Many mothers are discovering these days that plastic disposable nursing pads are uncomfortable, crinkly, and expensive. They also increase your chances of getting mastitis and other infections. Some cause drying of the nipples, cracking, and leave breasts feeling moist. Many others complain that they are bothered by the constant embarrassing crinkly noise that their breast pads make.
Cloth pads are by far the better bargain and are healthier for you and the environment, but some brands leak and a lot of mothers feel that it is not worth it to buy several different brands only to discover which are the best and do not leave stains on their shirts. If you would like cloth pads but you do not want to spend a fortune looking for the ones that are right for you, try this homemade pattern for making your own pads. I sewed mine by hand and the total time it took to make them was about two days or twenty hours total. This made ten pair. You may make as many as you like, but if you do not wash laundry often, you may want more rather than fewer.
You will need an old terry cloth towel. Avoid the plush types and go for one of the thinner, simpler towels. You will also need some nylon cloth – the type used for tents, umbrellas, and sleeping bags.
Your pattern will be different depending on the shape of your breasts. If your bra is thin, you will be able to see the outline of a small pad like a target through your shirt, so make the pads as large as the cup of your bra. If your breasts have a very pointy conical shape, you will want pads that are also a little cone-shaped and not flat. My breasts are small, so I used flat pads about as big around as a cream cheese container lid. These fit nicely into a sports bra.
Begin by tracing your circle pattern onto the towel. Trace as many pads as you think you will need. Each circle will be one pad. Once you have your circles drawn, cut your pads out. If you would like a little more absorption, cut out additional smaller circles about two inches in diameter to go in the center of each pad. Lay the smaller circles in the center of each larger one and sew the two together around the edges of the small circle. This will give you a little extra absorption right around your nipple.
To make a slightly conical pad, sew a triangular area from the center of the pad to the edge. Adjust the seam until the shape is right for your breast.
To make a water-resistant but breathable backing, cut large circles from the nylon material. Lay this over the breast pad and sew them together around the edges leaving a 1 inch hole. Turn the pad inside out and finish the one-inch seam. The terry cloth is much more absorbent than the breathable nylon, so it will wick moisture away from the nylon cloth. The nylon will serve as a barrier between the wet fabric and your bra, effectively keeping your clothes dry.
To wash your pads, simply drop them in with your regular laundry. Air them dry or fluff in the dryer. If your washing machine does not wash well, your pads may begin to smell a little of sour milk. Simply pour a little white vinegar into each one and wash as you normally would. Your laundry will not smell of vinegar once the wash has run its course.
