menstrual care questions--please help

[luckygreen713]

I'm sure this is a hot topic. I'm sorry if I'm asking common questions, I tried to search but for some reason I can't.

So, I'm sick of disposable menstrual products. The whole idea has become really gross to me. I cloth diaper my kids, it's about time I start thinking about myself! I have a really hard time finding products that work for me. I've always prefered tampons but ever since my first child was born, they are extremely uncomfortable. They seem to wiggle their way down and out very quickly, causing discomfort and sometimes pain. So I'm not sure if a menstrual cup would be the best thing. What do you think?

I'm looking for something as quickly as possible, since tampons are soooo uncomfortable and disposable pads make me itch down there. I'd like to have something new to try within the next 2 weeks, in time for my next AF.

I'm really looking into cloth pads. I think I found some on etsy that I'd like to try. Lisasboutique has some that look nice to me. Also, VulvaLoveLovely (love the name!) has some that look good. Has anyone tried either of them?

Also, I'm not sure how many pads I would need. I will wash them everyday, so I know I only need enough to get through the day and night, with maybe a few extras in case I get a few hours behind in my laundry. On my heaviest days I need to change a super tampon about every 2 hours. But since I'm so new to cloth pads, I have no idea how many I'd need, because I don't know how absorbant they are. I'm sure they vary depending on what they're made from. I'd like to get ones that are flannel,cotton terry, and a layer of PUL with fleece on the bottom to prevent shifting/sliding. Will that be really thick? Will it look bulky under pants (jeans)?

One last question-- can I wash my pads with my dd's cloth diapers?

Thanks!!

[SophieAnn]

Can't help too much on the cloth pads but I think you can wash them with cloth diapers just fine.

There's a discussion going on about menstrual cups here:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=812673

I got my divacup about 4 years ago and luuuuv it! : I would highly recommend a cup.

[PaulaJoAnne]

Wanted to chime in. It is tempting to think having only one days supply would be enough, but I think most women will tellyou, life happens.
Having enough for three days is best.

If you can find ones that use fleece for the core (all in ones) you will find those to be the best for wearing under pants, as your body heat will mold them to fit your shape very nicely. (I wear only skirts, so no personal experience with them showing, but I do know the fleece ones mold and hide well.)
Make sure you have a gallon size pail for presoaking them. I just keep mine back in the corner behind the toilet, but under the sink works best for homes that have little ones.

Personally, I would not wash them with diapers, but that may be just me.
If you wash your diapers twice, then you can throw the pads in for the second wash.
They don't need to be done twice.

[jimblejamble]

Since you prefer tampons you might want to try out the Keeper (thekeeper.com). As for pads, I started out with about 14 pads--4 overnight pads and 10 mediums. I have a ton of pads from a bunch of different businesses but my favourites are Mimi's Dreams (saucytots.com). They are so comfy and absorbant.

Here's what I do before washing. None of my pads have stains.

Rinse in cold water immediately. Sprinkle on baking soda over the bloody part of the pad, fold the pad inward and scrub the baking soda around, then rinse again. Then I soak them in cold water (change it every day) with a little extra baking soda and vinegar until it's time to do laundry, then I discard the water, rinse again, and put them into the washer.

[SuzyLee]

I make cloth pads for myself and my sister. (I am still in the process of filling out our stashes).

I have found wide wings to be more important for non-slippage than the fabric on bottom.

I would do a flannel/hemp/terry/whatever combo for absorbancy and PUL underneath. I have made some pretty absorbant ones with a top layer of flannel + like 3 layers of hemp and they are not visible.

[RubyOrganique]

Haven't used cloth pads but have used menstrual cups. I like them although it took some time to figure out how to insert them so they were comfortable. And I personally, don't like dealing with them away from home. So, I go back to disposable if I'm going to be out all day.

I've looking into sea sponge tampons as someone on MDC mentioned how comfortable they are. Might be another option for you.

[Breeder]

Another vote for the Diva Cup. I really have no issues with using it out and about.

[Sailor]

I love cloth pads myself. I make my own - I just traced a disposable, and sort of adjusted it in length to my purposes. Washing is very easy - I put them in a nylon bag, and then wash with my towels. The other option is to soak in cold water, and use the water to nourish your plants. Miracle-Gro.

I've been thinking, recently, of trying sea sponges. I've never been able to comfortably use tampons, and the diva cup was equally uncomfortable. I've tried for years, on and off. Now, I'm thinking maybe the sea sponge will be accepted by my body.

[amber913]

With menstrual cups (the Keeper, at least), if it doesn't work for you, you can return it for a full refund, as long as you don't cut the tail-thingy. Since you used to prefer tampons, it may be worth ordering a cup and trying it out to see if it's painful for you. Just know that it can take months to get it to work properly--use the internet to help you with that part.

As far as pad-washing, I wash mine with the diapers (and the family cloth).

[DavinaT]

Hi, I can't offer any advice I'm afraid but I hsve a question if it's ok to piggyback? What exactly is the family cloth? Is this like a large towel that everyone uses? Sorry, I'm totally ignorant on this as I'm not in an environment that is not friendly to this kind of thing - creches will not take cloth diapered babies here and I've worn tampos since I was 11 - lucky really as I'm ina professional envirionment now, so trousers are daily wear - so even if I found pads confortable which I never have they wouldn;t be an option now. I use an IUS at the moment so the cup would not work but have no real need for menstrual protection at the moment. However I'b be interested to hear more about more-environmentally friendly tampons just for future use, if anyone has any advice. I'm in Ireland by the way.

[amber913]

Originally Posted by DavinaT

Hi, I can't offer any advice I'm afraid but I hsve a question if it's ok to piggyback? What exactly is the family cloth?

Family cloth is what they call cloth toilet paper. You just cut up some old t-shirts and use them instead of toilet paper. You have a receptacle for them (I use the poopy cloth diaper bin, which I keep next to the toilet), and wash them.

It's better for you, the environment and your bank account.

[DavinaT]

Hi Amber thanks for letting me know, I'm not clued in at all on that - but to be honest hygiene aside, my family would NEVER go for it. We tend to recycle t-shirts for every day wear to gardening wear to DIY wear and eventually to floor cloths as they age and wear out, but at least I know what it means now.

[russsk]

I have some light cloth pads I use occassionally as pantyliners, but I'm not a pad person, really. Another vote for the Diva cup!

[Naturalyst]

Originally Posted by SuzyLee

I have found wide wings to be more important for non-slippage than the fabric on bottom.

:

I have always used wide winged all-in-ones. You are SO going to love cloth!

Natural sponge - Eh, it was ok for very light days.

Cup - I can't' say I like it more than cloth. But, sometimes, it is just more practical to use a cup.

[Ruthla]

What kind of diapers do you use for your baby? In a pinch, you can use diapers as cloth pads for yourself! I even know people who use preemie prefolds for this purpose, instead of buying pads! If you have any prefolds and/or "diaper doublers" and/or "stuffers for pocket diapers", you might want to get a smaller amount of actual pads, to see which you like best, and count on using diapers for "backup" if you get behind on the laundry. Then you can buy additional pads later, after you see which kind you like best.

I used to love my divacup, but after a while (a few years' use) I found it to be incredibly uncomfortable. I switched to cloth pads a few months ago and I'm much happier with those. I just have some rectangles of french terry (leftover from my diaper-sewing days) that I dyed purple, and I fold them up and pin them into my underwear. I've found that, without pinning, they tend to stick to my body for a few seconds when I pull my panties down, generally falling off INTO the toilet! A small safety pin (pinned to the outside of my undies in front) eliminates that problem.

I purchased some cloth pads for DD1 on eBay. These have a built-in waterproof layer, and snap under the underwear.

[amber913]

Here's to making your own!! I did the same using the thick center part of a prefold diaper cut into strips, then covered each strip with spare fabric. I then pin these to my undies. And Ruthla's right--they fall into the toilet if you don't!

[berkeleyp]

I switched to cloth pads a few years ago and so glad that I did. As for not knowing how many to get, I would get a variety at first and see what you like. If you don't have enough the first month-just supplement with sposies until you know what you like. I wouldn't want to have a three day supply of something only to find I didn't like it ya know?

And for washing - if you don't mind having stains, then it really doesn't matter what you wash with. I keep mine in a dry pail next to the toilet with my family cloth - (which only me and dd use). I wash it all with my diapers but when I wasn't diapering or family cloth-ing, I just put my pads in with towels or sometimes even with my clothes. Mine are all stained, but who cares?

My favorite pads are: http://www.lotuspads.com/indexDefault.html and I wouldn't go out without my http://www.happytushies.com/category_s/53.htm

Good luck to you!

[EnviroBecca]

I love cloth pads and the Diva cup! : I recently posted detailed ravings on my blog.

Personally, I did not want to wash pads with diapers because I don't like the idea of swirling something in poopy water that I'm going to put next to my vagina. I've always pre-soaked my pads and then washed them with my clothes. Another issue is that hot water sets blood stains; I washed diapers in hot but clothes in cold.

Here's my pre-soak procedure: Get a container such as an empty family-size yogurt bucket or a large jar. Place used pad in there, bloody side down, and fill with cold water. Put on lid and set container where children and pets won't get into it. When it's time to change pads again, take out the one that's soaking, wring it, maybe rinse it a little more, and hang it up to dry if you're not doing laundry right away. (Don't store them damp because they'll get yucky. I hang mine on the edge of the laundry basket inside my closet.) Pour out water. Soak next pad.

I have a small zippered mesh bag (from Target laundry dept.) that's great for keeping the pads together in the wash so they don't get lost among bigger items.

About the sea sponges: I don't like the idea of putting a dead animal, which spent its life in the open sea sogging in unknown pollutants, into my vagina. Anyway, I hear they leak when you sneeze.... It is NOT a problem to use a cup away from home; in fact, it's incredibly convenient! Just empty it into the toilet, wipe off the outside, and put it back in. There's no need to wash it every time.