Parents on our staff tested underwear that helps make postpartum recovery just a little more comfortable.
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While bringing a baby into the world is a sacred and memorable experience, it’s also accompanied by some unpleasant side effects. For weeks after you give birth, it’s natural to have some bleeding, cramping, and even occasional bouts of incontinence as your body heals from the physical stress of childbirth. Thankfully, the best postpartum underwear will give your body the extra support, compression, and coverage it needs during this transition. And we had the postpartum members of our staff test out the most popular brands to assess which ones are actually worth wearing.
According to our experts and parents, comfort is the most important factor when shopping for postpartum underwear. Jennifer Jolorte Doro, certified birth doula, lactation consultant, and clinical nutritionist, tells Parents that postpartum underwear should be slightly fitted but not too tight and that it should make you feel “comfortable and supported.” Yamel Belen, RN, IBCLC, a Tampa-based doula and member of the Parents Expert Review Board, adds that breathability and style are equally important. “We sweat a lot [during] postpartum due to the hormonal shifts, so you don't want [the fabric] to be too heavy,” Belen says. “We also don’t want it to be so bulky that it looks like we’re wearing a diaper.”
When considering the various types of postpartum underwear, our experts recommend starting with your birth experience. “If you had a regular vaginal delivery without any lacerations or repairs, you may [consider] choosing something with less abdominal support than a woman who had a cesarean delivery,” says Faina Gelman-Nisanov, M.D., a certified OB-GYN with North Jersey Gynecology.
This disposable underwear from Always is a cross between underwear and a maxi pad. They have the stretchy softness that you’d expect from underwear, and the super-absorbent core is designed to keep birthing parents dry for up to 12 hours. Depending on your level of bleeding, you may even get away without wearing a pad with these. Best of all, they have a subtle, clean scent and can be thrown away after each use, which eliminates the need to do extra laundry while you’re recovering from childbirth. (For those with sensitive skin, Always also makes a fragrance-free version.)
Our tester wore this underwear for the first month after her baby was born and “absolutely loved” it. “I felt protected at all times in this underwear, both day and night,” our tester said. In addition to keeping her dry, the Always Discreet underwear was so comfortable that she forgot she was wearing them at times.
This underwear only comes in one color and style, which may not be ideal if you prefer high-waisted underwear after giving birth.
This five pack of high-waisted underwear from Kindred Bravely feels like a hug for your uterus. That’s because for about six to eight weeks after you give birth, your uterus will go through a series of contractions to help it shrink back to its normal size. For many women, high-waisted underwear helps soothe the pain from these contractions and gives their tummy an added layer of support while they recover.
Our tester raved that the Kindred Bravely Recovery Panties were the most comfortable postpartum underwear she’s ever worn. She shared that the fabric felt soft and loved that there was a lace detailing at the top. “The lace is a pretty touch during a period when you might look and feel icky,” our tester said.
While we think the lace trim adds a touch of elegance to this underwear, our tester felt like it caused the waistband to slide down at times. “I did need to readjust and pull them up somewhat frequently,” our tester said. Also, this underwear isn't designed to wick moisture, nor does it have a spot to hold a cold pack.
If your baby is delivered via C-section, your scar will take about six weeks to heal—and it may feel sensitive for months after that. That’s why it’s important to wear postpartum underwear that won’t aggravate your scar. After undergoing her second C-section, our tester wore this underwear and was pleased to find that she felt no irritation or discomfort at all. “These are soft, comfortable, and fit extremely well,” our tester said. “They don’t rub my C-section scar and have excellent breathability.”
Aside from extra fabric in the gusset, this underwear isn’t designed to absorb moisture or contain odors. If you have heavy discharge, our tester recommends wearing a maxi pad, just to be safe.
The best part about this stretchy, disposable underwear is that it has a seamless waistband, so it won’t aggravate your C-section scar. After taking this underwear for a spin, our postpartum tester liked how supportive the high waist was. She also liked how cool and comfortable it felt and that it never irritated her skin.
Practically speaking, this underwear is great for the first week or so after giving birth. After that, our tester noted that you’d likely want something more comfortable to wear (since these felt a bit like papier-mâché to her).
If you give birth in a hospital, you’re bound to receive a few pairs of white, disposable mesh underwear to wear during the course of your stay. Hospital mesh underwear is great because it’s lightweight, breathable, and generally one-size-fits-all, however, we like this set from Bodily more. For starters, Bodily Mesh Undies are black, which is better for hiding stains that may come with postpartum bleeding. They’re also more stylish than hospital underwear because they have mixed graphics across the waistband, and our tester thought they were “super comfortable” and “non-restricting.” We also like that this underwear comes in a pack of five that can be washed and worn again.
While mesh underwear is typically designed to fit all body types, Bodily Undies only comfortably fit sizes 2-16. Our tester also noted that the shape of this underwear relaxed throughout the day, leaving her wanting something a bit more supportive.
We love that Kindred Bravely took postpartum underwear a step further with the Soothing Fourth Trimester Panty. In addition to holding a maxi pad in place, this underwear contains three pockets to hold soothing gel packs at the stomach, gusset, and lower back. Each pocket targets a typical pain spot for parents after giving birth, and the two included gel packs can be used cold or warm, depending on your preference.
We also like that these panties have a wide gusset for holding even the largest maxi pad and that the material is thicker than most. As a result, they provide a gentle compression around your abdominal muscles, which our tester said felt comfortable and supportive, comparing the level of compression to that of Spanx.
As comforting as these panties may be, they aren’t cheap. As of this writing, one pair costs $40, and they only come in black.
It’s not often that we find clothing that’s designed to be worn during and after pregnancy, but this Grow With Me underwear from Kindred Bravely is! It’s available in four colors and has a high-rise waist to provide extra support for your changing belly. We love that it’s made from a lightweight, stretchy blend of OEKO-TEX-certified nylon and spandex that adapts to your body as you go through your pregnancy and postpartum journey, so you can wash and wear it again and again.
This underwear is around $16 per pair, which can become expensive if you want to buy one for every day of the week. Also, our tester found that the light and airy texture actually caused the underwear to bunch up and move around, which she found frustrating especially when scooting on the floor with her toddler.
While everyone’s postpartum journey is different, postpartum bleeding is pretty much a given. But if wearing a maxi pad isn’t your thing (can we blame you?), then you’ll be relieved to know that you don’t have to with Proof Leakproof Essential Brief Period Underwear. It’s designed to absorb moisture—up to four regular tampons—so you can skip the pad every now and then without having to worry about leaks. The best part is, this underwear is washable so you can wear them day after day.
Our tester wore this underwear on a daily basis for three weeks right after her baby was born. From running errands and chasing her toddler around to attending a formal baptism, she ventured everywhere in them and was happy with how well they absorbed moisture and odors. “I wore these for a 24-hour period and never experienced leaking or dampness,” she said. “They were quite comfortable for daily activities, and I felt I could move without being overly conscious of a bulky pad.”
While we are all about sustainability, we recognize that paying around $23 for a pair of underwear just doesn’t add up for some families. Our tester agreed, noting that she has the desire to move away from disposable period products, but hasn’t made the move “simply due to the price of a single item.”
To determine the best postpartum underwear, we had parents on our staff who had recently given birth (vaginally or via C-section) wear a variety of different brands over the course of five weeks. Specifically, they wore the underwear at least three to four times throughout the testing period while doing various physical activities, including light exercise, household chores, and caring for their baby. As they did so, they focused on:
In search of the best postpartum underwear, we spoke to birthing and women’s health experts:
Postpartum bleeding, also known as lochia, begins right after delivery and usually lasts anywhere from four to six weeks. While bleeding will decrease over time, a good rule of thumb is to calculate an average of three pairs of disposable underwear for the first week postpartum. If you’re planning to wear disposable underwear only, this means you’ll need at least 20 pairs to get you through four to six weeks of bleeding.
The road to recovery after childbirth is different for every person, however, the general healing window is six weeks (at least). Ultimately, the length of time you wear postpartum underwear is truly up to you. You may find that you like the compression your postpartum underwear provides and use it during other times, like when your menstrual cycle returns.
Organic Adult Diapers Laura Lu, MS, is a commerce and parenting writer at Parents and a mom of two. She had one vaginal birth and one C-section and was thankful to have supportive, high-waisted postpartum underwear during her recovery from both.