What are maternity panties?
Maternity panties are disposable underwear with a built-in absorbent layer, designed to handle the heavy, unpredictable bleeding that happens right after birth. If this is your first time hearing about them, you’re not alone. Most women only discover them when they’re already bleeding through their regular pads postpartum.
They’re made specifically for the days and weeks after childbirth, when your body is still healing, bleeding, and trying to put itself back together.
Let’s take a deep dive into the amazing features and benefits of this postpartum product.
What exactly are maternity panties and why do I need them after birth?
Maternity panties are underwear that come with a built-in absorbent core, like a heavy-duty pad stitched directly into the underwear. But here’s the magic: they’re not thick or diaper-y. Good ones (like these from Nua) are lightweight, breathable and fit your body snugly without feeling tight on your stitches or scars.
They’re designed for postpartum bleeding, also called lochia (more on that here), which, by the way, is not your regular period. According to studies, lochia is made of blood, mucus, uterine tissue, and leftover placenta lining. Basically, it’s your body flushing out everything it no longer needs after pregnancy.
That’s a lot of flow. And it can be overwhelming when it comes with clots, random gushes, and unexpected leaks, especially when you’re feeding your baby, lying down, or just standing up after a nap. Maternity panties are made to handle all of that.
Can I use pads for postpartum bleeding instead of maternity panties?
You’d think so, and before giving birth, most women think the same. After all, we’ve managed periods with pads for years, right? But postpartum bleeding is a whole other story. It’s not just about flow. It’s about everything else happening around the bleeding.
In those early days, your body is in recovery mode. You’re sore, stitched, swollen or healing from scars. You’re moving slowly. Even just getting up to change a pad feels like a task. And here’s the thing about pads, they need the rest of your setup to cooperate — your underwear has to hold it in place, your pad has to be centered just right, and you have to monitor leaks constantly.
Maternity panties take that whole setup and simplify it. You don’t need to match the right pad to the right underwear. You don’t have to check if the wings are sticking or if the pad has bunched up at the back. You don’t need to keep adjusting anything when you lie down, nurse, or shift positions.
They’re built for you in that exact moment: vulnerable, tired, and bleeding in unpredictable ways. With 360° protection and full-length absorbency, Nua’s maternity panties hold sudden gushes, clots, and overnight flow without extra effort on your part. Just pull one on and forget about it for the next few hours.
When should I wear maternity panties?
You should wear maternity panties right after delivery, whether you’ve had a vaginal birth or a C-section. They’re especially helpful:
- During your hospital stay, when bleeding is heavy and you’re resting a lot.
- In the first 7–10 days postpartum, when flow is unpredictable and often comes in gushes.
- At night or during naps as lying down can cause blood to pool and leak when you get up.
- While breastfeeding, since oxytocin causes your uterus to contract and push out more blood.
When should I stop using maternity panties?
Most new moms find them useful for the first 7–10 days postpartum, when bleeding is heavy and unpredictable. After that, you can switch to:
- High-absorbency maternity pads for the next few weeks
- Regular period pads when your flow is lighter
- Panty liners for spotting towards the end of lochia
Some new moms keep wearing maternity panties at night, or when they go out, just in case. There’s no fixed rule. Go by how your body feels.
Will maternity panties irritate stitches or C-section cuts?
Nope, they’re made to do the opposite. Most maternity panties are designed with a stretchy, soft waistband that won’t dig into your incision. They have a smooth inner lining that doesn’t rub against stitches or swelling. Plus, they don’t have wings or plasticky tabs that press into your skin. The Nua ones are even better as they’re fragrance-free and latex-free to avoid triggering rashes or allergic reactions
Can I wear maternity panties overnight?
Yes, maternity panties are made for longer wear, especially when you need rest. You can sleep in them, feed your baby, or just lie down without worrying about back leaks. Their 360° coverage and high-absorbency core mean they lock in everything and still feel dry on the surface.
That said, it’s still best to change them every 6–8 hours or sooner if they feel full, just to stay fresh and prevent irritation.
Do maternity panties feel like adult diapers?
Not at all. They might look similar at first glance, but your body can definitely feel the difference.
Adult diapers are designed for people dealing with urine incontinence. They absorb slow, steady leaks and are built to prevent wetness from soaking through over long hours. Because of that, they tend to be bulkier and stiffer.
Maternity panties, on the other hand, feel like soft, stretchy underwear. They’re light, breathable, and gentle on sore, healing skin. They hug your body comfortably without digging in and don’t feel bulky at all.
How many maternity panties should I buy?
In the first 3–4 days, you’ll likely need to change every 2 hours or so, especially if you’re passing clots or having gushes. That adds up to 6+ panties a day. By week two, you might be using 2–3 per day as your flow lightens. But you don’t need to buy them all at once. Start with at least two packs and restock as per the flow and need.
It’s not just about hygiene, it’s about headspace.
Postpartum is messy, raw and a whirlwind. And in the middle of all that, maternity panties offer something simple but powerful: ease. So if you’ve been second-guessing whether you really need them, take this as your sign. You’re not being picky, you’re being prepared. You’re choosing comfort, dignity, and a little more breathing room in a time that rarely gives you any.
And that’s not just okay, it’s exactly what you deserve. Have questions or thoughts about using maternity panties? Drop them in the comments!
