LD on reuseable menstrual products

[bouchiemama]

DS is just shy of 13 months and AF has returned Before DS I used all commercial disposable products. But after 13 months of CD, it seems silly to go back to disposable tampons or pads. I have dial up and it would take me forever to search all the posts for answers to my questions. So, I'm hoping you Mamas can help me here in one place. I need a basic overview of everything - how many do you need? what fabrics are availabe and what works best? what do you do when you're out? what features are good/bad? I was a mostly tampon girl - don't like to feel set and sticky down there. Are those cup things any good? Do they actually work? Any other tips/information would be great! By the way, I did read the cloth pad reviews and I'll be checking out the sites for the products recommended there. So, you don't have to give product reviews, but I'll listen to everybody's 2-cents! Thanks!

[hubris]

I switched to my Diva Cup after AF returned post-Griff's-birth. Like you, becoming a crunchy mama using CDs made me rethink other disposable products.

I love the Diva Cup - I was also a tampon girl pre-kids. I can wear it twice as long as I could go with a tampon, which is nice on a heavy day. I also have some cloth pantyliners with PUL from Rhythm & Blues pads that are great for lighter days or backup on really heavy days. And sometimes I use GladRags nighttime pads at night.

There are tons of threads on cups here - search for "diva" in this forum and you'll find lots of experience/advice. Number of pads seems to be a personal thing. I myself find that I can do with just a few panty liners and a few nighttime pads, because I wash them frequently (with Reese's CDs) and I don't fully rely on cloth since I use a cup.

[gemasita]

I use the Diva too. LOVE IT! Sometimes forget I am having AF altogether.

I use cloth pantiliners as back up so I don't really have to deal with stains or what to do when I'm out in public (storing the dirty ones, etc).

[perl]

Another satisfied Diva cup user here! I totally love it. No icky squishy feeling, no gnarly string hanging down, no vile odors. It was quick to learn how to use, and it's sooo nice not to have to buy and dispose of tampons and all the wrappers and things that come along with them. I've also read about people saying that the flow is shortened and I'm happy to say that now I'm one of them - yay!!

[Amari's Mama]

Another diva lover here.

My uterus/cervix is tilted to the left side, so I don't get quite as good of a seal as alot of mamas do. I wear cloth pantyliners as a backup for the occasional leak/spot.

I, too, have had shorter/less crampy cycles after a month or two of using the diva (after DD and before this pregnancy).

[MissLotus]

I am not (yet?) a user of the Diva cup or anything, but am curious about why it makes the cycles shorter! That sounds good to me.

[Amari's Mama]

The theory I've seen/heard is that disposables are so absorbant, that they actually pull more moisture from you than you would normally flow. And, in the cases of tampons, that they are so absorbant, that in the process of pulling that extra moisture, they are actually creating micro-tears on the walls of your vagina that bleed.

There's lots of research to be had for searching on the internet. Something like, "benefit cloth menstrual product".

[ashleyhaugh]

ive been using cloth pads for about a year now, and i like it so much better. i get mine from www.motherandmaiden.com , and theyre great

[sphinxie]

If you preferred tampons you'll probably like cups the best. I'm a diva cup person and really like it. I'm planning to get some cloth pads for the very light days though, cause I do get tired of the cup after awhile.

[MissLotus]

Originally Posted by Amari's Mama

The theory I've seen/heard is that disposables are so absorbant, that they actually pull more moisture from you than you would normally flow. And, in the cases of tampons, that they are so absorbant, that in the process of pulling that extra moisture, they are actually creating micro-tears on the walls of your vagina that bleed.

There's lots of research to be had for searching on the internet. Something like, "benefit cloth menstrual product".

Thank you, that's very interesting!!

[ledzepplon]

Originally Posted by gemasita

I use the Diva too. LOVE IT! Sometimes forget I am having AF altogether.

Me, too!

Seriously, I LOVE my Diva Cup. I can't imagine using anything else.

[*bejeweled*]

Love the Diva too! And really love Lunapads. They are the best! I got a starter kit of Lunapads and then added to it. It makes AF so much more pleasant and personal.:

I will never go back to disposables.

[mumkimum]

I've been using the Keeper almost 10 yrs now & love it. One of the best things is that down there is SO much less achy than with using tampons. There's some kind of 'disposeable' version of a menstrual cup you can purchase if you want to try something more similar to a menstrual cup before making the purchase - which isn't a bad idea. I forget right now what its called though.

I also like glad rags to use sometimes instead or in addition to.

[kaydee]

I tried both the Diva and the Keeper and wasn't happy with them; they felt quite uncomfortable and also leaked. Then I got a Mooncup (sold from a UK website but shipped anywhere) and love it most of the time. It's smaller, so it fits me better. It can be a bit messy, particularly as you are learning to remove it, and I do find I have to change it often on the heavy flow days (I wear it with a Glad Rag). It does leak at night, so I still use tampons and a Glad Rag then.

[SusannahM]

I was going to try the sea sponge tampons after AF comes back after this pregnancy. It just sounds the most comfortable to me. I've tried the cups before and didn't really like them too much.

[solidcitizqueen]

Diva girl here, but Mooncup (UK) is great too. Former Insteader for 10 years. Have used a nasty plug or paper pad for emergencies before getting Diva, and they should be outlawed! Have used sea pearls (sponges) on light days, or "intimacy nights", and find them helpful for daughter when she has a YI (to treat it naturally). After switching to cloth t.p., I entertained cloth pads, but just can't stand the moisty messy red stuff. I love my Diva, because she takes care of all that for me. DD is on Diva too, since 2nd cycle, and we're never looking back!

[kaydee]

Originally Posted by SusannahM

I was going to try the sea sponge tampons after AF comes back after this pregnancy. It just sounds the most comfortable to me. I've tried the cups before and didn't really like them too much.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot--I tried the Sea Pearls for a while, too. They were comfortable, but a complete messy disaster for anything but the lightest flow. YMMV.

[CarrieMF]

I entertained cloth pads, but just can't stand the moisty messy red stuff.

They're not like that at all. The majority of women bleed less with cloth than with disposable. Also, this is hard to describe until you experience it, but most of what you bleed never makes it to the pad. it stays inside until you go to the bathroom and pee, the peeing action is enough of a kegal to push it out so it goes into the toilet instead of on the pad.

[Lynski]

I was a die hard tampon gall until I tried cloth. Since I tried it, I haven't even had the urge to buy any tampons or even look up Diva cups and such. It's SO not as yucky as you think. Even if you go with the Diva or something similar, I'd suggest getting some cloth for backup or nighttime just in case.

[MonP'titBoudain]

Originally Posted by CarrieMF

Also, this is hard to describe until you experience it, but most of what you bleed never makes it to the pad. it stays inside until you go to the bathroom and pee, the peeing action is enough of a kegal to push it out so it goes into the toilet instead of on the pad.

Hmm, interesting! With me it was too moist but I think that was just because I had previously only used tampons. I hate pads, hate the dampness (although that IS better with cloth vs disposable) and I hate the uncomfortable wad between my legs. Makes me feel like I'm waddling around with a diaper on! I love my diva cup, although I almost gave up on it 'cause I kept inserting it wrong. It took me about 4 cycles to really get the hang of it. I use my own cloth pads as light liners and sometimes I'll use them instead of the cup 'cause like pp, I get sick of the cup after a while. that's my 2-cents!