During pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding you are bound to spring a leak or two. It’s all part of the new mummy fun!
Most new mums, especially breastfeeding mums, rely on breast pads to help reduce the cheeky leakies and keep the breast milk from staining their shirts, sheets, and pretty much anything else that they come into contact with mid-drip.
But should you go with disposable breast pads or reusable breastfeeding pads? And what’s the difference, anyway?
5 questions we all have about breast pads
1. Okay, first things first, what are breast pads?
Breast pads are absorbent pads that you pop inside your bra to protect your clothing from breastmilk leaks.
They are also called nursing pads or breastfeeding pads and are pretty much a godsend during the first few weeks/months when your supply and demand are still all over the shop.
2. Do I really need them?
I mean, how much milk could my breasts possibly make?
Girl… a lot. Your breasts pretty much turn into beacons of liquid gold that think it’s totes appropriate to go off at the most random times.
When you hear a baby cry (or laugh) at the shops (any baby will do)? YUP. When you take a shower? 100%. When you are watching TV? Yah huh.
And, of course, whenever bub is hungry or makes ANY sort of noise that would indicate it’s time to start producing milk. And don’t even get me started on when bub actually sleeps through the night for the first time – HELLOOOO MILK FOUNTAIN!
How much extra milk your milk machines make will depend on a few things but it’s better to be padded and protected than to be caught with wet patches on your t-shirt, especially out in the cold. Brrr.
Of course, you don’t have to wear them but you will most certainly be sprouting wet patches on your breasts and, while the two-toned boob look worked for Regina, it isn’t recommended for us mere mortals.
3. Disposable nursing pads vs reusable nursing pads – what’s the diff?Â
Disposable nursing pads are single-use. Wear them once and chuck them out.
Like disposable nappies or tampons, they come in a bulk pack, usually around 20 to 40 per package. You’re looking at around $10 for a pack of 30 from a trusted brand.
You will probably go through around 1-3 disposable pads per day for several weeks while breastfeeding. You may also want to wear them during the late stages of pregnancy if your breasts have decided to get prematurely excited (#ithappens).
Reusable nursing pads are washable and allow you to reuse them over and over again. Wear them, chuck them in the washing machine, wear them again.
Reusable breast pads tend to come in a pack of one pair or two pairs and will cost around $25 per pair. You will most likely only need two or three pairs in total – one to wear, one for backup (or in the wash) and one as a just in case.
4. Which is better?Â
This is up to you but, if you are looking for breasts pads, we recommend reusable breastfeeding pads. There are a few reasons for this.
First off, they are much better for the earth.
Disposable breast pads are huge contributors to landfill and tend to contain plastics that will take hundreds of years to break down.
FUN FACT: If you’re going through 3 pads per day for 15 weeks, that’s 315 pads in the landfill!
Reusable breast pads are sustainable and eco-friendly and depending on your flow you will most likely only need three-four pairs for your entire pregnancy/postpartum/
They are more affordable.
Sure, they require a larger outlay at first but they pay for themselves after just a couple of weeks, especially if you plan on breastfeeding for a longer period of time.
They are more reliable.
While all breast pads are slightly different, reusable breast pads tend to be more absorbent, meaning fewer leaks and longer daily wear.Â
Reusable breast pads also tend to offer odour and antibacterial protection – two big plusses when shopping for something that will be protecting your baby’s favourite assets all day long!
5. What should I be looking for in washable nursing pads?
If you’re stocking up on washable nursing pads, there are a few other things to consider:
- Say NO to PU plastic: This is not breathable and will trap in the moisture that can lead to infections such as thrush. Always check that your reusable breast pads don’t contain a layer of PU plastic.
- Say NO to PFOS and PFOA chemicals: Chemicals and breast pads – not a good mix! Always check that the breastfeeding pads are free of potentially harmful PFOS and PFOA chemicals.
- Say YES to quick-dry: Look for nursing pads that have an inner layer of soft, hypoallergenic fabric designed to quickly draw the breastmilk leakage away from your skin so you don’t experience chafing.
- Say YES to machine-washable:Â They are easy to wash – just pop them in the machine with your family laundry.
- Say YES to tumble dry: Breastfeeding pads with PU plastic CANNOT be tumble-dried meaning you will need to dry them on the line only (which can take a little longer than normal laundry). Reusable breastfeeding pads that don’t have PU plastic CAN be tumble dried, making life so much easier for busy mums!
Confidence with Confitex Just’nCase Reusable Breastfeeding PadsÂ
If you are on the hunt for the best breast pads, take a look at Just’nCase Reusable Nursing Pads by Confitex. They were recently named Product of the Year in the 2021 Plus X Awards and tick all the boxes above and more:
✅Â The most absorbent and leakproof washable nursing pads on the market
✅Â Reusable and eco-friendly
✅Â Patented GravityDri™ pocket
✅Â Machine washable and tumble dryable
✅Â Contoured for comfort, soft on skin and ideal for sensitive skin
✅Â Independently laboratory-proven to offer a superior combination of leakproof performance and absorbency capacity – up to 33ml of milk per pad in fact!
They also come in two funky designs and are under $25 per pair. This is great value so definitely recommended to pop on your shopping list – whether for yourself or for a new mum, Just’nCase is an excellent option.
What to read next
Looking for more must-have items for new mums? Check out:
- ROUNDUP: What to Pack in Your Hospital BagÂ
- ROUNDUP: Best Eco-Friendly Products for Environmentally Conscious Families
- ROUNDUP: 17 Newborn Baby Must-Haves
This is a sponsored post for Just’nCase
