Convince me to use Mama Pads!

[AdInAZ]

I fairly new to CD my little one, and absolutely Looooooove it. So I've been thinking, maybe I should try cloth mama pads. I know nothing about it. I have a very heavy flow and am concerned about leak-age at work. I have been using Always's ultra-thin super long with wings, and still wish they were bigger sometimes. So here are my questions:

1. What is your favorite brand of Mama Pad?
2. How do you clean them?
3. How many did you buy?
4. Do you have any tips to share?

I'm currently without a period as I am exclusively breastfeeding, so I have some time to figure all this out before I spend the money.

Thanks!

[astrophe27]

I tried Luna Pads and never tried any other.

I saw their Luna Panties online and decided to make some myself in that style rather than add it to my sampler order. My gosh was that super plush and comfy! The pad didn't slide or bunch since it was sewn right in the panties.

Now with mine I didn't put the nylon to make it leak proof but next time I make some I will. The "official" Luna Panties do have that layer against leakage.

Then my sampler order came. It came with a few of each type. I felt the short styles were annoying and got bunchy so I never liked those. But the long ones were great and didn't bunch or slide around and provided me with ample coverage and no leaks. I think the smaller ones might be better for younger girls who are smaller overall... it isn't the pads fault that I'm bigger. YKWIM?

Washing them is easy -- bung in washer in a laundry mesh bag so they don't fly around. Dry, and we're good to go.

Hands down... Soft cloth down there beats paper and plastic any day!

www.lunapads.com
www.gladrags.com

www.sewshoppe.com for Pretty Pads pattern.

A.

[roostery]

I've been using gladrags since 94. I still have the original ones I purchased and I still use them. Think of the savings! That's 13 years of not buying tampons or pads! I find them easy to carry and easy to clean (even easier now that I am CDing. I just toss them in the wet pail with the diapers.)

I've only tried gladrags though, not anyone else's stuff.

[KariM]

1. What is your favorite brand of Mama Pad?
My fav are the ones I sew myself. I also have a heavy flow, so I made some really big pads - 14" long and wide - and use hemp fleece as the soaker and back them with PUL and fleece to prevent leaks. I can go overnight and wake up without red panties.

2. How do you clean them?

I have a lidded wastebasket that I use to store our cloth wipes and I just pop my pads into that after use. I wash about every other day during my cycle and just wash on hot and dry on hot.

3. How many did you buy?

With my cycle, I often have to change hourly on the heavy days and I do wash about every other day. With that routine 10-14 pads seems to be plenty enough for me.

4. Do you have any tips to share?

No tips, but some encouragement! My cycles became lighter and shorter by two days after I switched to cloth. They're more comfortable and I don't dread my cycle like I used to! (of course now I'm pregnant and not using them)

[Daniel's Kitty]

My pantiliners are homemade, but similar to the lunapads liners and I love them. I am making some pads that are similar to theirs but I still don't have a cycle to try them out.

[MaryLang]

I've been using cloth for myself for about 5 years. Your CDing a little one? So much the easier, I just toss them in the diaper pail. I have about 12 now, some lunapads, mother of eden, and some ebay ones (Gingers I think).

I have a much shorter period, only about 2 days. Less cramping, I don't even need to take anything for the cramping and headaches anymore. I never run out of them, and it saves money. They are so easy and SOFT!

[AdInAZ]

[QUOTE=KariM;9100291 My cycles became lighter and shorter by two days after I switched to cloth. [/QUOTE]

For real? Is this common? Because that alone will make me want to switch!

[KMK_Mama]

I also love my Luna Pads. I have 1 from Celtic Cloths that I LOVE for heavy days too. I need more of those.

I usually just fold them up and throw them in the hamper or leave them on the counter in the bathroom until I wash them. I throw them in with the towels and I wash them on HOT and dry them.

[Angel_7971]

My fav are my homemade ones as well. I love the http://shewhorunsintheforest.googlepages.com/ and http://manymoonsalternatives.com/make_your_own_pads.php free patterns
I put them in my family cloth container, but if I had children they would just go in the cloth diaper pail.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMAG0041.jpg
If you want longer pads just trace the one you have and draw longer. Some people make them contoured in the back.

[KariM]

Originally Posted by AdInAZ

For real? Is this common? Because that alone will make me want to switch!

For me I went from a 7 day period with about 4 days of heavy bleeding to a 5 day period with 2 days of heavy bleeding.

I've heard from other mamas that their cycles became less painful, less heavy and shorter as well.

It's not universal, but seems to be pretty common.

[songbird45]

I use the DivaCup but am looking for a cloth pad solution just as a backup/alternative. I love the divacup and second the shorter/lighter period. I will never go back to disposables, if I can at all help it. But what do you do with pads when you're at work?

[autumnbloom]

i've been using cloth pads for about 6 months and I have never been happier. I am allergic to some of the typical adhesives and plastics of the store bought pads, so this was a WONDERFUL alternative for me. I have been so comfortable, and never worry about leaks ever.

[KariM]

Originally Posted by songbird45

But what do you do with pads when you're at work?

I don't WOH, but I do carry around a small wet bag in my purse to put the used pads in when I'm out and about.

Some women use plastic zipper bags (cosmetic bags) or a ziploc bag.

[pazerific]

i've been using a diva cup for about the past 6 cycles, and i really like it, but by the 4th day i'm ready to not be wearing it any longer. i bought some gladrags pantyliners and i love them (they're on sale from the frontier co-ops this month)! i don't think i would like their regular pads though because i like an AIO design. i'm planning to order some perfect pads in the very near future cause they seem to have all of the features i'm looking for.

as far as washing, i just rinse the pad in the sink under cold water (hot sets blood stains) and hang it over the side of the family cloth basket. i wash them in with the family cloth and haven't had any staining on them yet. if you're already CDing, you'll love mama cloth! it's so much softer and more comfortable than disposable pads!

[snanna]

I've been using pads from Many Moons since... gulp... 1999. The same pads. They are a little different from the ones they make now, but essentially the same style. I can't believe they are still working just fine after so many years and so many washings! If I amortized out the costs, they'd be pretty much free, at this point, compared to disposables. I did buy some bigger postpartum pads for after my first baby was born, and they come in handy for nighttime too. I love them! Very comfortable.

I used to soak them, but the soak water would get stinky, and I actually noticed less staining (read: practically none) once I started just rinsing them and throwing them on top of the laundry to dry and eventually be washed. Now I just put them in with diapers when there are some, or another hot wash.

I have maybe ten regular pads, and six postpartum. I'm thinking of getting a few more big ones for after this next baby. People with lighter periods get away with fewer, but this is a minimum for me.

I have a heavy period, but I have never had a leak with my cloth pads, compared to when I was using disposables. This may also have to do with the flow getting lighter and briefer after switching to cloth-- what a strange phenomenon, eh? Mine do have the PUL layer, but it doesn't seem to impede the breathability much, for me.

Gotta say, I really love using cloth pads. It was the first "alterna-cloth" move I made, long before cloth diapering entered my life. At the time, it was kind of a riot grrl thing, I guess, and went along with loving your body and not being ashamed of its functions. I still get a little frisson of pride when I fold them up on laundry day! It makes me happy that they are becoming (a little bit) more mainstream these days.

[reducereuserecycle]

Glad Rags
soak in cold. wash in either cold, warm or hot...whatever. use some seventh gen soap. maybe a little Borax.
i have enough that i have to launder about every 36-48 hours on my heaviest days. I wash them with clothes, towels, whatever. never had any problems.
I LOVE them!!!

[jimblejamble]

1. What is your favorite brand of Mama Pad?
I looove Mimi's Dreams! So many fun and exciting colours, and such a good price!
2. How do you clean them?
I rinse mine out until the water runs clear, then sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the dirty side. Then I plop them in a bucket of water (don't swish it around, make sure most of the baking soda still sits on the dirty part while soaking) and leave them there for several hours. Then I rinse again and fold the pad inward and srub the baking soda sides together, then throw them in with the rest of my laundry.
3. How many did you buy?
12.
4. Do you have any tips to share?
http://www.moonhutnaturals.com/ is a very helpful site

[AdInAZ]

Thanks for all the help! I am definately going to switch. I'm breastfeeding now, so no period. But after reading all this, I almost WANT my period to return so I can try cloth pads out right now. Ok...not really. But I am looking forward to making the switch. Now I just have to decide the best buy for me...

[hello_world_bye]

1. What is your favorite brand of Mama Pad?
My favorites are Punky's Pads and Mimi's Dreams.

2. How do you clean them?
I usually wash out the blood, soak them for a day or two in a baking powder solution, and then throw them in the laundry.

3. How many did you buy?
I bought 8 (2 in each size), but because I also use the Diva Cup, I am yet to use all of them. I only need to use them on my first day, because my cup leaks on that day for some reason.

4. Do you have any tips to share?
Buy a Diva Cup!

[PeacefulSeams]

1. What is your favorite brand of Mama Pad?
I got mine from www.saucytots.com and I LOVE them. I also got some from Ebay and don't care for those as much.
2. How do you clean them?
I rinse and then I soak them in cold water with my cloth TP and then wash them every other day with some Borax.
3. How many did you buy?
I use a Diva Cup too so I usually only use these on my first day and the last 2 days. I have 8 right now but I plan on getting more.
4. Do you have any tips to share?
Get a Diva Cup!