Breast pads are a non-glamorous aspect of breastfeeding and yet so useful! Choosing the right breast pads for you is essential to feel comfortable and confident while breastfeeding. We hope you will find this guide to breast pads useful.

Breast pads are a non-glamorous aspect of breastfeeding and yet so useful! Choosing the right nursing pads for you is essential to feel comfortable and confident while breastfeeding. We hope you will find this guide useful.

When it comes to breastfeeding and lactation, every woman is different. Some nursing mums find themselves needing to change breast pads very frequently while others leak very little and can wear the same ones a bit longer. Some breastfeeding mums only leak for the first few weeks, others will feel more comfortable wearing them for several months. Once lactation is fully established, breast milk is only produced when the baby nurses and the breasts don’t leak as much.

Nursing pads should be changed as soon as they feel damp. This is essential to avoid cracked or sore nipples as well as bacterial infections.

There are two kinds of nursing pads on the market: disposable or washable breast pads.

Disposable nursing pads are mostly made of cotton or paper, sometimes with a breathable waterproof membrane to avoid leakage. Some brands feature a small sticky tape which holds the pads securely in place in the bra. The advantage of disposables is that they are easy to use and reliable. Once they are damp, they can be thrown away. The disadvantages is that they are expensive and generate a lot of waste – hardly an environmentally-friendly way to breastfeed!

Washable breast pads have improved significantly over the last few years. They are extremely soft and reliable. Although they are a little bit more expensive to purchase initially, they rapidly allow you to save money. When they are damp, pop them in the laundry and dry as usual. Washable nursing pads are made of natural material, usually cotton, hemp, bamboo or even wool. Wearing natural material is recommended for mums with cracked or sore nipples as it allows good airflow to promote healing and avoid infections. The pads should be washed a couple of times before using. They will also soften with use.

Buying good-quality nursing pads is essential for a new mum to feel confident and comfortable while breastfeeding.

Arabella Greatorex is the owner of Natural Nursery, an online store selling organic and fairly traded  products  for families including breast pads, baby slings, baby carriers, organic clothing and nappies, fairly traded toys and natural toiletries.

Arabella is passionate about helping new parents choose the right products for their new baby. The right nursing pads, baby sling or the right reusable nappies can make the world of a difference for the family.