One of my friends was complaining the other day about how no one really
tells you all of the crazy stuff that happens while pregnant. She was
rather indignant, having just come from a third trimester pregnancy
check-up where she had just been checked for strep...in an area...ahem....not
normally checked for what I always think of as strep throat. "You can
get strep down there?????" she wanted to know. "Since when??? And WHY
does NO ONE tell you these things BEFORE you get pregnant?"
So in the spirit of full disclosure, I'd like to chat a bit about Aerie's (American Eagle's line of underthings) fabulous boy-brief. This brief is cute, comfy, comes in a tons of different patterns, and sells 5 for $25.
But the real reason I draw your attention? For post-partum use.
If you are typically a die-hard thong girl, or even a sexy bikini kind of girl...and you typically use tampons during certain times of the month....you might be surprised to find that your normal underwear, post-partum, won't cut it. Why?
The Maxi-Pad.
Post-partum, most new moms will end up using, at least for several days (possibly weeks for some) maxi pads for the lochia (and YES - the word grosses me out, too). For the first few days, the maxi pads required will be hospital-grade, diaper-like things that I've never even seen in stores. "Super super super absorbent" doesn't even start to cover it. "Depends for New Moms" is a much closer description.
So if you tend to wear rather attractive underwear, not only will you NOT WANT to be wearing it during this time, but you'll quickly find that much of the nicer underwear is actually too small in the...ummm...crotch area to be able to easily fit a maxi pad.
And here's where the briefs come in. Aerie's briefs fit more like man-style tighty-whities, which are actually pretty cute on girls, and are also very snug. These things hold everything in place, no strange items sliding around, and the...ahem...area in question is much wider than a typical bikini pantie (and obviously much, much wider than a thong), so the maxi-pad adheres easily.
And seriously - post-partum, you are dealing with a horrifying jelly-belly, new scars, boobs that look like lifesaving devices, torn up nipples and sleepless nights. The last thing you need is to be stuck, for a month, with hospital's version of disposable sexy panties.
You don't know what I'm talking about? Oh....you will.
xo,
S
