When you give birth, you’re told to prepare for afterpains, hormonal swings and sleepless nights.
But there’s one postpartum surprise you may not see coming — bloody discharge that can last for weeks, no matter if you gave birth vaginally or by C-section.
The flow is known as lochia, a mix of blood, tissue and mucus left over from pregnancy. The body cleans and heals the uterus by shedding this fluid, a process that often takes four to six weeks.
After going nine months without menstruating, the amount and duration of lochia can be jarring.
It’s utterly defeating to have to stock up on period supplies so soon after giving birth.
What’s worse, tampons are not recommended for at least six weeks after childbirth because they can trap or introduce bacteria into the healing uterus.
That’s why hospitals routinely provide giant maxi pads and disposable mesh boyshorts to new moms.
As you might imagine, ugly undergarments don’t help postpartum mood and self-image. The good news is that Parasol and Postpartum Panty Party have reimagined recovery underwear.
I recently gave birth to twins and tried out Parasol and Postpartum Panty Party products along with the unglamorous hospital offerings.
Finding the right fit was especially imperative because I had a C-section.
About a third (32.4%) of babies born in the US each year are delivered via C-section, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The incision site and the rest of my lower abdomen were very sensitive, and I didn’t want to aggravate those areas with uncomfortable underwear.
I started with the hospital’s enormous wingless pad that could have doubled as a wedding dress train. The pad fit well into the boyshorts.
Though the shorts frayed easily, the best thing about them was their high waist.
They gently held the postpartum belly without feeling too tight or painful.
On Day 3 in the hospital, I switched to a pair of green Postpartum Panty Party panties ($27) made with 95% antibacterial bamboo and 5% spandex.
Just under the waistband, it reads: “Proud to be a Badass Mama.” The underwear has a thick lining to collect lochia.
Unfortunately, they fit too snugly and irritated my C-section scar. One of the nurses recommended setting them aside until I healed more.
Once I got home, I tried Parasol’s postpartum underwear ($38.89 for 32). It’s essentially an adult diaper made with better-for-you materials like sustainably sourced wood pulp.
Instead of trying to fit a pad into your underwear, you slip on the highly absorbent diaper and go.
I like the idea of this underwear — ease and simplicity are key for the early postpartum weeks — but they were cut lower than I preferred.
I’m a much bigger fan of Parasol’s diapers for newborns because of their coverage and softness.
I also tried different versions of the Postpartum Panty Party underwear. The “Proud to be a Badass Mama” black boyshorts ($29) provided good coverage and a thick lining.
I love the “Finally, Wine O’Clock Again” granny panties ($17), “Temporarily Out of Service” hipster panties ($19) and the “Worth Every Stitch” ($19) boyfriend-style panties because of their high waists and snug fit.
They are 95% cotton and 5% spandex. I line-dry them, so they don’t shrink.
I added them to my regular lineup after the end of the lochia phase since they don’t have extra lining to absorb blood.
These cheeky panties are not for the self-conscious. I felt a bit embarrassed wearing the “Temporarily Out of Service” underwear while undergoing a mole check by my dermatologist during maternity leave. Wear with caution!
And for women who give birth vaginally, Postpartum Panty Party sells a perineal wash bottle dubbed a Hoo-Ha Hydrant ($15), the Baby’s Out Water Spout ($15) and VaginaStrong Perineal Cooling Pad Liners ($10).
The liners are designed to reduce swelling and speed healing of the perineum, the area between the vagina and the anus that stretches a lot during vaginal birth. This nether region is prone to tearing.
The peri squeeze bottle, meanwhile, acts like a portable bidet to gently clean and soothe the perineum, and the water spout can target hard-to-reach spots.
For their part, hospitals provide plastic squeeze peri bottles, unsurprisingly without bells and whistles.
Along with the ginormous pads and flimsy underwear, it makes quite the parting gift!
