Mama Designs Bamboo Washable Breast Pads Review

Reviewed by Stefanie Sofianos
Having only tried disposable breast pads in the past, I wasn’t too sure what to expect from washable breast pads. I was expecting them to be uncomfortable, thick, and not as absorbent as disposable pads. I couldn’t have been more inaccurate about my assumptions! The washable breast pads were thinner than I expected, and extremely soft. A lot more comfortable than the itchy disposable breast pads I had previously been using. As soon as I opened the box, I started rubbing them on my cheek (as did my 2 year old, who seemed equally impressed!). There were a few loose threads on the stitching around the outside edge of the pad, however this hasn’t affected use.
In the box, there are four pairs of breast pads in two different sizes, for day and night. The night time pads fit perfectly in my nursing sleep bra, and stayed in place throughout the night. The day time pads just fit inside my normal nursing bras (C cup), however if they were any bigger, I would be worried about them being visible over the top of the bra as they tend to move slightly over the course of the day. I wouldn’t be able to wear the night time/large milk supply pads in my day time bra as they would be too large. Although the washable breast pads move and need adjusting after feeds, they don’t fold and stick to themselves as disposable breast pads do as there are no adhesive strips.
Before washing, the pads ‘moulted’ and left fluff on the inside of my bra. This didn’t happen with all of my bras, and stopped after washing the pads a couple of times. Therefore I put this down to not pre-washing the pads, and the material of some of my bras. I didn’t have any leaks with the pads, day or night, and have an abundant milk supply! The only leak I did get was when I didn’t readjust the pad after a feed, leaving my nipple on the edge stitching of the pad. The layer of the pad next to the breast gets wet, but the waterproof layer inside the pad prevents the milk from soaking through to the opposite side and causing unnecessary embarrassment! This inside PU layer seems very thin, and doesn’t affect the flexibility or softness of the pads. I was also pleasantly surprised that the leaked milk was well absorbed and I didn’t get any feeling of wetness.
The product didn’t include any instructions, other than the product description on the box. This isn’t necessary, however perhaps a note that the pads increase in absorbency after the first wash would benefit customers who may stop using the pads if they had leaks before the pads reached full absorbency. The pads have a label (which didn’t cause any discomfort or itching, as I expected) which explains that they can be washed at 40 and tumble dried on low heat. I didn’t tumble dry the pads for fear that the inside waterproof layer may shrink, but it is good to know this option is available if I need them in a hurry.
After my initial reservations about washable breast pads, I can say I am well and truly converted! I would recommend them to all breastfeeding mums. They are 10x softer than disposable pads, and at £10.95 for four pads, they are good value for money too. The four pairs in the box aren’t quite enough for full time use, so I will be buying some more of these washable breast pads to complete my stash, and because they have been so absorbent, comfortable and functional.
Rating: 4.5/5
RRP: £10.95
Available from Mama Designs here.