The Maternity Brief is a special kind of underwear for pregnant women… It has a panel in the front and back to provide more coverage than your normal underwear….. and some even have a panel to support your tummy.
Maternity briefs are close-fitting underwear with an elastic waistband….. designed to be worn by a pregnant woman… They come in a wide range of styles and can be worn alone or over a maternity pad… Some women prefer them to traditional maternity tights as they provide more freedom of movement.
Even though they are called “briefs”….. they are actually shorts….. but they fit quite differently than normal underwear because they stretch to accommodate your growing belly….. and don’t dig into your skin like those tight jeans you can’t wait to get rid of.
Also read: What Pants Are Best for After Birth? (Can You Use Period Pants After Birth?)
What Are Maternity Briefs?
Maternity underwear is special underwear that you wear when you are pregnant… It helps to support your growing tummy and can also help if you have bladder problems… It should fit well….. be comfortable and be easy to wash.
The type of maternity underwear that you need will depend on how far along in your pregnancy you are… The first thing is to decide whether you want to buy disposable or reusable maternity briefs.
Maternity briefs have a high waistband….. as well as having extra room in the crotch and seat… This is so that the wearer can wear them throughout their entire pregnancy without experiencing any discomfort or embarrassment.
When you are pregnant….. most women find that their lady parts need more room than they used to… Maternity briefs help solve this problem by providing this extra space… They also mean that you don’t have to worry about your pants falling down while you’re out and about.
Most women find that maternity briefs are a lot more comfortable than wearing just normal underwear during pregnancy… However….. some women choose not to wear them because they aren’t very good at dealing with leaks from their breasts.
Some of the best knickers for after birth are bras with liners that can be worn at the same time for added protection.
Also read: How Good Are Lululemon Leggings? (Are Lululemon Leggings Worth It?)
How Many Disposable Maternity Briefs Do I Need?
You should buy as many pairs of disposable maternity briefs as you think you will need… If you feel uncomfortable with the idea of washing your own underwear every day then it might be worth just buying a few pairs of disposable underwear.
Many women choose to buy two or three pairs of disposables….. which should see them through the first few weeks of pregnancy (when you’re likely to experience visible discharge).
After that….. you’ll probably want to switch to reusable knickers… You may also need to replace your underwear if they become excessively soiled.
You don’t need to wash them after each wear….. but rather just when they get really soiled or worn out… If this is the case then about 4 pairs would be recommended….. but if there is any chance that you will forget to wash them….. then this could reduce to 2-3 pairs.
Also read: How Do You Wear Leggings on Your Period? (Can You Wear A Pad?)
Do I Need Disposable Maternity Briefs?
This is a matter of personal choice….. but many women like having a pair of disposable briefs in their changing bag just in case they experience unexpected leakage while out and about.
Disposable maternity briefs are a relatively new product on the market… They are increasingly popular as more women make the switch from cloth to disposable products for their period needs.
Disposable maternity briefs can be worn as an alternative to towels and pants….. or as an extra layer over sanitary pads.
- Disposable briefs can be used in place of reusable sanitary towels and are a great option if you are trying to save money or if you are having problems with leaks.
- They can also act as an alternative to regular underwear when you are dealing with vaginal discharge.
- The modern disposable maternity brief has been designed to be comfortable and functional….. with many different styles now available on the market.
- Disposable maternity briefs have waistbands and leg bands like sanitary napkins….. but they are made of soft cotton-like men’s briefs.
- They tend to be very comfortable and convenient….. particularly for those who want to feel….. smell and look as normal as possible during pregnancy.
- Some women find that they need extra protection when wearing disposable maternity briefs during their pregnancy… This can be from vaginal discharge or from spotting (blood) during pregnancy.
Many women while they are pregnant develop a desire to wear knickers again… Disposable maternity briefs can give more comfort and freedom than some of the other choices.
If you do decide to buy a couple of pairs….. it’s best to avoid getting the cheapest ones on offer… These tend to be made from thinner fabric than other brands….. which means they can feel cold against the skin.
Also read: What Are Leggings Good For? (Why Wear Them?….. What They Prevent?)
What Knickers Do You Wear When Pregnant?
When you’re pregnant….. it’s likely that you’ll have to make some changes to your underwear drawer… Some of the choices you make will be dictated by the changes in your own body while others will be influenced by the kind of clothing you are wearing on a day-to-day basis… However….. there are some key considerations that all expectant mums should take into account before they go out and buy new knickers.
Tops and Bottoms
If you’re a bottom-heavy lady….. then the first thing you’ll want to do is invest in some decent maternity knickers… Not only will they offer you more support than a standard pair….. but they will also help to flatten your stomach so that your bump is much less obvious when you wear clothes that don’t fit as well as they used to.
On the other hand….. if your belly is growing faster than anything else….. then it might be worth investing in a couple of stretchy tops that will accommodate your expanding waistline… While you’re at it….. it might also be an idea to invest in maternity leggings or tights once the weather turns cold so that you can wear trousers without having to worry about exposing more flesh than necessary!
If you are pregnant and have trousers with a high waist….. it can be difficult to find underwear that doesn’t slip down… The main factors to consider when choosing maternity underwear are comfort….. support….. and style.
Maternity underwear is a must for any pregnant woman… You shouldn’t be wearing the same old knickers that you wore before the baby….. and you shouldn’t be wearing stretchy pants either.
You should have enough room to move around comfortably….. but not so much room that they fall down or that they’re too tight… Fit is always important….. but even more so when you’re pregnant.
What Is the Difference Between Maternity Pads and Normal Pads?
Most women use maternity pads for about a year after having a baby….. at which time their periods become lighter and more manageable… Also….. some women prefer to use maternity pads even after their periods have become lighter because they feel like extra protection is needed.
What Are Maternity Pads?
Maternity pads are designed to be used by women who are pregnant or have given birth… They are a bit different from normal pads because they have extra “padding” to absorb more blood flow during the menstrual period.
They typically come in a pack of at least 12 and are usually made of cotton with an extra lining to ensure maximum protection for the user… Some brands also come in special scented designs.
What Are Normal Pads?
Normal pads are not just used for the menstrual period….. but also for light incontinence problems….. heavy bladder leakage from laughing too hard or coughing….. or even sudden accidents like breaking a glass or getting something on your shoe… It can be used whenever you need it.
Pads are thin rectangular pieces of cotton that come in a box with wings attached to secure them and prevent them from moving around while you’re walking or sleeping… The best thing about these is that they are very easy to use and cheap too!
There are a few differences between maternity pads and regular pads including:
- Size- Maternity pads are bigger than regular pads… They are usually 2 inches longer than the average woman’s flow.
- Maternity pads are designed to hold more liquid than regular pads.
- Maternity pads are thicker than regular pads because they have more absorbent material in them.
- They have adhesive strips on their wings like regular sanitary pads….. but the strips are double-sided to prevent shifting.
What Knickers Are Best for After Birth?
After giving birth….. you’re going to need some knickers that are going to help you get back into shape… There are a few things you should look for when purchasing your new underwear… These include full leg bands….. a high-cut leg….. good support….. and no seams.
Tummy Control:
After giving birth….. it’s important to have tummy control… A high-cut leg will provide the extra support that you need… You may even want a waistband that is wider to help cinch in your tummy.
No Seams:
It’s also important that there aren’t any seams in your underwear… When you’re healing after giving birth….. the last thing you want is to have any irritation caused by seams rubbing against your stitches or tender areas.
Simply put….. seamless underwear will not irritate your incision or wound….. allowing you to fully recover without any pain or discomfort… But what about comfort? After giving birth you may have a lot of swelling….. if this is the case then seamless underwear is a must.
Seamless underwear is made with breathable materials that allow air to circulate around your body helping to prevent swelling… It’s not only during recovery that choosing the right knickers is important….. it’s also important when caring for your new baby!
Corsets and tight-fitting clothing are a big no-no when caring for your baby as they restrict movement meaning that you can’t bend down to pick up after them easily.
Full Leg Bands:
The band around the bottom of the legs should also be wide enough to cover all of your stitches and sensitive areas… It shouldn’t hurt when putting on your new panties… If it does….. then you probably won’t be as comfortable as you’d like while wearing them and won’t want to wear them again until after you’ve healed more fully from giving birth.
In summary….. Disposable maternity briefs are the best option for pregnancy and post-birth days….. as they have been designed to fit the specific needs of each stage… Choose a disposable maternity brief with a leakage guard and you shouldn’t experience any leaks while wearing them.
When it comes to post-delivery options….. your regular knickers should be fine… If you’re looking for extra protection and absorbency….. however….. look for knickers that contain a top-shelf liner that is likely to be better for your incontinence pads.
You may also be interested in….. Why Do Boxer Briefs Have a Hole in the Front? and Why Do I Keep Getting Holes in My Underwear?
Louise Wilson is an accomplished author, passionate textile historian, and renowned fashion enthusiast with a rich background in the world of apparel.
Graduating with honors in Fashion Design, Louise further expanded her skills and knowledge by completing a master’s degree in Textile History. Her academic pursuits have led her to explore the fashion capitals of the world, including Milan, Paris, and New York, enriching her insights into the global world of fashion.
As an author, Louise’s passion for fashion has found its way into her writings, where she intricately weaves narratives of style, design, and fashion history.