I have made one more step into the crunchy world of hippie-dom... I am wearing cloth Mama Pads for the first time. They are surprisingly delightful! Seriously though, this is something that I had never really considered before. The whole concept just seemed too *out there* for me (I know, I know... I'm saying that something is *out there*. Go ahead. Have your little laugh). They just seemed like a lot of trouble, having to wash them, etc.
I had gotten some beautiful ones from a friend at my Going Away party, and I simply find them to be the best thing ever. They are more comfortable than I could have ever imagined. And it is not a big deal at all to wash them because I just throw them in with Peace's dirty diapers. Easy peesey.
Here's some questions for those of you in the know:
1. If you don't have diapers to throw them in with like I do, what do you do? Like, do you wash them separately? Or do you throw them in with your regular laundry?
2. Are you supposed to rinse them out beforehand?
3. What are your favorite brands of Mama Pads and where can I get some more of them? I only have four so far and would like to get some more. I have no idea what brand I'm wearing now (Sarah, are you reading this? Do you know?), but they are really good.
Now, let's think... with this off my list, what else do I have to do to be even more strange? Here is the list so far:
I guess all that's left is to stop shaving my legs, but I don't think I'll ever do that because I enjoy having smooth legs (and armpits).
Note: This is just my life, people, and I am in no way attempting to judge anyone who does things differently. I welcome people of all walks of life to read this blog (shavers and non-shavers alike!). And I'm only kidding about having a list and doing things in order to cross them off of said list of strangeness. This just happens to be how my life has evolved.
20 comments:
Sweet Mama, GET RID OF THE DISCLAIMER :-P
This is YOUR life and YOUR blog. No explanations necessary.
p.s. - I was referring to the one at the end. I'm sure the men appreciate the one at the beginning!
Mama Pads ROCK. Seriously. I am a huge fan of Go With the Flo pads... http://gowiththeflopads.com/ I have a pretty big variety of brands, and they are by far my favorites.
You *can* rinse or soak them before washing, but it's not necessary. It will prevent staining, but I've never had much staining anyway- and what's there, I've never really cared. LOL! If you do choose to rinse or soak them, use the water for watering plants. (Ok, how's that for being over the top? LOL!!) Your plants will thank you for it.
Oh, and as far as what to wash them *with* if you don't have dipes to toss in? I have washed them with the towels- no biggie. :)
LOL! I loved this post. I loved your list of crossed-off crazy things. Personally I do not like pads, period, but would like to try the diva cup or something like that instead of tampons. I know you don't like sticking things up your vagina so this would not be for you. Glad you like your cloth pads :)
I use cloth pads for my light days, and I love them! I also use them for at the beginning of my period when there's only spotting.
Since I only use them on light days I don't rinse them, I just throw them in the wash with my regular wash (no fabric softener as that reduces their absorbency).
I bought mine off of Etsy.com they have tons of them. I bought mine from this shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/aprilmdesigns
But there are plenty of other sellers, and the price is very reasonable.
I use my mama pads (more like liners, really) in conjunction with a Diva cup. So I can't answer your questions. But you should look into the cups - they're awesome!
Hooray for mama cloth! I really love all of the ones that I have from Homestead Emporium, and she is great to work with. http://www.homesteademporium.com/
Definitely use ones with windpro fleece on the bottom rather than PUL. It's so much more comfortable and breathable, and it makes them stay in place without any trouble at all, since the fleece "grips" the cotton undies than the more slippery PUL. I have a pretty heavy flow on some days and I've never had a leak even with the fleece. I love her Ultimate and Ultimate II pads that flare way out in the back for nighttime. Oh, she has some other great things like these cloth "cottonballs" that are kind of like flat round circles of varying sizes made from velour and cotton that are great for wetting and wiping off little faces, cuts, cleaning off makeup (HA! Like that ever hardly happens), or any other uses you can think of.
I do usually rinse out my pads just a bit when I take it off and then either throw them in with diaper laundry when it's time to load it in the washer or else just wash with regular laundry if I don't have diapers (like before Leah was born and when Naomi was trained). Since I rinse them out, I don't have a problem throwing them in with anything else the same as I would a pair of underwear that got soiled and I rinsed from one of the kids or a pad leak, whatever. HTH!
I loved using mama cloth postpartum, but I use a diva cup the rest of the time. Actually, I lost my diva cup (I hope in the house) and now use a "lady cup" which I am less fond of - although I do like the pretty shade of green.
Perhaps you'll have to explore family cloth to further your perceived strangeness. That might be enough for even the furriest members of our ranks to shiver a little. ;)
I like Glad Rags. Don't like Party in my pants. GR are soft fleece, and can be a variety of thicknesses. PIMP are too thin and have the plastic-y bottom, so can be uncomfortable. Those are the only 2 I have experience with.
I soak mine (in an empty yogurt container) for a day or two so they don't stain, then I wash them with my clothes in a mesh bag. Easy peasy.
Lauren
P.S. Your Boulder video almost made me cry - I left in such a hurry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to it.
Hahaha I was considering trying out a diva cup myself. I'm getting my new washer/dryer next week and plan to try cloth diapers as well. So when I look at your oddities list It makes me laugh. isnt it funny how these things all sort of roll into each other? Small changes at the time actually changing your life.
Awareness brings change and I know Im proud of the changes Ive made, no matter how odd it may seem to others. It feels important to me to think for myself and avoid the herding cattle mentality so many people have.
I know these have already been mentioned already, 1) you don't like sticking things up your vagina, 2) the Diva Cup...but seriously, the Diva Cup is awesome. I just have 4 cloth pads and wear them with the Diva Cup. You just have to rinse the Diva cup, that's it. Maybe in few months you can work up to trying it out? :P After all, it comes highly recommended from your fans! As for cleaning the cloth pads, I soak them over night in the sink or a bucket of distilled vinegar and baking soda, then throw in the wash with regular whites. Simple!
Have you tried diva cup? I want to try it when I have a period, if I ever get one again... haha. I used cloth pads, but I think I'd love a diva cup with a light cloth pad.
If you want to be REALLY cool and weird like me you can do family cloth. I just cut up old (clean) tshirts and they are in our bathroom with a wetbag. Even if you do it just for pee it saves lots of TP and i just throw them in the wash with the diapers :)
Your list of crunchy things at the end pretty much makes you a Ukrainian Farmer, Allison. Only, they are furry, And they don't have fancy pants mama pads, just old torn up clothes.
Love, Kristin
I only use pads, which I've been doing for a few years now. I have noticed that my periods are shorter and 'easier' now, a phenomenon that a lot of women seem to notice when they stop using disposable menstrual products. Freaky stuff, eh?
1. I am still washing diapers so I wash pads with those, but I've also washed them with the bath towels. I know some people just wash their pads with their clothes. If I did that, I might do a cold pre-wash and then a regular wash, if the machine has that option.
2. I don't soak them. I do, however, usually spray them with a mixture of water, hydrogen peroxide, and lavender essential oil that I keep in the bathroom in a tiny bottle. I just spray them and then toss them in a wet bag under the sink until I wash. This is a recipe/idea I sort of copied from the (now defunct?) Blue House Soaps Mama Cloth Spray. I don't know if it deters stains or not, but it smells good and the pads don't stain at all.
3. Her store isn't stocked now, but I love these: http://www.etsy.com/people/effiethepixie
I also like these, especially her overnights:
http://www.joyfullivingnaturals.com/jln/index.cfm?cat=2
I love the fleece-topped pads. Cotton flannel is nice, terrycloth is nice, but fleece feels really good. I know a lot of women like silk-topped. (I don't have any of those but they sound awesome.)
Good timing on this post...aunt flow just decided to return last week after only 4 months. FOUR MONTHS! I got a 14 month break after Claire so this was really unexpected. Especially considering how chunky Arden is...there doesn't seem to be any shortage of breastmilk by looking at her!
I love how at home I feel reading your blog/hanging out with you...it's funny to me how your list of things at the bottom makes us weird. It's just normal life to me!
I just throw my pads in with my clothes - they're different colors, so the dark ones go with dark clothes and the light ones with light clothes. Maybe that's gross. LOL. Like several other people who already posted, I bought mine on Etsy.
Did you eat or take your placenta? Either way, it should probably be on your list.
Oh wait, you do lotus births. So you didn't take or eat it, of course. Lotus birth should definitely be on your list, though!
Found these on Etsy.com while lingering arounds.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56465742/set-of-4-handmade-cloth-menstrual-pads?ref=cat2_gallery_5
Mother Moon Pads and GEM Cloth (Hyena Cart)are my personal favorites. They are reasonably priced too. Check out GEM Cloth's actual website too for clearance/seconds, etc. Love Mama Cloth!!! So comfortable. And what's labeled as a heavy flow pad isn't any thicker than a normal maxi pad! Love it.
I do rinse after each use and then toss in the diaper pail or in with towels. Also a little peroxide will help prevent staining too.
If you want to go that extra step you should check these out! Eco-Toilet Paper!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/42497927/eco-potty-wipes-100-super-rich-thick
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