Daily pads in pregnancy: can I wear them?

Finally, the pregnancy test showed two stripes, which symbolize the road to a new life filled with hopes and excitement. Yes, with the onset of pregnancy, a woman's life changes radically. Not only is the woman no longer alone from this moment, and every second next to her is a beloved and desired baby growing in her womb, requiring special attention. There is also a need to change your attitude to some familiar things, for example, sanitary pads. It is not for nothing that the topic of "Pregnancy and sanitary pads" causes such a lively discussion among expectant mothers.

Why use pads during pregnancy?

It would seem that pregnancy has started a new life without periods that bring discomfort and pain, which means that the need for sanitary pads should disappear by itself. But panties during this period, alas, did not become cleaner and drier, which means that you need to take some measures to maintain intimate hygiene, which will help the future May feel more comfortable.

Many women consider the best solution to be using daily pads during pregnancy, which are usually quite enough to protect underwear from getting dirty. But many obstetricians and gynecologists are much less optimistic about the possibility of using pads, considering them unsafe even outside of pregnancy, although there is no categorical "no" to this. So it remains unclear whether it is possible to wear pads during pregnancy or will we have to give up such a comfortable achievement of science?

This is the question that causes the most controversy, both among doctors and young mothers. On the one hand, intimate hygiene during pregnancy becomes even more valuable, because any infection that enters a woman's body through the genital tract poses a danger to the child. But on the other hand, the likelihood of infectious lesions increases during this period, and pads, according to many doctors, play an active role in this.

Unfortunately, the question of the appropriateness and safety of using feminine pads as one of the means of intimate hygiene is discussed mainly on forums created by mothers themselves. There, women share information received from doctors who monitor them during pregnancy, as well as information from personal experience using pads.

Judging by the posts, women's pregnancies progressed differently, and so some needed to use pads or other methods of protecting their underwear, while others got along just fine without them. But let's look at this issue from a physiological perspective.

A little bit of anatomy and physiology

A woman's vagina is the entrance to her holy of holies, where one fine day (not without the help of a man) a new life can be born. Made of muscle and fibrous connective tissue, the vagina is lined with a mucous membrane of varying thickness and fairly large folds at the bottom. The organ's mucous membrane is designed to perform a protective function, inhibiting the penetration of infection into the main reproductive organ - the uterus, and also significantly facilitating the passage of the child through the birth canal.

To prevent the organ's mucous membrane from drying out and to maintain a normal balance of the vaginal microflora, the body secretes a special secretion characterized by a semi-liquid consistency, a whitish tint, and an acidic reaction (normally, the pH can fluctuate from 4 to 4.5). This secretion is used to remove the infectious factor.

The superficial layers of the mucous membrane epithelium contain a special substance in significant quantities – glycogen. It is thanks to this substance that spermatozoa, entering the vagina, retain their activity for the time required to pass through the birth canal and conceive. Glycogen is a kind of nutrient medium for male secretion, which carries important chromosomal information for fertilizing a woman’s egg.

The second important function of glycogen is to support the vital activity of lactobacilli, a sufficient amount of which ensures healthy microflora of the body, and the vagina in particular. It is glycogen that gives the vagina its acidic reaction, which blocks the way inside for other microorganisms, including pathogenic ones, which simply cannot reproduce and live in such conditions.

Pregnancy brings many different changes to the body, including the reproductive sphere, which are largely due to changes in hormonal levels. Under the influence of hormones, blood circulation in the pelvic area increases, the thickness of the vaginal mucosa increases, connective tissue becomes looser, and muscles begin to grow rapidly, increasing the folding of the birth canal.

Under the influence of progesterone, which is considered the main hormone that supports the normal course of pregnancy, the quantity and quality of natural discharge changes. The amount of vaginal discharge depends on the gestational age. As the gestational age increases, the amount of discharge found on panties also increases. The greatest amount of discharge is observed on the eve of childbirth, because such lubrication is needed so that the child's movement through the internal genital organs during childbirth is not slowed down due to friction. Thus, nature allows you to avoid injury to the delicate vaginal mucosa, and, most importantly, to prevent fetal hypoxia due to delay in the birth canal.

Changes in the quality of discharge are primarily due to changes in its pH. Increased levels of glycogen in the vagina, which is converted into lactic acid by fermentation, changes the pH to the acidic side, and it becomes approximately equal to 3.3.

It is impossible to say for sure whether this is good or bad. On the one hand, an acidic environment helps protect the body of the expectant mother from the penetration of some bacterial and viral infections through the genital tract, for which such living conditions are not suitable. But on the other hand, acidification of the vagina contributes to an increased risk of reproduction and growth of fungal infection. We are talking mainly about fungi of the genus Candida, which cause vaginal candidiasis or, simply put, thrush.

Hormonal imbalance also affects the immune system of a pregnant woman, which is a risk factor for the penetration of various infections into the body of the expectant mother or the activation of existing, but until some time "dormant" pathogens of various diseases, which can be seen by the change in the nature of the discharge. But any infectious lesions pose a certain danger to both the expectant mother and the fetus in her womb.

Readers will ask, but what do pads have to do with it? According to doctors, any pads, both sanitary and daily, contribute to the creation of a greenhouse effect at the entrance to the vagina. The reason for this is the synthetic materials and films that protect underwear from moisture penetration, and at the same time do not allow the skin to breathe. And heat and moisture are exactly the conditions needed for the active reproduction of bacteria and fungi.

But that's not all. More and more often, manufacturers of hygiene products have begun to use scented impregnations for pads, which can cause allergic reactions. And this is an additional burden on the immune system. In addition, rashes and itching on the genitals not only cause a certain discomfort. Irritation and inflammation on the skin and mucous membranes, which are complicated by the greenhouse effect, facilitate the penetration of various bacterial factors into the woman's body and, again, provide soil for their reproduction.

The physiological secretions on the pads themselves can also be dangerous. Accumulating on the pad during the day, they can attract pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms that can even live on our skin, not to mention the remains of feces, which cannot be completely removed with toilet paper alone. The possibility of infection from the environment cannot be ruled out (pads are attached to underwear and do not exclude the possibility of various microorganisms from the outside getting onto the surface that comes into contact with the external genitalia).

On the question of the possibilities of using pads during pregnancy

Many mothers agree that it is very difficult to do without pads during this period. Despite the fact that a woman can forget about the hated menstrual discharge for a while (and at the same time save on sanitary pads), other physiological discharges that we observe day after day in small quantities, on the contrary, can increase. Walking around with dirty underwear all day is unpleasant and unhygienic, because any vaginal discharge can be considered a breeding ground for various kinds of bacteria and fungi. And changing panties 3-5 times a day is not always convenient.

It is hard to disagree that changing a pad is much more convenient than constantly changing underwear, especially if you are away from home. Alternatively, you can return to the old "grandfather's" methods and use an old cotton sheet cut into pieces or a piece of gauze as pads. But again, this is less convenient than disposable "panty liners", which many are no longer able to give up in favor of fabric pads, either morally or physically, even under pressure from doctors and posts on the Internet. So where is the way out of their current situation?

Let's be honest, doctors recommend, rather than insist, on replacing sanitary pads and daily pads with fabric liners during pregnancy. They advise changing underwear as often as possible during the day. And not only because of discomfort (women feel insufficiently clean, and there may be a specific smell), but so that discharge on panties does not cause infection of the pregnant woman, which is dangerous not only for her, but also for the baby. We must not forget that a large percentage of premature births are associated with intrauterine infection, not to mention the consequences that may appear after the birth of the child.

But during pregnancy, not only hygiene is important, but also the psychological state of the expectant mother. If she constantly experiences negative feelings due to discharge and the inability to comfortably solve this problem, this will not have the best effect on her well-being. To avoid additional trauma to an already tense nervous system (anxiety due to increased discharge, worry about the course of pregnancy and the life of the baby), if it is impossible to do without pads, it is better to use them, while observing certain rules:

• For genital hygiene, pads alone are not enough. The cleanliness of the genitals and anus must be monitored constantly, regularly using water and special intimate hygiene products for these purposes, maintaining the acid-base balance of the skin and mucous membranes in the norm.
• It is not recommended to use pads for a long time. Their use is justified if a woman is forced to be away from home for a long time and does not have the opportunity to change underwear often.
• When using daily pads during pregnancy (and not only), you need to change them as often as possible (from 3 to 5-6 times a day). This will prevent infection of the genital tract with bacteria that accumulate on the pad itself. For the same reason, doctors recommend frequent changes of underwear and pads if they are soiled with physiological secretions.

You should also be careful when choosing pads. You need to pay attention to their composition and the presence of fragrances. It is better to give preference to intimate hygiene products based on natural eco-materials. Some types of pads are also credited with medicinal properties that are safe for the body of a pregnant woman.

For example, information about innovative anion pads has recently appeared on the Internet, the action of which is based on the healing properties of negative ions used in the treatment of many pathologies. According to the guarantee of the manufacturers of these unique hygiene products, anion pads are able to eliminate inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, improve local immunity and metabolism in the vaginal mucosa, help preserve beneficial microflora and destroy pathogenic microorganisms, remove irritation, itching and unpleasant odor.

At first, doctors treated the new product in the intimate hygiene environment with some degree of mistrust. But recently, they themselves increasingly suggest using these pads even during pregnancy. Vaginal dysbacteriosis is a dangerous condition for both the woman and the unborn child, but if anion pads help to avoid such a dangerous phenomenon, and also improve the condition of the reproductive organs, then why not try using them during the period when it is especially important.

In any case, before you start using regular or anion pads during pregnancy, you should definitely visit your local gynecologist and consult about the safety of specific hygiene products.

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Are there any benefits to wearing pads during pregnancy?

Up to this point, we have talked about pregnancy being a period when processes and changes occur in a woman's body that, despite all their benefits, can cause dangerous infectious pathologies, and pads can only contribute to this. But if these hygiene products were only harmful, they would probably have been discontinued long ago. If you use panty liners rationally, troubles can be avoided (as well as embarrassments with "dirty" panties).

Many mothers may not suspect this, but in some cases, pads during pregnancy can even be beneficial, helping to diagnose various deviations in the health of a woman's genital area in time. Usually, the top layer of these popular hygiene products is white, which is very convenient in that on a white background you can accurately assess the color of physiological secretions.

Yes, you can buy a couple of packs of white panties for this purpose (don't forget about frequent daily changes of underwear), which you will have to throw away later. However, under the influence of various vaginal discharges, they will lose their attractive appearance much faster than colored ones. But isn't it easier to use pads when you notice unusual stains on your panties, which will help you assess the situation and describe it to your doctor even for a short time?

But what kind of discharge during pregnancy can leave its mark on pads, and what will it indicate?

Before pregnancy, the amount and nature of natural vaginal discharge varied depending on the menstrual cycle. After menstruation, the discharge was scanty, almost unnoticeable. By the time of ovulation in the middle of the cycle, their amount increased and they changed their appearance somewhat, becoming more viscous, transparent or with a whitish tint. These discharges are designed to increase the likelihood of conception when male semen enters the vagina. In the second phase of the menstrual cycle, the discharge loses its transparency and viscosity, turning into a white mass of greater density.

After conception occurs, the woman's body begins to gradually prepare for the important event. The amount of discharge found on a pad during pregnancy now depends on its duration.

Since there is no longer a need to create conditions for activating sperm and conceiving a child, the discharge becomes viscous, quite stringy. It is opaque with a whitish tint, and somewhat resembles post-ovulation discharge.

Gradually, the amount of discharge increases, which should not particularly worry the woman, because her body is preparing for the successful course of labor. In the last stages, the discharge can be especially strong and slightly change its character. Mucous discharge with blood streaks indicates the imminent onset of labor. This is the so-called mucous plug, which can come off either completely or in parts over a certain period of time.

A large amount of discharge before childbirth is not a pathology, but a necessity for the baby to easily slide through the birth canal.

When should you see a doctor?

Whatever the nature of vaginal discharge, it should not cause discomfort to the pregnant woman. A specific smell, change in color and nature of discharge, as well as suspicious symptoms in the form of swelling of the tissues of the genitals, hyperemia and itching should worry the expectant mother and become a reason for an unscheduled visit to the gynecologist.

Normally, the discharge should have a slightly whitish tint and a semi-liquid, viscous consistency. If they have changed their appearance, become white and denser (like cottage cheese), a sour smell has appeared, most likely, we are talking about a fungal infection called thrush. Additional symptoms of the disease are considered to be swelling and redness of the labia, the appearance of unpleasant sensations that intensify during bathing, visiting the toilet or sexual intercourse, itching and burning in the genital area (especially in the evenings and at night), the appearance of a white coating on the external genitalia.

If the pathology is not treated, during childbirth there is a high risk of the baby becoming infected with a fungal infection, which requires special treatment with antifungal agents.

If yellow discharge is found on a pad during pregnancy, a woman has something to think about. If there is little of it, there is no blood or foreign odor, there is nothing to worry about. Most likely, the reason for such changes was the use of underwear made of synthetic fabrics, pads with impregnations, unsuitable soap, or simply insufficient hygiene of intimate areas. If you remove all these factors, the discharge will return to normal.

It is another matter if the smell of the discharge changes along with the color. The appearance of an unpleasant smell and a change in the shade of the vaginal secretion to yellowish or greenish indicates that a bacterial infection has settled in the birth canal. It is quite possible that the infection entered the body sexually, i.e. during sexual contact (gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc.). However, one should not exclude a violation of the vaginal microflora under the influence of the same pads.

In some cases, infection occurs not during pregnancy, but much earlier, but the pathogenic microflora remains dormant in the woman's body for the time being. Hormonal changes give an impetus to the activation of pathogenic microorganisms, which somewhat reduces the body's defenses. Chronic inflammatory pathologies of the genitourinary system, which most often occur as a result of damage by staphylococci, E. coli or fungi, pose a particular danger.

You should also be wary of acute pathologies that have developed during pregnancy, especially in the early stages, since they pose a great danger of termination of pregnancy due to the weakness of the connection of the egg with the inflamed tissues of the uterus. Even if a miscarriage does not occur, there remains a danger of infection of the amniotic sac, which is fraught with various pathologies of fetal development. In any case, the inflammatory process in the body will have to be treated during pregnancy, since delay in such a situation is very dangerous.

The appearance of abundant transparent mucous or watery discharge (sometimes with foam) may indicate an allergic reaction to synthetics in clothing or hygiene products, because during pregnancy the body's sensitivity to various allergens increases significantly. Very often, along with discharge, a certain discomfort is felt in the genital area (irritation, itching, burning may appear, as in the case of a fungal infection).

By the way, on a pad such discharge remains almost unnoticeable, but its increased moisture is felt.

A wet pad during pregnancy can also indicate approaching labor. Watery discharge (transparent or with a yellowish tint) without odor or with a slight "aroma" of ammonia is a sign of the onset of labor. Pregnancy is approaching its logical conclusion, but at the same time, amniotic fluid can be released either in large quantities (here, even pads will not help), or little by little.

If it is too early to give birth, and the pad is constantly wet, this indicates a violation of the integrity of the amniotic sac, which in this case is very dangerous. It is necessary to urgently seek help from doctors who will decide whether to continue the pregnancy or begin labor stimulation, and how to help the baby.

Blood on a pad during pregnancy should alert a woman at any stage. Most often, such a symptom indicates a high risk of miscarriage or placental abruption, which is life-threatening for both participants in the pregnancy: the mother and her child. The appearance of blood on underwear or a pad is a reason to immediately call an ambulance, without waiting for the morning or a more suitable time. And it does not matter whether the bleeding is accompanied by pain or not.

It happens that blood is released in small portions and for a short time, i.e. bleeding as such is not observed. Such a phenomenon can be a consequence of active sexual contact the day before, uterine polyposis, gynecological manipulations with careless damage to the vaginal walls. The above situations do not pose a danger in most cases. However, only a doctor can accurately determine the cause of bloody discharge, and only he decides whether the pregnant woman should remain in the hospital under observation, or she can calmly return home, but behave more carefully.

You should also consult a doctor if you notice brown discharge on your pad during the days of your cycle that correspond to your period.

By the way, when it comes to discharge containing blood, doctors are categorical. It is better to replace pads with natural fabric linings, which are better than panty liners or sanitary pads in determining the nature and especially the volume of discharge, which allows the doctor to judge how critical the situation is.

In the late stages before childbirth, discharge in the form of a lump of transparent mucus with blood streaks (sometimes the mucus is pink) should not frighten the expectant mother. This is a signal that she will soon see the long-awaited baby with her own eyes and she needs to prepare for this event.

Pads after pregnancy

Pregnancy and preparation for childbirth is a long and complex process, accompanied by various changes in the woman's body and logically ending with the birth of a child. But the weight does not end there. After childbirth, the body of the new mother must recover, and this takes another 5-6 months.

Although the birth of a baby is always accompanied by blood loss, the mother's body will continue to lose blood for at least another month. Heavy bloody discharge is called lochia, and it serves as an indicator of the cleansing and restoration of the uterus, which has been under great strain for all 9 months of pregnancy and during childbirth.

The discharge will be very heavy for a week or two, and a little later it will resemble menstrual discharge. It is simply impossible to do without underwear protection at this time. But daily pads are unlikely to be useful in this situation.

Doctors recommend using fabric pads made of absorbent natural materials, but you can take an easier and more practical route and buy special sterile postpartum pads. In principle, if the birth went well, there were no tissue ruptures, regular sanitary pads on a non-woven base with high absorbency will do, as indicated by the number of drops on the package.

And yet it is better to use special sterile postpartum pads, which will need to be changed less often, and they will protect the external and internal genitalia, which are sensitive after childbirth, from infection better than regular sanitary pads.

Breast pads

Pregnancy, accompanied by all sorts of changes in the body, cannot but affect the female breast and mammary glands, and pads unexpectedly prove useful here too. The closer to childbirth, the more a woman notices how her breasts are growing, and over time, a translucent whitish liquid, colostrum, is also observed to be secreted from the nipples.

This process is considered normal, because the body of the expectant mother is preparing not only to give birth to a little person, but also to give him the strength to live and resist negative environmental factors. After childbirth, the woman's mammary glands begin to produce breast milk, which is provided with all the nutrients and vitamins necessary for the child, allowing him to maintain and strengthen his immunity. But for now, the breast contains a prototype of mother's milk, which can be gradually released.

Doctors strictly forbid trying to express leaking colostrum, but what should a woman do who is forced to leave the house, and the unsightly stains that appear on her clothes simply do not allow her to feel comfortable? But there is always a way out. You can put the same fabric pads in your bra or buy special pads in the store that are put in underwear to protect it from getting wet.

This will help the mother look neat and comply with hygiene requirements that help maintain the health of the mammary glands and the baby receiving nutrition from them. Pads are also good because they absorb liquid and remain practically dry on the surface. Regular pads cannot provide this, and in cold weather their use can even be dangerous due to the high probability of hypothermia of the breast and the development of mastitis, while pads will help provide the breast with comfortable conditions.

Such special pads will also come in handy when the pregnancy is successfully resolved with childbirth. They can be used during walks if the mother has a lot of milk, and it sometimes leaks onto clothes. By the way, many women use regular sanitary pads to protect clothes and underwear from getting wet, which is hardly to blame. This is also a way out when it is not possible to buy special pads. After all, a happy mother should always be on top, and an untidy appearance does not contribute to this.