Postpartum sanitary napkins: which products to choose for losses after childbirth
Postpartum pads are among the indispensable products to put in the hospital bag: this kind of pad, usually made of cotton, will be useful for containing losses after childbirth, whether natural or caesarean. what you need to know about postpartum pads, from the best materials for skin contact to the price. In the meantime, however, watch our video on hygiene for younger children:
Post-partum sanitary napkins: what they are and what they are for
Postpartum sanitary napkins are external sanitary napkins produced expressly for the intimate hygiene of women after childbirth. In fact, in the post-partum period and for the entire duration of the puerperium, the new mother will have blood loss called "lochiazioni": these losses are rather consistent and serve the uterus itself to carry out a sort of cleaning from the inside and return to its original size.
The postpartum pads will be used for a maximum duration of 40 days, that is the period of the puerperium, until the losses are no longer similar to a menstrual cycle and, in the end, whitish in color. If you're wondering if ordinary period pads are not okay, the answer is no: postpartum pads are products specifically designed for a heavier-than-normal flow.
Postpartum pads are in fact larger, much more absorbent and made with hypoallergenic and breathable materials, first of all cotton. In this way, the post-partum pads guarantee the sensation of dryness. These intimate hygiene products have an anatomical shape and are designed not to irritate when in contact with the skin, thus avoiding genital irritation, allergies and infections, as well as adhesions to birth wounds.
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How to use post partum pads
The post-partum pads, unlike those usually used for the cycle, do not have wings and not even the adhesive, but are simply applied on the linen with the cotton side facing the top, just to avoid irritation and infections. It is usually recommended to wear these products with a stretch mesh pant, whether it is disposable or washable.
Post-partum sanitary napkins need to be changed frequently so that no moisture is created that could cause germs to proliferate. Women who have had an episiotomy or sutures during childbirth should be especially careful in this regard. It is usually recommended to change sanitary pads every 4-8 hours.
Intimate hygiene after childbirth is particularly important, and for this reason - when changing the sanitary napkin - always wash your hands, before and after, to use specific products for intimate hygiene in order to rebalance the bacterial flora and avoid sexual intercourse while you have lochiations, as they could easily lead to candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis.
How to choose the postpartum sanitary napkins that are right for you among the products on the market!
There are different types of post-partum sanitary napkins on the market, with a different price that varies from the number of sanitary pads contained in the package to the material used. To choose the ones suitable for you, however, do not stop at the price: it is important that the quality of these accessories is high for your health and your intimate well-being, especially in a delicate moment like that of postpartum.
First you will have to pay attention to the material: if the sanitary pads you commonly use for your period are made of synthetic fibers, your postpartum sanitary pads will have to be in pure cotton or bamboo, all materials that allow the necessary transpiration to avoid intimate infections. So be careful that they are hypoallergenic materials!
You can then choose whether you prefer to buy a pack of disposable or washable postpartum pads. The washable ones have a higher price, but are reusable over and over again and more environmentally friendly.The forms on the market, then, are the most diverse and suitable for every physiognomy. Even the measures of post-partum sanitary napkins can be different and a lot depends on the abundance of losses: on each package you will find in fact reported whether that specific product has a greater or lesser absorbency capacity based on the presence of light or more abundant lootations.
