Using cloth pads only, no cup...review here

[canuckgal]

: Just wanted to share my experience with cloth pads here. I have posted in the past problems I have been having with yeast infections EVERY MONTH, no word of a lie, starting the week my period ends. This has been going on for a year or so. I have tried everything, including oral meds, diet changes, buying a new diva cup and cloth pantiliners, changing how I clean my divacup, etc.

Well, I discussed things with my doc and she felt I should not be using any sort of internal protection at all (she was assuming I was using tampons of course) Well, I am using the New Moon pads by Renee of Sweet cheeks, as well as the Lunapads pantiliners I have. I have done this for 2 cycles now, and I have had NO infections the last 2 months.

I was a little nervous, I am not used to flowing onto a pad in my heavy days, I have not used "just" pads since I was a teen. I am more than pleased. No leaks, no wet feeling, my flow seems lighter and the pads are so absorbant, no feeling of a "flood" just sitting on the surface of the pad like I remember from my disposable days (sorry if that is TMI!!! )

Washing them is easy, I rinse (or use peroxide on them if they have dried) and put them in a wet pail. I wash them separately with an old T shirt (to make my load a bit bigger esp if I am washing only 6-8 pads or so, also so as to not have them exposed to fabric softener that I use on the rest of my line dried laundry) and then line dry them on a rack.

All I can say is all you ladies are right about cloth, and I just had to rave about it!!!

[ParisApril]

I had problems years ago with yeast because of my diaphram. I finally realized that the diaphram was the cause of my trouble so I threw it away and have not looked back!

Cloth pads are the best! I made my own from scraps of old fleece jammies and recieving blankets. I think one day I will make nicer ones but these ones work so well I don't want to waste my time right now. I have other things to do.

TMI HERE - I find if I go to the bathroom often to pee on my heavy days(day 2-3) most of the heavy flow ends up in the toilet and not in my pad.

I wash mine with my cloth tp and DS's cloth diapers. Lay flat outside in the sun to dry.

I : my cloth pads. Regular ones are terrible for the environment and don't work very well. I find I can get by with using 2 cloth pads for all day. With the regular ones I was changing them every 2 hours. Plus the regular ones were hot and chaffed my skin. Not my cloth they are wonderful!

Once you go cloth you'll never look back!

[MsElle07]

I too had major yeast problems until I started using cloth pads. Even the cup, while better than a tampon, allows bacteria growth and exacerbated my yeast issues.

I really like the pads from Go With the Flo: http://yinia.com/shop/manufacturers....ufacturerid=26

And Homemade Mama: http://hyenacart.com/HomemadeMama/

I think velour is a great pad topper, and I also like the Endura pads from Homemade Mama -- they're topped with a soft athletic wicking fabric that pulls wetness away.

[canuckgal]

Originally Posted by ParisApril

TMI HERE - I find if I go to the bathroom often to pee on my heavy days(day 2-3) most of the heavy flow ends up in the toilet and not in my pad.

Me too! I wonder why that is! I have read online in various places other people say the same thing. I do find the pads very absorbant though and overall it does seem that I flow lighter.

[starshine1001]

Wow!!! AF has not returned yet since the birth of my last babe, but when she does, I'm going to cloth! I have the same yeast issues. Diet changes helped some, I still couldn't get it under control. I'm going to cloth mama pads when AF returns!

[rainbowmoon]

:

I love my cloth pads for all the reasons you stated! btw a good way to wash them is with your towels.

[Ruthla]

I'm switching over to cloth pads now too.

I used to absolutely love my Divacup, but then it started getting uncomfortable. Last month, I had intense vaginal pain from wearing it, by day 2 of my cycle. The month before I was OK until day 3, when my flow is incredibly light anyway and I could manage OK without any protection other than frequent underwear changes. A few times in the past few months I've been so uncomfortable that I'd take it out and then fold up a washcloth or handkerchief to use as a pad, as I don't have any "real cloth pads" and couldn't bring myself to wear paper (which I keep in the house for teenaged guests.)

Yesterday, I decided that I didn't want to deal with my divacup at all this cycle, or maybe only use it for a few hours if I decide to go swimming or something. So I found some fabric I'd purchased in my diaper-sewing days (100% cotton french terry; fleecy fuzzy on one side and like t-shirt fabric on the other) and grabbed my pinking sheers and cut up about a dozen squares to fold into pads and just place into my snug fitting underwear. I may sew them together into something fancier in the future, but yesterday I was in too much PMS discomfort (and now I'm in too much menstrual discomfort) to deal with it, and anyway I figure they might wash better this way (similar to the flats vs fitteds debate with diapers.)

So, um, what next? Today I'm caught up on laundry and can just dump the used pads into the washing machine (conveniently located in my bathroom) but that's not going to work out so well every month, especially once DD1 is home from camp and there's more laundry to do. Where do I stash the used pads until washing day? My bathroom is REALLY cramped and tiny- the last time I used cloth pads I threw them in the diaper pail, and before that was about 15 years ago when I lived alone, and putting a second "trash can" with lid next to the larger, lidless trash can (that was used for real trash) was easy enough.

Also, how would it work to wash the pads for more than one woman in one load of laundry? When my daughters need pads (if either are willing to use cloth) do we all need our own pads like we all need our own toothbrushes, or can we share the way the girls used to share cloth diapers? If we have separate stashes (say, sewn with different fabrics) is it still too icky to wash them together?

I'm still getting used to the feeling of flowing into something and having wet underwear. I've used the dicacup exclusively for so long! But I will say that my cramps don't seem quite as bad- internal protection with heavy flow isnt' always the best feeling.

[tankgirl73]

Also, how would it work to wash the pads for more than one woman in one load of laundry? When my daughters need pads (if either are willing to use cloth) do we all need our own pads like we all need our own toothbrushes, or can we share the way the girls used to share cloth diapers? If we have separate stashes (say, sewn with different fabrics) is it still too icky to wash them together?

I think whether you share a stash or have individual stashes would just be a matter of personal ickiness... like, would you be comfortable wearing someone else's underwear, even if it's clean? You might... or you might not.

As for washing them, though, again, think of underwear. Are you squicked out by washing your underwear with your husband's? With your daughter's? etc etc. They're in the washing machine, for goodness' sake The whole point of it is that everything comes out equally clean, there's no "cross-contamination" or anything.

I've been using Lunapads for... oh... at least 5 years now. I've even convinced my SIL to switch and she raves about them now too! I've reached the point where I don't bother soaking, pre-treating, or separately washing them. I just toss them under the bathroom cupboard into a pile (no one else looks under there lol... but I really do intend to get a basket or something, just to keep them, um, a bit more seemly), and then when I need some more, I throw them in with the regular laundry.

I swear there have been times that I forgot completely that they were there, and when I dug them out to wash them, they were all dried up and crunchy and stuff... and they still washed up just fine, thank you very much.

I don't even squeeze-and-rinse each one right after use, either... I used to try to get out as much blood as possible right away. Now I just toss the whole bloody thing into the pile. I've noticed NO difference in results.

Without presoaking, I probably get more staining than otherwise, but it's minor and doesn't bother me.

I prefer to dry mine in the dryer, because it makes them soft and fluffy, but actually line-dry them as much as possible.

And I prefer the Lunapads because you only have to change the top liner each time and can keep the same base pad in for much longer, even all day. Saves on washing, saves on the bother of changing a pad, saves money (you only need a few pads and a bunch of - cheaper - liners) and seems much less effort to me than "stuffing" the stuffable types.

[Purple*Lotus]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I'm switching over to cloth pads now too.

I used to absolutely love my Divacup, but then it started getting uncomfortable. Last month, I had intense vaginal pain from wearing it, by day 2 of my cycle. The month before I was OK until day 3, when my flow is incredibly light anyway and I could manage OK without any protection other than frequent underwear changes. A few times in the past few months I've been so uncomfortable that I'd take it out and then fold up a washcloth or handkerchief to use as a pad, as I don't have any "real cloth pads" and couldn't bring myself to wear paper (which I keep in the house for teenaged guests.)

Yesterday, I decided that I didn't want to deal with my divacup at all this cycle, or maybe only use it for a few hours if I decide to go swimming or something. So I found some fabric I'd purchased in my diaper-sewing days (100% cotton french terry; fleecy fuzzy on one side and like t-shirt fabric on the other) and grabbed my pinking sheers and cut up about a dozen squares to fold into pads and just place into my snug fitting underwear. I may sew them together into something fancier in the future, but yesterday I was in too much PMS discomfort (and now I'm in too much menstrual discomfort) to deal with it, and anyway I figure they might wash better this way (similar to the flats vs fitteds debate with diapers.)

So, um, what next? Today I'm caught up on laundry and can just dump the used pads into the washing machine (conveniently located in my bathroom) but that's not going to work out so well every month, especially once DD1 is home from camp and there's more laundry to do. Where do I stash the used pads until washing day? My bathroom is REALLY cramped and tiny- the last time I used cloth pads I threw them in the diaper pail, and before that was about 15 years ago when I lived alone, and putting a second "trash can" with lid next to the larger, lidless trash can (that was used for real trash) was easy enough.

Also, how would it work to wash the pads for more than one woman in one load of laundry? When my daughters need pads (if either are willing to use cloth) do we all need our own pads like we all need our own toothbrushes, or can we share the way the girls used to share cloth diapers? If we have separate stashes (say, sewn with different fabrics) is it still too icky to wash them together?

I'm still getting used to the feeling of flowing into something and having wet underwear. I've used the dicacup exclusively for so long! But I will say that my cramps don't seem quite as bad- internal protection with heavy flow isnt' always the best feeling.

I've done it a couple of different ways. Mind you I have no children, so I have no diaper pails or anything like that. One way was a wet bag that hangs on my door knob that I use for family cloth. This is a good way to go about it. Another way was a plastic container I would add water to and do it sort of the wet pail method. This was messy and I did not like it as much.

As far as for washing, I just do them the same day and load as family cloth. I do a rinse first, then a washing cycle and extra rinse. I truly don't know how I would feel about more than one person's in the load. I am assuming it would not bother me to mix them, since it is all being washed and cleaned. And once they are in the dryer all of the germs are killed anyway.

[Ruthla]

I'm having a really hard time getting used to this feeling! Earlier this evening I leaked through the pad and the undies (so the undies went in with the pads and I got a fresh pair.)

I just don't like having AF. It's no fun with the divacup in, and it's no fun with pads.

[groovynaturemama]

i bought a small plastic trash can and i use it as a wet pail for my cloth pads. i put a little bit of peroxide in with it too (like 1/2 cup to a gallon or so of water). when it's time to wash at the end of my cycle (mind you i've just had 1 ppaf so far) i dump the wet pail into the washer, spin out the water and wash. as far as other pads going in together, i don't have anyone else in my house who uses them, but i would guess it would be fine. maybe have separate wet pails and then wash them all together? i don't really know.

[sacredmama]

I soak my pads in a yogurt container for a few hours, rinse and wring them out in the sink, hang em to dry outside and then throw them in with the rest of the wash. (Then I water my garden with my blood water!!)

I agree, I don't get nearly as bad of cramps as I did when I wore tampons. Letting the blood flow is quite relieving.

[DreamsInDigital]

I rinse my pads in the sink, wring them out and toss them in with our regular laundry. It hasn't added anything to my laundry work and I've never had any problems with staining. I've been using cloth for 2 years now and even used it postpartum after the birth of my DD. When my DD is eventually old enough to need pads, I've sort of already started a stash for her : She's only a year old but I will just teach her to rinse her pads and toss them in the dirty laundry, no big deal.

[lmonter]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Also, how would it work to wash the pads for more than one woman in one load of laundry? When my daughters need pads (if either are willing to use cloth) do we all need our own pads like we all need our own toothbrushes, or can we share the way the girls used to share cloth diapers? If we have separate stashes (say, sewn with different fabrics) is it still too icky to wash them together?

I'm still getting used to the feeling of flowing into something and having wet underwear. I've used the dicacup exclusively for so long! But I will say that my cramps don't seem quite as bad- internal protection with heavy flow isnt' always the best feeling.

I've just been stacking my dirty pads on the floor in our master bathroom. Not the neatest/prettiest idea, but it works, and we have two bathrooms up by the bedrooms. I think my sister just uses a little opaque Rubbermaid that she stashes under the sink in her place, or a wet bag I gave her, and she's got two roommates. Which reminds me, I wanted to get a momma pad bag from Happy Tushies at some point here for each of us...

As for the sharing/washing together pads, I don't see why not. Just depends on what you and your girls are comfortable with. I'm okay with letting my sister use my pads if she needs to while she's here - they're clean. I even loaned them to a friend to try out since she was interested but wasn't ready to plunk down money for cloth pads yet. I can't make myself wash my pads with the diapers though, but that's my own personal hangup. I can't wash kitchen towels/washcloths with bathroom towels either (the kitchen ones have yogurt and peanut butter and jam on 'em!). So I'm just weird.

My little girl's just 5 weeks old, but I'm really hoping I'll get her sucked into cloth pads when the time comes, and I figure part of that will be her picking out her own colors/patterns/fabrics to some degree. Mine are relatively "boring" OCV pads with fleece backing.

One thing I will say is that with pads? My body starts doing this thing where it will kinda try to hang on to the blood until I go use the toilet, then it'll just let loose. Sometimes I'll only really need a pad or two on day 2 or 3 of my period because I just won't bleed much on the pad. It's pretty neat, IMO.

[BelovedK]

Originally Posted by tankgirl73

I think whether you share a stash or have individual stashes would just be a matter of personal ickiness... like, would you be comfortable wearing someone else's underwear, even if it's clean? You might... or you might not.

As for washing them, though, again, think of underwear. Are you squicked out by washing your underwear with your husband's? With your daughter's? etc etc. They're in the washing machine, for goodness' sake The whole point of it is that everything comes out equally clean, there's no "cross-contamination" or anything.

I've been using Lunapads for... oh... at least 5 years now. I've even convinced my SIL to switch and she raves about them now too! I've reached the point where I don't bother soaking, pre-treating, or separately washing them. I just toss them under the bathroom cupboard into a pile (no one else looks under there lol... but I really do intend to get a basket or something, just to keep them, um, a bit more seemly), and then when I need some more, I throw them in with the regular laundry.

I swear there have been times that I forgot completely that they were there, and when I dug them out to wash them, they were all dried up and crunchy and stuff... and they still washed up just fine, thank you very much.

I don't even squeeze-and-rinse each one right after use, either... I used to try to get out as much blood as possible right away. Now I just toss the whole bloody thing into the pile. I've noticed NO difference in results.

Without presoaking, I probably get more staining than otherwise, but it's minor and doesn't bother me.

I prefer to dry mine in the dryer, because it makes them soft and fluffy, but actually line-dry them as much as possible.

And I prefer the Lunapads because you only have to change the top liner each time and can keep the same base pad in for much longer, even all day. Saves on washing, saves on the bother of changing a pad, saves money (you only need a few pads and a bunch of - cheaper - liners) and seems much less effort to me than "stuffing" the stuffable types.

This is how I handle mine, though I try to wash them as soon as possible, I just throw them in with the regular laundry and they all come out clean

Ruthla, I have a hard time with AF and have been disliking it because of heavy flow and leakage. I have begun taking an herbal supplement that containd Shepard's Purse, which is an astringent. to lessen the flow and it seems to work a bit. I am very anemic and need to do this because AF always affects me by causing my hemoglobin to go really low.

As for cloth pads, I can't remember the brand (I just searched and searched through google) but I wear the postpartum pads mine is that bad

[Autumn Breeze]

The first time I used cloth pads I put them in a cold soak, but it ended up smelling horrific when I rinsed them out. Then I'd rinse them out each time I changed my pad, and that was just annoying, because then I'd have to leave it drying in my bathroom and more likely to forget to move it to the hamper. Then I started just putting them in the hamper, the more saturated ones wrapped up in a towel or another clothing item that may have been left in the bathroom.

I rarely 'leak through' I have 4 or 5 mama made pads that I bought last year. The rest of them I made out of gerber prefolds. They didn't work on my daughter or in her fuzzi bunz, so I cut the sides off then faux surged the edges. They're nice and long for over nights, and only leak if my flow is heavy or I don't change it often enough.

[Best Feeling]

I put my used pads in a lidded ceramic jar until my cycle is done. I sprinkle a little baking soda at the bottom of the car but I don't rinse them or soak them. DH does all of our laundry, except my pads. He would do them but he's a bit squeamish so I offered to just do them. We only separate loads by darks, lights, and reds/pinks. Since my pads don't even come close to filling the washer, I grab whatever is in the reds/pinks basket to make a full load. I'm not squeamish about blood, I don't think it is gross or anything, hence they get washed with regular clothes.

My daughters are very young so I haven't given much thought to the issue of sharing. I'd probably be okay with it but wouldn't give them any grief if they wanted their own stash and they might find it fun to pick out their own, as mentioned by a PP. I'm just hoping they will use cloth!

One thing I will say is that with pads? My body starts doing this thing where it will kinda try to hang on to the blood until I go use the toilet, then it'll just let loose. Sometimes I'll only really need a pad or two on day 2 or 3 of my period because I just won't bleed much on the pad. It's pretty neat, IMO.

I've noticed this too, I think it is pretty cool how things work out when letting things happen more naturally

[Benji'sMom]

I put mine in a little flip top trash can (dry pail) until I need to wash them (sometimes I need more pads part way through, sometimes I don't wash till the end, it depends). It's a cute little red trash can (bathroom walls are red so it matches).

[Ruthla]

I was about to throw a load of laundry in with the small pile of used pads in my washing machine, but it's thundering right now and I don't want to risk losing power with laundry half washed. I'm pretty sure I have enough pads to last me my whole cycle without washing, and I can always use washcloths or handkerchiefs in a pinch.

You're right about it slowing down and most of the fluids going into the toilet. My "overnight pad" (actually 2 pads together because I panicked after that one time I leaked) had only the tiniest amount on it. I'm wearing a fresh pad now only because I took a shower- the one I put on 12 hours prior had plenty of room in it.

And it's very nice not to have it hurt when I pee or feel the diva cup falling out when I poop. I still have cramps, but I think the cup intensified the general painful feeling in that area and caused other pains on top of the cramps.

Still, if I was going to be out all day (the long drive to my daughter's sleepaway camp on visiting day comes to mind) I'd probably wear the cup instead of packing a lot of pads. And certainly I'd put the cup in for a few hours if I wanted to wear a bathing suit. It's good to have both- even when I used disposable pads almost exclusively I still kept a few tampons on hand.

[Ruthla]

OK, I washed the pads along with a load of other clothes, and they didn't all get clean. Some werent that dirty to begin with and came out fine. Others, the ones that got really soaked, have dark brown blotches on them. I threw those back into the washer (to be washed with the next load) instead of putting them in the dryer.

Am I doing something wrong?