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Nursing pads - protection for breast and clothing
Index
Does every breastfeeding woman need nursing pads?
Disposable or reusable nursing pads?
- Disposable nursing pads - advantages and disadvantages
- Reusable nursing pads - advantages and disadvantages
Types of reusable nursing pads
Nursing Pads made by WindelManufaktur
- 3-layer Nursing Pads with PUL
- 4-layer Nursing Pads with PUL and cotton
- Nursing Pads with merino wool
- Size
- Care instructions
Product test and customer testimonials
How many nursing pads should I buy?
How often should I change the nursing pads?
Why do I need nursing pads?
- Nursing pads absorb breast milk that runs out.
- They protect clothing from damp stains and keep the nipples dry and clean.
- Infections and inflammations can thus be avoided.
Premilk can already escape during pregnancy. That's why some women need nursing pads before the child is born.
Especially in the first few weeks and months, milk may leak out of the breast during breastfeeding, which the child is not in contact with. This is because the milk reflex is triggered on both sides. Many mothers have to struggle with leaking milk even between breastfeeding meals, while carrying the baby or when the child does not crave breastfeeding for longer than usual.
Some women use muslin nappies or handkerchiefs. Especially when you are at home, this is a good alternative for the stressed nipples in combination with lots of fresh air. However, we do not recommend using paper handkerchiefs, as they fuzz and stick to the nipples. It hurts the sore nipples more.
Nursing pads are the remedy of choice when women need inconspicuous protection under their clothes - for example when walking or when visitors are expected to visit. The almost invisible pads also make sense for your own well-being.
Does every breastfeeding woman need nursing pads?
Of course, there are also women who do not need nursing pads during the entire breastfeeding period or only for a short period of time. Others, on the other hand, have a strong milk flow for many months and breastfeeding pads become a loyal companion. Here every mother can be curious about what the situation looks like. A prognosis during pregnancy is hardly to be made.
Disposable or reusable nursing pads?
The selection of nursing pads is varied and overwhelms many expectant mothers. How can a woman know which ones are most suitable? In the drugstore market there are several types of disposable nursing pads and often one or two types of washable nursing pads made of wool and silk. From cheap to expensive, from private label to branded products, everything is included.
The test report from german ÖkoTest provides a brief guide in which 14 disposable and 5 reusable nursing pads were examined. Only one product received the highest score here.
ÖkoTest notes:
"We found problematic substances. Only just under half of them achieve a "very good"in the test result. Only seven products were completely convincing in the practical test. In the overall assessment, only the Babydream for Mama's breastfeeding pads achieve the top mark, twelve others do well.
ÖkoTest was able to detect halogen-organic compounds in seven nursing pads which contain many substances such as bromine, iodine and chlorine and can trigger allergies. They are also extremely damaging to the environment and sometimes carcinogenic! In addition to optical brighteners, some manufacturers also use optical brighteners that can cause allergies and are difficult to degrade in the environment. Imagine they stick to the breast and then get into your baby's mouth... In this context, it should be mentioned that even for toys for children under 36 months, according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), optical brighteners should not be able to pass onto the mucous membranes or the skin!
The tested reusable nursing pads did not perform better than the disposable nursing pads, but scored well in terms of ingredients. Which is why we believe and experience shows that reusable nursing pads are the better choice.
The most important thing is that nursing pads are germ-free, absorbent and breathable and that you feel completely comfortable with the type of nursing pads you have chosen. Remember: the pads are used on one of the most sensitive areas of your body!
Disposable nursing pads - advantages and disadvantages
Disposable nursing pads usually consist of a soft inner fleece, a absorbent core made of cellulose and an outer fleece and are partly provided with a fixing strip to prevent slipping in the bra. The inserts are simply removed from the pack, placed in the bra basket and changed as required.
Just like disposable articles for women's hygiene and disposable diapers, the disposable nursing pads shine with the alleged advantage of convenient and quick disposal. Rubbish bin open, put in nursing pad, bin closed. Out of sight, out of mind.
But what happens to the mountains of garbage and our environment? In our new role as parents, we should ask ourselves this question in all areas of life. Of course, it also depends on how many nursing pads are needed daily. Many breastfeeding mothers need several pairs of disposable nursing pads daily. Extrapolated to a few weeks or months with the need for nursing pads (the intensity of the milk flow usually decreases with time), one can imagine how many packs of disposable nursing pads become necessary here. It is worth considering whether reusable nursing pads are not the better choice in terms of cost alone.
Of course, there are certain situations in which disposable nursing pads are useful. For example, in infections such as soor or in the maternity clinic, where a high degree of hygiene must be guaranteed.
In addition, there is an International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1981. The aim of the WHO Code is to prevent the marketing of breastmilk substitutes at the expense of breastfeeding and to promote safe feeding of infants with breastmilk substitutes when they are needed. Many manufacturers of disposable nursing pads are classified as violating the Code. (Source: http://produktguide.still-lexikonn.de/der-who-kodex-eine-kurze-zusammenfassung/)
Reusable nursing pads - advantages and disadvantages
In the longer term, reusable nursing pads are cheaper. Depending on the frequency of washing, only a few pairs of washable nursing pads are needed to cover the entire breastfeeding period. The environmental friendliness of these products is also an advantage, as they do not have to be thrown into the garbage dump but are washable.
Reusable nursing pads are made of different materials.
Reusable nursing pads made of natural fibres
Many of the reusable nursing pads are made of natural fibres such as cotton, silk and wool, making them very skin-friendly and breathable. The positive properties of these substances benefit breast care. However, every woman has to see whether she tolerates natural materials such as wool or whether she is allergic to them.
Nursing pads made of wool
Washable nursing pads made of cotton have the advantage that they are somewhat more robust and can also be washed at 90°C. If you don't like wool, it is advisable to use cotton inlays. However, pure cotton nursing pads have to be changed quite often when the breasts are more prone to leakage, as the soaked cotton feels wet and cold on the skin and tends to stick to the nipple. The risk of germ growth is increased. In addition, pure cotton nursing pads can lose their softness and absorbency due to frequent washing.
The WindelManufaktur therefore combines different materials in order to combine as many great properties as possible of the different fabrics. For example, our nursing pads have a long life. Bamboo viscose as a layer that lies against the skin, inside an absorbent layer of microfleece or cotton sherpa and a layer of polyurethane laminate that is breathable but does not allow moisture to pass through. The outer layer of the nursing pads is a beautiful cotton fabric, as you can see in the following picture.
The disadvantage of the reusable nursing pads is the slightly higher acquisition costs at the beginning of the nursing period. However, these costs will become relative again in the longer term.
Many suppliers of reusable nursing pads work according to the WHO Code, which seeks to prevent the marketing of breastmilk substitutes at the expense of breastfeeding.
Silicone nursing pads
There are also silicone nursing pads. These do not absorb the breast milk, but prevent it from leaking out of the breast by applying pressure to the nipple. It is therefore not suitable for all nipple shapes. With the use of silicone nursing pads, for example, swimming and sports are possible, when the mother wants to wear tight clothes or sleep without a bra at night. The nursing pads can also be worn daily. They are self-adhesive, breathable and hardly apply.
The silicone nursing pads should be replaced and cleaned when sweat or milk collects underneath them. Otherwise, germs will develop very quickly and lead to inflammation.
Milk Collection Shells
Milk collection trays collect the milk that comes out, to reuse it. However, milk collection trays should be enjoyed with caution and are often no longer recommended in breastfeeding advice. You can add the collected milk to the bath water, but it should not be fed to your baby.
Milk Collection Shells aren't a good nursing pad replacement because:
- they apply slight pressure on the nipple area in the bra and allow the nipples to protrude more strongly. This increases the release of breast milk. The mother loses more milk by wearing these shells than without.
- the milk that comes out creates a warm, moist climate when worn between breastfeeding meals, which can cause the nipples to become sore. The risk of infection increases.
- can be pressed through the shells of the milk channels and congestion can occur. This is a problem especially in tight bras.
- the baby can get sick if it is fed the possibly germinated milk. Producers therefore recommend that milk collected between meals should be disposed of and only the milk that has left the second breast during the breastfeeding meal should be fed. The best breast milk is the one that the baby drinks directly from the breast.
Soure: http://produktguide.still-lexikon.de/die-richtigen-stilleinlagen-kaufen#einwegstilleinlagen
Nursing pads made by WindelManufaktur
At the latest when you decide to use cloh diapers for your baby, you start to deal with related sustainable products. How can I live without disposable items in my everyday life? How can I do something good for my skin? Isn't it total madness to produce garbage with articles that are also available as washable and therefore reusable and durable alternatives? Exactly with these questions we have entered the topic and in close cooperation with our customers we have developed products, which are as practical as our 3in1 diaper system but just as beautiful.
In addition to handkerchiefs, bibs, changing mats, baby blankets, panty liners and sanitary pads and wet wipes, you will also find our nursing pads in the shop. These are manufactured in a sewing workshop not far from our small studio in Dresden. We only use the finest materials that we use for our cloth diapers - they are thoroughly tested and have a long service life.
Colourful, comfortable and sustainable
Washable nursing pads made of modern fabrics in all colours of the rainbow make breastfeeding an even more beautiful experience! In addition to the many advantages offered by nursing pads made of cotton and merino wool, as well as the aspect of sustainability, we are also very concerned about the appearance. We love colour in life and diversity. That's why you will find a wide variety of designs in our range of nursing pads: from classic black, white and nude to plain-coloured models, sweet, cute and cool cotton fabrics and noble baby slings.
We constantly have ideas for new designs or recycled fabric remnants from our diapers in the shop, which is why there is usually a large and changing selection of colours and motifs. As our products are hand made, the pattern distribution and yarn colour can vary.
A nursing pad set always consists of two nursing pads.
The nursing pads of the Diaper Manufacture differ in composition and size as well as colour. They consist of 3 or 4 layers. Wool silent insoles made of soft merino wool are also available.
Nursing Pads with PUL (3 layers) | Nursing Pads with PUL and cotton (4 layers) | Nursing Pads with sling fabric |
 | 1. layer: The fabric lying directly on the breast, is a slightly cooling and soft viscose made of bamboo, mixed with a portion of cotton. | |
 | 2. layer: The absorbent layer inside is made of microfleece and in the merino wool nursing pads there is cotton sherpa so that the liquid can be absorbed as quickly as possible. | |
 | 3. layer: On the outside of the 3-layer nursing pads a waterproof and breathable membrane made of a lightweight polyurethane laminate (PUL) was sewn. | |
 | 4. layer: Our 4-layer nursing pads have an additional layer of high-quality smooth cotton or sling fabric on the outside. |
Nursing Pads with merino wool
- As natural as breastfeeding -
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Many nursing mothers attach great importance to the fact that their nursing pads contain a moisture-impermeable layer that protects the clothing from wet stains. But the use of exclusively natural materials also plays a major role for some women. To meet this need, we have developed nursing pads made of wool, which can do without the polyurethane layer and are still very dense due to their material properties. The outer side of the wool nursing pads is made of 100% pure merino wool.
Material
Wool is a natural high-tech fabric, as breathable as outdoor fabrics, self-cleaning and washable. Our wool comes from the Alps and is free of mulesing. Merino wool has wonderful properties that we can also use in breast care:
- Merino fibres ensure good temperature regulation, which can have a positive effect on the milk reflex.
- Merino wool is odour-inhibiting due to the protein keratin, which is what the fibres are made of.
- The inside of the fiber absorbs moisture well, while the fiber surface remains relatively dry. This prevents bacteria from growing well.
- Wool absorbs up to 40% of its own weight in liquid, whereas cotton absorbs only 6%.
- Wool fat Lanolin has skin caring and anti-inflammatory properties.
The fabric on the skin is, as with our other nursing pads, wonderfully cooling bamboo viscose.
Recommended by breastfeeding mothers - The product test
We have had our wool nursing pads tested, as almost every new product. This time, of course, it was nursing mothers who were the ones to whom we distributed the woollen silent insoles. Without exception, every tester reported that she was enthusiastic about the wool nursing pads when she first held them in her hand. The size is normally sufficient, the wool is soft and does not scratch, the bamboo viscose feels pleasantly cool. As with our other nursing pads, a high quality finish is very important to us! Several testers found out that our wool silent insoles are lighter than other nursing pads and apply less under the shirt.
"You forget them!!" tester Marlén even wrote.
We selected mainly women who have a strong milk flow to ensure that our wool silent insoles are subjected to a realistic test. We were very pleased with the feedback regarding the satisfaction with the wool silent insoles in "breastfeeding everyday": As a rule, the wool nursing pads absorbed a great deal of milk and kept them tight for a long time. No unpleasant odour was produced.
Our testers were asked to wash the nursing pads and the material did not warp.
All of the mums who tested the woolen nursing pads for us wanted to continue using them after the test phase and also recommend them to other breastfeeding friends. The women could not name any disadvantages compared to our other washable nursing pads. Therefore, we recommend that you order a pair of woolen nursing pads with your next order to get your own impression of this even more natural alternative.
Our testers' verdict:
Nursing pads from the WindelManufaktur...
- ... touch each other softly and comfortably.
- ... are of high quality.
- ... have a good size.
- ... are lighter than other nursing pads and apply less.
- ... absorb a lot of liquid and keep tight for a long time.
- ... do not cause an unpleasant odour.
- ... can be washed without problems.
When should the use of wool nursing pads be avoided?
For open nipples, always use a fresh, hot washed nursing pad. As nursing pads made of wool cannot be washed at 60°C or 90°C, nursing pads made of cotton should be used in this case. In such a situation, it is particularly good for the nipples if they get a lot of air. An insider's tip is to obtain a drop of breast milk after the breastfeeding meal and to let it dry on the inflamed nipple.
Size Ø11 cm / 4,3 inch
- Almost all of our nursing pads, whether with an outer fabric made of cotton, baby sling, PUL or wool, have a diameter of approx. 11 cm, which is a good size for many women.
- Due to the demand for larger nursing pads, we have also added extra large nursing pads with a diameter of approx. 12 cm (4,7 inch) to our assortment.
We are always very grateful for feedback from our customers regarding our products, in order to pass on reports of experience to newcomers and interested parties and to adapt something to the corresponding article if necessary.
A dear mama who ordered and tried out our extra-large nursing pads wrote to us:
"(....) Like the usual nursing pads, they are soft and soft on the skin and, of course, they also keep your skin completely tight. It's great that they still cover the nipple completely on my big breast (75H) even after a slight slippage. I often breast-feed when I'm wearing them, so it's sometimes a bit tricky to put them back in afterwards."
These and other nursing pads from the WindelManufaktur are gladly given to new mothers as birth gift.
Care instructions
- All nursing pads can be washed at 40°C with colour detergent, but can also be added to the coloured laundry
- The wool nursing pads can be washed wonderfully in the wool washing program at 30°C or by hand. Hand washing is naturally gentler and keeps the caring wool grease in the outer layer for longer.
- For hygienic reasons, it is recommended to wash the nursing pads once before first use.
- Drying on the line works without any problems.
How many nursing pads should I buy?
As with our panty liners and cloth sanitary pads, this is a very individual question. It depends on the milk flow as well as your personal sensation and the frequency of washing. It is generally advisable to obtain nursing pads before giving birth, so that they are already available for the case of birth. We recommend to purchase 5-6 pairs of washable nursing pads. Experience has shown that this is a good basis on which to build if necessary.
How often should I change the nursing pads?
In order to prevent infections and inflammations, nursing pads must be clean and free of germs. Breastfeeding pads should be changed as soon as they are moist and sucked up with milk. In the case of a high milk flow, nursing pads of all kinds must be renewed several times a day. The permanent moisture can otherwise soften the skin and promote injuries. In the worst case, the humid environment can cause bacterial or fungal infections (Soor).
Due to hygienic considerations, we recommend that you use at least one fresh pair of nursing pads per day, regardless of the flow of milk, and that you also allow sufficient fresh air to the breast.
If you have any questions: Please contact us! You can use our contact form, write an email to [email protected] or contact us via Facebook. We look forward to your message!
Sources & recommendations
- [1] Stillen - Wikipedia
- [2] Testbericht Öko-Test zu Einweg- und Mehrwegstilleinlagen
- [3] Buch: Die Hebammen-Sprechstunde von Ingeborg Stadelmann
- Kostenlose Stillberatung bekommst du z.B. bei der AFS - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Freier Stillgruppen und der LLL - La Leche Liga