The Best Postpartum Pads for the First Six Weeks

Choose the best postpartum pads for the first six weeks after birth. Plan for heavy bleeding at first, and continually less for the remaining 3-5 weeks. In this post we discuss what to expect for postpartum bleeding and what pads to buy for each stage. Let’s get started!

TIP:  For a quick shopping list for postpartum pads, scroll all the way to the bottom. 🙂

On This Page

10 minute read
↓Tips for Postpartum Bleeding and Recovery
↓Week 1, Part 1: Maximum Absorbency Adult Diapers
↓Cold for Bruising, Pain, and Swelling
↓Mesh Panties + Maternity Pads
↓Week 1, Part 2: Extra Heavy Flow Overnight Pads
↓Week 2-4: Regular Pads
↓Week 3-6: Panty Liners
↓Organic/Environmentally Friendly Options
↓The Pros and Cons of Cloth Pads
↓Other Postpartum Supplies to Buy
↓Postpartum Pads Shopping List

Tips for Postpartum Bleeding and Recovery

No matter what kind of birth you have – vaginal, cesarean, medicated, unmedicated, etc. – bleeding and/or spotting for a good portion of the first six weeks postpartum is pretty standard. After birth the uterus is tender and healing from a large wound where the placenta detached during the third stage of labor. This wound is where the blood comes from.

Postpartum cramps are normal and the body’s way of preventing hemorrhaging. By contracting down (cramping), it prevents the wound from bleeding too much.

• It’s important to pay attention to the amount of bleeding. Sometimes after doing too much in one day, bleeding will increase. This is the body’s way of saying “slow down!”. Listen to the body, it is wise.
• A few days after birth, you should not be soaking a pad quickly (within an hour). Contact your care provider if this is happening.
• Golf ball sized clots can be normal. Keep in communication with care provider to make sure clots are within normal range.
• There should be no foul smell coming from the vagina, on the pad, or in the blood. Contact your care provider if you think this is happening. This is an indication of infection.
• Change pads 2-3 times per day, or more often as needed.
• If applicable, choose a pad with minimal top weaving to maintain the integrity of stitches if applicable. The best postpartum pads for stitches do not have top weaving!
• Don’t use tampons, menstrual cups, or take baths. Keeping things out of the vagina aids healing and prevents infection.

The Best Postpartum Pads for the First Six Weeks

Here are the best postpartum pads for the first six weeks after birth.

Week 1, Part 1:  Maximum Absorbency Adult Diapers

In the first week or so, bleeding is heavy, especially the first couple of days. Postpartum diapers are the way to go! There’s no worry of leaking with an adult diaper. It’s so easy! When it comes to postpartum, I’m a big fan of easy.

My favorite adult diaper for postpartum is Amazon Basics postpartum underwear. They are soft and less bulky than the average adult diaper and super absorbent.

SHOPPING TIP:  Buy 1-2 packs of 12 adult diapers for the first week. 18 adult diapers should be more than sufficient and you’ll likely have leftovers. Gift your leftovers to another mama due after you. She’ll be so appreciative!

Cold for Bruising, Pain and Swelling

• An adult diaper makes using padsicles super simple. First put on the adult diaper, and then place the frozen pad in the adult diaper and you’re good to go! With an adult diaper there’s no worry of the padsicle melting and making a mess in the sheets.
• When the padsicle melts, or you need a new pad, simply throw the pad out and replace it while re-using the same adult diaper. There’s need for a new adult diaper unless it has become soiled.
• If padsicles aren’t for you, many parents love these reusable ice packs made just for postpartum.
• If you need something even easier, try these disposable icepacks that work amazingly well!

Mesh Panties + Maternity Pads

Many parents rave about mesh panties coupled with the big, bulky maternity pads. Personally, I wasn’t a fan. I found the pad to slip all over the place, and because it didn’t have wings I leaked on the sheets! No, thank you.

I highly recommend using adult diapers in the beginning in lieu of the mesh panties. I have a hunch that if parents had both adult diapers/postpartum underwear and mesh panties in the bathroom, the diapers would win in the end.

NOTE:  Some parents that gave birth by cesarean do prefer the mesh panties over the adult diapers because there’s less pressure on the incision site. That makes sense!

Week 1, Part 2:  Extra Heavy Flow Overnight Pads

After a few days adult diapers become overkill as bleeding has slowed considerably. Congratulations! Your body is healing and you are ready to graduate to a heavy flow pad!

I love the Always Maxi “purple pads” which are their overnight extra heavy flow pads. These are the big guns, but don’t feel too big or bulky when wearing them. (You can make padsicles with these pads.)

SHOPPING TIP:  Buy two packs of 20 “purple pads”. 40 overnight extra heavy flow pads should be more than sufficient. If you have any leftovers, gift them to another mama due after you. This is how you make mom friends!

Week 2-4:  Regular pads

After a week or so of wearing heavy flow pads, you’ll be ready to wear a regular sized pad and possibly something heavier for nighttime. Good job! Your body is continuing to heal!

• For daytime I recommend Always Ultra Thin Pads for Daytime.
• For nighttime I recommend Always Ultra Thin Pads for Overnight.

SHOPPING TIP:  Buy one pack each of the Always Ultra Thin Daytime and Always Ultra Thin Overnight pads. Keep any extras for when you get your first postpartum period. You’ll need them!

Week 3 – 6:  Panty Liners

For the remainder of the six week period of time following birth, unless you’re pushing the body too hard, you’ll likely only see brown spotting. This is the perfect opportunity for panty liners. Always makes a pantyliner that is individually wrapped, which is helpful when on the go and in a diaper bag. I like easy!

SHOPPING TIP:  One box of pantyliners will do.  Be sure they are unscented.

Organic/Environmentally Friendly Options

If conventional pads aren’t for you, but cloth pads don’t spark joy either, you may be interested in a more natural postpartum pad with an organic cotton cover, perfect for sensitive skin.

Natracare Maternity Pads

Natracare’s pads are great for that first week with or without an adult diaper.

• Extra soft long and breathable
• Comfortably padded
• 100% plastic free
• Biodegradable and compostable
• Chlorine free

Rael Pads

After the first week, Rael has some good options as bleeding slows down.

Wondering how many environmentally friendly postpartum pads to buy? I recommend:

• 1 pack of adult diapers for the first few days
• 2 packs of heavy flow/overnight postpartum pads during the first 1-2 weeks
• 1 pack of regular ultrathin pads for weeks 2-4
• 1 pack of ultrathin overnight pads for weeks 2-4
• 1 pack of panty liners for the remaining 4-6 weeks

The Pros and Cons of Cloth Pads

I know many of you are wondering about cloth pads. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of using these reusable pads after birth!

PROS

• Environmentally friendly
• Better for those with stitches (hopefully you don’t have stitches because you read my post about how to prevent tearing at birth!)
• Free of chemicals found in conventional postpartum pads
• Can be used long-term when postpartum cycles return
• Won’t run out (assuming washing is kept up with)

CONS

• More expensive upfront purchase
• Bulky
• Moves around in underwear (cloth pads don’t have adhesive)
• Needs to be washed
• Less socially acceptable

If you are accustomed to using cloth pads there’s no reason to think that they wouldn’t work for postpartum as well. Make sure to have a good stash of cloth pads with a heavy/overnight absorbency.

In the first few days when bleeding is heaviest, an adult diaper may still be the best way to go. It’s one less thing to think about, wash, and helps avoid leaks. When bleeding slows some, that’s a great time to begin using cloth.

How Many Cloth Pads to Buy?

The number of cloth pads to buy depends on how often parents plan to do laundry. Assuming adult diapers are used for the first few days and laundry is done every other day, here’s what I recommend:

• 10 heavy flow/overnight postpartum cloth pads for the first 1-2 weeks
• 10 regular flow postpartum cloth pads for weeks 2-4
• 5 light flow/cloth panty liners for the remaining 4-6 weeks

Other Postpartum Supplies to Buy

Other than the postpartum pads described above, at least two other items should be purchased for postpartum.

1. Peri Bottle

A peri bottle is basically a portable bidet. Simply fill the peri bottle with warm water, and use it in lieu of or in addition to toilet paper for cleansing after using the toilet. A peri bottle is gentle on our tender lady bits. You could even fill it with a sitz bath tea for even more healing!

2. Ice Packs

After a vaginal delivery it is common to experience swelling and bruising. A simple, natural remedy for relief is an ice pack. For postpartum, buy either a reusable ice pack made just for postpartum or a box of disposable icepacks! (Or you could just use padsicles.)

Postpartum Survival Kit

If you’re interested in learning more about more products I’ve personally used for postpartum, head on over to my post about an all natural postpartum survival kit. In that post I discuss sprays, balms, homeopathic remedies, herbal remedies and much more!

Postpartum Pads Shopping List

Need a postpartum pad shopping list all in one place? You’re in luck!To recap, here are shopping lists for the best postpartum pads during the first six weeks:

Conventional Postpartum Maxi Pads

• 1-2 packs of adult diapers/postpartum underwear for the first few days
• 2 packs of Always Maxi “purple pads”
• 1 pack of Always Ultra Thin Pads for Daytime
• 1 pack of Always Ultra Thin Pads for Overnight
• One box of Always Individually Wrapped Pantyliners

Environmentally Friendly Postpartum Pads

• 1 pack of adult diapers for the first few days
• 2 packs of heavy flow/overnight postpartum pads during the first 1-2 weeks
• 1 pack of Seventh Generation regular ultrathin pads for weeks 2-4
• 1 pack of Seventh Generation ultrathin overnight pads for weeks 2-4
• 1 pack of panty liners for the remaining 4-6 weeks

Cloth Postpartum Pads

• 1 pack of adult diapers for the first few days
• 10 heavy flow/overnight postpartum cloth pads for the first 1-2 weeks
• 10 regular flow postpartum cloth pads for weeks 2-4
• 5 light flow/cloth panty liners for the remaining 4-6 weeks

Also, make sure to buy a peri bottle, disposable ice packs, or even specially made reusable postpartum ice packs!

Want More?

Use Mother Rising’s postpartum archives to learn more about the postpartum recovery!