Feminine Hygiene Products and Yeast

[zech13_9_goforgold]

Not sure where to post this topic. Is there a special "women's health" area? I've cross posted this in the health section.

Anyway, I'm looking at moving overseas in the next year, to a country that doesn't use disposable anything (diapers and such). So, it got me thinking about switching out of my plastic-lined disposable pads in the next couple months, so I'll have one less thing to adjust to. Also, I get a yeast infection every month. I usually don't bleed much, so I use the lightest pads available. So, what do you ladies use- and assume I know nothing (cause I do). Thanks

What do you use?

How do you use them (sanitary belts or what?)?

How are they washed?

Where do you buy them?

How many do you need?

[thixle]

Several people I've "spoken" to have had reoccuring yeast infections with disposables that stopped when they made the switch to cloth. The area can breathe better!

I make my own. Here is my tutorial on craftster- it has lots of good info (I no longer use or recommend a nylon layer):
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=18462.0
Here is the tutorial for the type of pad I like the most
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=34087.0

They both work just like pads with wings, except with snaps or velcro holding the wings to each other. I like snaps on mine because velcro always scratches my leg. You can absolutely just use a washcloth folded in thirds and lay in your undies, but where is the fun in that? Besides, I always end up dropping them in the potty if they don't have the wings to keep them on my undies.

You can hand wash or machine wash. Machine or hang dry. If you are having yeast problems, soak them in diluted vinegar (maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup to a gallon of water) before washing. Actually, that will disinfect most bacteria and/or fungus and completely kill any odors. I usually rinse quickly in the sink on a heavy flo day and toss in with the rest of the laundry. Light flo just goes in the hamper with everything : I've never had a problem.

During a "moderate" flo day (heavy for me) I go through maybe 4-5 pads. I do laundry everyday or every other day, so I only need 10 at most. I like making them, though, so have a bunch

[zech13_9_goforgold]

Cool. Thanks. Unfortunately, I can't sew at all. I've been looking at Gladrags, but all the storebought alternatives are expensive. I understand the investment. And, I hope I haven't offended anyone with my reasons for going "natural."

[abemom2]

The etsy shop: epicerman has very good priced pads. There are others also.
Sorella-Luna is also priced well.

[naturalthinker]

I super highly recommend Diva Cups - i've used only one for the last few years - if i'd be out of the country etc, i'd probably want 2. It is a silicone cup, empty 1-2 times a day, rinse as H20 is available and after menstruation wash well (soap and water) and store for next time. It doesn't absorb moisture from your body so doesn't mess around with natural moisture levels like a tampon / natural sea sponge would. get them online or natural stores...

[Leta]

I stopped getting UTIs and yeast infx -finally!- when I switched from disposibles, made a point to take acidopholus with abx, and started incorporating yogurt and cranberry juice into my diet on a fairly regular basis (ie, a couple times a week).

I use a diaphragm the way some people use a Diva Cup. It is advantageous to me in that I can easily get its size changed if need be, my insurance covers it, and I can have sex with it in.

When I was postpartum with DD, I bought some Ama'z Cloth Padz. They were among the least expensive that I could find, and they are wonderful. Her work is top notch, and her customer service is outstanding.

[Leta]

How to use: All the ones that I have had encounters with come in two pieces- a hydrophobic (water resistant) part, the "liner", that wraps around the crotch of undies and snaps to itself, and a hydophilic (water absorbant) part, the "soaker pad", that attaches to the first part. Sometimes the pad snaps in, sometimes there are ribbons or ricrack at either end that hold the pad in place.

The idea here is that you only change the liner once a day, and you change the pad as needed.

Because I was buying for my post partum period, I overestimated my needs. I bought the hugest pads I could, and I got three liners and nine soakers.
I read somewhere that you should get at least three of whatever "heaviness" you think you need.
Because my flow was relatively light, and I wash daily, in hindsight this was too many, but I have never regretted the purchase.

I also got some pantyliners which I love and use a ton.

So altogether, I bought 18 pieces from Ama'z: three large liners, nine large pads, five pantyliners, and a wetbag. I strongly reccomend getting a wetbag from Ama'z. Wallypop has a good one two- they look like makeup cases, but they have two sides, one for wet and one for dry.

(I actually want two more wetbags now that I am expecting again- one for wipes and one for breastpads. They are just so handy. )

Anyway, I got all that stuff from Ama'z, plus some breast pads, and spent around $80, which is probably pretty close to what I would've spent on disposibles in my post partum period. So even though it can be a bit steep up front, the payback time goes quickly- especially if you were like I was, and had to buy Tampax and Always, because they at least didn't give me as bad of yeast infx. :

I wash mine on cold with the towels. I have dried in the machine, and on the line, and either way is fine. The materials don't stain. I don't rinse or soak, I just toss mine in a little step can that we keep in the bathroom for pads, nose wipers, etc.

[dogmom327]

I use a Diva cup (love it) and I just boil it before storage at the end of my cycle each month.

[kundemama]

I alternate between Diva cup and cloth pads. Like dogmom, I boil the Diva cup. The cloth pads are usually washed with diapers, so they get a cold wash cycle, followed by a hot wash cycle with soap and vinegar added to the rinse. Line dry when it's possible, otherwise high heat in the dryer.