Best Postpartum Underwear Of 2020
The weeks following your baby’s birth are wonderful, exhausting, emotional, and- well, often painful.
Giving birth causes swelling and bleeding in the most sensitive area of your body, which can make it difficult to move around and do all the things you need to do to take care of your new baby, let alone any other children you might already have.
Luckily, there are many kinds of best postpartum underwear for new mothers who want to be a little bit more comfortable as they adjust to life with their little one.
In this article, we’re going to review the following postpartum underwear:
Why is it important to have best postpartum underwear?
After delivering your baby, you might feel like your only priority should be taking care of your newborn. However, you should remember that taking care of yourself is just as important because you must be comfortable and healthy so that you can take care of your baby as best as you can!
Postpartum underwear can provide you with support and protection for your abdominal and vaginal regions, which can be especially important if you have any caesarean or perineal stitches. Certain types of postpartum underwear are made specifically to help protect these stitches and to keep them from opening.
Additionally, your abdominal muscles might be stretched out following your pregnancy, which can make it hard to move, let alone go back to your old size. Postpartum Underwear is sometimes made from compression material like spandex, which can hold your stomach, hips, and waist together as your body readjusts to post-pregnancy. You just might even be able to get back into your old clothes faster, which is always a plus!
Finally, in the weeks after your baby’s birth, your body will start to lose the water weight you gained while you were pregnant. You might start to sweat more than you’re used to, or you might need to pee more frequently, which can leave your vaginal region very moist. Breathable postpartum underwear made from the sweat-wicking material is one way to help keep dry so that you do not agitate this sensitive area.
Who needs postpartum underwear?
Following your delivery, be it vaginal or cesarean, you will need a way to protect your vaginal region from the bleeding and discharge that often come after giving birth. Postpartum Underwear is usually the best option for this because it has the support to hold postpartum pads in place and keep you from having any embarrassing leaks.
When deciding to use postpartum underwear, you might want to consider that your usual underwear can rub your sensitive vaginal region, or it might not be supportive enough to hold postpartum pads. If you have a c-section scar, your current underwear might also agitate the scar if it rubs against it.
Both of these situations can be incredibly uncomfortable, and postpartum underwear is made with these sensitive regions in mind. Additionally, you might be able to protect your favorite panties from being ruined by any unintended leaks by using postpartum underwear!
What to Look For in Postpartum Underwear
Just like there are many, many, many different kinds of women in the world, there are also many options for postpartum underwear. When looking for it, you’ll want to consider the style as well as the material.
Common Postpartum Underwear Styles
Disposable Underwear
This style is made from a mesh material, and it is intended to be worn only once. For added convenience, you can find this style with built-in postpartum pads. Because of its convenience, it might be a good option for the first week after your baby’s delivery or for nighttime.
Full Brief Underwear:
This style is made to cover your entire abdominal region, including above your stomach. It might be a good option for if you have a cesarean delivery because it can cover your scar, and the seam is high enough that you don’t risk the seam irritating the scar. It might also be a good option for if you are looking for support for the entire abdominal region.
Compression Underwear:
This style is made from a compressive material that is not as restrictive as a postpartum girdle. It does, however, offer full-coverage support like the full brief style of postpartum underwear. As mentioned before, compression underwear might be useful if your goal is to fit into your old clothes after your pregnancy. Maybe you have a dress you miss wearing- this style of postpartum underwear might be an important part of getting back your figure so that you can wear that dress again.
Hipster or Low-Rise Underwear:
This style of underwear sits on or below the hips, and it provides minimal coverage while still being supportive enough to hold maternity pads. If you are a woman who wants to have discreet, lightweight underwear following her pregnancy, this style might be a good option. However, because the band of this style often sits near a c-section scar, it might not be a good option if you have had a cesarean delivery.
Common Postpartum Underwear Materials
Mesh
This is usually the material of disposable underwear. It is lightweight and thin, but it does not offer much support.
Cotton
This is a very breathable material that is soft, and it is a popular choice following delivery. Unfortunately, cotton stains easily.
Spandex
This is usually the material for compression underwear. It is great for support, and it is stretchy enough to be still comfortable. It is also more moisture-resistant than cotton.
Microfiber
This material is very soft and moisture resistant.
Top Rated Postpartum Underwear
Now that you know the basics let’s look at what other moms have recommended! Keep in mind what kind of comfort you’ll need after your pregnancy when considering these options.
Always Discreet, Incontinence Underwear
It isn’t surprising that a company that is as well-trusted for helping women with their menstruation is also go-to for postpartum bleeding and discharge. These incontinence panties include a built-in pad with odor protection in a style that is discreet. Because they are disposable, they might help you cut down on the amount of laundry you need to do during your first few months of postpartum.
What We Liked
- This option is very absorbent and might protect your linens from stains.
- This style is discreet in spite of it having built-in leak coverage.
- This style is made from a breathable material.
What We Didn’t Like
- This underwear might not be good for taking care of a post-cesarean scar.
- This style might not provide enough support for your abdominal region following delivery.
- Because this style isn’t directly intended for pregnancy, it might be difficult to find a comfortable size.
Fruit of the Loom Beyond Soft Brief Panties
Fruit of the Loom is well-known for its soft cotton, which means these briefs might be a good choice for any woman seeking soft underwear following her baby’s birth. They are also easy to care for and relatively inexpensive.
What We Liked
- This style of underwear is made of a soft material that might not irritate any scaring from the delivery.
- These panties are full-coverage, which might be more comfortable for your tender abdominal region following pregnancy.
- This style is supportive enough for most maternity pads.
What We Didn’t Like
- These panties might stain very easily because they are made from cotton.
- This style might not be discreet if you tend to wear lower-rise pants.
- This style might not be easy to size because they are not designed for pregnancy.
Kindred Bravely High Waist Postpartum Recovery Underwear & C-Section Recovery Maternity Panties
This particular postpartum underwear option is intended to be used for cesarean recovery, and it features a lace band that is supportive enough to help reduce muffin top without being too constrictive or irritating the c-section scar. They are also much more feminine than most other options!
What We Liked
- This style is supportive for maternity pads, and it provides full coverage.
- These panties are machine washable even though they are not made of cotton.
- These panties were designed for pregnant women, so sizing is more accurate than non-pregnancy sizing that you find in other options.
What We Didn’t Like
- If you have sensitive skin, the lace on these panties might be irritating.
- The rayon material of these panties might stain easily.
- This option might stretch out over time.
UpSpring C-Panty High Waist C-Section Recovery & Slimming Underwear
With patented technology designed to help moms heal after a cesarean delivery, UpSpring’s might be what you are looking for to reduce the soreness after your delivery. The style features a silicon band, which is intended to the visibility of your c-section scars. Additionally, this compression panty might help you regain your pre-pregnancy figure.
What We Liked
- This option provides a two-for-one recovery mechanism, providing both abdominal support that is necessary after a cesarean and simultaneously helping you to slim down.
- This brand features a silicon band that might help with the scar healing process.
- This option is made of a comfortable spandex blend.
What We Didn’t Like
- This option is expensive.
- The placement of the silicon band might not be perfect for you if you have a shorter or longer torso.
- This option might be uncomfortable because it is tighter and it might make you feel too constricted.
Intimate Portal Women’s Under the Bump Maternity Bikini Panties
These panties are low-rise and made of cotton, which can be especially comfortable at the end of your pregnancy. The design is also supportive of maternity pads even though it is low-rise, and it might be a good option for women who do not want to wear high-rise briefs after their pregnancy because it doesn’t sit well with their clothes or because it makes them feel unattractive.
What We Liked
- This option is made of breathable cotton, and it provides full-coverage in the back while not digging into your belly in the front.
- These panties are easy-to-wash.
- This style is very discreet because it is so low-cut and because it is made of cotton that does not show panty lines.
What We Didn’t Like
- The low-rise style might not be good for post-cesarean delivery because it is not high enough to cover your scar.
- These panties are cotton, which stains easily.
- This style does not provide any abdominal support whatsoever, which can make the recovery process of even vaginal pregnancy take longer.
Conclusion
The best options for postpartum underwear are whatever help you keep comfortable and dry. For me, the best choice during postpartum has been a combination of disposable underwear followed by a full brief and hipster styles. Immediately following the delivery, the convenience of mesh underwear made it a clear winner.
After some time adjusting to mom-life, I tried to wear compression underwear, but it just wasn’t comfortable for me! I switched to soft, cotton briefs that let me feel less suffocated.
They were also great because they stayed in place thanks to their high cut. Finally, I transitioned into hipster styles made of soft cotton. This underwear had enough structure to support my panty-liners, and it helped me regain my confidence in my new mom body because of their sexier cut.
It’s important to remember that in the end, what was right for me might not be right for you- especially if you have any stitches that need to be cared for. It is important to pay attention to what is making you most uncomfortable during postpartum to choose what will be the best solution for you.
For example, even though I wanted to like compression underwear, I just couldn’t stand having my underwear be so tight! Use this information as a guide to choosing what is best for you.