tampon alternatives for VERY heavy flow

[mama_nomad]

I've always used tampons. Tampax to be exact-- until I met my DH and he brought me a brown paper bag to the coffeeshop I was working at with some Natracare non-chlorine bleached tampons inside and told me that he didn't want me using the other kind anymore--we'd been dating for two weeks. After that, I knew he was keeper.

After having babies, my period had changed slightly. I always was a heavy bleeder the first two days but now it's even worse and the whole bleeding time lasts one day less. So it goes like this: Two days of super heavy, then two days of barely anything, just need a little pad but no tampons. When I say heavy, i mean changing it every three/four hours or it falls out by itself (Ew, gross, I know) and I always leak everywhere at night.

I've heard of the Keeper and of natural reusable pads, but honestly I am not sure they can handle the flow, plus I really like the mess to be contained before it exits my body, YK?

Any heavy flowers out there with advice? I am sick of using tampons, and would like to go with something more eco.

(Is there an "i'm-on-my-period" icon?)

[srain]

Menstrual cups like the keeper or diva cup hold much more than tampons.

[mirandahope]

Before my first pregnancy, I was a very heavy bleeder too, like what you (first poster) described above. I have been using reusable pads for about 10 years. I find they hold about as much or more than disposables, although at night I tend to wake up more often with reusables, because I feel wetter. I am squeamish with the thought of inserting anything to deal with the flow (tampons, cups, etc) and don't like the idea of disposables, although I use them when I go out for any length of time, so for me reusables are the best.

I have heard that tampons especially bleached ones, can cause women to bleed more. Not sure if that is true, but for me it has been an added reason to not use them.

http://pacificcoast.net/~manymoons/ is the company where I bought my reusables. They ship within north america.
But there are also many other places in north america and overseas that market them.
I like the funky patterns, and for me there is something very satisfying about cleaning my pads, rather than throwing them away. I like the care I am giving to both myself and my planet by using them.

[Persephone]

The Keeper holds one fluid ounce. I have light periods, but I wear them for 12 hours, putting it in in the morning, and reinserting in the shower at night. If you have heavy periods, they are likely to hold more than any tampon.

[PatchyMama]

I second or third the keeper. I dont find it messy, it stays contained in the cup until I take it out and dump it.... it holds a ton too. I change it 2 or 3 times on my first day of my cycle (which is a pretty heavy day) and then i usually only change it at night and morning the last 2 days of my cycle.

[KimberMama]

A Keeper or Diva should work fine for you. You may not be able to go 12 hours, but you should last longer than a tampon. When I have regular periods (not reduced by BCP) I go through 1 Playtex Super Plus tampon an hour (to the falling out stage). With the Keeper I managed about 3 hours.

[CarrieMF]

Alot of women find with the continued use of reusable pads that their flow decreases. The diva cup has a 1 year return policy if you don't like it.

[EricaLeigh]

I'm pretty heavy & on day 1 have to empty mine out every couple hours. But I do find it way better than tampons though. I also wear backup (cloth panty liners that I sewed). My flow is actually getting a little better. But when AF returned when DD#2 was 12 months it was SO heavy!

[mama_nomad]

thanks everyone! i think i am going to try a diva cup next time around, and some lunapads or something similar....

how very exciting!

[corwinegall]

I'm fairly heave for a few days too...Years ago I tried that disposable cup, can't remember what it was called, and it slipped on me when I sat down one time, messy and turned me off to using a keeper or a diva. But I'd really like to when I start up again. Any hints or comments?

[dynamicdoula]

I love my Keeper but I have found that it works better for me on the third day or so of my period. I have New Moon pads (wingless) that I use on the first couple of days, just because I don't want to worry that I am going to overfill my Keeper or have to change it in public- too many 'murder scene mishaps' in public stalls...

So the balance I have struck is pads the first two or three days, and then Keeper thereafter. Sometimes I get sick of having to fiddle with that thing and I will just use pads the entire time. I hope none of my friends ever comes over and asks me for a tampon!

[Alkenny]

I use the Diva Cup and can't rave about it enough. After having my last babe, I was flowing 7 days HARD...changing my tampon every hour or it ran down my leg hard (TMI?). I've been using the Diva Cup for about a year now, and I'm down to 3 days flow and just a medium flow.

[Rebecca]

I use cloth pads and change every time I pee for the first couple days. My period sounds like yours. I like Gladrags, Nighttime pads, washcloths and premie prefolds for the first 2 days.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by corwinegall

I'm fairly heave for a few days too...Years ago I tried that disposable cup, can't remember what it was called, and it slipped on me when I sat down one time, messy and turned me off to using a keeper or a diva. But I'd really like to when I start up again. Any hints or comments?

I HATED the "instead" cups- they leaked like crazy, didn't stay in well, and just, in general, were a PITA to deal with. I didn't have any of those problems with the Keeper or DivaCup.

[lisac77]

Another VERY happy DivaCup user here. Of all the things I've learned on MDC, I love my DivaCup the most! I'm on my second cycle with it and what can I say - it is awesome! I encourage you to at least try it. It has changed my life.

[5terre]

I also love my Diva cup. I have a very heavy flow and change it every 2hrs during my heaviest time. It's not totally full, but I don't like to fill it more than about half way at the risk of leakage. It's so nice to not have to carry tampons when I'm out or at work. I love that I can change it as often as I want and not 'waste' anything, like I always felt with tampons. And best of all, as my flow slows I only have to change it when I get up and when I go to bed. Awesome!

[julesinottawa]

Originally Posted by dynamicdoula

too many 'murder scene mishaps' in public stalls...

I must say, I never expected to get such a chuckle from a post about menstruation

I have a diva too, had a bit of trouble adjusting to it, used it for about a year and haven't used it in months. When I had heavy flow days (very heavy) I had to empty every couple hours. After a while I just kept thinking about whether it was sterile enough.

At night during heavy flow I use a prefold...not pretty but better than a tampon IMO and effective enough.