Cloth Pad & Menstrual Cup Discussion Thread

[Smoke Jaguar]

Oooh, Maz, there is NO sensation with the Mooncup! Even going in it just glides - unlike tampons that suck every bit of moisture on the way up, blergh! Even on lighter days, it just glides, using natural lubrication. Once in, can't feel a thing! Fabulous! Got to the end of my period the other week and almost with a twinge of sadness put my cup into its bag until next time.
Oh, and for us sustainable ladies, how great is it to go into a loo that says 'this cubicle does not contain a sanitary bin', when you have your period and think 'I DON'T CARE'???? I know some would deem this weird, but once you remove the modern 'ick' factor from having periods, I'm really enjoying that part of my life

[Kazbah]

Mayaness - where did you get yours from?

And why aren't they allowed (?) to be sold in Oz? V. confused.

I've been using my cloth pads for a couple of cycles now and love them - platinum panties - but they don't work too well with the kayser bamboo undies I'm now wearing So am seriously considering diva/mooncup.

Must say, trying to explain these to my friend was interesting, she is just so "erk" about the whole thing!

[maz]

wonder if anyone will have the diva cups at the melbourne baby expo tomorrow......

maybe I might invest in one then Mayan ess - I absolutely HATE that sandpaper feeling with tampons.

Hm would be a great thing to show my mum who thinks Ive gone back to the dark ages with using cloth for myself.

How do you guys wash them? Do you soak them in water or dry pail them? Ive tried both and find Dry pailing works best for me.

kaz - bamboo knickers...WERE????????

[~MummaBear~]

ohh i havent seen this thread before! I have some Maz pad i got just after bub was born but i havent had a chance to use them yet!!

[skybie]

i love my maz pads mummabear, theyy're my go to pads. if they can handle a post baby bleed, they can handle anything!

[*Efjay*]

How many PP pads did you use? not sure how many I should have

[skybie]

i have 16 all up, 6 maz pads, and 10 scarlette eve ones, ranging from liners to heavy/overnight/pp ones. for the first maybe 3 days i used diposable maternity pads then switched to normal flow cloth ones and never had a leak, depends on how long the heavy part of the PP bleed lasts for u i guess

[beckles]

I bought my moon pads from a mumma company i can't remember the name of them but they certainly are comfy. i am really interested to buy a diva cup i have heard such great reports about them. hmmm must do some research and find one.\
ps maz i am very impressed with your daughters talents in your ticker photo.... lmao!
beckles

[Kazbah]

maz - kmart, myers, dj's, target ... they're very "in" at the mo. Quite exxy though unfortunately - I bought a pile on a 25% off sale (had to tell DH it was buy 3 get one free else he'd say why not just buy 2?) but they're more boyleg style. Very soft though, just lovely. Literally feel like you're not wearing any

[Smoke Jaguar]

I got an email from Mooncup saying that the TGA considers the Mooncup to be a 'medical device', so can't be supplied to wholesalers in Australia - that's why you have to order in from OS. Not legal to be sold in Oz, but can be brought into Oz - must be something to do with having to have some kind of medical background to sell it.
How ridiculous - it's taking me back to the GST thing about menstrual goods being a luxury item.
Oh, nearly forgot! I got my cup from the UK site...just before the Oz dollar took a dive...

[melbel]

They cant be sold in Australia as yet because they are classed as a medical device and as such have to get TGA approval. because most of these companies are quite small they havent really had the money to chase it up and get the relevant approvals etc....there is a whole heap of red tape and testing that has to be done before anything is approved by the TGA.

one company has just received approval or exemption insome way but i forgetwhich ( someone on nappycino was saying they fnally had the okay to sell them here just a couple of weeks back).

I love my nice knicker bamboo velour topped ones from wild child....my rather large stash is almost exclusively those now...they wear so much better than flannel topped pads...nearlt 2 years and still going strong some of them!

oh and my own brand ones of course...although I usually end up with all the seconds that my perfectionist brain won't let me sell!!

[maz]

Well Melbel make me some woman!!!!!! I love your pads....me want now!!!

Maybe I should ge tmy SIL to order some in...she orders all theatre stuff for the hospital she works at (dandynong) hmmm me thinking now

ETA - beckles - I was going to put up the pic of my little man licking his nose but thoguht people might spew int he process

[Kitt3n]

I was thinking of trying some of the swalldbees organic velour ones cloth pads - has anyone tried these?

How do you all wash them, do they stain?

I am very intrigued. I hate tampons and only use pads - but even with the "natural" cover ones I get irritated down there......

[Kazbah]

MEL - where? I can't see yours! I want some too!!!!

KittyKat - I have a small container of water in I put them into to soak and put them in with the nappies. Do be careful though, I just had one that I've washed a few times, but the colour of the brocade ran and stained my bamboo boosters!

[BekZ]

I have just stumbled apon this thread and it seems very timely for me.

Since having Loren 10 months ago it seems that I have developed a sentivity to pads. TMI warning...After AF I have a lot of discomfort, I get the same issues when DH uses condoms. Last cycle I tried tamponds but it seems my pelvic floor has relocated and I can't seem to get one in the right spot...So I am seriously stuffed!!!

Actually the thought of using "rags' is a bit dark ages to me...sorry Maz, but I don't want to go through any more allergic reactions, so cloth looks like a great option.

As for the cup idea, if I can't insert a tampond successfully then how would I go with a cup?

Where should I start? Question...What about smell and cleaning?

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

If one has problems with tampons, should she still try a menstrual cup? I use tampons sometimes but they don't seem to fit properly, they never go in the full length of my finger no matter what, they slip down and such, and always leak! I have no idea what I'm doing wrong but after 10 odd years of having a period, I still can't work it out!

[Nicole Tracy]

Using a menstrual cup is a totally different experience to using a tampon. Firstly, the cup is very easy to insert (as all of you lovely ladies have stated in this forum), and it collects/catches your menstrual flow as opposed to absorbing it as tampons do. Because tampons are highly absorbent, they draw in ALL the secretions present, causing irritation and higher likelihood of infections. The cups are made from medical-grade silicon, and are hypoallergenic, and don't interfere with the natural secretions of the vagina. They also sit lower in the body than tampons, and you cannot feel their presence at all. If you have issues with tampons, I would highly recommend trying a cup.

As you are most probably aware, tampons are made from cotton (and some synthetic fibres) and cotton is one of the most heavily 'pesticided' crops that humans grow. You readily absorb any pesticides through the mucous membranes of the vagina, so this is another factor to consider. Organic cotton tampons are available in health stores, and these are indeed better than your standard mass produced luxury-taxed-plugs-in-a-pretty-box... (sorry ) but are far surpassed by menstrual cups.

I know that buying a cup is a bit of an investment initially, but you will save big bucks long term, not to mention the reduction of your impact on this planet, and the benefit to your own health.

Sorry for the rant!

xxx

[DaintreeDream]

Thankyou for your rant Nicole! The information you provided was great.

I currently have my first visit from AF since giving birth to DD. I seem to have pain and discomfort using tampons which I have never had before. I am really interested in trying a cup, as I also want to rid as many toxins from mine and my families lives as possible. How many pads/liners should I be getting to use along with a cup? I would hope to use the cup full time but would like liners whilst using the cup and maybe pads as a back up? I have never used pads so I have no idea what is a 'normal' quantity?

I have seen wild child and swaddlebees pads mentioned which both have a velour top, what do 'you' (everyone) think is the best for absorbancy and comfort?

Any advise or assistance would be great?

Thankyou! Deanne.