Diva cup help

[HolliM]

So I'm on my 2nd day of trying the diva cup and it doesn't seem to be going too well! Help!
Yesterday, as soon as I got AF I got so excited to try it...I read the whole pamphlet, etc and had read stuff previously on here so I know it can take some practice. Anyway, I seemed to get it in correctly the first time and it didn't seem too bad. Taking it out was VERY painful but I've gotten a little better at that although it's still uncomfortable. The second time I tried to insert it, it just wouldn't open up no matter what I did. I tried over and over but it just wouldn't. Tmi, but I thought maybe I was too dry so I figured I would try again the following day when my flow was heavier. So today I've been inserting it fine and it's opening up fine but it's SO uncomfortable. It feels like when your tampon is coming out...so irritating! I kept trying to put it in further but as soon as I go about my day, it feels like it's falling out again.

Any tips???? Thanks in advance!

[Limabean1975]

Have you trimmed the end?

Could it be the wrong size? (there are two sizes)

For removing, be sure to remove the suction by squeezing the bottom of the cup - the CUP not the stick thing at the end.

As for the falling out feeling, maybe you are not getting it in far enough? Though I think that should not really be an issue, they are supposed to sit quite low.

One other thing - there are many different brands of cups and sometimes the different shape of a different brand will work better for you - Mooncup UK, The Keeper, Lunacup(?) are a few.

[HolliM]

Thanks for your reply!

I haven't trimmed the end yet but it's honestly more than just the end that is coming out. Maybe that will help though? I have size 2. I've only had one baby but I had a 3rd degree tear and broken tailbone...his head was HUGE! Maybe I have a lot of scar tissue or something???

Maybe I'm just not used to the feeling of something being that low? I'll keep trying!

[Limabean1975]

It may just be that it will take some getting used too. It's not the same as a tampon where it's so far up you don't feel it.

[milosmomma]

Do Kegels help? I've found that when the cup seems a little low, pulling up seems to help get it into place.

[RainbowTurtle]

How long agao did you have your baby? I absolutely hated my diva cup for the first year after DD was born, in fact I stopped using it. It hurt no matter what I did (I had a bad tear too and the scar stayed uncomfortable for the longest time!). Now, I love it and it's quite comfortable.

Even though it feels like it's not the end irritating you, I would try trimming it. Do you give the cup a twist after inserting it? That helps me make it "sit" better. Have you tried different positions for inserting it? Sounds weird, but try squatting more/less, sitting on the toilet, standing with one foot raised (on the toilet). You might find a better angle for you, where you get the cup in a more comfortable position.

[amber913]

I started on the keeper 15 months PP, and my nether-regions were still sensitive (due to hormones, not birth--i had c-sec), so it hurt when removing my cup for months. The pain was at the outer edge--what they call "the ring of fire" in labor and delivery terms. It's still a little uncomfortable, but i can remove it so quickly, it's not intolerable.

After i insert the cup, i can almost always feel it. I've been told to do the "diva dance", which helps get it into place. I also find that it finds its way home eventually.

Using the cup takes lots of practice. I was soooo excited about using one and almost gave up so many times. It took months to get it so i wasn't leaking all over the place (don't insert too high), and over a year to keep it from leaking at all (wasn't changing it often enough). Keep with it! It's a great thing you're doing for your body and the Earth!