The Best Postpartum Pads for 2021

Giving birth is an arduous yet very rewarding process, and after it’s over, you need products that are going to help you feel as comfortable as possible.​

Postpartum pads are an essential for any new mom as you deal with normal postpartum bleeding

Since typical maxi pads usually aren’t enough to handle the volume of blood typical of postpartum bleeding, you’ll need pads and underwear that are designed specifically for this purpose.

Luckily, there are many great products that are designed with new motherhood in mind. In this article, we’ll review the best postpartum pads to help keep you comfortable.

What is Postpartum Bleeding?​

Postpartum bleeding isn’t talked about often, so many people don’t realize what it is or know how to deal with it, even new mothers themselves.

Postpartum bleeding is a completely normal part of giving birth, and is nothing to worry about

Since your body expands during pregnancy, the volume of blood your body increases by as much as 50 percent. After the baby is born, you can expect a continuous discharge lasting as long as six weeks.

It is quite similar to a menstrual period in many ways, although it will be much thicker and more consistent at first. The bleeding will slowly taper off and get thinner and lighter in color as you get further away from birth.

However, you may still experience intense periods of bleeding that are triggered by physical activity or sudden movements. Although postpartum bleeding may feel similar to a period, it is not safe to use tampons after giving birth.

You will need pads that are specifically designed to accommodate postpartum bleeding and feel comfortable on your skin, which will feel sensitive after giving birth.

Your doctor will likely give you some heavy-duty pads and underwear for wear the first few days after birth, but then you’ll need to buy your own pads after that point.​

What To Look For When Purchasing Postpartum Pads

When searching for good postpartum pads, you’ll need something that will be very absorbent – much more absorbent than a traditional maxi pad.

When shopping, it’s important to look for an option that will provide the maximum amount of absorbency possible to keep you feeling dry and comfortable.

You’ll also want to consider the shape and the material of the pads, as you’ll want something that will sit comfortably in your underwear without moving around.

You’ll also want pads that feel soft, not itchy or scratchy, so they won’t irritate your skin.

Finally, you should make sure you’re using pads that aren’t scented or treated with any chemicals, as this won’t be safe so soon after giving birth.​

You’ll also want to consider the durability of the pads. Although you’ll likely need to change pads fairly frequently after giving birth regardless of what brand you use, it helps to pick a pad that is durable and will keep you comfortable for several hours at a time without​ ripping or tearing.

After you’re done wearing the pad, you’ll need to throw it out, so the material that the pad is made of may be an important factor as well.

For many people, it’s important to have a pad that is made from organic materials or materials that will compost so that they do not harm the planet after they are used.​

Best Postpartum Pads

There are many great options for postpartum pads that you can use. Here are our reviews of some of the products that we love to help keep you comfortable and dry after giving birth.

1. Poise Incontinence Overnight Pads

Although these pads are designed for incontinence, they also work extremely well for anyone that is going through postpartum bleeding.

They come in a long shape that has sides to protect against leakage, so you’ll be completely covered throughout your postpartum bleeding. They have an absorbent core and a dri-tech layer that help you feel drier as you wear them.

They also don’t contain any fragrance, so they are completely safe to use postpartum with no irritation.

We particularly like the shape of these pads – they are long and slightly curved, providing full coverage for anyone, regardless of size.

They also sit very comfortably in your underwear because of the way they were designed, and do not move around at all.

The one downside is that you need to place them very carefully when putting them on, or the adhesive may accidentally stick to you or your clothing in places where you do not want it to.

Overall, this pad provides very high levels of absorbency and is great for protecting you and your clothing while going through postpartum bleeding.

2. Always Maxi Overnight Heavy Extra Flow with Wings

These super-heavy maxi pads provide tons of support and absorbency for anyone who is struggling with postpartum bleeding.

The pad is 15 inches long and comes with adhesive wings and a very wide back end to provide more coverage right where you need it, and it even comes in different sizes so you can choose an option that fits your own body’s needs.

The pad has an absorbent core and is designed to keep you feeling dry for as long as 10 hours, so you won’t constantly have to be running to the bathroom to change them.

These pads provide superior performance – the highly absorbent core and the unique shape prevents leaks, and the wings help the pad stay in place throughout the day.

Overall, there’s very little downside to these pads, as they provide some of the absolute best coverage and absorbency you can get.

3. Tena Incontinence Underwear for Women

After you’ve just given birth, your bleeding can be so unpredictable, you’re never sure exactly what’s going to happen. In this case, it helps to have absorbent underwear that keeps you completely protected from leakage.

These underwear are made from a soft material that feels like cloth, but is very absorbent and helps disperse liquid away from your body, so you feel drier.

They also are pH-balanced, which reduces odors naturally without any chemicals, and they have tear-away sides so you can take them off easily. Although they can be a bit bulky, the material is fairly comfortable and reduces the risk of chafing and other skin issues.

4. Prevail Extra Absorbency Incontinence Underwear

This is another highly absorbent brand of underwear that can keep you very comfortable while you are experiencing postpartum bleeding.

The material is thinner and softer than many other types of absorbent underwear and pads, yet contains a highly absorbent core to help keep you dry without any chafing or irritation.

They have lots of elastic at the waistband, so they sit on your body comfortably. They are also designed to be very breathable, so you won’t feel too confined or constricted.

They come in sizes that support all body types, and they don’t leak throughout the day, regardless of what activities you are engaging in.

5. Dutchess Cloth Menstrual Pads

These eco-friendly pads are a great option for any new mom who wants to feel comfortable while still staying environmentally conscious. Since they are made of cloth, you can actually wash and reuse them.

They are made with layers of charcoal and bamboo, which are very absorbent and neutralize odors without being irritating. They also are made with a cotton microfleece liner, which feels extremely comfortable.

You can also save tons of money over time by reusing them – you can even keep them for normal periods after your postpartum bleeding stops.

The downside to these is that they can slide around a bit throughout the day, so you’ll need to take extra care to make sure they are attached properly.

Conclusion

Overall, there are plenty of great options for products that can help you deal with postpartum bleeding.

While there is no one choice for best postpartum pads, we do particularly like the Always Overnight pads because they are so absorbent and leak-resistant.

However, all of the options listed here are great for keeping new moms comfortable and happy, so they can worry about their most important responsibility – parenting!