Little Luxuries Tester Pads - II

I wrote a blog post about some tester cloth pads I received back in November.  I gave a good description of the product and what I knew of them without actually having had a period yet.  I was actually looking forward to my period so I naturally ended up pregnant.  They were tucked away with the rest of my mama cloth stash, waiting to eventually be used. 

I assumed that it would be well over a year before I'd use the Little Luxuries pads (thanks to pregnancy and breastfeeding), but that's not how things turned out.  Between the nearly non-stop periods after my miscarriage and the chronic spotting (and sometimes bleeding!) that I had for well over a month in this new pregnancy, I finally have enough input that I can write a full review about Little Luxuries cloth menstrual pads.

Simply put, they are bulletproof! 

Two of these tester pads, in particular, are the "big guns" of my mama cloth stash.  They were put through the stress and strain of trying to withstand my flow and they passed that test with flying colors.  I never once had a leak when I used the correct pad for my flow.  That's something that can't be said about disposable pads, tampons, or even my Diva Cup.

I have detailed my impossibly heavy flow in this blog so understand that it's absolutely necessary that I have a pad that I can trust or I'd just throw them in the garbage.  How heavy has my flow been?  So heavy that it's impossible to get my Diva Cup to form a seal because my period is quite literally like a gushing red river between my legs.  Not only did I suffer with a ridiculously fast flow (like a geyser, but upside down), but I also had the pleasure of clots.  Not huge clots by some measures, but shooter-marble sized chunks of blood seemed pretty darn excessive to me.  And I won't even get started on the frequency - ugh!  It's accurate to say that I felt like I was being held hostage by my menstrual cycle and "the curse" definitely felt like one to me.

With such a mess going on downstairs, it's fair to say that I expect a lot from a pad.  Add in that I demand absolute perfection in whatever product I use to manage my menses and I guess you could say that I'm a tough customer to please.

It seemed HUGE so I was skeptical about the length of the 13" overnight/postpartum pad, but found that it was acceptable and might have been necessary sometimes.  This was the pad that I relied on for my heaviest days and, yes, overnight.  I almost felt ill seeing and feeling just how saturated it was (it actually was heavy), but it didn't fail me - not even once!

The 11" heavy pad was also good on my heavy days and I preferred it if I had to leave the house while flowing so fast.  I never had a single mishap with it either.  The 9" regular pad was totally adequate at the very beginning or the very end of my period, but I'm certain that it would work well for women with "normal" flows.  I did try it on my heavy day and it couldn't take the force of my flow so there was a little leakage that time.  The 8" liner was fine, but I didn't love it only because I find myself constantly fiddling with any pad that is under 9".  They just don't feel right in my britches and I'm forever trying to adjust them to feel right to me. 

Of course, length preferences are highly personal and it shouldn't be taken as a criticism because I didn't have any complaints about how any of these pads performed.  They exceeded my expectations and I can confidently recommend them to anyone interested in exploring cloth pads.  However, understand that they aren't the trimmest in my stash though they're still far better in that area than a disposable pad.  Also, I found that they took longer to dry than any of my other pads, but I think that's a small price to pay for such incredible absorbency and 100% perfect pad performance.

These Little Luxuries pads are sooooo incredibly soft and pretty that they almost make you look forward to using them.  If you buy them, I'm betting that you'll enjoy and appreciate your Little Luxuries.  I know that I do!

* * *

Though I prefer 10" and 12" pad lengths, these Little Luxuries pads are definitely in my rotation to use once I begin bleeding again.  I do plan to use mama cloth to handle the lochia in the immediate post-partum period so I expect that the 13" and 11" will get quite a workout toward the end of the year.  Hm, wonder if Little Luxuries needs testers for their post-partum pads??  ;)

Will You Be My Next Convert???

A friend contacted me today about a very specific topic.  This is the fifth friend who has privately communicated with me about this particular topic.  What is the topic that I apparently know enough about that others seek my advice on the matter?  Menstrual cups and mama cloth. 

Whether I know a lot about menstrual cups and mama cloth is certainly up for debate, but it is well-known that I'm more than willing to talk about it and share whatever information I've learned.  I never thought I'd be this kind of person, but I guess you can say that I'm something of a Period Proselytizer.  Since changing how I manage my period, I feel that it's something to have a little fun with rather than something to be dreaded.  Am I saying that I had a happy period?  Well, I'm saying it's more likely than you may think!

I've shared my menstrual adventures several times in this blog and I guess those posts have hit a nerve with some readers.  Three of the friends who have contacted me privately have taken the information I gave and can now be counted as menstrual cup or mama cloth converts.  I can't claim that I'm the only reason that these women considered reusable menstrual products, but it didn't hurt that I opened my mouth and shared my experiences with the readership. 

Is 2011 the year that you change how you control of your period?  Will you be the next one converted by the Period Proselytizer?  ;-)

No Wonder I Switched!

Blah, blah, blah. . .you've been warned that this is about my period so do yourself a favor and stop reading if you aren't interested.

I consulted my special notes the other day and I realized that I have had twelve periods this year.  Twelve!  And I had a couple of very long, hope-building & dashing, cycles this year!  I can't believe that November isn't even over yet and I've already had twelve periods for the year. 

I'm dumbfounded further that my doctor didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with this schedule.  Somehow I have to believe that he would think it was highly disturbing  if he suddenly began bleeding out of his privates every 20 days or so, but he isn't ham-handed so I guess that I'm willing to put up with his dismissive attitude.

More depressing than the knowledge that I've had twelve periods in less than eleven full months is the realization that I will likely have two more periods before the year is over.  Of course, this is assuming that my body doesn't suddenly start flowing like an average woman.  I'm also assuming at this point that I won't end the year with a bun in my oven.

I did the math and discovered that I would have spent around $100 on disposable products if I hadn't gone the reusable route earlier this year.  One hundred dollars for something that would just end up in the garbage. . .no wonder I made the switch to reusable products!

Betcha Can't Try Just One!

No, I'm not talking about potato chips!  Here's a post that my brother would have totally cringed at reading.  We are back to my regularly (heh!) scheduled blog posts about my period.  More specifically, about mama cloth this month!

Last month, I started my period less than two days after my only brother died.  I had to suffer my period the entire time I was in New Jersey for my brother's service.  Of course I did, right?!  I did myself a favor and decided to only use the Diva Cup while I was traveling.  Overall, it wasn't all that bad and was more convenient than toting a box of tampons in my luggage.  Or, more likely, in my handbag.

However, I'm not gonna lie, it really sucked balls to deal with airport connections while worrying that my Cup was about to overflow.  Naturally, my travel day was also my "heavy" day and I had to deal with emptying and reinserting the cup at LAX in Los Angeles.  And Logan airport in Boston.  And on two different planes.  It wasn't fun in the least.  My vagina was busy, but my cup is mighty so I never experienced even one little leak the entire time I was gone - hooray!

I decided that, on my next cycle, I would try the mama cloth I purchased in August.  Well, I did not conceive right after my brother's death (shocker!) so I did get my monthly visitor this month.  I intentionally ignored my Diva Cup and grabbed a mama cloth pad. 

I have to say that I was sure that it would be yucky and gross to use the cloth menstrual pads.  I mean, I'm just not a fan of pads in general.  Heck, I only wore pads (disposable of course) regularly back when I first started getting periods.  I switched to tampons at some point in the 8th grade and kicked Stay Free to the curb.  That is, until I started getting these horribly heavy days in my cycle.  Tampons, not even those super-duper giant cigar-sized tampons, could not absorb the flow fast enough so I was forced to use these ultra ginormous maxi pads to keep my clothes safe from Aunt Flo's, uh, flow.

Anyway, I grabbed a cloth pad and put it on.  They all have wings that snap together so the pad (hopefully) won't go slipping around in your underpants.  All of my pads are also fleece or flannel backed so they aren't particularly prone to slippage when worn with cotton panties.  Yeah, I know.  Cotton panties, how pedestrian.  But, really, who is wearing silk panties on their period anyway?

So how was it to wear a cloth pad?  You know, it wasn't all that bad.  I mean, what's not to like?  They didn't leak and they are totally comfortable to wear.  My pads are very soft and quite comfortable.  I prefer the velour topped pads over the flannel topped pads, but both were very soft against my skin and even the flannel topped pads are softer than their paper & plastic disposable counterparts. 

I would have expected fabric to feel softer than paper, but I wasn't prepared for their size.  I was amazed that they aren't bulky at all.  Even my heavy-duty cloth pads are thinner than a comparable disposable pad.  How is that even possible?  I have no idea, but I like it!

I have two, actually three, clear favorites of all the sellers from whom I purchased mama cloth.  If you might be interested in purchasing or pricing mama cloth, click the links to go to the seller's Etsy shop.

For a liner, I just love these pretty offerings.  I purchased three flannel-topped (would have preferred velour, but it wasn't available) liners to use as a back up with the Diva Cup.  I picked a solid black top and a red & black swirl pattern on the wings and they are almost too pretty to use.  Almost.  They aren't really absorbent, but they will save your britches if you have any Cup or tampon leakage.  The liners are somewhat short, but since it's just a back up you probably don't need a lot of coverage.

I picked up a few pads from Blossom Pads for moderate days.  You have your choice of length, top fabric (flannel or velour), and the level of absorbency you desire.  I chose velour-topped and fleece backed for breathability - don't want things getting too hot down there!  I regret that I went with moderate absorbency as I'd like to see just how their heavy pads perform against my favorites, which are: 

My absolute favorites are the absorbent pads from Mother Moon Pads.  I purchased a couple of velour-topped pads that have a core made of Zorb (a material that offers awesome absorbency) and terry with a back of breathable fleece.  These pads are just ridiculously soft and unbelievably comfortable.  They are so wonderful that I wish that every woman could try these pads just once to experience a truly comfortable period.  They aren't the prettiest pads in my stash, that distinction goes to the pads above, but these are the pads that I'll measure all other pads against because they handled my heaviest flow - even overnight!

Also represented in my stash are a couple flannel topped "regular" and "heavy" pads.  I'm just not crazy about how the flannel feels in comparison to velour, but it's still far more comfortable than a traditional disposable pad.  Additionally, I have one or two pads with a layer of PUL to prevent leaks.  I'd rather change the pad more frequently and take a chance with leaks than have a layer of PUL in my pad because I find it somewhat hot.

I was even able to venture from the house for a few hours without fear on my heavy day by using the Cup with a Mother Moon Pad as back up.  Hooray for this new freedom! 

I purchased the mama cloth to handle my heavy day and I think I have a winning formula with the Diva Cup on most days of my cycle and the mama cloth on the super-heavy-why-does-my-vagina-hate-me day.  However, I liked the mama cloth so much that I might just become a pad wearing kinda gal!

* * *

Common Questions I've Been Asked About Mama Cloth

"Ew, I can't use a cloth menstrual pad!  Isn't it gross to bleed on fabric?"
I didn't find it any more gross to bleed on a reusable menstrual pad than it is to bleed on a paper & plastic disposable menstrual pad.  Let's face it, it's pretty gross no matter where you dump your uterine lining so you might as well save some money and be comfortable while doing it.

"Save money?  Aren't cloth pads pretty expensive?"
The initial cost for switching is higher, but the savings quickly add up because you aren't spending money every month on a product that just ends up thrown in the garbage.  Depending on your flow (how often you used to purchase pads), your return on investment may only be a couple of months.  Remember that you can reuse these pads for many, many years and, if you wash on the gentle cycle & line dry them, they'll last even longer.

"I don't think that I want to go 100% cloth so why should I bother?"
There is no need to treat this as an all or nothing situation.  Purchase one or two cloth pads and see how you like them.  My advice is to use them at first when you know you'll be at home for a few hours.  I'll bet that you'll be sold on how comfortable they are and you'll want to switch over once you try them out.

"I normally wear tampons.  How bulky are these pads?"
I used to use tampons, but I've used the Diva Cup since around February and I'd suggest that the Cup would be a better option for tampon users.  The Cup is a remarkably better than tampons.  However, these pads are less bulky than their disposable counterparts.  There is no "wearing a diaper to manage your period" feeling at all.

"Don't cloth pads feel gross?"
No, they actually feel really comfy.  I haven't worn pads regularly in over 20-years and I was pretty sure that mama cloth would suck, but these are extremely pleasant to wear.  Imagine your most comfortable panties, but even more comfortable.  Seriously, I can't stress enough just how comfortable these pads feel against your skin!  Try it once and I'm sure you'll be sold too!

"What do you do with those nasty pads?"
I just looped a drawstring wetbag over the door knob of the door in my master bathroom.  No odors, no muss, no fuss.  I was actually surprised at how easy and unobtrusive it was to deal with the pads before washing them.

"What do you do with the pads if you're out?"
Good question.  I'm a SAHM so I have a lot of flexibility about when I go out, but I generally use my Diva Cup when away from home.  You can purchase a wetbags specifically designed for dealing with soiled mama cloth or you can just store them in a Ziploc bag until you get home.

"Won't everyone know you're using these cloth pads?"
Not unless you tell them.  Or, uh, if you blog about it!  There are no crinkly plastic parts or wrappers so I think they are even more discreet than any disposable products, tampons or pads.

"How can you just wash & reuse those cloth pads?"
Pretty easily actually.  I wash on cold with a double rinse and toss them in the dryer.  If that sounds too horrible to handle, I want to know if you throw away all underpants on which you accidentally bleed?  No, you probably just toss them in the wash and hope for no staining.  The same thing applies with mama cloth.

"Staining!  Those pads probably look horrible after coming out of the wash!"
No, not really.  I specifically chose dark top fabric (solids and busy prints) to disguise any staining.  However, I have two pads that are pastels. . .a spritz of Soilove before washing and a little sunshine before drying took care of any staining that may have occurred.


Thanks to my blogging, I've had several friends ask me about the Diva Cup and mama cloth options.  I hope that this post has been helpful to those friends in particular, but do let me know if you have any questions or concerns that haven't been addressed and I'll be happy to help.

A happy period?  It's more likely than you might think!

Waiting for My .

Sorry, Honey, it's another one of those posts!


Readers of this blog know that I've been trying to conceive for nearly 1 1/2 years.  Each month, I fervently pray that that I will conceive and carry a child to term.  And I throw my own personal pity party every time that I get my period.

It's possible, though not probable, that I conceived in this last cycle.  Oddly enough, I'm actually looking forward to getting my period this month.  Why?  Because I bought a nice little stash of mama cloth, that's why!

I went totally nuts on etsy.com one night and picked up a range of styles from several different vendors.  Materials such as velour, flannel, Zorb, bamboo, fleece, and PUL and a variety of lengths & absorbencies are all represented in my new stash.  I felt like a kid at Christmas each time that a new package of pads arrived.

Oh my goodness, they are so SOFT!  The velour topped pads, in particular, are unbelievably soft!  And so PRETTY!  I love a set of liners with a gorgeous black & red swirl pattern, but they are way too pretty to use for their intended purpose.  Of course, I will anyway.

Now that I'm aware of these comfortable pads and the mostly comfortable Diva Cup (save that one miserable day in my cycle), I don't think I can tolerate using a disposable pad or tampon ever again.  Seriously.  Paper, plastic, and cotton fibers rubbing on or in my hoo-haw just aren't that appealing now that I've seen and used alternatives.

I'm actually a little sad that I didn't try the Diva Cup years ago when I first heard of reusable menstrual cups.  I would have saved a small fortune in tampons purchased and spared myself all that exposure to dioxin.  The Diva Cup is really a fantastic item if you generally use tampons.  I've detailed the trials and tribulations that I have with the Cup during my very heavy day and that's why I'm exploring mama cloth this month.

I'm not a hippie (I'm not, dammit!) and I never would have thought that I'd explore these alternatives to dealing with Aunt Flo.  You know, I'm glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone and gave these waste-free options a go.  Yes, it looks like I've gone full-blown crunchola (there's your word again, Lisa - haha!) as it relates to my period.

I'm eagerly looking for Aunt Flo so that I can try out some of these wonderful new pads. . .but I'd be over-the-moon happy if I had to wait 40 weeks to use them!

Taking the Next Step

I hate fighting.  I really, really, really hate fighting.  So it really bothers me when I fight with my own body.  Though I've been using the Diva Cup for many cycles and I know how to use it, I still sometimes have to force the Cup into place.  There isn't much worse than fighting with your own vagina.  This holds particularly true when you're already suffering with your period.

According to the manufacturer, most women flow about 3 to 4 ounces over their entire cycle.  The Cup holds one full ounce.  This leads them to indicate that that you can go up to 12-hours without fooling around with the Cup.  That's pretty cool when it's true. 

However, thanks to the Curse that is starting to feel a lot like an actual curse, I have to screw with my Cup a lot on one day of my cycle.  It gets filled to capacity every two hours or so on my heavy day.  Part of the joy of using the Cup is not having to mess around with your period all the time so this is getting really old.  Worse, my vagina acts like a total bitch about it and puts up a bigger fight than a virgin on prom night.  Worse than that, all these vaginal gymnastics leaves me with terrible cramps.  I've never suffered much with cramps in my life and, I have to say, they really suck.

What am I going to do about it?  Unfortunately, I can't slip my vadge a roofie and have my way with it.  But I am taking a hard look mama cloth and considering using that on my heavy day so I can give my hoo-haw a break.

So I've been exploring the world of mama cloth.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm looking at literally going "on the rag."  I never thought I'd go this route, but I guess I really am turning into quite the hippie because it doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me anymore.

I've been looking at mass-produced products and WAHM-produced products.  They are all pretty similar and, frankly, how different can one menstrual pad be from another?  Wings/no wings and the cost seems to be the big differences between offerings.  Well, those things plus the materials used.  With lovely prints and  gorgeous brocade, some of these pads are so beautiful that it almost seems wrong to use them for their intended purpose. 

But how hard it can be to make mama cloth?  Courtesy of cloth diapering, I know a lot about fleece, microsuede, velour, cotton, bamboo, hemp, and PUL.  I think that it would be easy to purchase a variety of materials and experiment with finding the best combo that works for me. 

One big thing stops me from embarking on this experiment:  I don't sew.  I can sort of sew by hand, but I don't want to hand-stitch a bunch of pads.  And I don't know how to use a sewing machine.  Yes, I own my Grandmother's sewing machine.  I just have no idea how to use it.  Add that to the list of things I wish I'd asked my Grandmother about before she passed away.

Even if I did know how to make these pads myself, do I really want to?  What is my time worth?  I'd have to determine what materials I'd like to use, purchase said materials, come up with a pattern, and assemble the pads.  I'd also have to determine if wings are important enough to me to purchase a snap press.  It seems like a lot of time, money, and work to make a few freaking pads.  Remember, I only need them for one day.

After thoroughly exploring etsy.com, I think I found a variety that will suit my needs just fine.  As a bonus, most etsy sellers price their offerings well-below the price of mass-produced mama cloth.  I hesitate to purchase though because I don't know that I'll like what I'm considering.  Should I get wings or no wings?  What material is most comfortable to have against my skin?  What material is best for the inner core?  Do I really need it to be waterproof? 

Do you use or have you used mama cloth?  If so, please share your thoughts.  Post anonymously if you'd like, but please post.  I look forward to reading your responses - if there are any!

I Used the Bamboo Blend Diaper Inserts Yesterday

Yeah, yeah, yeah, this will be a (somewhat) gross post.  So I started my period and I used my son's bamboo blend diaper inserts and thought I'd update my readership on my experiment.

I knew she was coming, but I hoped (and prayed) that she wasn't.  Aunt Flo.  Sigh.  That means that I did not conceive in my last cycle.  Crap!

Anyway, the morning began with Aunt Flo making her most unwelcome entrance.  And by entrance, I mean she strolled right out of my vadge with her very own red carpet.  GRRR!

Impossibly frustrated by the start of my day, I began to grab my Diva Cup.  Then I remembered yesterday's blog post and I decided that I'd try my own version of mama cloth.  So I grabbed a handful of my son's old diaper inserts.  I happened to grab the bamboo blend. 

Stuffing bamboo blend inserts in my panties felt a little odd, but I guess that's because I don't use maxi pads.  Well, that and because they had been a part of my son's diapers.  Oh my, they were very soft and very comfy.  I must say that they were so soft and comfortable that I almost wanted to love them.  But they were freaking big and, since I don't use pads, they felt really weird against my labia.  Plus, I wasn't sure that I needed such a long "pad."  So I folded the insert in half, found the sweet spot of my panties, and went about my day.

It could have been worse.  But I definitely have a new appreciation of the phrase, "riding the cotton pony."  Neigh!  Neigh!

You know, it was weird, but it wasn't horrible.  I mean, I'd rather not deal with a "pad" every single time that I urinate, but it wasn't unlivable.  I took the insert, rinsed it in the toilet using my diaper sprayer/bidet, sprayed it with Bac-Out, and tossed it in a plastic bin.  I actually used an old diaper wipes container and it worked really well.

I went through 6 inserts within around 8 hours.  I was sure that I destroyed a couple of those inserts with Aunt Flo's ugliness.  But I'm happy that I didn't.  I washed them and they came out perfectly clean - no stains or anything weird.  I finally broke out my Diva Cup and called an end to my experiment. 

I'm happy that I tried something outside my comfort zone.  I'm pleased that I found an interesting way to reuse something that I already owned.  And I'm glad that I learned that I could live with my periods if all the drugstores closed down and my Diva Cup was out of commission. 

Mama Cloth periods?  I could live with them.  Of course, I won't be tossing my Diva Cup any time soon.

My Frugal Flow - It's Good for Me and Good for the Environment

I don't consider myself "green."  I certainly don't think I'm all that crunchy or granola.  I don't sweat the environment and I'm not particularly concerned about the impact man has on Earth.  Among my more eco-conscious friends, I'm probably considered as wasteful as the rest of the planet.  But, as compared to eco-friendly friends who pay lip service to "saving the environment" or some such, I'd say that I'm a hard-core crunchola.  See, Lisa, I told you I'd use your word!

Who are the lip service eco-warriors?  They are the people who make a big deal about driving a hybrid, eating locally grown organic foods, and avoiding those big & scary chemicals and toxins.  I can't help but raise a figurative eyebrow when they don't seem to have a problem eating processed foods or snacks if "natural" or "organic" is on the label.  It's doubly hilarious if they partake in such so-called healthy snacks while indulging in alcohol.  Um, okay.  I guess ingesting poison is okay if it makes you more lively at parties.  Though some were able to breastfeed, they didn't have a problem with feeding formula to their newborn baby.  But, hey, it must be healthier than breastmilk since the formula was mixed with soy milk (instead of that evil cow milk I guess), right?  I facepalmed when someone actually told me (of all people!) that they were afraid to get their formula-fed & disposable-diapered infant vaccinated because vaccines "aren't natural."  For once in my life, I actually held my tongue and changed the subject.  I did learn later from the grandmother that the little one ended up fully vaxed.

I don't care what personal decisions people make, but I am amused when their own actions and choices seem at such odds with their own beliefs.  Interestingly enough, I'm considered pretty radical (and not in the cool 80s way) because of the way I manage my period these days.  Personally, the environmental and personal health aspect isn't what inspired me to use a reusable menstrual product.  It was all about the cost savings for me.  But I'm surprised that environmentally friendly people recoil at the idea of shunning disposable menstrual products.  It seems to me that greening up your period is a no-brainer for those who are concerned about the environment, personal health, and/or saving money.

Thanks to the Diva Cup, I no longer throw a box of tampons in the garbage (thus, the landfill) every 20 to 30 days.  Sure, if you aren't on a septic system (as I am), you could flush tampons away to the sewage system.  But understand that flushing them away doesn't make them disappear.  Disposable menstrual products (tampons and pads) generate a lot of waste and my personal waste has been significantly reduced by using a reusable product.

I don't get all worked up over chemicals, but I no longer have to shove bleached (or unbleached) fibers up my hoo-haw.  Tampons absorb and pull out all moisture, not just menstrual blood.  The Diva Cup is smooth and comfortable and doesn't leave me with that unpleasant Sahara desert-feeling in my vagina at the end of my cycle. 

I've been using the Diva Cup for many cycles now and I essentially get my period for free every month.  Sure, I spent more money up front, but it paid for itself in tampon savings by the fifth cycle.

One thing has been bothering me though.  I still use disposable liners - just in case.  I don't think that using a few liners every month is going to destroy the planet or my budget, but I know that there are more comfortable options.  As a bonus, these options are washable and, therefore, are reusable.  That means that they will ultimately end up being a less expensive option to deal with something that happens every single month.

I mentioned to my husband that I might like to purchase some mama cloth as a backup for my heavy-flow days.  My husband calmly gave me The Look and asked if I'd like him to procure some Cherokee Hair so I can make my own tampons.  That's a South Park reference, in case you were wondering.  He then suggested that I might be able to sweep up enough dog hair from the floor to weave my own absorbent pads.  Then I gave him The Look followed closely by The Finger.  I realize now that I should have just bought the damn LunaPads or GladRags or whatever and not involved him at all. 

But my husband's smart mouth really got me thinking. . .

How hard can it possibly be to make your own mama cloth?  I'm not particularly crafty, but I suspect that even I could figure out how to make my own liners.  Then my frugal brain kicked into overdrive and I wondered if I could just repurpose my son's old diaper inserts instead?  I have microfiber, bamboo blend, and cotton inserts and I'm nearly positive that I could somehow fashion them into liners.  My problem is that I don't sew and I don't know how to use a sewing machine, but I'm almost certain that I could do it by hand.  Can't I?  Has anyone made their own mama cloth liners?  What materials did you use?  Other than de-valuing the diapers, is it totally wrong to consider repurposing my son's old diaper inserts?  Any tips or advice would be appreciated!

Am I a Hippie?

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING:  There are one or two segments of this post that probably aren't for everyone since they deal with what might be considered potentially yucky stuff or they contain forceful opinions that go against popular thinking.  Note that most of it is not gross or potentially offensive though and it might be an interesting read.

I am not a damn dirty hippie!  Yes, I heard that sentence in my head in Eric Cartman's voice.  At least, I don't like to think that I am all that crunchy or granola.  But even I must admit that I have some really crunchy & granola tendencies.  Read for yourself and decide.

I really, really, really wanted a completely natural drug-free vaginal birth.  I totally bought the line about it being so much easier and healthier to do things as nature intended - I still do.  However, my sweet little breech baby had other plans and I ended up with a c-section.  To this very day (over two years later), I still feel bitter that I was cheated out of that experience.  The logical part of my brain is aghast that I'm not simply thankful that I surgically delivered a healthy baby.  But my personal holy grail is to have a completely natural drug-free vaginal birth.  I will do anything within my power to have that experience for the second child, should we ever have one.
Verdict:  I might be a hippie.

I really, really, really wanted to breastfeed.  I had scabs on my nipples by the second day of my son's life.  Bleeding scabs on my nipples!  I was so freaking determined that my son would not have formula that I suffered for days in the hospital and for SEVEN WEEKS at home to make breastfeeding work.  I don't quit anything without a fight and I gave it my all.  I won.  He was exclusively breastfed (no formula - other than what they gave him in the hospital!, cereal, or anything else) for five months.  I'm proud that I nursed my son for over one year.  And I'm a little sad that I didn't breastfeed through his second year.
Verdict (until last line):  I might be a hippie.
Verdict (including last line):  Yes, I am a hippie.

I wanted to exclusively cloth diaper my son.  Everyone told me that I was totally nuts.  After I returned home, I realized that I could not physically reach down into our washing machine.  I already felt bad about my husband having to do regular laundry (I folded & put it away though), so I didn't ask him to wash diapers.  My son didn't use cloth for the first few months.  Once he started using cloth, I only used it at home.  Eventually I ended up using cloth all day (whether or not we were at home) and disposable diapers for overnights.  The only reason I used 'sposies overnight is because his little bottom would always be red after wearing cloth for twelve-plus hours.  I think that using cloth diapers may have helped him get potty trained before he turned two years old.  I anticipate primarily using cloth diapers with my second child, should I have one.
Verdict:  I might be a hippie.

I quit using disposable tampons around six months ago or so.  My red has gone green I guess you could say.  Who knew your period could be so damned hip?!  I was truly surprised at all the options for reusable menstrual products.  I personally like the Diva Cup.  I'm also considering purchasing some mama cloth as backup for my heavy flow days.
Verdict:  Oh, yes, I am definitely a hippie.

I'm pretty comfortable with my body.  I don't think there's anything wrong with going to nude beaches (RIP Trail 6) and I used to frequent them fairly often.  I don't like regular volleyball either, but nude volleyball has always been tremendously off-putting to me.  But I love how the sun's rays feel on my bare skin.  Being naked and being outside feels good!
Verdict:  Yes, I am a hippie.

I don't worry about "toxins" or "chemicals."  I don't see the benefit of chelation therapy, colonic irrigation/cleansing, enemas, douching, or detox diets.  I don't buy anything organic and I have no problem using fertilizers or pesticides in my own vegetable garden or for my own fruit trees.  I think vaccines have saved far more lives than they have ruined.  I trust modern medicine and I don't put any faith in witch-doctory nonsense.  If you think supplements, vitamins, herbs, tinctures, reflexology, aromatherapy, fill in the blank works, well, I'm glad you do.  But I do not.
Verdict:  I am not a hippie.

I believe having a good and honest chiropractor is a gift.  But I do not believe they are worth much more than adjusting your spine when it's out of alignment.  I do not believe that the alignment (or mis-alignment) of your spine has any impact on whether or not you end up suffering from a major medical illness, such as cancer.  Chiropractors massage your back and neck and that feels good & all, but it doesn't prevent or cure any major diseases.  True story:  I dated a Chiropractor once and it made him mental when I'd ask him to "crack my back" - small wonder that we didn't date long.  Witch-doctor.  And a cheater.
Verdict:  I am not a hippie.

I don't get the whole hybrid vehicle craze.  Driving one means, what?  That you get good mileage in stop & go traffic?  Whoop-de-doo.  Plenty of vehicles get highway mileage that totally smokes that of hybrids and many get comparable city mileage.  Yet hybrid owners frequently act like they are single-handedly saving the planet because they are driving what is is essentially a disposable car.  Um, okay.  Sorry, I love a big & mean V-8 with plenty of ponies under the hood and I hate the pussified look of most hybrids.  I ADORE the look of the new Dodge Challenger and I really like the new Chevy Camaro.  So call me an eco-criminal.
Verdict:  I am not a hippie.

Ever since I turned 18, I've nearly always voted Republican.  As I've matured, I find that I'm far less conservative and far more libertarian.  I don't give a crap what someone does with their own time and their own body.  Wanna do drugs?  Go ahead.  Wanna marry a guy/girl?  I don't care.  Wanna burn the American flag, pray to rocks, howl at the moon?  Go for it!  Wanna take even more tax dollars from hard-working Americans to benefit those who don't pay nearly the same amount into the system?  Now we have a big problem.  Wanna punish people for working hard by taxing their income at a higher rate?  I definitely have a problem with that.  I guess you could say that I'm socially libertarian and fiscally conservative.  Unfortunately, so many politicians who have the nerve to call themselves "conservative" are anything but that.  To paraphrase the late President Ronald Reagan:  I didn't leave my party.  My party left me.
Verdict (based on first sentence):  I am not a hippie.
Verdict (based on entire statement):  I might be a hippie.

Abortion?  I saw and heard my son's heartbeat at my 6-week prenatal checkup.  At just six-weeks, that little one has a heartbeat that is unique.  Like it or not, abortion stops a beating heart.  That makes it murder to me.  However, if a woman can live with the blood of an innocent on her hands, well, I guess that's her choice.  I don't have to live with her choice.  Please don't think that I'm being callous because I'm not.  I feel for women who have had abortions and I'm painfully aware of the emotionally pain they often suffer afterward.  In an ideal world, contraception would be 100% effective (and morning-after pills would be OTC) and abortion would not exist.  But this is not an ideal world.
Verdict:  You know, I'm not sure what my opinion means here?

I don't really care one way or another about male circumcision.  I love my husband, but I've been friendly with a variety of penii in my life.  Um, only three though - haha!  Though the majority were cut, I had a three-year relationship with an uncircumcised man and I've known others.  I don't care if it's a mushroom cap or an anteater, I like them all and they all are unique.  When I learned that I was having a son, I spoke with several men on the matter.  Three men had to have circumcision later in life.  And they thought it was the worst pain imaginable.  Their ages were three, eleven and in their 70s when they had their circumcisions.  I did not make the ultimate decision on whether or not my son was cut.  I don't have a penis and I don't really have an opinion on the matter.  Though I'll share all sorts of personal info about myself, I will not divulge whether or not my son has been circumcised because that's his personal business and it's not my place to share.
Verdict:  I am not a hippie.


I don't like to think that I am a hippie, but I might be.  What's your verdict?

Aunt Flo Visits for FREE

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING: Yep, this is another post about my vagina. Stop reading if you aren't interested in menstrual cups or my period.

I have my period right now and that makes me very excited and very sad. I'm sad for obvious reasons - I'm not pregnant. I'm excited because I'm on my fifth cycle with the Diva Cup. That means that Aunt Flo visits me for FREE from here on out. I'm really happy with the short ROI for the Diva Cup and I wish that I had tried it years ago.

I don't have to buy tampons to deal with my period. I'm ecstatic that I won't have to search the ever-expanding feminine aisle for the specific tampons that I use. I'm thrilled that I won't have to buy a box of tampons each month. I have a septic system and I can't flush tampons, so I'm glad that I won't have to deal with tampon disposal any longer.

I'm handling removal and insertion of the Cup like an old pro these days. I find it hard to believe that I used to have such problems with it because it is so easy to me now. I love the Cup and I'll never use anything else to handle my period again.

If anyone reading this is considering using a menstrual cup, keep in mind that it can take a few months to use it comfortably and feel free to contact me with any questions.

- for This Month Too

I'm a red-eyed, red-nosed, snotty-nosed, noisy mess when I cry. Shockingly enough, I prefer to cry in private. My favorite crying zone is the shower. It does a good job masking my sobs and hiding my tears. I like to shower once I put the little one to bed so I have plenty of time to cry it out.

What was making me boo-hoo tonight? My monthly pity party, of course.

Aunt Flo showed up this afternoon, so I broke out the Diva Cup. I had hoped that I wouldn't have to lay eyes on that Cup for at least a year or more, but thanks to certain events that occurred this month, I knew it wasn't likely that I could be pregnant. I'm somewhat resigned to seeing the Cup for at least a few more months. I think my vagina is resigned too because it didn't even put up a fight and the Cup easily slipped in place.

I know a lot of pregnant women right now. Eleven or twelve, maybe thirteen, I can't recall exactly. These are nice moms and I'm happy that they are able to expand their families. Seeing their joy ripen makes me wonder when I'll experience that joy again. . .if I'll experience that joy again.

I picked up around 15 ovulation prediction sticks yesterday from a friend. She had only used a couple of them and decided not to use the rest. Those sticks have brought my fertility superstitions to ridiculously epic levels. I had the fleeting thought that the reason why I'm not pregnant right now is because I didn't have the cash on hand to pay her for the sticks right then. What one has to do with the other, I don't know. That's the deal with superstitions though, isn't it? They're freaking stupid and make no sense.

My husband seemed surprised that we have been trying to conceive another child for so long. He thought it had only been a few months. I guess he didn't realize that I track EVERYTHING on a calendar. I track when I have my period, I try to estimate when I'll ovulate, I try to seduce him a day or two before my estimated ovulation, I write down when I have evidence of ovulation, I try to seduce him on that day, I track each and every time we do it - ovulation or not. And I do this each and every month. I must be sly because he had no idea.

Adding to my fertility woes is my terribly erratic cycle. I go anywhere from 20 to 35 days. It pretty much makes estimating fertile days absolutely impossible. That's why I finally decided to give the ovulation predictor sticks a try.

I know it will happen when it happens, but we aren't getting any younger and biology is a real b*tch when it comes to stuff like this. If there isn't a baby in my belly by the end of this year, I just don't know what we would do. Give up, I suppose.

It's so foreign for me to consider defeat. I am stupidly stubborn and I give up on nothing. I keep trying even when it is clearly obvious that there is no point. I find it hard to give up hope because it's all I have. Eventually, though, even I see the futility and I move on.



I'm in such a sour mood that I picked up on the similarities between the words 'futility' and 'fertility' - I really, really, really need to stop.

Diva Cup - Month Three

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING: This is yet another post about my vagina and it's on-going adventures with a Diva Cup. Stop reading if it will creep you out to read about my period and stuff like that.


It's been three cycles with the Diva Cup. I initially thought it was the worst invention in history, far worse than a Chia Pet, but I'm definitely coming around. I guess you can say that I have a love/hate relationship with the Diva Cup. I love it most of the time and I absolutely detest it some of the time.

Let's start with fit since that is what has caused me the most problems. I still think it's too big, but I've learned to deal with it. If I relax and bear down (does that make sense?) during removal, I have a much easier time and it isn't nearly as painful. Insertion isn't usually too bad if I fold it as small as possible and lift my leg as high as possible. Yes, it does look like I'm doing bizarre yoga poses when I'm inserting my Cup.

I made the mistake of telling my husband that the Diva Cup would be perfect if I could just stretch out my vagina a tiny bit. Heh, tiny bit! Anyway, I don't mean that I want it as wide as the Midtown tunnel, but insertion and removal would be so much easier if my nether regions were just a little more roomy. My husband shot me an incredulous look and sarcastically said, "Oh yeah, that's a great idea!"

Of course, this is the guy who half-heartedly suggested that I consider having another C-section once I have our second child. You know, so that the playpen isn't destroyed by our child's melon head and broad shoulders. Honestly, that is a concern I have too, but that's another topic for another day.

So, for the most part, I have insertion and removal down. I haven't had too much trouble emptying or cleaning the Cup. Storing the Cup is easy enough. Not having to buy tampons is wonderful. In two more months the Cup will have paid for itself in tampon savings. However, I have been using a liner each day that my Aunt is visiting. I have one very heavy flow day each cycle (I fill the cup several times in a twelve hour period - hehe, period!) and sometimes the liners are necessary.

My biggest problem at this point is my morning routine. I have a tiney vaginey and it gets very irritated at intruders in the morning. The Diva Cup doesn't even try to make out for a little bit before barging on in and my vadge particularly despises the Cup in the morning. It gets so angry and clenches up so tight that, I swear, it can turn coal into diamonds.

Obviously, I have grown to hate the Cup every morning. But the rest of the day typically makes up for it. Like I said, it's a love/hate relationship.

I Might be a Convert

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING: After taking a day off, I'm back to what has become my regularly scheduled postings about Aunt Flo. If you haven't been following my vagina's adventures with the Diva Cup, you should probably stop reading right now. I do believe this will be my last post in the series chronicling the battle.


I might have to rethink my desires about the birth of my next child. I think I would like a completely drug-free vaginal birth. I've thought about it so much that it is quite romanticized in my mind. The joy of letting my body take the lead in a natural delivery. The pleasure of allowing my newborn to suckle colostrum right after being welcomed into the world. The happiness I would feel if I can avoid another surgical delivery. Since I was denied my desires when my son was born, I imagine that a drug-free birth would be the very best experience I could ever hope to have.

But if I can hardly handle a 1" diameter silicone cup, how in the heck will I manage a head with a circumference of 14-centimeters? And I don't even know if that's considered a big head or not! For all I know, that might be considered tiny.

I'm on Day 4 with the Diva Cup. I wouldn't say that I love it, but I've definitely warmed up to it a little. I even forgot that I was on my period today. Insertion and removal aren't exactly easy, but they are easier than they were on Day 1. I think I'm figuring out which techniques I like best.

I smugly walked by the feminine aisle in the drugstore today. I got really excited when I realized that the Diva Cup will have paid for itself if I can manage to use it for five cycles. I love that I haven't had to frantically search for tampons this month. I have particularly enjoyed not having to fuss with my period at all with all the hours I've spent at the hospital these last few days.

I can't recommend this product to everyone because some women might be a little squeamish about how it's used. But if you can handle your own vagina and you hate throwing money away each month, this might be something you should consider. The Diva Cup - I'm not completely a fan yet, but I'm getting there.

Day 2 with the Diva

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING: This post is about as gross as yesterday's. See my disclaimer at the beginning of yesterday's post and decide if you're really prepared to continue reading. And, for pete's sake, if you are my brother, please stop reading now. I mean it, you big weirdo!



I think I have a tiny vaginey. I told you to quit reading, Big Brother!

Anyway, I'd love to claim authorship for that adorable-sounding turn of phrase, but the credit goes entirely to a crunchy mama friend. I broached the subject of Diva Cups while our little ones played at the park this morning. Yes, yes, I know that I'm a great conversationalist!

But really, who else would I be able to talk to about the Diva Cup? Crunchy mamas are the perfect choice because, between CDing and BFing, dealing with body functions in general don't bother them. Besides, I already knew that she uses the Diva and it was a good time to seek advice.

I explained the battle that has been on-going between my vadge and the Diva Cup. So far the Cup is winning, but only because I'm the muscle backing the Diva and my arms are much stronger than my vadge. At least, I'm assuming they are or my husband better keep a close watch on his wiener the next time we do some baby-dancing.

I bemoaned how difficult it is to insert and how exhausting it is to remove the damn thing. I explained the different ways I've folded it and the different ways I've attempted removal. It's painful no matter what I do and I think I've come to the conclusion that my Diva Cup is just too freaking big. She said, "You have a tiny vaginey." and I have to agree at this point. I always knew there was something my husband found absolutely irresistible about me!

I was given a choice between two sizes when ordering my Diva Cup. Size 1 is for the under-30 set who have never had children. Size 2 is for the over-30 set and women who have had children. Since I'm 29 (cough, cough) and I have had a child, I chose Size 2. It occurs to me now that, when given a choice between a large-sized vaginal product and a small-sized vaginal product, I always choose the smaller size.

On the plus side, I was finally able to get my Cup to spin tonight. I was so excited by this new development that I bent over, trying to see what was going on up there, but was unable to make visual identification. Of course, my vagina took advantage of my distraction and pulled the Cup further up so fast that I lost my hold on the stem. I want my vagina to have a victory, so I have decided to leave it alone for the rest of the evening.

Even with all the hassles, I'm not ready to give up on the Diva Cup. It's true that my downstairs aches and throbs after I've been fishing around in Aunt Flo's cozy cottage, but I suspect that even porn stars and chronic masturbators (two things I am not) would have trouble with this thing on the very first cycle. I'm willing to believe that this is just a very steep learning curve and that perhaps one day I'll find a way to manage insertion and removal without feeling like I've been violated. Please let tomorrow be that day!!

I'll Try Anything Once

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING: If you are of the male persuasion, this is not a post that you will want to read. Heck, most females I know are probably too squeamish to handle this one. This is not a post for those who are uncomfortable with frank descriptions of female anatomy, bodily functions, or profanity. I may have lost my entire readership after that disclaimer. In case there are still a few of you left, this post is a real doozy for you brave souls to digest.


I know this will not come as a surprise to any of you who are still reading this, but I have had things in my vagina from time to time. Not weird things, you freaks, normal things that might end up in a vagina. I'm not a virgin, so I've had a wiener in my hoo-haw. My doctor ruthlessly crams a speculum and his ham hands up there each year for a pelvic exam. I have used tampons for nearly the entire time that I've had periods - over 20 years. But I have something very strange in my vagina right now.

It started innocently enough. I was reading a message board and several members of this group were touting the awesomeness of menstrual cups. I'd first heard of reusable menstrual cups over 15-years ago when I was reading The Tightwad Gazette. The thought of using a little cup to hold your period drippings (and the subsequent washing of it) didn't appeal to me and I disregarded the idea as some kind of hippie horseshit. But within a couple of years, a friend gave me a box of Instead disposable menstrual cups that she didn't plan to use.

I'll try nearly anything once and I'm not afraid of my vagina, so I gamely used one of these Insteads on my next cycle. Insertion was remarkably easy and it was so comfortable that I nearly forgot that it was even in there. I thought these things were great. I was sold - no more tampons for me! Until it came time to remove and discard the cup.

Hooking my finger on the ridge of the cup was easy enough and I naively thought it was smooth sailing from that point on. Imagine my horror when this slimy little cup slipped out of my hand as I was about to dump an entire days-worth of blood. It looked like I had just killed someone in my bathroom. To make matters much, much worse - the bathroom was carpeted. Even worse than that? It was a light-champagne colored carpet.

I spent what seemed like forever cleaning up the scene of the crime. I muttered darkly about menstrual cups in general and vowed to never touch one of the slippery little sons-of-bitches again.


That was then. For several reasons, menstrual cups appeal more to me now than they did in my youth. I go through a box of tampons every month and the cost seems to increase with every freaking cycle. Seriously, is a little box of rolled cotton really worth more than $6? I guess it is because that's what I've been paying each month. And that's assuming that I can even find the ones that I use, which is often not the case. I can assure you that hunting the drugstore for tampons when you can tell that your pretty panties are getting destroyed is an impossibly frustrating feeling. I use tampons that don't have an applicator, so I'm already pretty comfortable having to put my fingers in my vadge while OTR. And, dang, those women on the message board made reusable menstrual cups sound so perfectly easy to use. Really, I'm a cheap little broad and the potential cost savings was reason enough to give menstrual cups another try.

So I began researching the dark & mysterious world of menstrual cups. You have two choices right off the bat: reusable or disposable. I decided to buy one of each. I know that using disposable cups would wipe out any potential cost savings, but I thought I'd give the Instead cup another shot anyway. There are many different varieties of reusable cups and I chose the Diva Cup because it seemed like the popular choice. I bought both on-line and even scored free shipping. Woo-hoo, I was feeling pretty happy with my decision.

Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to change the shipping address, so the boxes ended up going to my husband's office. Ooops! He rolled his eyes when he handed me the box and sneered, "Your Diva Cup arrived at my office today."

Now, you'll have to bear with my fuzzy logic here, but part of me felt that I'd be guaranteed a pregnancy because I had just spent a lot of money on menstrual supplies. That wasn't the case (duh!) and my Aunt Flo made her monthly visit yesterday. I purposely didn't restock my tampons last month and I had only two choices: Run to the store with my panties stuffed with toilet paper and hunt for tampons or try a cup. I decided to try a cup.

The Instead cups are sort of like a diaphragm, small & flexible. The Diva Cup is ridiculously long and somewhat rigid. Seriously, it's a couple of inches long and, even all folded up for insertion, it is waaaay the heck bigger than any tampon I've ever used. I chickened out and grabbed an Instead. Just as a remembered, it was easy to insert and I couldn't even tell it was there. I even handled removal, emptying, and disposal like an old-pro. But, if I wanted to try to save some cash, I'd have to try the Diva Cup.

I took a warm shower to relax. Had my husband been home, I would have had a drink. I felt very intimidated by the Diva Cup. I realize that I've had much bigger things in my vadge, but it's usually after making out for a little bit. This stupid Cup wasn't even taking me out to dinner!

I couldn't even get it in at first. I had to try a few different ways to fold this beast before I could even get it in beyond my opening. I started pushing it in. And then it stopped. I kept trying to push it in further and it wouldn't budge. I wondered if it was possible to get it stuck. I tried to squeeze my fingers by to see if I could tell what the roadblock was, but there was no way I could feel that far without hooking my knees behind my ears. I was sweating at this point and wondered if I was making a huge mistake. I ultimately decided the positioning must be correct because there was nowhere else for it to go.

How'd I like it? I didn't. I have never suffered from cramps in my life, but holy smokes, this thing made my lady parts ache. I periodically (heh!) would check it to see if it had somehow moved. Nope, it was wedged up there pretty good. I went to bed, thinking that I'd have to find a way to deal with it in the morning.

I dreaded dealing with this thing this morning. What if I couldn't get it out? Would my husband be willing to pull the plug, so to speak? How would I explain this to the ER staff? Just when I started to really freak myself out, I flung the covers back and stomped into the bathroom to deal with the damned thing.

I sat on the toilet, doing the Larry Craig wide-stance. I took a deep breath and began my fishing expedition in the tight confines of Menstrual Lake. This cup has a handy little stem, which made finding it much easier than I anticipated. Removal was more painful than I expected, but it wasn't horrible. I pulled it out and emptied it in the toilet without even having to look at the contents. I felt so smart for my forethought.

And then I was left holding a bloodied cup in my hand. Remember, the Diva Cup is reusable. It lasts for a year. . .perhaps longer. But you're supposed to wash the cup prior to reinsertion. How was I supposed to clean this thing without dripping blood all over my bathroom floor? The idea of not washing it skeeved me out, so I decided on pulling the junior high move of stuffing toilet paper in my pants while walking to my sink to wash the cup.

Afterward, I folded it the way I had last night and insertion was much easier. It just doesn't seem like it's high enough up there. One other thing has been bothering me; you are supposed to spin this cup around while it's inside. Something about making sure that it's sealed. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't have room for it to spin. It's like my vagina has it in a death-grip or something. I've tried several times and it just won't work. I'm going to have to guess that all of this is normal for my body.

I've worn the Diva Cup for nearly 24-hours. I can't say that I'd recommend it to anyone at this point, but I understand that there can be a learning curve of sorts. For right now, this Diva's Cup is for Aunt Flo. If things don't get easier by the end of this cycle, I think I'll be hunting tampons again.