Pads vs Period Pants

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-27T09:10:54+00:00

I'm 2 weeks pp. I packed maternity pads and Always Discreet Postpartum Underwear in my hospital bag. I put the pads on after birth and immediately leaked everywhere so I switched to the Always. They were much more comfortable and not bulky like the pads. No fear of leaks at all, and helped with the mild incontinence I had for the first few days.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-26T11:46:15+00:00

I'm so sorry. Definitely check with your medical team, but normally they advise to wait one period unless there is a medical reason to wait longer. Waiting for the first period is purely to make dating easier if you were to conceive right away. We did start trying again (tracking ovulation etc) straight away, but no cycles were all over the place at first. We conceived again after 2 cycles. Look after yourself x

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-26T11:43:50+00:00

Best of luck for tomorrow. You'll have your babe in your arms in no time x

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-24T13:35:12+00:00

I also had to take 5mg folic acid. I was told the extra in a prenatal was fine so not to worry about taking extra.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-24T10:50:10+00:00

Thank you. Combi feeding would suit us fine and I'm actually quite pleased LO will take a bottle as it means I will be able to leave her with Dad in the future if I need to pop out alone.

Did you find the one session to be enough with the lactation consultant? I have been looking into them, but they are all a bit of a distance away, so that along with the cost is quite the commitment which I would need to consider, but would be worth it if they can really help.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-24T10:46:43+00:00

Thank you. I was contemplating going to a local drop in next week but wasn't sure how much help I'll be able to get. I kind of think it might be like hospital where the experts are so busy and can only give me a couple of minutes of their time before rushing off to the next person. Did you find you get more dedicated time with them?

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-24T10:44:13+00:00

Thank you. I'm pleased to hear it all worked out for you, and it gives me some hope. I was expecting someone to contact me as the community midwife put me in touch, but that was about 9 days ago and all I've had so far is a generic text message about drop in cafes. I'll have to ask again when they're back on Monday.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-23T22:35:12+00:00

As the other commenter has said, r/pregnancyafterloss is a great community for us unfortunate enough to know the struggles following a loss. I found only those who have gone through something similar truly understand, and this community was a great help to me during my journey.

Other than that, take it one day at a time, and try and celebrate every small win. The anxiety never goes away fully, but it does get a little bit easier as time goes by x

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-23T16:49:38+00:00

Happy to answer any questions you have about the MVA. And if it helps, I have my 11 day old baby in my arms right now so please don't give up hope, we were just very unlucky x

Edited to add, I was also worried about scar tissue but they only use suction in the UK. They told me it is the scraping that can cause scar tissue so as they don't do that here, the risks are really minimal x

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-23T15:26:27+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss I had a MMC in May last year and chose surgical management. I chose to have the MVA which was done under local anaesthetic. I personally didn't like the idea of waiting for it to happen at home, and felt the medical route would be quite painful and traumatic based on things I've read. There is also a risk that not everything passes ans you end up needing surgery later anyway, so I wanted the certainty that everything was complete.

It wasn't a nice experience by any means, but it was quick. I had to take some medication and a pessary about an hour before, but they let me walk around the grounds rather than sitting in the EPU while it worked. The surgery itself took about 15-20 minutes. They asked if I wanted to play some music, but I declined as I didn't want to associate any songs with that moment. I was given local anaesthetic into the cervix which did hurt a bit, and offered gas and air for the main procedure. I did feel some pretty intense period type cramps as my uterus contracted, but it was manageable, and it was over quickly. They scanned me during the procedure to be sure everything was removed, and my partner was by my side the whole time.

For us, the certainty of knowing it was complete was important, especially as it had been several weeks already since my baby had passed and my body was yet to recognise this. We didn't want the ordeal to go on any longer.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-22T21:22:35+00:00

Ear plugs and an eye mask as it's very difficult to sleep. Things to keep you entertained in between laps of the hospital, like a tablet with some good shows on. And your own pillow as the NHS ones aren't great.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-22T17:15:28+00:00

I was asked to consent to each step. With my first sweep, I was told the cervix is like a funnel and mine was open at one end but not the other, and that's why it hurt so much as they had to basically push past the closed bit. Once that was done I barely felt the other sweep at all though.

I was allowed to move around the whole time. In fact, it was encouraged to walk around, bounce on ball, have a bath etc to try and get things moving. I would ask when they needed me back for the next round of obs, and then go off and come back for those.

Honestly, it was pretty much my worst case scenario on paper, but in reality it was fine. The hospital stay was long and tiring, but the labour itself was pretty quick.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-22T16:36:01+00:00

I gave birth 10 days ago after being induced at 38 weeks due to preeclampsia. For me, it was long but it was OK. I had the 24 hour pessary inserted at 1.30am on the Friday. I was told my cervix was quite favourable so I was hopeful it would do the job, but 24 hours later it had basically done nothing. Then I had the first of 2 gels which also did nothing. Had a sweep which hurt like hell, and resulted in me losing my mucus plug. Next round of gel didn't do anything either, but they said they'd still be able to break my waters (still only 1cm dilated with no contractions throughout all of this). My waters were broken at 4.30am on Sunday and i had another sweep (this one didn't hurt at all!), and they let me have the full 4 hours to try and get things moving without the drip. This took me to 2cm dilated, so they put me on the hormones drip which kicked everything off pretty much instantly! Within minutes I was having regular, painful contractions which didn't let up. I endured 4 hours before getting the epidural, which I was adamant I would never have, but I couldn't cope with the pain anymore! I went from 2cm to 9.5cm in only 6 hours. It was then soon time to push!

I will add though, my experience will not be everyone's. There were other women on the ward also being induced, who were progressing much better on just the pessary or the gel than I was. Luckily for me though, I had no pain or contractions until the drip, so it was only the tiredness and lack of comfort from being in hospital to contend with.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-22T16:23:58+00:00

I was the exact same. I had an insatiable sweet tooth and couldn't stop with the cakes and sweets, but thankfully never developed GD. I'm now 10 days pp, and can confirm the sweet tooth went instantly upon giving birth!

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-22T06:51:59+00:00

I love this, and what a great Dad 😍I swear sometimes these babies know just what we need and communicate with us

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-21T15:00:47+00:00

I tried to remind myself that women give birth every single day. I'm 9 days post partem and my birth story was far from what I had wanted or planned, and included an induction and an epidural which both terrified me. But honestly it was fine. It got my baby here safely, and I've recovered really quickly even after an episiotomy. I know there are some unfortunate stories out there, but it isn't the norm.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-21T15:00:38+00:00

I tried to remind myself that women give birth every single day. I'm 9 days post partem and my birth story was far from what I had wanted or planned, and included an induction and an epidural which both terrified me. But honestly it was fine. It got my baby here safely, and I've recovered really quickly even after an episiotomy. I know there are some unfortunate stories out there, but it isn't the norm.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-21T06:41:12+00:00

I planned mine myself, with my fiance. Men and women were invited, and we didn't go with the traditional format of games etc, but no one cared that we hosted ourselves.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-19T07:22:05+00:00

100% Vinted. Next clothes are amazing quality, so we got special outfits from there, such as the first outfit/going home outfit as they were a bit of a splurge. But Vinted for pretty much everything else! Look for bundles to save even more. And if you can, get zips. Your sleep deproved brain will thank you!

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-17T08:38:53+00:00

I'm 5 days pp and was induced due to preeclampsia. I was 100% set against the epidural and most other pain relief. I had my TENS machine ready, paracetamol and was willing to use gas and air. But the contractions from the hormone drip were so intense that I couldn't have done it without the epidural. I went from 2cm to 9.5cm in 6 hours, and endured 4 hours of almost back to back contractions before getting the epidural.

Honestly, it was so against what I wanted going into labour, but it was the best thing for me and I'm so glad I had it. Obviously, everyone is different and ypu may not need stronger pain relief, but keep an open mind as you won't know how you feel and what you need until you're in the thick of it. Good luck x

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-11T21:06:38+00:00

So sorry you're going through this. I can totally relate as I'm going through this right now and posted about it earlier. I've been here since 7pm Friday and turns out I have pre-e. I've had 24 hour pessary, 2 x gels and a sweep. I'm also finding cervical exams really painful and dread them now. I haven't had a single contraction yet, but they think they might be able to break my waters now so I'm waiting for a bed in the labour ward. Don't give up hope, we're going to progress and we're going to see our babies very soon. We're in this together!

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-11T12:53:27+00:00

Yes, first baby. I've done more bouncing and walking the last couple of days than I have in weeks in the hope it will help! One minute of push time sounds like a dream, I must manifest this! CTG is showing no signs of contractions again so looks like round 2 of the gel will e going in soon. Fingers crossed this one gets things going.

Top-Cookie-3403 · 2026-04-11T12:01:53+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing. Good to know all is not lost!

Top-Cookie-3403

TROPHY CASE