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

[leeneh]

I've read that some experience shorter, lighter, less painful cycles with use of cloth pads, and that the chances of the aforementioned infections are reduced. Has anyone had that experience?I noticed the difference practically immediately, and when I began looking into the possibility of there being a connection, I found it seems to be more a norm than an exception. The rash I got from the commercial pads went away completely as well. The only thing it doesn't affect directly, that I have noticed, is PMS, but being more comfortable physically makes it more bearable than before

[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

[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

[dalyax]

Over the years of switching to cloth, I noticed my periods are dramatically shorter and a bit less heavy. They only last about 4 days for me compared to a week and a half years ago when I use disposable pads. The biggest problem I had with disposable pads was with how uncomfortable they are and they cause horrific odor. I didn't switch for the environment but out of curiosity and problems with disposables :D

[aesmith282]

Thanks for the advice and the links. I had noticed the lack of a leak proof layer, but I thought I'd try them at home first and/or get into my relatively new bag of panty liners and put one underneath at work until I see how they perform. I wanted to buy enough at first to last a day to see how I feel about it. I could be paranoid about leaks. I only buy overnight and maxis for my actual period days even when my flow is light. So I'm probably worrying for no reason, as usual. lol

[bec_clothcycle]

If you do have problems with leaking of the Mamabear pads there are some cloth pad makers who do a waterproof barrier layer which you place separately in your underwear. Do a google search for obsidianstar pads. Obsi makes winged leak guards which would be perfect for this, then you could still continue to use your Mamabear pads without worry :) I would link the product for you but livejournal marks links as spam often times.

Best wishes and welcome to a more comfortable period!!

[aesmith282]

Thanks! That is an awesome tip! Smart cookies over there at Obsidian! :)

[djs429]

Congratulations on discovering cloth :). It took me about 6 months of full time cloth usage before there was a really noticeable (as in, can't be chalked up to the placebo effect) lightening of my periods, although part of that is simply b/c more comes out now in the toilet, it seems. Anyhow, now I wish I did not have most of my heavy pads. If I had only known, I could have gotten more fun regular pads to have in my rotation now and just changed more often during the first months

[aesmith282]

Thanks for the advice! I think Im done ordering for now (unless I come across some deals next week like you suggested I keep an eye out for lol) I am looking forward to trying them out and seeing how things look/feel/work. The two minky pads came in the mail today. They are already washed and hanging to dry. Its kinda perfect, right near the end of my cycle when I will worry less about leaks as my flow is starting to slack off. :)

[rhondacr]

I've loved Homestead Emporium's pads! I found out that I did not like anything with wings; I tried both HE's and Mimi's dreams with wings and hated them, to the point of "I liked my disposables better" but I had one of HE's with tabs on the back (go to her website; you'll see the difference) as well as an ultramini XS with mini-wings and LOVE those! I also like Amy's rag bag liners, without wings, much to my suprise! There are LOTS of brands and many options; if you don't like one, try another. I would highly suggest buying 1 or 2 styles (not patterns, styles; different sizes, different wings, etc...) if possible and go from there.

Oh, and don't be afraid of some of the ones without PUL but rather have windpro fleece; I've never had one leak, even on my heaviest days!