C-section knickers that sit above or below your incision
After a C-section, the waistband of ordinary knickers tends to sit right on the incision. There are two ways round that, and you'll find both here: high-waisted knickers that come up over your tummy and sit above the incision line, and low-rise ones cut to sit below it.
The high-waisted pairs are our Postpartum Knickers and the Postpartum Thong. The knickers have a gentle hold over your tummy, a three-layer gusset made for postpartum bleeding and a snug fit that keeps a maternity pad in place in the first days; the thong is for later, once the heavy bleeding has settled.
The low-rise pair is our C-section Knickers, the same knicker as our Under the Bump Knickers, with a soft waistband that sits low in a V at the front.
All of them are 71% Tencel™ Modal with no tags, and they come up small, so go one size up from your usual. Buy a single pair to check the size, then a pack of two, three or five, or a set with a nursing bra.
Questions, answered.
Should I choose high-waisted or low-rise knickers?
It comes down to where you'd rather the waistband sat. The high-waisted Postpartum Knickers sit above the incision with a gentle hold over your tummy, and the low-rise C-section Knickers sit below it. Both are the same soft Tencel™ Modal with the same three-layer gusset.
Can I wear them straight after the birth?
The high-waisted Postpartum Knickers, yes: they're soft enough to wear over a dressing in the first days, so pack a few pairs in your hospital bag. If anything rubs or presses on the incision, take them off and mention it to your midwife.
Do I still need maternity pads?
In the first few days, yes. Bleeding is heaviest then, so wear a pad in them; as it eases, many people find the gusset copes with lighter bleeding and small leaks on its own.
What size should I order?
One size up from your usual knickers, because they're cut small, and a pair that's too tight tends to roll down onto the very place you're trying to protect. By dress size, S is 6 to 10, M 10 to 14, L 14 to 18 and XL 18 to 22. For hygiene reasons, knickers can't be returned once they're opened, so check the size guide before you order.
Can I wear them after a vaginal birth?
Yes. The high waist and soft hold are just as comfortable after a vaginal birth, and the gusset is made for postpartum bleeding and light bladder leaks. Plenty of people carry on wearing them for periods later on.
