A Guide to Using Breast Pads

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

06 Jul 2009 07:44 AM

Congratulations on breastfeeding! You are giving an amazing gift to your baby. Along the way, you may find some inconveniences, such as leaky breasts. That is where breast pads come in.

I've nursed three children from birth to toddlerhood, so I am , and while some moms find that they never need to use breastpads or don't need them past the first month, I wasn't one of them. In fact, I usually kept a few extra sets in my purse or diaper bag, especially with my first child. Just the thought of anything related to milk, and I would have a strong let down response.

So let me tell you my opinion based on the different pads that I have tried.

Disposable breast pads

I absolutely hated the disposable bread pads with their plastic liners. Not only were these pads uncomfortable, but they were very visible underclothing because of the way that they bunched up. Also, the plastic liner did not allow for proper air circulation, which retained moisture and could lead to a growth of bacteria, such as thrush. Yuck.

Another issue I had with the disposable pads is where to dispose them.

Home made breast pads

In a pinch, I could make my own breast pads by folding a cotton handkerchief or cutting up cotton diapers. The results of these pads were perfectly acceptable to me, although there was always a little bit of bunching. The homemade pads were easy to wash.

Cotton breast pads

The cotton breast pads I purchased were by far the winner. They were soft, absorbent and easy to use. I could choose to purchase different sizes depending on my needs, and that was really convenient. Because these pads were so absorbent, I never worried about leaks or having to change them while I was away from home. They tended to stay hidden under clothing, with the exception of fitted t-shirts. To wash these pads, I simply placed them in a small lingerie bag and through them into the washing machine and then the dryer.

Related Articles:

Nursing with Switch Feeding

How to Increase Your Milk Supply

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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