like how long after giving birth it hurts or is a struggle to go to the toilet, if there are any everyday tasks we take for granted that become difficult to do, anything that we assumed would be easy to cope with, with the baby but ultimately might be a struggle. how long until we can stand up and walk normally without pain after giving birth etc.
It would be amazing if you could, but understandable if you can't. Much love and positive thoughts to you and your baby and good luck with the birth! I hope both you and baby are healthy and safe and that you have a relatively easy time xx
Commenting as I'd be interested to see Bryony's answers if she decides to share after the birth and once settled
I imagine it varies a lot from person to person and how the birth goes down in regards to general pain and problems with to the toilet.
I agree it's probably not talked about enough to prepare us for what might be to come once baby arrives.
The placenta rips off unceremoniously and leaves a large wound that takes about 6 weeks to fully heal. Also there is 9 months of built up womb lining to shed. For me I was a heavy bleeder but post natal was ridiculous. You feel a glood every time you cough, stand up, etc. You think it's slowing down then you take your baby out to meet people and discover it was way too much as the heavy bleeding returns for 3 days before starting to slow down again. I was in hospital 4 days with my first, I got very good at Learning how not to bleed on the floor between the shower and toilet (paper hand towels wedged between the legs as you exit the shower and kept there til you waddle across the room, dry your backside and sit on the toilet. Stay sat til you have disposed of the paper towels in the sanitary bin and have a pad and pants on. Someone said "you'll want a pad the size of a small country" she wasn't joking. I used kotex brand 15 and 13 yrs ago and found them comfortable.
Something I only learned recently is that you can have lochia (bleeding after pregnancy) that looks like discharge, white or yellowish and that it’s white blood cells leaving the body. This is usually at the tail end of the bleeding. My grandma was a midwife and I’ve always been around birth but I still was never told this can happen!
It’s something nobody really learns about until they go for their prenatal classes. I can only tell you that from my c section experience, I couldn’t get out of bed by myself for almost 2 weeks because our bed was too low. My husband had to pull me up to sitting position. Day 2 in the hospital the nurses will insist you start to walk, and you continue taking painkillers every 2 hours for 2 weeks. You gotta walk to the toilet so that they can remove the catheter from the urethra, so that you can start to pee by yourself again. Nobody told me I would be hooked to a urine bag for 2 days. Peeing would hurt for a week. Laughing and sneezing hurt. You walk funny for at least a month. 😂 even reaching over the table to get food is difficult with the c section wound.
Ladies who had a vaginal delivery often have slight incontinence and trouble sitting due to tears. But most can walk pretty soon after delivery. But the pain they experienced during birth was definitely super intense.
Oh yes, postpartum you would experience some dull pain in the womb, especially while breastfeeding, because the uterus has to shrink slowly from under your ribs back to where it original was. They feel like contractions but not exactly at the same spots. Very amazing.
every birth is so very different. My son was all natural with minimal tearing (2 stitches). I had very little pain after birth. i was expecting this excruciating pain that everyone described, but outside of peeing on my stitches, it wasn't so bad. I just had to use the little portable bidet bottles when I peed so it wouldn't hurt. I wore depends for about two weeks after because the bleeding was quite heavy, but I was rather used to heavy bleeding. I switched to cloth pads after I finally ditched the depends. I had horrible pregnancies, but very easy recoveries post-birth. I do chalk some of that up to having him naturally withotu any drugs.
My daughter, on the other hand, was a c-section. It was an emergency c-section, and I lost a lot of blood. The only good thing about a c-section is they vaccum you out. So while, yes, you do have that dinner plate sized hole in you from the placenta being ripped off, they take most of the blood and lochia and such out. My post partum bleeding with her was like a super light period. I was prepared iwth depends, and I didn't need them at all. My incision was painful, but the worst part was when they taped it and I had an allergic reaction to the tape. Otherwise, it was uncomfortable but not unbearable. I didn't take any pain meds after I got home from the hospital except for advil.
Funnily enough, post partum with my daughter I was probably in the best place mentally I've been in my adult life. I had the opposite of post partum depression. I didn't need my normal drugs. I was just...happy. Which was funny because it was the pandemic, and everything was truly scary. I was terrified and broke down a lot, but my mental health was honestly in as good a place as it could've been with everything going on. About 8 weeks post partum I had to go back on my depression medications. Because I started to get much worse.
My body will never be what it was pre-babies. Your hips literlaly open up, and they don't go back. I have lower back pain from my tail bone that my son messed up on the way out. It was hard to sit for a while after I had him because of that bruised tailbone. I know people who had horrible recoveries, severe PPD, and they could barely function there were in so much pain. And others that had a fairly easy time. I've always thought my easy post partum was compensating for the fact that my pregnancies were so awful.
Mom of 10 I love the pull up pants type!! Pregnancy again!! Needed ideas for gusher pads this came up!!
I LOVE the "Adult Diapers!". I wore them after my first and at night when I was on my period! I love the security of them! I plan on using them for my 2nd in May as well!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Best invention EVER!! Do you plan on sharing your birth story after you have little boy?
Postpartum 23 years ago was when I first started using cloth. I made all my own before I gave birth. I still use a few of these now. 😄😄
We have the Tena brand here in America too. They are available at Walmart stores. I would like to see your stash of cloth nappies for little one.
Yesss too the adult nappies! Yes!
The last one is for sure one from Full Moon Creations
I think you overthinking how heavy its going to be... my periods are heavier than my 2 PP bleeding... I fully stopped bleeding within 5 days of giving birth and just used overnight sanitary pads or Kotex in the black pack, you'll be pleasantly surprised xx
The Tena ones are great if your water breaks as well 😊
I used cloth pads postpartum with all my kids. I loved them because they didn't irritate my skin. I did try disposables after my first and hated them as the plastic feel really irritated me. Your skin gets more sensitive the first few days after birth. I only needed the giant pads for the first 2 days after that my flow was like a heavy period for a week then down to my normal period levels after that. I also find how much you bleed pp will also depend on how much you bleed during the birth. I had a 2nd degree tear so cloth was much more comfortable
Also wanted to add I used your pads pp too. I've had them for 8 years and are going strong. They are the rainbow ones with the white cotton top.
Ah, I remember that unicorn pad from your videos like 8 years ago!
I know your channel is taking a different direction now, but I've missed your period/pad/menstrual cup videos!
Even if you don’t use the adult diapers or many pads immediately post birth, your first actual period (whenever it returns) may be very heavy. I did not anticipate how heavy my period would be, THAT was when I needed the adult diapers because just a pad was not cutting it, and I actually used a diaper and a pad so I didn’t need to change the diaper as much.
i have only recently got cloth pad's as i wanted to use my stash of throw away ones before buying and got pack of 9 on amazon £6.99 and they are amazing
That one is definitely Full Moon Creations (the dragon print)
I finally bought diapers, I have interstitial cystitis and I can be randomly incontinent, I have been working on not feeling bad about it. It's a bit confusing because sometimes it seems something will trigger really bad bladder cramps and I will be struggling to hold it and the one time I have decided it is time to try the incontinence panties I was completely able to hold it wearing them and it was a bit difficult to get them up and down, I felt a bit silly. I think I did have a bath to hopefully settle the cramps, though.
Really ideal to be wearing a dress, which I already strive to do when possible/ when I'm struggling because of pain and urgency, I am just not comfortable always wearing pants. Unfortunately, I have to wear pants for work. I had decided to wear a dress and jeans due to it being so cold and it was a bit of a rough experience.
Just a few notes on my own personal experience.
I pre and post baby have had very heavy periods but my postnatal bleeding wasn’t very heavy it just lasted many weeks. But it was about the same or less flow compared to my period. Because of that i found the incontinence underwear unnecessary but nice to just not have to worry.
I did get a few clots and found they stuck best to disposable products and didn’t slip out.
Comfort was the main key for me. Everything hurts so I wanted whatever option bothered me the least. I found ice pads in the stretchiest pair of underwear was my favorite.
Just thought I’d share my experience.
I wasn't warned that when you give birth vaginally, especially if you tear, that your sphincter is extremely weak. I had to wear diapers because I couldn't get to the bathroom in time after the fluids they gave me in the hospital gave me really bad diarrhea. Those diapers were a life saver.
Is there a reason you prefer pads over period underwear? I tend to find underwear less finicky :) The Emflower ones I use hold 4 tampons worth!
After watching your video I want to try some more cloth pads though
😄
Have you made any cloth diapers for baby? I have heard wearing baby cloth diapers is handy for people who are heavy bleeders. Sorry for the TMI! As silly as it sounds is does work for some women. :)
I wish I would have used adult diapers for postpartum the pads they gave me in the hospital were horrible! After my daughter was done with her preemie prefolds I love using them as panty liners for mild bladder leakage! I haven’t tried them but I bet some of the yellow edge ones would make good overnight pads? I Have trouble with period underwear because I’m a front bleeder and they seem to cater towards protection in the back and not in the front!
Hi you have a wonderfull variety of options, i love that. But, probably you not gona need/use all of them. I had 2 natural births and as i had stiches ( bouth times) i enjoyed having a diaper on, because it was hanging lover and not touching parts that hurts the most, but getting all the blod very well. So diapers for 2-3 days. Then i used any overnight pads - single use and cloth pads. And i was ok.
Beautiful
Could your hospital give you pads as well?
Omg no wonder you're closing shop, you're pregnant, congrats!
You will love ice or cold packs!
I used the boots own brand maternity pads. They were heaven. Like a little duvet in your undies. Lol
Are you excited for the birth or are you anxious about it?
How much this napkin?
I cannot believe I never realized until now a cup is not going to work for postpartum bleeding 🤦♀️
I didn't bleed from.birth alot just reg
I just had the random thought that one of these brand should have an option to print the picture of somebody you dislike on a pad, so you can bleed on them 🙈 I know that's super weird but wanted to share the weirdness😂
You bleed so so much more than a period. Adult diapers are the easiest and nicest. And then move to disposable big bulky pads
Love your videos keep up the great work just want to know if you have ever been given your period blood to plants