How many cloth diaper mamas use cloth on themselves? - Page 3

[pilesoflaundry]

I currently use disposable ones but I'm working on building up a stash of cloth pads so I can make the switch and I'm considering the diva cup but need to read into it a bit more before I commit to it. I'm sick of the rash and irritation of disposables .

[guestmama9924]

I used cloth on both babies- now 8 and 3, and started using cloth mama pads when my first was about 18 months. Going on 7 years of cloth for me!

T (kinda) PS Mamas, PLEASE reconsider the Sea Sponge as being a natural /reusable alternative. Reusable yes, but there is nothing natural about killing a sea creature and putting it up your yoni. They harvest these animals, and they are classified as an animal, in my back yard. I smell them rotting for weeks while they slowly die. I listen to the reports of the damage done to the reefs while they rip them up. Baby turtles have to go further out of find food and get gobbled up. And only about 1 in 3 actually regrow, and it takes years.
/rant

[mehndi mama]

I use cloth pads & sea sponges. I suppose I should feel ashamed of all the damage I am doing to the ocean because I use them......but I don't. The literature I got with my sponges says that they are farmed, and reproduce while harvesting. They don't "grow back", they make babies. And yes, they are natural. A sea sponge is the skeleton of a sea creature with the same name - it is 100% natural, compostable, and renewable if done right. Just like any other farming can be done badly, or be done right.

Anyway, I've been using cloth pads for about 9 years now, starting shortly after I got married. I used to wash them by hand in my bathtub when we didn't have laundry facilities. I love all the options available

[Quindin]

I have only used regular stuff, but it is because the last time I ever needed some was after I gave birth (before we began CDing)...
Now that we are CD our third child, I won't be buying disposable personal hygiene stuff anymore (except for toilet papers of course :LOL )
**Mama Pads??? I don't know if I would ever be able to use and launder them
**Diva Cup an/or sea sponge: I was considering both, but after reading KeysMama post I changed my mind about the sea sponge - Thank you for the info... I think I am going to try the Diva cup though - it sounds like the best alternative.

[Austin'smom]

I use cloth pads.. after feeling how soft DS diapers were I just had to try it. I can believe I used tampons for so long. I wish I would have found cloth pads sooner. I would love to give a keeper or similar a try.. maybe someday soon I'll get around to ordering one.

[my2girlz]

I voted cloth. I started in Janary 2003 and won't go back. Of course, I've only used them for AF 3 times since those are the only times I've had a period since June 2001. I do use liners to catch all the icky stuff during pregnancy.

[chickabiddy]

I use cloth pads for myself most of the time: I teach aquatic fitness classes 6-10 hours per week and use disposable tampons when I'm actually in the water.

My husband is a little squicked about the thought of cloth pads but I don't leave used pads lying around the house and I do the laundry, so he doesn't get a vote.

[nurse131]

I just got my first PP period last week and I my mama cloth. I have one of those new large folgers plastic coffee cans with the lid that I filled with cold water and put on the floor next to the toilet. I just dropped the used pads in, put the cover back on. I washed them with DD's diapers after a quick rinse in cold water. It worked out great! I'm sold! I won't go back. I may even try a keeper at some point. DH never even knew the difference. Much better then having little stinky toilet paper wrapped bombs in the wastebasket!

[HelloKitty]

I picked "regular disposable" however I did recently buy some momma pads I just haven't had an occasion to try them yet so that answer may change once I do!

[fluffernutter]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

I use cloth pads for myself most of the time: I teach aquatic fitness classes 6-10 hours per week and use disposable tampons when I'm actually in the water.

Oooh, a Diva Cup or Keeper would be great for you! You should really look into it. Much more comfy (I forget I'm wearing it sometimes) and plus, you can up to 12 hours without chaning it, so you wouldn't have to worry about it all day long. Also...the leak factor is zero if you get it in right. That takes a little practice, but so did tampons, right? I'm sure I sound like a sales person or something, I swear I don't work for them. :LOL I just love mine so much that I feel like I have to share.

[chickabiddy]

Thanks -- I have thought about it. But I teach 6-10 hours per WEEK so I'm only actually in the water 2 hours per day at most (and I hate using internal protection when I don't absolutely have to) so I just haven't made the investment or the switch yet. But it is on my mental to-do list for "someday".

[Sherry]

once af returns, i will be using the diva exclusively. if i didnt have it tho, i would be a cloth user for sure...just chuck them into the babys diaper pail.
i think the diva is so great because it wont dry you out or put chemicals in your yoni. its an awesome product, and much more flexible and softer than the keeper.

[BlessedbyLily]

Boy, I am SO interested in this thread!

I still haven't had a visit yet (dd is 19 mo) but I really don't want to go back to the old Tampax I used before she was born and before I knew of the vast cloth world.

I really don't like 'pads' of any kind, but I could definitely go with a soft cloth liner and something like the diva cup. I have a stash of organic/unbleached disposable stuff but I just hate to buy stuff that goes right into the trash.

Are there any cons at all?

[fluffernutter]

Cons to the Diva Cup? Not really. It's a little tricky to get the hang of (but so were tampons at first). Other than that, no. I love everything about it.

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by BlessedbyLily

Are there any cons at all?

The only "con" for me -- a severely sewing-impaired mama -- is that a supply of cloth pads costs (initially) much more than a supply of 'sposies so I had to work up to doing cloth full-time. But that's something that you can either budget around or do as I did and buy a few pads every month.

[Aaudreysmom]

Right now I use organic dispoables but I just ordered some cloth pads nd as sson as they get here I will make the switch.

[KayleeZoo]

Originally Posted by Lisadeanne

Disposables here. I just can't go there, sorry

Me too.

[tabitha]

it isnt 'natural' to stuff bleached paper pulp in your yoni.

it isnt 'natural' to make pads from organic cotton and put them in your panties.

it isnt 'natural' to put a piece of silicone over your cervix.

however there are many options that are better than others, and farmed sea sponges are a great option- considering the grotesque nature of paper bleaching and the worldwide poisoning that it causes via dioxins... among other nasty things i can think of about blech tampax.

i appreciate your strong opinion, KeysMama. i think its great to spread the word. ut i do think that the sea sponges intended for menstrual products are farmed, not wildharvested. it might be interesting to know that for certain. I dont own any and dont have any literature in my home about it.

i do know sea sponges are harvested wild for many other uses, like art supplies bathing and so on.

tabitha

[Carolinamidwife]

Originally Posted by KeysMama

I used cloth on both babies- now 8 and 3, and started using cloth mama pads when my first was about 18 months. Going on 7 years of cloth for me!

T (kinda) PS Mamas, PLEASE reconsider the Sea Sponge as being a natural /reusable alternative. Reusable yes, but there is nothing natural about killing a sea creature and putting it up your yoni. They harvest these animals, and they are classified as an animal, in my back yard. I smell them rotting for weeks while they slowly die. I listen to the reports of the damage done to the reefs while they rip them up. Baby turtles have to go further out of find food and get gobbled up. And only about 1 in 3 actually regrow, and it takes years.
/rant

Wow, I had no idea. I don't use them but I had no idea... thank you.

[Ackray]

Wow! I had no idea so many mama's used cloth for themselves! I do not. That's so sad about sponges, a pretty gross thought too! I looked into the keeper and the diva cup a year or so ago, but I think that they are both latex and I'm allergic. Oh, well, I'm gonna stick with disposable stuff for me!