Using Cloth Pads

Overnight Muffies

It's been several months since I started using cloth pads so I wanted to let you know how it's going.  I like it in general, although there are some frustrations.  The type of pad really makes a difference comfort-wise.  My favorite pads are made by Pleat and they are the Overnight Muffies.  I don't just use them overnight - they are longer and I like them better than the daytime ones (Regular Muffies) because they offer more coverage.  I also have some pads that I only wear at night because they were a good deal, but not very comfortable.  They feel like a diaper, but they do serve a purpose because they are very long and work well for sleeping.  If you are looking for a less expensive night time only pad then I will recommend the Mama Moon Pads by Cre8tiveMama, but like I said, I only use them at night because I find them uncomfortable.

Mama Moon Pads

Right now I have 8 night time pads, 10 Overnight Muffies, and 5 Regular Muffies.  And with the muffies I use a little extender snap that I acquired somehow because they aren't quite wide enough for my underwear.  During a typical period, I have to do laundry about halfway through to have enough pads to last and sometimes I still have to supplement with disposable pads.  I think if I wanted to get through the whole period without using any disposable pads I would probably buy 10 more Overnight Muffies - just to give you an idea of how many you need to get through a period.  I could do more than one load of laundry, but I don't like to waste water, so if I don't have clothes to wash with them, I'm not going to do a load just for pads.

And that brings me to my one issue with these pads.  I don't like stains, and gosh darnit I cannot get the stains out of some of these pads!  I've tried pre-soaking them in oxyclean water, vinegar water, baking soda water, and nothing has worked to get all the stains out.  They aren't horrible, but I wish I could get them out.  Also, it seems like they are getting a bit dingy.  Is it the way I pre-soak or wash them?  Any advice?  I wash them with my clothes on a regular cycle with regular unscented detergent and I lay them on a towel to air dry.  Should I try another method?

Overall I like the cloth pads.  My vagina can breathe more and I'm not being as wasteful.  And they're pretty :)

Libido or Sanity?

About 6 months ago I decided to stop taking birth control in an effort to do anything I can to bring back my libido. I'm not sure that any study has proven that birth control has a direct negative effect on libido, but I do not want to take any chances. Plus, I really don't need to take it considering I haven't even attempted to have sex in almost a year.

So, I think it took a few months for all of the drugs to get out of my system, but in the last couple months I can really feel a difference. Not with libido, with sanity. My last few periods have been pretty tough and I think it's because I'm not taking BC anymore. For the past week I have had a headache and been extremely tired. Today I burst into tears for really no reason and I've just been lethargic the past few days. The cramping actually wasn't so bad during this period, but my last one and the on before it came with probably the worst cramps I've ever had.

It sucks that either way I go, I pay a price. But I'm not willing to go back to BC just yet. If there is any chance that it effects my libido, I will sacrifice a little monthly pain and insanity to hopefully be able to get horny again.

In related news, I just had my first period using only cloth pads. After reading Pearl's entry about cloth pads I decided to try them out in an effort to keep my vagina away from as many potential irritants as possible.

What I like about cloth pads:

-Most importantly, and the reason I will continue to use them, my vagina feels better than with disposable pads. I don't get as itchy and I really do feel like my vagina can "breathe" more.

-they are pretty

-they are environmentally friendly

What I don't like about cloth pads:

-they scrunch my underwear where they snap and it makes me have a sort of wedgie all the time. I got some extender snaps, and they help some, but there's still a bit of wedginess.

-Sitting for long periods of time is uncomfortable in these pads because they are thicker than what I'm used to. It's not the sitting/burning problem I have, but just a discomfort in my butt area.

-they are more high maintenance because of the cleaning process.

Regardless of the down sides, I will continue to use them. My vagina just feels better and that's the most important thing. I can live with the other stuff if they are helping make my vagina feel better. Thanks for the suggestion Pearl!