BF moms with big breasts - nursing pads

[Petunia]

Have you found nursing pads, disposable or washable, that don't show up under clothing?

I am a DD/DDD while breastfeeding and I am having the darndest time with nursing pads.  When I nursed my son I needed the pads for about four months.  I had some regular drugstore disposable pads and some Lansinoh disposable pads that had been given to me.  The Lansinoh pads were definitely a much better fit for my big breasts.  I think part of the reason they didn't show so much is because they were thinner.  I'm not sure, but I think I still had some problems with the outline of the Lansinoh pads being seen through clothing.  The other pads were too small, despite being contoured, and showed up as stupid circles under my shirts - big, lumpy circles.  Completely obvious to someone thirty feet away, not just noticeable to my vanity.  I wore them around the house.   

Anyway, I'd like to get some washable pads this time, and I guess I'll get some Lansinoh ones again for when I want disposable (unless someone has a better suggestion).  I just bought some Madela washable pads and tried them on.  Big, huge, obvious circles on the end of my breast under my clothes.  Lumpy, bumpy, and stupid.  It's almost as frustrating as trying to fit into stylish maternity clothes.  (My breasts are always too huge for them.  I have to opt for simple button down shirts and regular T-shirts in the next size larger than I need them otherwise, just too keep the fabric from stretching across my chest.)  I know for women blessed with smaller breasts that these pads take up much more of the breast and smooth better under the bra.  Does anyone know of nursing pads designed for larger breasts?

TIA for recommendations.

[SylvieA]

Hi there
It's hard to find anyting that isn't so obvious when you have larger breast. Let alone finding a good nursing bra that fits I never found one. Oh well, and people go pay lots of money for them, what they don't know huh. Anyways, there are some nursing pads I had used but I can't remember the name. It may be gerber. They were very thin though. I'll look it up and let you know.

[beccarman]

i don't have big boobs but wanted to check this out as i still wear breast pads all the time depsite dd being one! i found the lansinoh washable to be bulky and visible beneath clothes (as with all washable ones) so my advise, despite having small boobs would be to stick with the lansinoh disposable ones, are you in the uk? if you are tommy tippee do ones that are just the same as the lansinoh disposable ones but cheaper and boots have started doing some do that are the same but cheaper still. to make them less obvious i always fold them the oposite way to how they've been folded in the packet and then wear them, it seems to work.

[rosie and joe's mummy]

you think a DD is big??  wow. i was a D before i was pregnant and nursing am an F-G!!!!! i've been using the washable lasinoh ones. they're ok, but they would still show up if your clothing is lightweight.

i've seen "lilypadz" which are supposed to be really thin but don't know if anyone has tried them. that reminds me actually i was going to put a post up and ask, as i think they look like a neat idea, especialy over the summer when the weather is warmer and clothes are thinner....

[Samuel's mum]

G cup before breastfeeding here! Now a cup size you can't buy in the shops!!! (God bless the internet)
I never found a great pad. The washable were worse. They also moved around which made me look even more like a mutant. I stopped using any pads around 6 months I think and haven't had any leakage since. If it's not a big problem could you experiment with cutting your own piece of cloth or are you really a leaker? I found for me I often wore them because they helped me to feel more confident but they were rarely 'needed'. In the Summer when things get sweatier it might be better to go without sometimes if you can as breast pads can increase chances of thrush - particularly washable ones.

[debo620]

I don't have particularily large breasts.....but I happen to like the johnson brand of disposable pads, they seem to have a nice curve and absorb well. I have had no luck with cloth reusable/washable as they seem to leak right through. the johnson brand are not cheap---60 pads for over $8.00-----just had to go out and but two boxes today!
deborah

[Petunia]

Oh, Samuel's Mum!  I bet you have quite a time!

So I guess the summary is to skip the washable pads altogether.  I would never have guessed to do that.  I assumed that they would be better.  I did not know that washable ones had higher incidence of thrush.  Since I'll be delivering in July, disposable sounds best for sure.  I think I would have tried the Lansinoh washable pads, but now I know better.

I did do a google search and found this:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/naturalbaby/nursingbras.html

The large size is 6" in diameter!

What do you guys think?

[debo620]

they sound good but don't look like they have much curve to them

[~Kellie~]

I looked into these a while ago but never got around to trying them.



http://www.mom4life.com/catalog.php?item=19&catid=3&ret=catalog.php%3Fpage%3D2%26category%3D3



Kellie x

[rosie and joe's mummy]

washable ones only have a higher incidence of thrush if you don't change them!  because they dry out again and don't obviously need changing, like disposable ones, people forget, and that's why they can lead to thrush.

[Petunia]

washable ones only have a higher incidence of thrush if you don't change them! because they dry out again and don't obviously need changing, like disposable ones, people forget, and that's why they can lead to thrush.

Aha!  That makes sense.

they sound good but don't look like they have much curve to them

That was my thought: they don't have any curve so they'll probably bunch up.  I guess I have to decide whether to try it and chance the money on them.

I've seen the LilyPads before.  I'm not sure how keen I am on them.  According to reviews, you have to use them just right or you'll still leak and since they're not absorbant you're bra gets wet which is what I'm trying to avoid.  Sounds like too much trouble for me.  Also, I don't wear nursing pads under a swimsuit.  I'm going to get wet for goodness sake!  Who's going to notice if I'm wet from milk or wet from the pool?

BTW, thank you all for your ideas and opinions, they have been a great help!  I am glad I'm not the only one who's had this problem.

[Samuel's mum]

The washable pads/thrush problem is usually people not washing them on a higher enough temperature. Yeast will survive a cool wash in a modern washing machine so hot washes are needed.

[Mum of girl, boy, boy]

Didn't read all the replies so hope I am not repeating. With DD I needed to put 2 pads down and change after each feed. This time around the boobs have settled down so much quicker and I don't even need pads (except for the night and first feed of the day). Leaking just isn't the same thank god. Hopefully it might be the same for you.

Good luck

J