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??  ;)

Where Did It Go??

Yeah, it's my period mystifying me once again. 

I realize that I'm going to sound like Goldilocks, but where in the world did my period go?  I've been bleeding to death for days (and complaining loudly the entire time), but I woke up this morning to find that my vagina is totally dry.  There is nothing up there!  I know, I know, why am I complaining?  Because I'm a chick and chicks love to bitch about stuff.

Times like this make me glad that I don't wear tampons any longer because removing them when they weren't very wet is such a gross feeling.  I won't even begin to tackle how icky it was when my vadge pulled the damn things apart as I was pulling them out.  Yeah, picking cotton fibers out of her snatch is just what a post-menstrual woman wants to do - bleh!

I should also take this time to add that I absolutely love mama cloth now. . .and I haven't worn pads since I first started getting periods!  Why do I like cloth pads?  Because they are sooo soft and comfy!  Wearing a cloth pad is like wearing your most comfortable pair of undies.  Plus, they don't leak (I was shocked at this - particularly given my flow as of late!) and they don't have any sticky parts to pull on tender areas of my flesh.

Back to the topic at hand, where did my period go?  How can I be soaking through a pad in an hour or two for days on end and have that flow disappear literally overnight?  I give up trying to make any sense out of my menstrual cycle because there is no sense to be made out of it!

In other news, this means that I'll start peeing on the ovulation predictor sticks and I can start taking the progesterone five days after my LH surge.  I'm hopeful that this will help lengthen my cycle and/or aid in supporting pregnancy should I conceive.  This cycle will be my last chance to have a baby carried to term in 2011 so wish us luck!

Is It Possible. . .

to bleed to death from your vagina?  If so, I must be halfway there. 

Yep, I'm having yet another period.  I think I'm well on my way to winning the contest for the woman who spends the most days on her period.  This is my third period since February 26 (UGH!) and my frequent blood-loss may be one reason why I feel so exhausted and wiped out all the time.  Okay, okay, I felt that way anyhow, but the frequent periods can't possibly help to improve my energy levels.

I might be able to tolerate the frequency (even though that isn't good for fertility), but the quantity of blood-loss is negatively impacting my life.  I can't use my Diva Cup because there is so much, uh, wetness gushing around up there that I can't get it to form a seal.  So I've been forced to use pads. 

How many pads do I use?  I soak through a heavy-duty postpartum pad within an hour if I'm moving around or I can maybe go for two hours if I'm just sitting still.  And it's not just the ridiculously heavy flow that's bothersome, but the clots are starting to freak me the heck out.  They aren't like the size of golf balls or anything, but more like the size of a "shooter" marble.  My periods have sucked for years, but this is a new development and it's pretty disturbing.

I know that the first few cycles after a pregnancy can be wonky, but this is ridiculous.  I loathe going to the doctor unless absolutely necessary and I'd rather not be seen in this condition, but I just contacted my doctor because I can't even have a normal life.  I'm being held hostage by my menstrual cycle. . .I don't think it's a good idea to negotiate with terrorists, but I'll gladly pay the ransom to get my life back!

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?  ;-)

A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That

Another post for you crunchy-ish feminine types out there. . .

When I first announced that I was looking at purchasing mama cloth, a friend suggested that I hold off on buying an entire stash and just buy one or two styles from a few different vendors.  She wisely counseled that I would surely like one style or one brand more than others.  I initially disregarded the advice, but I am so glad that I ultimately did listen to her - thank you, Jenny!

I hate shopping (I know, I know, am I really a girl?) so my first instinct was to simply purchase an insta-stash from one vendor.  All the pads necessary for one price through one WAHM.  Shopping doesn't get much easier than that.  They were flannel topped, PUL protected pads that weren't all that cute, but I figured it wouldn't matter what I was wearing in my underpants.  I had the purchase all lined up and ready to add to my Etsy cart.

Thankfully, I remembered my friend's advice and began looking half-heartedly at other pads.  I found offerings that I visually liked a good deal better with pretty prints, tie-dye, even gorgeous swirly patterns.  Of course, appearance was the only way I could judge the pads because I hadn't used any yet. 

I also began to ponder which materials would feel better against my lady parts:  flannel, cotton velour, OBV, or Minkee.  Here's a hint:  flannel is my least favorite because, well, I prefer a softer fabric.  Along with the topper material, I started considering the backing.  In the interest of maintaining a healthy airflow downstairs, I chose to avoid PUL for the most part and focused on fleece and wool backed pads.

I guess I prefer pretty things. . .even pretty menstrual pads.  I mean, why choose an ugly and utilitarian one if you can have a really pretty one made with luxe fabrics?  Appearance is important to me, but performance trumps appearance for me.  This is where I began to learn about what materials are better for an absorbent, yet trim, core.  Terry, hemp, and microfiber might be nice, but Zorb rocks!  Seriously it ROCKS!

I ended up buying pads from several different vendors and I also purchased one pad from that first vendor I found, just in case it would out-perform the other heavy pads I picked up.  Interestingly enough, it is a pad that I really hate.  Hate, hate, hate!  In fact, it's the last pad that I grab.

How can you mess up a cloth pad?  I don't know, but this one sucks for a couple of different reasons.  I don't like flannel pads at all.  They aren't soft and they just don't wash & dry as well as other pads.  Also, thanks to the PUL (I guess), it noisily crinkles.  Flannel wraps around the single layer of PUL, but it sounds like a plasticky disposable pad - noisy and obnoxious.  I don't remember PUL being so noisy when I used PUL diaper covers for the my son.  How in the world does this cloth pad make such a racket?  It also has the male and female snaps on what I consider to be the "wrong" side.  Maybe it was created by a lefty?  And I don't like the metal snaps because they seem harder to snap together than KAM polyresin plastic snaps.

I won't disclose the vendor's name in this blog because my opinion might not be yours and I don't think it's fair to slam a WAHM's product for no real reason.  I mean, the pad does work.  I just don't like it for my own persnickety reasons. 

My point in sharing this story isn't to illustrate that I over analyze every freaking decision I make, though I think I did a good job of doing just that.  It's to illustrate why you really should pick up a variety of cloth pads to find what you like.  There definitely will be things that you like about some pads and things that you won't like about others.  I guarantee that you'll have one that you LOVE (and, dare I say, you'll look forward to using!) and one that you always keep at the bottom of your stash.

Have fun shopping and I hope you get a truly happy period!

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

I heard about Little Luxuries a few months ago from a friend.  By the time that I investigated the company a little further, I was disappointed to find that the owner was closing down operations.  However, another work at home mom (WAHM) picked up the reigns and Little Luxuries is back in business. 

The new owner was looking for some testers and yours truly will be doing testing for them.  I figured that I'd be a perfect candidate for testing since I'm willing to try new things, I'm very open when it comes to giving my opinion, and I obsess over the most minute details.  Even better, I don't even have to come up with my own opinion because the owner will be sending out a questionnaire to use for forming my review.

I recently received my set of tester pads from Little Luxuries.  My set consists of a 13" overnighter/post-partum, an 11" heavy, a 9" regular, and an 8" liner.  The overnighter/post-partum pad seems a little too long because I don't have a lot of, ahem, real estate to cover down there, but the rest seem like they'd work well lengthwise.  They are a little thicker than the other pads that I'd normally prefer, but they are still thinner than a disposable so it's not that big of a deal.

I was blown away by how soft and pretty they are - they are unbelievably soft and so very pretty!  I'm not a sewer, but even I can tell that these are beautifully constructed.  Even the wings seem more substantial than most of the other pads I've tried; I suspect they have three layers of fabric.  They all have different prints and colors:  bright pink velour topper with whimsical butterflies, pink velour topper with brown & pink argyle print, royal blue velour topper with a bold tropical floral print, and chocolate brown velour topper with a retro-looking owl print. 

As I've said about other pads in the past, these are almost too pretty to use for their intended purpose.  But I can't wait for my next period so I can use these little luxuries!

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!

Crunchy Questions

I would have liked to write a post about politics, but my son and I are even more sick today.  My head is still stuffy and now my throat feels like it's lined with barbed wire & razor blades.  My son has picked up a runny nose in addition to that terrible cough.  I can handle all kinds of gross bodily functions, but there is nearly nothing on the planet that creeps me out more than snot; I can't wait until he learns how to blow his nose!  So instead of a deep and meaningful post, this is a short one that probably won't make any sense to most of the readership.  I have a few questions on two different topics for my more crunchy readers.


Amber Jewelry
I know that the lighter colored amber contains more succinic acid, but is there a difference in the style of amber?  What I mean is, are chips or beads better if you're using the necklace for therapeutic purposes?  Does necklace length make any difference?


Mama Cloth
I've started another cycle (yes, another period already!) and I absolutely love mama cloth.  I'm totally sold on how comfortable cloth is compared to any disposable products.  I want to pick up more pads for my heavy day, but I'm seeking some feedback before making a purchase.  I love, love, love my heavy-flow pads from Mother Moon Pads, but do you have any vendors who you particularly like for heavy-flow mama cloth?

Other than price, what's the primary difference between fleece-backed pads and wool-backed pads?  What are the main differences between cotton velour and OBV?  Have you ever tried a minkee-topped pad?  If so, does it feel gross once it's used?  Are there any drawbacks to using pads with serged edges versus zig-zagging or topstitching?

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!

Giveaway Fever

I have a couple of SAHM friends who seem like they have Giveaway Fever.  Realize, of course, that I'm not a doctor (I don't even play one on TV) and my medical opinion is worth bupkis.  I also really don't think that they literally have temperatures elevated over the standard 98.6 degrees.

But, really, who can blame them for entering these contests?  Who doesn't like getting something for nearly nothing? 

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I think I also have caught Giveaway Fever.  I know, I know, long-time readers of this blog are probably thinking that there is absolutely nothing that embarrasses me.  Oddly, I feel silly for entering these contests since I never win and it seems unlikely that I'm going on a winning streak anytime soon.  Note that this is exactly the reason why I NEVER play the lottery.  Why waste a dollar?  Well, with most giveaways, I'm just wasting a little bit of time.  There is one thing that I have in spades these days - time!  And there is one thing that I feel that I'm lacking - cash!

I've been investigating the world of mama cloth a lot lately and I've started to purchase pads to try out on my next cycle.  Yes, I'll still primarily use my Diva Cup because it is generally the most convenient way to manage an inconvenient time, but I like having the option to use something else besides disposable pads and tampons.  In my mama cloth research (why must I over-analyze EVERYTHING?!), I've found some giveaways.  What's better than purchasing a reusable pad?  Winning one for FREE!

For those of you who are just crunchola enough to give mama cloth a try, here's a pretty good giveaway to enter.  It's offered from the blog 6 and STILL Sane and, yes, I entered too.  The giveaway is for pads from Randumosity. 

Randumosity has a shop on etsy.com that offers mama cloth, wetbags, and flaxseed-filled ouchie pads.  Clicky the linky and be prepared to find some really, really pretty offerings.  I have a sinking suspicion that I'll end up ordering something whether or not I win this giveaway.  Oh, Etsy, why did I have to find you and your fabulous shops???

Enter quickly if you're so inclined as the giveaway ends on September 4 at 10:00 pm MST.  Good luck!

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?