washable menstrual pads

[CatchTheFox]

ok, i am interested to know if people think this is gross or not. 10 years ago i wouldn't have even considered it, but now with 2 in cloth nappies, it's seems like a no-brainer.
or should i try a mooncup?

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Here's wee notions for you

luxurymoon.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=2

[deemented]

Booyhoo www.jamsponge.co.uk/

Basicly, it's a natural sea sponge, and you dampen it the squeeze it small and put it up. It blocks the vaginal enterence and absorbs all the blood. It's really easy to use and you just rinse it under the tap and it's ready to use again :)

[BehindLockNumberNine]

deemented have found them Took some searching though!

Like them, now just need to save up the £80 odd I need to buy them....

[Booyhoo]

thank you deemented

[deemented]

You don't have to buy them all at once - even buying a couple so you can use them on just one day is a great start. Also, have you thought about preloved? I know some folks cringe at the thought, but it can be an inexpensive way to build your stash :)

[PretzelTime]

...preloved menstrual protection? Now I heard it all.

[FourArms]

The MeLuna looks good - XL volume is three times that of the mooncup which I can fill hourly at worst. Anyone got any thoughts on comparisons between the two?

[FourArms]

I bought a couple of washables, but mainly use old nappy boosters now. I made some of them myself, so if you've got a sewing machine you could have some for free!

[Uppermid]

Marking my place to have a proper look later. Thanks for links!

[IneedAsockamnesty]

I prefer meluna as I find the mooncup a bit rigid.

I have 2 meluna cups one soft and one classic. As I wasn't sure which one I needed so got both after that I chucked my mooncup away because meluna cups are so much better.

[BehindLockNumberNine]

I will buy a few, have run out of pads so will buy slightly less of those than I normally would and buy a few fairy hammocks to see how I like them!

Like the idea of the sponge too but bit confused by it needing to be damp when inserted, does that not reduce absorbancy? And are sponges more absorbant than tampons?

[IneedAsockamnesty]

If you don't have mega heavy days every day of your period then you won't need serious absorbent ( expensive) every day.

A mix of regular/ maxi pads and night or heavy pads should be ok.

So you get a few of the heavy or night pads and more of the regular ones that brings the costs down quite a bit.

[deemented]

No, it doesn't reduce absorbancy - you only wet it because when it's dry it's hard and won't squeeze together.

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

Both cloth nappies and washable menstrual pads are imo rather gross and time consuming. tampons are the only way to deal with periods - I have NEVER used anything else, and neither has my daughter. (purely personal opinion of course, if the lentil weavers want to weave their menstrual pads, then hey ho its a free country)

[toddlerama]

Not gross at all. Some people find that they reduce cramps because the chlorine in disposables exacerbates the cramping.

I use a mooncup (well I do when I need it - I'm bf-ing right now) and I prefer it to tampons, but sometimes it can feel a bit like it's rubbing. Has anyone used a jam sponge? Is it comfortable / effective / practical?

[deemented]

Wow, nice and judgemental post there amothersplace

I use cloth nappies on my three youngest children and it's no more time consuming then sticking another load of washing on. I do 2-3 loads a day anyway, so another couple a week doesn't really make a difference. And frankly, i use cloth because the thought of every shite ever done in every disposable nappy festering away in landfil really does turn my stomach. Disposable have been around for what.. 40 years now? 40 year old turds in stinking plastic nappies that will still be there when my great grandchildren have grandchildren? That's what's gross.

I'm not a lentil weaver either - i just got fed up of constant chuff chafe and thought there must be another way. There was. And it works for me and mine.

[PretzelTime]

tampons are the only way to deal with periods
That's fine, until you get fanjo problems and the non-hippy gyn recommends cloth pads. True story

[deemented]

Yes, toddlerama - i do. Very comfortable and effective. Only thing i would say is that when out and about you really do need a loo with a sink in it to be able to clean it and reuse, but other than that, no issues :)

[OrangeLily]

Thanks for the links ladies. I get on really well with my mooncup but I think I might get a few pads too to have a separate choice.

The sponges sound interesting. How do they cope in water?

And as for her up thread.... Very open minded of you. Tampons are not the only option, neither are disposable pads. Many of us, including myself, find that using other methods of sanitary protection is uncomfortable and means horrible cramps and a longer period time wise.

Just because disposable tampons and towels are all most shops offer many of us thought they were the best or the only options.

[deemented]

Well they are natural sea sponges so they cope ok If you mean for swimming etc, i've not tried them tbh so couldn't say.

[OrangeLily]

Sorry I did mean for swimming!
I wouldn't like them to leak menstrual blood in the pool?

[deemented]

I doubt they would, but i've never used them for swimming.

[Itsnotahoover]

I'm looking at these:

earthwise

Been thinking about getting some for a while but this thread has prompted me to order some :)

[Disappearing]

OK, you've all whet my interest, I'm ready to try this, and I've checked out the links. There's too much choice!

Has anyone tried the Imse Vimse pads? They're the least scary looking ones (imho), the tie-die purple yurt woven hemp ones are a little too different for my liking.

If this is to work for me, I will need this transition to be untroubled.

[meddie]

The first ones I bought were the imse vimse, 6 overnight and 6 normal to cope with heavier days.
They are comfy, but I did find that they sort of leaked at the sides.But then I have fibroids so have quite heavy days.
I really dont find them much trouble to be honest, nappy bucket with cold water in, chuck them in there to soak before washing kept them in good condition, though I could not put them out in the sun to dry (and naturally bleach) as the thought of pads swinging in the breeze for my neighbours to see was too much.
They lasted me about 4 years before I decided to bleach them one day and they fell to bits. but they did save me a lot of money and a sore chuff