Just ordered my first cloth pads

[aesmith282]

I just ordered my first half dozen cloth pads and I'm pretty excited about it. I'm actually looking forward to next months cycle, weirdly enough. I started looking into alternative menstrual products a couple of months ago. I was intrigued by the pads as well as the cup. I was reluctant to spend the money on either at the time, our budget is tight

Comments

[aesmith282]

I have neither the skill or the time to make my own...but I wish I did! I never learned to use a sewing machine and I can manage a few simple repairs by hand but that is about it. lol I hate my cycle, ever since I had my tubes tied after my last child it has gottenprogressively more miserable. All my gyno says is "Welcome to the all natural cycle!" (eyeroll...ever so helpful, thanks) It seems I've gotten more and more sensitive to commercial pads and tampons over the last couple of years or so too. I'm definitely ready to try anything that might help me not hate my body and its functions a week out of every month. It is a shame that doctors don't advise their patients to explore what is out there beyond the drug store shelf. I am in my 30s and had never heard of a cup, or sponge, and it never occurred to me to look for someone to actually make pads for me. Of course I knew that women used to use cloth but, like I said, I don't know how to sew and wouldn't have had the slightest inkling on how to construct one. I only began looking into reusable products after stumbling on a youtube video reviewing a cup. I can't remember the last time I didn't dread my period. Now I am hoping my order comes in before this one is over just so I can try them out! lol

[leeneh]

Gods, I had a longish reply for you ready twice, but managed somehow to delete the content both times before I got to press "add a comment"!

Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I think you will notice a shift in your attitude towards your cycle merely by "dressing up" your vulva in pretty cloth pads instead of putting an ugly "band-aid" on her! - I for one have completely stopped going "This shit should be optional!" repeatedly every month after ditching the "plastic" pads. Of course, not having to suffer horrible cramps and deal with soiled underwear and bedlinens any more probably helps as well.

As for handmade cloth pads, there are quite a few makers/vendors around, most are found on Etsy, and asking the community or browsing the reviews/feedback tag will hopefully be of help in deciding which vendors are offering good products and good service.

For simple foldable pads, similar to those I make for myself and described above, somebody - in here or in a similar community - told they used to buy multipacks of brightly coloured terry cloth wash cloths. I have also both torn and cut old t-shirts for the purpose myself, and if I cut them ca. 12-15x40-45 cm and fold them three times (8 layers), making them around 5-6 cm wide, they make supersoft inserts. No sew!