There's something evil lurking in my maxi pad! I know it!

[oatmeal]

The past couple of af's I have noticed that the pad I use irritates me royally.

It's not just making my skin itch, it's like CHEMICAL feeling.

Anyone know anything about this or is it just me?

[Pynki]

Originally posted by CK'sMama
Disposable pads? They are all loaded with chemicals. Did you happen to get scented? Those are especially icky.

Yep.. That's what i was going to say.. All the yucky gel beads that keep sposie diapers "dry" are also in most womens pads.. Maybe you are becoming sensitive to them.. Just my guess though..

Warm Squishy Feelings..

Dyan

[tnrsmom]

I had the same problem. That is when I switched to cloth pads. I have not had a problem since. Good luck. I know it is a yucky feeling.

Now I am moving this to Natural home and Body...

[Journey]

Oh, yuck! I developed the same problem after my 3rd was born. It just so happened that I got this rash right after DH and I separated and got back together... I was CONVINCED I had gotten an STD of some sort (I even went out and got tested even though DH insisted he didn't mess around)... then I put two and two together... it only came on when I had my period, and I used a pad.

Now, I KNOW I don't have an STD, I've just gotten more sensitive since my youngest was born. Or, maybe it's new ingredients in the pads I'm using, who knows? There's a certain brand of underwear I can't wear because the elastic bands make me break out in rashes.

[oatmeal]

oh god. Cloth pads? Another laundry item???

[alexisyael]

cloth pads rock. In my days prior to flylady, they were difficult for me to deal with, so I switched back and forth. Now I am only using cloth again... you don't really need flylady, you just need a routine. Here's what I do.

* Use the pad (duh!)
* when I take it off at night, I put it immediately into the sink. Run water on it. * Let it sit a few minutes (5-10). While I'm running the bath is good
* Then right away, I wash it out, using whatevers on hand. Admittedly I keep some stain remover type stuff in my bathroom. I am trying to go more chemical free, but laundry isn't there yet. However, I betcha baking soda would work -- I'll try it if I get AF again (I'm ttc).
*After it's rinsed out (it's not all the way clean, just rinsed) I hang it to try off a rack. Then when dry, it gets tossed in the laundry pile and I do it whenever.

They really are easy to use, you just need to make a habit of rinsing them out promptly!

PS. I have very light flow. If you have heavier, and need to change pads during the day not-at-home, keep a ziplock baggie in your purse. Then let it soak a little longer before you rinse out.

[plantspirit]

youcould try the diva cup or the keeper, no laundry problem there, and much better for you than disposiable pads or tampons.
I love my glad rags though! and the rinse water is GREAT for your plants!!

[sweetc]

I love my cloth pads. I use both Luna pads and ones made by fuzzi-bunz. I just rinse them with Bac-Out and wash them with the dipes. So much nicer and breathable than diposable pads.

Christine

[LoriG]

I love cloth pads!! I used to get rashes from the disposable pads. I was 22 until I finally figured it out! LOL
For the first few years I used to soak each pad after use, then rinse and throw in the diaper pail. But now I just toss them in a pail and do a seperate rinse cycle before throwing the diapers in.
And, it's not just "another laundry item". It's one less thing being thrown away! :LOL We have to wash stuff anyway, it's not a big deal to throw those in there too.

[hubris]

oatmeal, I felt the same way...CLOTH pads? But I just finished my first AF using either a Diva cup or cloth pads, and I'll never go back to disposable pads or tampons! I was soooo comfortable this time!

[Jane]

For me, it's the damn wings. They rub my skin raw with the plastic and sweat. The heavier (fatter, not heavy flow) I get, the worse it is! So, I do use cloth pads, but for my paper ones, I use the non-wing ones. I just count on having 3-4 pairs of period panties.

[justmama]

Love my GladRags and Keeper. Would NEVER EVER EVER go back to 'sposies.
Meg

[Aura_Kitten]

i LOVE gladrags!!

they're not as much of a hassle as i was led to believe. normally i'll just rinse them, wring them out, then toss them in a small container until laundry day... then wash them on hot w/ the rest of the clothes. they get clean and only 1 has ever stained.

i switched after i found out about them, because 1) i was tired of spending all the money on something just to throw it out, 2) it seemed more earth- and goddess-friendly, and 3) i was working at the health food store and got a discount . disposables had made my *areas* itch like mad, and get little rashy bumps... but i never really figured out why until i switched to cloth. all the chemicals, all the plastic and synthetic materials...

i have not regretted my decision.

[alexisyael]

I only wear black panties when I get AF now. I used to have old stained "period panties" , but I finally realized that black doesn't show stains nearly as much! :LOL

[5talentservant]

Where do you get cloth pads? How many do you own? Do they make them in differnt sizes such as panty liner, super, maxi, etc . I am new to the whole cloth thing, and I thank the lord AF hasn't showed up since I am breastfeeding, but I want to be prepared. It doesn't make sense to have my daughter in cloth diapers and me using disposable pads.

I usually prefer tampons though, is there an alternative to those. I think I am going to use the black panty idea, too. I can't believe I have been using white. Black just uses way more common sense.

[veganmamma]

If you are not ready to switch to cloth, there are gel free/chemical free/fragrance free pads. My disposables are Natracare. They also make an organic tampon. You can get 'em at WF. Glad Rags are SO expensive!! Most cloth pads are expensive, in the long run they may make up for it, but if you change your pad 5x a day, you need $50 and you'll still have to do laundry every night of AF. If you have a sewing machine it is so easy to make your own. I cut an hourglass shape and do a zig zag stitch around the outside. I don't have a serger or a serge stitch. I have used old towels, old cloth diapers, and sometimes fabric from other projects like flannel from blankies and stuff.

[5talentservant]

Thank you. I appreciate the advice. I didn't even think about making my own.

[Aura_Kitten]

fwiw, i've considered making my own, but since i don't have a snap thingy (what are those things called??) to attach snaps to stuff, i just buy the cloth pads i have. otherwise the pads just move around too much (except at night). i'm too active for something that's not secure.

in the past, for really heavy flow + at night, i've just folded a dish towel or cloth diaper in thirds / sixths and laid that in my undies, and pinned. bulky but still pretty comfy and worked like a charm. i just made sure to wear boxers over them so i didn't feel like a geek.

[alexisyael]

if you'd really rather use tampons, there's always "the keeper" (or "diva cup") -- it's a cup that fits inside, that collects the blood. I haven't ever used one (but tried the disposable version, "Instead" and found out that it doesn't work very well for me, as I have a tipped uterus.)

Here's a link to the co that does the keeper: http://www.eco-logique.com/

and the diva cup: http://divacup.com/

I bought my glad rags (and another brand, I forget which) at the Davis Food Co-op, when I worked there (and got a hefty discount). they're also available at health food stores.

And yeah -- what the heck is it about periods that have us wearing old white panties? I know that's how I always did it, until I had my epiphany -- black doesn't stain! Duh!

[veganmamma]

I don't have a snap press either, I just lay my home made pad in my panties. It works well for me. I suppose I could create wings and just fold them around.