For mothers and maternity homes
Maternity and Delivery Bed Pads in Kenya
Getting the hospital bag ready and wondering if maternity bed pads are worth packing? They are. Here is the plain truth from the people who pack them.
The prices on this page are Sternmed prices for stock sitting in our Nairobi store today.
Maternity bed pads are soft disposable sheets that lie under you during labour and in the first days after birth. Each one is 60 x 90 cm, soaks up the wet and keeps the bed dry. You lift the used pad, fold it and bin it.
Why mothers use maternity bed pads
Labour is wet work. Waters break, there is blood and there is plenty of fluid. It all lands on the bed.
Maternity bed pads under the mother catch all of it so the mattress stays clean. The midwife changes one pad in seconds rather than stripping the whole bed.
After birth the bleeding carries on for days. A fresh pad under you at night means you rest and the bed stays dry. This is why most birth plans in Kenya list them.
Some people call them delivery pads or maternity bed liners. Maternity bed pads is the name most mothers use. They are all the same soft 60 x 90 cm sheet.
A clean dry bed is not just about comfort. It lowers the mess around stitches or a fresh wound and it keeps the room pleasant for you and the baby. Small things like this make the first days easier.
Hospitals in Kenya often ask mothers to bring their own pads. Packing your own means you are not relying on what the ward has in stock that day. It is one less thing to worry about when the time comes.
If your baby arrives early you may spend longer on the ward. The World Health Organization keeps a clear fact sheet on preterm birth that is worth a read.
How many maternity bed pads to pack in the hospital bag
The first question every expecting mother asks is how many maternity bed pads to carry. The honest answer is one packet of 10 covers most births. Pack a second packet if you want room to spare.
Labour itself uses two or three pads. The hours right after delivery use a few more because the bleeding is heavy at first.
The first nights on the ward use one or two a night. By the time you go home the flow is lighter.
| Stage | Roughly how many pads |
|---|---|
| During labour | 2 to 3 |
| First day after birth | 3 to 4 |
| Each night on the ward | 1 to 2 |
| First week at home | 1 a day or so |
A packet of 10 in the bag is a safe start. Keep a spare packet at home for the week you come back to. Maternity bed pads are cheap, so a few extra never hurt.
Every birth is different, so treat these numbers as a guide and not a rule. A long labour or a heavier flow will use more. It is always better to carry one packet too many than to run short at 2 am.
Using maternity bed pads at home while you heal
Home is where the real healing happens. The bleeding can last two to six weeks and it is heaviest in the first days.
Maternity bed pads on the bed at night save your sheets and save you washing. You wake, lift the pad and the mattress is still dry.
You can sit on one on the sofa or in the car on the way to the clinic. The 60 x 90 cm size covers a seat with room to spare.
Change the pad as soon as it is wet. Clean skin heals faster and a dry bed helps you sleep. Rest is the thing your body needs most now.
Many mothers use a pad alongside a maternity sanitary towel. The towel holds the flow close and the pad guards the bed. Together they keep you dry through the night.
Keep a few pads within reach of the bed so you are not up and searching at night. A small stack on the bedside table does the trick. Your body is busy healing, so make the nights as easy as you can.
If you had a caesarean you will move slowly for a while. A pad under you means fewer trips to change a soaked sheet while you are still sore. Let the pad take the work so you can rest.
Disposable maternity bed pads or washable sheets
Some mothers ask about washable sheets instead of disposable pads. Washable ones cost more up front and need a machine, a line and time you may not have with a newborn.
Disposable maternity bed pads are the simpler choice for the first weeks. You lift the wet one and lay a fresh one, with no washing at 3 am. Many mothers keep a few washable sheets too and use the disposables for the heavy early days.
For a short recovery the disposable pad wins on cost and effort. For the long run at home some families use both. The choice is yours and we stock the disposable pad.
What makes a good maternity bed pad
Not every pad is built the same. A good one has three layers that each do a job.
The top sheet is soft and dry against your skin. The core pulls the fluid in and holds it. The waterproof back stops anything reaching the mattress.
Size matters too. A 60 x 90 cm pad covers the hips and more, which is where the flow lands. Smaller pads leave gaps and gaps mean wet sheets.
Good maternity bed pads hold 900 ml and more, so one pad can last the night. Cheap pads from other shops flood and leak long before that.
Some pads carry a strip of adhesive tape on the back. The tape holds the pad in place so it does not bunch up when you turn. A pad that slides is a pad that leaks.
Weight is a quick test of quality. A good pad feels substantial because the core is full, not thin and papery. Lift a packet and you can often feel the difference.
| Feature | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Top sheet | Soft and dry on the skin |
| Core | Holds 900 ml and more |
| Back | Fully waterproof |
| Size | 60 x 90 cm |
| Hold in place | Adhesive tape on the back |
| Use | Single use, lift and bin |
Sternmed maternity bed pads tick every one of these boxes. Soft top, waterproof back, 60 x 90 cm and a 900 ml hold. You can read the full spec on our underpads page.
Maternity bed pads for maternity homes and clinics
Run a maternity home or a clinic? You go through maternity bed pads fast and you cannot run dry on a busy night.
The smart buy is a bale of 100, which is 10 packets in one. One bale sits neatly on a store shelf and feeds several beds for weeks.
Order by pro forma or by LPO, whichever your office uses. We raise a written pro forma, you approve it and we deliver.
Buying from one supplier keeps the store simple. One line on the order, one price and one reorder point. Your stores officer will thank you.
We supply maternity homes, clinics, nursing homes and county facilities. Ask for a quote by the bale and we send it the same working day.
We also hold stock back for regular buyers so a maternity home is never caught short. Tell us your usual monthly use and we keep a bale ready for you. A quick message is all it takes to reserve it.
For a bigger order across many consumables, see our wholesale page. Bed pads sit alongside gloves, cotton wool and the rest of the ward list.
Maternity bed pads price in Kenya
Here is the price with no small print. A packet of 10 maternity bed pads costs KSh 800. A bale of 100 costs KSh 8,000, which works out at KSh 80 a pad.
| Pack | Pads | Price | Per pad | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packet | 10 | KSh 800 | KSh 80 | In stock in Nairobi |
| Bale | 100 | KSh 8,000 | KSh 80 | In stock in Nairobi |
The price is the same whether you buy one packet or ten bales. Buy more and you simply save on the delivery for each pad.
Some shops charge far more for the same 60 x 90 cm pad. We keep one size and one quality so the price stays steady and fair.
Pay by M Pesa or by cash on delivery. You can also browse the incontinence care range to see the pads and the bale in the shop.
Delivery of maternity bed pads from Nairobi
Your maternity bed pads leave our Nairobi store the same day you order. Order in the morning and a Nairobi delivery often reaches you by evening.
For other towns we confirm the delivery cost before we send. A matatu parcel or a courier gets the pads to you quickly across Kenya.
We pack the pads well so they arrive clean and dry. Rain or dust on the road does not reach the pads inside. What leaves our store is what reaches your door.
Need them outside Kenya? We export across Africa on request, so tell us your city and we quote the freight.
Ordering is easy. WhatsApp or email us with the number of packets or bales and your town. We reply the same working day with a price and a delivery time.
First time buying from us? Start with one packet and see the quality for yourself. You can also compare our bed pads for bedridden patients if you care for someone at home.
Questions buyers ask about maternity bed pads
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How many bed pads do you need?
Prices: KSh 800 a packet of 10, KSh 8,000 a bale of 100. Delivery cost depends on your town.
How many maternity bed pads should I pack?
One packet of 10 covers most births. Pack a second packet if you want more room to spare.
What size are the pads?
Every pad is 60 x 90 cm. One size covers the hips and more, which is where the flow lands.
How much do maternity bed pads cost?
A packet of 10 is KSh 800. A bale of 100 is KSh 8,000, which is KSh 80 a pad.
Are they disposable?
Yes. They are single use. Lift the wet pad, fold it and bin it.
Can a clinic buy in bulk?
Yes. Buy by the bale of 100 and pay by pro forma or LPO. We deliver the same working day.
Do you deliver outside Nairobi?
Yes. We deliver across Kenya and confirm the cost to your town first. We export across Africa on request.
How do I pay?
Pay by M Pesa or by cash on delivery. Nairobi orders go out the same day.
Are maternity bed pads good after a caesarean?
Yes. They keep the bed dry while you rest and heal. Change the pad as soon as it is wet.
Order today
Ready to pack maternity bed pads for the big day? WhatsApp +254 799 526972 or email info@sternmedafrika.com and you will get a written reply the same working day.
This guide is by Sternmed Afrika, a medical consumables supplier in Nairobi. We sell retail and wholesale, deliver across Kenya and export across Africa on request.
