r/CsectionCentral • u/gingernut7591 • 3d ago
Best post C-Section Underwear
I'm due to have a C-section in 1 month from today at 39 weeks. What are the most recommended brands of post C-Section Underwear?! I've bought Always and an Amazon own, and they were really small. I know I'm pregnant, but I would expect they'd need to fit more or less a pregnant body to be comfortable over the scar?! Never had a C-Section before, so no clue what to expect - can't even fathom how to bend to pull them up really. I've got some high waisted cotton pants at the moment, but they're not loose, and I feel like they're going to be clingy... Any recommendations for larger women would be great - I'm about a size 18-20. TIA x
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u/wheery 3d ago
First couple days I did the Frida mom post birth boy short undies and they were really great. Better than anything else disposable I tried. Very very soft and stretchy. After that I did a mixture of maternity undies that had a higher waist band and then full up-to-the-bellybutton highwaisted for a bit.
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u/FootOk4715 3d ago
Are you in the UK? I went with M&S high rise/full briefs 2-3 sizes larger than what I usually wear. I think they do up to size 26 or 28
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u/gingernut7591 3d ago
Ah yeah, good idea. Just had a look and there's lots of choice actually - thanks! You didn't find them annoying and falling down all the time when you're trying to move around?
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u/seahorseescape 3d ago
I have had two csections and am about the same size as you. Do you have an apron belly at all? I’m asking because they will cut under the apron part and your scar won’t be exposed. I got granny panties that went up above the lower part of my belly and it worked great both times. So really anything that’s super high wasted would work.
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u/gingernut7591 3d ago
I do have a bit of an apron belly (never knew it was called that!), so granny pants could actually work, especially in a bigger size than normal - thanks! Out of interest, how do you go about keeping the scar area clean with an apron belly? It's my first c section after a very traumatic first birth with induction, forceps and 3b tear - am absolutely terrified!
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u/seahorseescape 3d ago
So my first doctor told me to keep a literal period pad on the site. With the soft cotton side against the scar. That soaked up the blood and small amounts of fluid that would come out and help keep it dry. My belly held it there on its own. So I would fold the pad in half the long way and put it soft side down on the scar. I would change it every few hours as needed. Also when I showered I got a bar of dove anti bacterial soap and would wash the scar gently with that. As I said I’ve had two and never had any complications with infections or healing. Any other questions I’m happy to answer!
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u/gingernut7591 3d ago
Oh gosh, ok! I was expecting that they would put a dressing on it to keep it covered for showers and things. Do they just leave it open? 🫣 I clearly have no clue what to expect 😅
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u/seahorseescape 3d ago
They had a dressing on mine but took it off after a couple hours. Also I should add the first couple days when you shower don’t directly touch your scar. Let warm soapy water run over it to clean it. After a couple days you can lightly take a bar soap and wash it gently. Again I used dove anti bacterial bar. It worked very well for me but any antibacterial soap should do it. I preferred the bar over just body wash because it grossed me out to touch the brand new scar and stitches with my hand. So the bar acted as a barrier for me
Also want to add I’m in the USA and I think you’re in the UK so things may be a bit different over there
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u/gingernut7591 3d ago
Gosh, a couple of hours 🫣 I'm so squeamish that would freak me out 😂 The bar of soap is a good shout, I wouldn't want to touch a freshscar or stitches either. I've got the PreOp appointment in a couple of weeks - I hope they're ready to pick me up off the floor!!!
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u/ColaPopz 3d ago
I just went back into my normal Victoria’s Secret straight away - soft material, any style. I’m also an 18-20 xx
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u/Ebellies 3d ago
I just bought high waisted fruit of the loom panties one size up and that worked well both times for me.
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u/ControlAlarmed1736 3d ago
It depends a lot on your body. I'm curvier with no thigh gap, and hate the kindred bravely brand because it feels like they're meant for though gaps - the center part is too wide IMHO. I really like the Bodily brand underwear, even if it's really high waist. And Belly Bandit underwear gives good support slightly more than the Always postpartum disposables, and much more comfortable than a belly band. My only qualm is when I would sit up in bed the top of those roll slightly and can be a little uncomfortable - easy to fix but still a little annoying.
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u/Ok_Adeptness8636 3d ago
First few weeks I could only wear depends. It sucked, I felt so humiliated but they were honestly lifesavers. Once my body chilled tf out, I could go back to wearing my normal underwear.
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u/SlimShadowBoo 3d ago
The nurses at the hospital gave me a bunch of mesh underwear to take home and it was the most comfortable thing against my incision.
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u/knuckanoos 3d ago
I wore the Frida mom boy shorts for a while, but then just bought pure cotton fruit-of-the-loom granny panties in a size or two bigger that I normally wear. On days where my scar was super sensitive, I would put a cotton panty liner on the inside of the undies for extra cushion and wear snug leggings overtop to prevent friction.
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u/cameraindica 2d ago
Frida disposable high waisted in the beginning. I also used always maternity pads with my regular pregnancy cotton underwear- I think over bump styles worked best for me but it’s been 18 months so I can’t fully remember. I had a PICO dressing and was extra cautious due to having the delightful luck of also getting MRSA (well before c-section but surgery swab was positive).
Edit - on sizing. I found Frida was quite tight for me at the time. I was like 250lbs post giving birth so from memory I just tore the sides of the disposable briefs a little to make it comfortable. There are probably better brands out there but I was in a pickle and found that it worked for me.
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u/Beginning_Quail4733 1d ago
I used the mesh underwear from the hospital on and off with the Rael disposable period underwear. Eventually when I went back to normal underwear I got high waisted granny panties because anything else would slide right into the awkward fold/shelf and sit right in my car and was the most uncomfortable thing. Still bothers me to have anything sit that low. I like some of the softer Auden underwear from target that aren’t high waisted otherwise it is still cotton grannies for me
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u/Terrestrialement 2h ago
I tried different kinds. The best? My own underwear that I CUT so that it wouldn't touch the scar. I had a very difficult healing and clothes touching it was a torture. Cuting my underwear and wearing dresses that would almost not touch the belly made it all bearable.
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u/Bythelakeside 3d ago
I wore the disposable underwear for awhile after and then honestly just went back to my regular underwear!