When you’re making your list of items that you need to buy before your baby arrives, you want to make sure you add nursing pads. If you’re going to breastfeed, these are indeed a necessity that you don’t want to forget.
I get it; you don’t want to buy something you don’t need. Having a baby is costly, and the last thing you want to do is add an item that will cost you extra money. Nursing pads are not one of those things. Here’s why.
Yes, You Need Nursing Pads
Most women need to have breastfeeding pads during the early stages of nursing when your body is producing an abundance of milk. In the first few weeks, your breasts will be engorged, and leaking is normal as your body figures out how much milk is needed and regulates your supply.
Here’s the thing:
Wearing nursing pads helps to absorb any of that leaking milk and stop it from covering your clothes. The last thing you want is stains all over your clothes. Breast milk can damage the fibers in delicate clothing.
Women joke about hearing a baby in the store and letting milk down. Despite being a joke, it’s a reality. All it takes is to hear a baby or see a picture of your baby, and then your body starts to let down its milk. That’s all it takes, and your shirt is soaked.
Aside from wet clothing and sheets, it would be best if you kept your nipples as dry as possible, so letting your nipples soak your clothes isn’t a good idea. Your nipples can get sore or develop yeast, which can make breastfeeding uncomfortable or downright painful. These pads are changed frequently to keep your breasts in a clean, dry environment.
It takes about 8-12 weeks for your body to regulate the excess milk it produces. Most women continue to wear them until their body regulates their supply, and engorgement no longer happens.
Not all women are the same, and as you have more kids, you might not leak as much. With my fourth child, I only had to wear nursing pads for about three weeks, and the leaking stopped. On the other hand, some women are heavy leakers and need thicker pads throughout their babies’ first weeks.
How Many Do I Need?
If you’re using reusable pads, you’ll need 6-7 sets. That provides you with enough to wear throughout the day and have some in the laundry. However, I suggest that you have 8-12 reusable pads if you plan to do laundry every other day.
Who wants to do laundry every day? ?
When it comes to disposable pads, you’ll need 1-2 boxes each month. Get a box for nighttime, which are thicker and more absorbent, and then a box for daytime.
Final Thoughts
Breastfeeding mothers need to have nursing pads for the first few weeks after the birth of their baby. While these might not seem like necessities unless you want wet clothes and sheets, these little pads are a lifesaver, and they don’t cost too much money.
Hey, this is Linda. My biggest accomplishment in life is being a mother of four children. Their current ages range from almost ten years old down to 20 months old.
I’m passionate about writing parenting articles because I understand so well all of the problems and trials you face as a parent. From breastfeeding woes to budgeting problems and behavior problems, along with everything in between, chances are I’ve faced it over the last ten years. Read more about Linda here.
