Women, I have a question About This Page:

[Magistar]

I'm putting this here in the "health" room, because I figured it has more to do with health than any of the other rooms.

A WARNING TO MEN: This is a question about women stuff, don't read on unless you want to hear intimate details about being a woman!!!

I read in a magazine a while ago, I think it was my Real Simple magazine, about cloth reusable maxi pads. At first I thought it was absolutely disgusting, I don't even like experiencing it, let alone having to look at it and actually deal with washing it out of a piece of cloth. But that was a while ago, and I've been coming to terms more and more with the facts of life about being a woman. I've been thinking about the expense and waste of disposable pads, and how uncomfortable they can be sometimes for me. They rub and chafe at the creases between my legs and my torso, and make me sweaty and itchy. Not all the time, but most of the time. I wear overnight size pads for the first couple days of my period so I won't leak and to feel protected. I have a job where sometimes I can't get to the bathroom for a couple hours at a time, sometimes longer, so if I feel the "flow" I get worried about leaking. So anyway, I searched online for it, and all I keep getting are these eco maniac, "alternative" lifestlye websites. Now, I have nothing personally against the people running these sites, and I do believe in less waste being better for the environment, and recycling, but some of the other things on there were troubling to me, so much so that I didn't want to endorse anything they promoted. One such thing was the dangers of dairy foods. How people aren't meant to eat dairy products, how milk protein is a huge carcinogen, and how we're the only people (mostly caucasians, it said that!) who drink milk. One such article that they listed as "factual evidence" was fixated on cow's milk. And it said, imagine drinking rats milk, or cats or dogs. And I thought, was a bunch of hokum. What about all the African goat farmers that derive almost all of their food from the goat, including the milk. Goat's milk is also supposed to be really good for people who have trouble digesting cow's milk, which they said most people's bodies reject, and that goes to show that drinking cow's milk is as unnatural as drinking rats milk. So that undermined my willingness to try anything they were promoting the use of, including cloth reusable pads.

But I'm still open to the idea. It's not terribly convenient, but I figured if I'm just going to sit at home one day, why wear a disposable when I can be wearing a cloth one, and save some money and some garbage. I wanted someone to ask about it, but I felt funny posting it on my facebook page. Then I thought about the wonderful passporter community.

Has anyone ever used cloth pads? If so, what are your experiences? Or even what do you think about the subject? They even have tons of patterns so you can make your own, the ones I've seen are mostly cotton and flannel. I like very slim pads, and I'm thinking that a cloth pad would be anything but slim. So that would be an issue for me. But I figure I can get used to it, maybe not for a night on the town, but for regular casual stuff. I don't really know how to do it, but I am very willing to try, and I was just wondering if there are women out there who've used them and what their experiences are. Thanks!!!!

To any guys who read this, I warned you!

[RoonieRooToo]

I use them. I started using them when DH and I went through a 6 month period of reducing our plastic use down as close to zero as we could get. We are very environmentally concious and aware of the garbage we generate.

I've been using them for about a year now and I frankly like them a whole heck of lot better than the disposable.

I did not sew mine but they would be very easy to make. I just bought mine from Reusable Menstrual Products | GladRags.com. Yeah, it took me a bit to get my head around it but now I would never go back.

[mom2twingirlies]

Good information to know. After reading this post, I will have to spend some time getting my head around the idea, but definitely gives me something to think about.

[RoonieRooToo]

I keep getting are these eco maniac, "alternative" lifestlye websites.

Oh and btw, I totally get that. DH and I are pretty tree-hugging greenies but it's hard to find groups online that aren't wrapped up in conspiracy theories and are just looking at how to live a more responsible eco life.

Keep digging. My best resources are just good old moms blogging about how to be green their lifestyle. They are out there

[saremca]

I use them. I use a Keeper/DivaCup normally, but use cloth pads overnight. I buy mine from Etsy.

This is my favorite maker/seller of cloth pads at Etsy.

[snoozin]

My mother had no choice in the "olden days." It's what we women used to always do! I agree it's 'convenient' to use disposables. We do need to consider the cost and additional consumption of the water, bleach, electricity for the washer and dryer, etc... but I do agree that it's a viable alternative!

[Magistar]

One part I'm worried about, is how long can you let it go between changes? Sometimes I let it go longer than I probably should, given that I can't always get to the bathroom when it's practical, like at work. I mean, the layers are just plain cloth, doesn't it leak through pretty quickly? I'm anxious to try it out, I just don't know which company to go with. The first one I checked out was the Gladrags one, they seem pretty nice, and I like that you can add another insert if you feel like it'll be heavier than you originally thought. The first two days were usually my heaviest (and most painful), but in the last couple years, it seems more like the second and third day are the heaviest, so it's not always easy to predict. Thanks for the support girls!

[Magistar]

And that Etsy site is really neat, I've never heard of it before!

[Danielle Harmon]

1. It would take me a long while to get my head round it, but, women did it long before we were all around. Probably not something for when I am going out, but something I would do when at home and not going anywhere.

2. RonnieRoo...nothing wrong with being eco-friendly! I don't think "Tree huggers" are nuts...only nuts are nuts. Good for you and your family for doing your part and being proud of it!!!! There is a big difference between being a responsible human on our "Spaceship Earth" and wanting to blast us back to the dark ages and allow the animal population to overrun because it would be more humane than killingn them for food.

3. As for the website that talked about dairy product...humans have been drinking milk for quite awhile now. Yes, people have allergies/digestive problems with dairy...just like any other food. I would be more apt to blame many of the problems with dairy now-a-days has to do with all the drugs, etc that cows are being injected with to make more milk, etc and what they eat. Probably wise to steer clear. Unfortunate though that it is difficult to separate the wheat from the chaf as it were when searching for ways to be more responsible.

[puzzlewoman]

Hopefully I'm not being too personal here - and this may not even be what you were looking for - but for birth control I get the shots. I do not have my "monthly visitor" anymore, and I DON'T MISS IT AT ALL. Unless you're trying to get pregnant, this is great. And it never even occurred to me how much less waste I am producing, so another thing to help the environment!

[Joanne929]

I never knew there was such a thing as cloth reusable maxi pads! I checked out the Etsy website (thanks for sharing that) - just not sure if it's something I'm ready (willing?) to try. I'll keep it in mind though.

[roaminggnome]

Took a look at the websites listed...might have to keep it in mind.

[Chrissi]

I always felt so guilty for not trying cloth diapers, so when I saw cloth pads on Etsy last year, I knew THIS was something I could do for me, for the environment, and that would save my family money. I thought nothing of using reusable breast pads and cloth diapers for burp cloths when I was nursing, so this wasn't a huge leap for me.

I developed a horrible sensitivity last year to the adhesive on the disposable pads that ultimately forced me to look for alternatives. I do tend to over-do and now have cloth pads for every month, season, and holiday thanks to all the wonderful seamstresses on Etsy. (Need them longer, thinner, wider, thicker? They'll accomodate nearly any request, too!) Even cloth pads don't last forever, though. You should be aware that if you buy approx. 15 - 20 now, they'll last somewhere between 3 - 6 years depending on flow, wear, activity, etc.

Now as to the cow's milk conspiracy theorists - generally speaking those are people who are trying to extoll the virtues of breastfeeding and human milk as a 'perfect' dairy choice. However, they're not far off. Caucasian humans are the largest consumers - as adults - of milk. Milk is something nature intends for you to outgrow the need for. That's why vets always tell you not to give adult cats milk or cream in a saucer for a treat - it's not good for them. As you age, your ability to process milk protein decreases and it CAN make you sick, cause diarrhea, milk/protein starvation, dehydration, and can be fatal to people with pollen allergies who choke on phelgm and vomit in their sleep. Milk causes you to produce excess phlegm! So, anyway, the anti-milk crazies aren't completely nutters. It doesn't prevent me from drinking milk, but I do drink a lot less now because I NEED less of it as an adult.

[simbarel]

I too got mine from Etsy. I them, one site said something about how comforting it was to "dig out your old friends every month" and I thought HOW CORNY until I realized it was true. TMI but mine have kitties and leopard print and toile and seasonal and monkeys and all kinds of cute and pretty patters.

I agree that cow's milk is the perfect food for baby cows, the rest of us probably don't need it as much.