What is a nursing pillow, and why would you need one?

Nursing pads, also known as nursing pads, are essential for most breastfeeding moms. During the days when the newborn is still regulating milk production while the baby is being fed on demand, it is common to have engorged breasts due to overproduction.

This can often lead to milk leakage through the bra or excessive disappointment with milk spraying everywhere when the baby tries to suckle. Nursing pads stuck inside your bra would be your saving grace.

Nursing pads are highly absorbent to keep your bra dry when your breasts leak. And if you’re disappointed, instead of struggling to reach for tissues or a towel, just put your bra back on and hold the nursing pad on your breast for a few seconds until the spray stops.

 

What are the pros and cons of disposable and reusable nursing pads?

It is essential to evaluate them according to three factors:

• materials
• costs
• impact on the environment.

This will help weigh the pros and cons of disposable and reusable nursing pads.

1. Materials and absorption capacity

They have a waterproof backing to prevent milk from leaking out.

On the other hand, reusable nursing pads are made from natural materials such as cotton, but organic bamboo nursing pads are becoming more and more common.

It is a myth that reusable nursing pads are more absorbent than disposable pads. Based on my experience – I was overly disappointed with all three babies – I found that disposable pads were more absorbent.

Disposable pads are also drier and more comfortable for the skin, while reusable pads tend to be very wet and icy. Although reusable pads also have a waterproof backing, I found that they leak more easily than disposables, probably because the inner layers are LESS absorbent.

Material Summary: Reusable nursing pads are made of natural materials, but they are less absorbent than disposable pads and leak more easily if you don’t change them often.

2. Costs and Savings

Disposable nursing pads cost as little as 17c per piece, while reusable ones cost 10 times as much, about $1.70 per piece. To calculate costs and savings, we first need to determine how many nursing pads you need, assuming you are breastfeeding for at least six months.

In the first few days of breastfeeding, you may need to change the pads more often if you have blockages and leaks. If the pads are wet or have a slight weight, it’s time to change them.

But in general, you should change them once in the morning and again at night before bed. If your baby starts to sleep through the night and misses one or two feedings, you may start to leak during the night, so you’ll need an extra change of nursing pads.

To calculate costs and savings, assume you need at least six nursing pads (three pairs) daily.

Cost of reusable nursing pads

It is recommended that reusable nursing pads should be washed and dried daily. But Assuming you wash them every other day and it takes an extra day to dry them, you will need a minimum of 18 pads (9 pairs) to ensure you don’t run out of clean pads when needed.

 

3. Impact on the environment

This is a difficult question to assess because we need to consider the entire life cycle of disposable and reusable nursing pads, from the production process of the materials to the end of the products’ life.

Disposable nursing pads are primarily made from synthetic materials that undergo chemical treatment and are generally NOT biodegradable, so they are not considered safe alternatives to disposable nursing pads.

 

Disposable nursing pads are mainly made from synthetic materials that go through chemical treatment and are generally NOT biodegradable. Hence, they seem more harmful to the environment at first glance.

However, reusable cotton or bamboo pads are not much better either. There is now more awareness of the negative impact of cotton cultivation on the environment. Even though bamboo is a sustainable plant, its transformation into fiber requires a lot of chemicals that are also harmful to the environment.

In addition, reusable nursing pads must be washed frequently, almost daily, if you want to prevent them from getting mouldy due to humidity. This means using more water and energy to continue to reuse it.

What are the best nursing pads to use for breastfeeding?

Based on the above analysis, choosing disposable or reusable nursing pads depends on your lifestyle and what matters most.

If you want to save time, choose disposable pads because even though it only takes a few minutes to wash reusable pads every day, those minutes add up if you do it every day.

However, if you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford unnecessary expenses, choose reusable pads because they’ll save you close to $200, even with the extra washing you must do.

 

NatureBond – The Best Reusable Nursing Pads

NatureBond is an award-winning American baby brand relatively unknown in Australia as its products are only available locally on Amazon Australia.

Their reusable organic bamboo nursing pads are an “Amazon’s Choice” product – a badge given to highly rated and inexpensive items available for immediate shipment.

Even though it’s a relatively new brand in Australia, it has already achieved an impressive 4.5-star rating on its Amazon listing and is already ranked No. 3 on the nursing pads bestseller list.

 

 

Rite Aid – The Best Disposable Nursing Pads

Although there are better-known and more popular disposable brands such as Lansinoh nursing pads, I am a big fan of Rite Aid for a few simple reasons:

It is readily available at Woolworths, both online and in stores. In times of need, you will thank God that you can run to Woolies to get your usual supply.

It is SUPER absorbent. Remember when I said earlier that I find disposables MORE absorbent than reusable ones? I’ve been using Rite Aid since my first child. I’ve only tried another disposable brand which I was disappointed in (I don’t remember the name of that brand, but I also bought it from Woolies).

At 18c apiece, it’s the second most affordable brand I’ve found so far. The first would be the New Beginnings Bamboo Disposable Nursing Pads at only 15c a piece, but I strongly suspect this is the other brand I tried and didn’t like.

 

Tips for choosing nursing pads :

Contoured nursing pads are a double-edged sword.

Whether disposable or reusable, profiles are designed to perfectly fit the curve of your breasts, ensuring better absorption to avoid leaks. However, the contoured shape may cause the pads to have a slightly pointed tip exactly where your nipples would be.

Disposable pads are perfect for long periods of wear.

Disposables usually have a sticky backing that allows you to stick them on your bra, so they don’t fall off or move around, which almost always happens when you’re feeding or sleeping.

They’re more absorbent than reusable nursing pads, making them ideal for overnight wear.

Experiment with different shapes and sizes

You will be surprised to see flower-shaped breast pads instead of regular circular pads. And some, like NatureBond Disposable Nursing Pads, have 10% more surface area than others. Sometimes it takes trial and error to find the right brand for you because everyone’s breasts are different.