Mama Pads

I still haven't got my period since having Brenna and have been trying to avoid this thread cause I always just thought eewwww.
BUT! I have to say that my nosey-ness got the better of me and now that I have read what you all have to say I'm actually quite intrigued (spl??)... I'd never heard of a mooncup before and they sound like such a good idea. My only worry is that at $55 I just think that if I get it and don't like it, I've wasted alot of money (we are on a tight budget at the moment due to one income and all that...)

I don't understand how they can make a period lighter???? Does anyone know why this is?

Paws - I hope this isn't too much of a personal Q, but how heavy was your flow to only have to empty once per day? It sounds too good to be true! I hate changing tampons...especially at work!

Here is one lot of info I got off the www.redrag.co.nzsite.

According to the Women's Environmental Network (UK) Toxic Shock Syndrome has been linked to the use of super-absorbent and newer, less absorbent tampons made of viscose rayon, both with and without cotton. SEAC Tampaction claims that artificial fibers (like rayon) used in tampons are abrasive, so when a tampon lengthens it pushes against the cervical area, causing tiny cuts and imbedding pieces into the tissue. This has been traced as the probable cause of Toxic Shock Syndrome and has been shown to damage the vaginal walls by causing ulceration and peeling of the mucous membrane.

Disposables made from synthetic materials can often cause sensitivities. Many women experience a reduction in yeast infections when they switch to cloth pads. Women have also reported less cramping and lighter bleeding. Red Rags are soft, don't sweat and will not cause chafing or irritate your skin.

Two Blondinis wrote: so... if you're out and about and need to empty it, where do you rinse the moon cup? in the public bathroom? or does the water have to be sterile? I'm not convinced on the hygiene side I'm sorry. I'm going to get some FBs cloth pads with my next comms pay, just enough to give them a go and decide from there. I don't think it would be any worse than dealing with a cloth nappy after a sh*tty explosion

Yeah love all the questions...

I use both pads and mooncup. There is a Divacup also but I am senstive to rubber so went the silicone way.

If out and the bathrooms are dodgy I never rinse just empty it out and put it back in...(it all came out of me afterall!) You are far more likely to end up with problems from something you picked up from dirty bathrooms than your own body. At home I take it out and give it a good rinse under the hot tap. It can also be boiled to sterilise it but lets face it you don't know who the last person was to touch the tampons you use and you don't sterilise them first.

I used FBs pads after my son and while I was so glad of them over the plastic disposable ones I would suggest you try a mixture of fabrics to see which suits you best. I didn't need them for long but was glad to downsize to my hemp/cotton Outrageous Pads from www.greenbeans.co.nz as the all synthetics of the FBs in summer was a little hot sweaty.

Also check out www.redrag.co.nz for some awesome fabrics and designs.

Hi Lemon!! Cool to see you over here! *insert wavey guy*

Yay Anna! Glad to hear you joined us with the moncups....they really do rock!

Oh, I just wanna add that I love my DIVA CUP!!! I've tried both the Diva Cup (it is silicone) and the Moon cup and I have to admit that I do much prefer the Diva Cup. It's a slightly longer cup but has a way shorter stem thats tappered so it doesn't dig in to your skin folds when you sit. I found I had to trim my Moon cup stem heaps to make it comfortable. I'm hoping to retail the Diva cup on my website in the not too distant future. The price was about the same $55 or so.(I got mine from Canada)so it's well worth the effort it takes to master the trick of inserting it. I got frustrated with it and gave up on it after my first attempt as it was so uncomfortable, but I decided I wasn't going to waste $55 so I gave it another go and Bam! it worked and I've never looked back. Persistence is the key!!! When I'm out I usually try to find/use the handicapped toilet as they often have a sink in them.

I looked at the Diva cup but decided to go with the moon as I hadn't heard much about Diva... sounds pretty good though.

I trimmed the stem off first go and left about 0.5cm.. that seems to be fine.

And my period was only 4 days long! Result of the mooncup??? I don't know, but I'm not gonna question it - yay!!

What's wrong with it?? Am I missing something??

Hmmmmmm i thought it looked like an arty flower.... Now it's going to bug me....might have to ask Helen what it is meant to be.