Women to women that time of the month question ( if you are easliy grossed out don't read)?

Question

So when I woke up this morning I got my period and was extremely crampy ( to the point where I definantly can't wear a tampon) but I hate pads with a passion it just feels so sticky, cold drippy, diaper,mess, ick! on top of that I just felt plain sick and just wanted to lay down, so i just grabbed and old face towel to put in my undies ( i'll throw it away later) and went back to sleep,

It felt way better then pads, I way just wondering where can you by real clothe pads, that can be used for the first day or so when you're really crampy, who has used them? pros & cons, do they have ones that you can throw away?

what do you use on your first day if you are really crampy? do you switch back and forth or are you a tampon only person?

Answer 1

You can buy cloth pads or you can make your own, there are millions of women who use cloth pads and they are becoming more popular as more women are becoming aware of the dangers of tampons and commercial pads.

Cloth pads;

Lunapads - http://www.lunapads.com
Gladrags - http://www.gladrags.com
Reddy's - http://www.reddyspads.com
Urban Armor - http://urban-armor.org/urban-armor
Hagrag - http://www.hagrag.bigstep.com
Wemoon - http://wemoon.com.au
Pretty Pads - http://www.prettypads.com
Pleasure Puss - http://www.pleasurepuss.com
Mamma Elle - http://mamaelle.com
Pandora Pads - http://pandorapads.com
Celesta Pads - http://www.foliumgifts.com/celesta
Moon Mamma's - http://www.moon-mammas.com/index.htm
Many Moons - http://pacificcoast.net/%7Emanymoons/moons.html
All Natural Mamas - http://www.allnaturalmamas.com
Rhythm & Blues - http://www.hindsightdiapers.com/rhythmandblues.htm

DIY pads;

WEN Sanpro - http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro/reports/makeyourown_web.pdf
Blood Sisters - http://bloodsisters.org/bloodsisters/pads.html
Many Moons - http://pacificcoast.net/%7emanymoons/howto.html
Stewardwood - http://www.stewardwood.org/resources/DIYwashabletowels.htm
Diaper sewing - http://www.diapersewing.com/clothpads.htm

There aren't brands you can throw away, although still more environmentally sound than commercial pads it would still be an environmental issue and as environmental concerns are one of the reasons women use cloth pads there is no market for disposable cloth pads, although you can get organic pads that are more comfortable and more environmentally friendly than commercial pads.
Natracare – http://www.natracare.com

I have used commercial pads, organic pads and cloth pads, specifically I used Lunapads which are by far considered the superior brand because they are the better known as well as the better made – they are pricey but the sewing is great because they are made so thin. I loved using Lunapads, no good for me because I have such heavy periods but very comfortable to wear around the house on my lighter days, seriously super soft. I don't really see any disadvantages to them, past of course that they are no good when you have a menstrual flow like mine, advantages are that they are cheap, environmentally friendly and a hell of a lot safer than tampons or commercial pads. Organic pads aren't pad either, although not as soft they are certainly more comfortable than commercial pads, although the glues in the sticky strips aren't as good as within commercial pads, although they still do stick.

FYI tampons do contribute to menstrual cramps because they are bad for vaginal health, in turn bad for menstrual health contributing to menstrual cramps and heavier menstrual flow. As tampons swell they can add to bloating, lengthways-expanding tampons such as Tampax can also expand into the cervix. Switching to a different brand may help you, or switching to another type, for example if you currently use commercial tampons switching to organic tampons may help in that they are better for the health of your vagina so may reduce cramping. Natracare also sell organic tampons, or there are sponge tampons – http://www.jadeandpearl.com

You may also want to look into menstrual cups, bell-shaped cups are internal like tampons but don't carry any health risks, they are hygienic, don't contribute to menstrual cramps, they are also environmentally friendly, very inexpensive, far more convenient than tampons and body-positive. You can also get disposable menstrual cups called Instead's these are nothing like conventional menstrual cups [some women cannot use Instead's but love other types of menstrual cups], although these have the advantage of providing a means of mess-free penetrative penis to vaginal sex during menstruation.

I'm a menstrual cup user myself and will never ever use tampons again, even if I didn't know what I know now about tampons menstrual cups are by far more convenient, I use a menstrual cup from a few days before my period to a few days after [they are safe to use when not menstruating - as well as during the night] and have no problems with menstrual cramps.

Divacup – http://www.divacup.com
Keeper – http://www.keeper.com
Mooncup – http://www.mooncup.co.uk
Lunette – http://www.lunette.fi
Instead – http://www.softcup.com

As for cramps, they are preventable it is just a matter of finding a method that works for you, the library should have a load of books, or of course you can try online as well, here are some ideas less ordinary that might be useful for you;

-Herbal teas; Lemon balm, Black Haw, Blessed thistle, Camomile, Wild marjoram, Red raspberry, Wild strawberry, Valerian, Yarrow, Raspberry leaf, Blue cohosh, Dong quai.

-Rub a little Clary Sage into your stomach when you start to get menstrual cramps, and another oil to consider it lavender oil purely for relaxation, nice to add to a warm bath.

-Have a lot of sex on your period, also consider taking up yoga as good for breathing and stretching exercises as well as blood flow.

-Take cell-salts, you can take these daily to help prevent cramps or take them when you get cramps upping the dose every 5-10 minutes until the pain goes.

-Up your intake of magnesium, calcium, and potassium, also couple with zinc to help your body absorb these easier. Also consider supplements with omega 3 & 6, vitamin E and high B6 and B13.

Answer 2

Actually, in the days before pads and tampons, they used folded rags for menstual flow.
Lizzy Borden used the excuse that the bloody rags near the furnance in the basement were from her menses. (and not, presumably, from whacking off her parents with an axe)
That said. If you have cramps, you should take about 600 mg of ibuprofen (Motrin), which will help relieve them. I understand there are days when your flow is especially heavy, and tampons would be useless, especially if you tend to get large clots or clumps of the shed uterine lining on day 1 or 2.
You can try the ultraabsorbent ultra thin pads, which reduce that 'diaper' feel. Otherwise, if you are just hanging out in bed or at home, there is no harm in a folded cloth, like you used. Linen rags were the primary cloth used, otherwise anything absorbent (i.e non-synthetic) will do. Cotton based, perferably, I imagine wool would be too scratchy.
Just wash the items in cold water only, or you will set the blood stain in the towel. You can soak the item in salty cold water first, to get rid of most of the blood.
For spots, I use hydrogen peroxide and blotting with a clean cloth.
If the cloth is still stained after the first wash, don't put it in the dryer, heat will set protein based stains, like blood. Just re-wash the item and pre-treat with your usual detergent.

Answer 3

Have you tried a baby diaper? This is not as narrow and wouldn't be pushed so much up against you like a pad would. I am not sure about cloth pads. All I can think of would be cloth diapers. I wish they had something more comfortable as well. The things us women have to live with between our legs, someone needs to invent something more sleek, soft and comfortable, exspecially for those real painful, messy times.
I feel for ya.

Yes, clothwear.com
That is a great site. Wow, now only if they would start selling them in stores.

Answer 4

That's not gross, and anyone who says they haven't done this is LYING.
Anyway.... Just use some washcloths, they're cheaper than pads because cloth is re-usable... Don't throw that washcloth you used away, just wash it in cold water and soap.... then use it again next month. My mom told me that's what she did when she was younger anyway, (use washcloths I mean)
And as for your other question, no I NEVER use tampons, they are bad for you, they keep all that nasty blood trapped inside of you, causing odor and making alot of bacteria, they have also been linked to causing Toxic Shock Syndrome, and left untreated this can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, and PID left untreated can cause infertility and even death.

Answer 5

Not joking try baby diapers.

You can always buy cheap face towels at a 99 cent store or CVS.

In olden times women wore rags because there were no pads.

Go with what works for you.

Answer 6

I never heard about a cloth pads, but hell if a face towel feels more better then use those. FYI about that is it might create a bad smell.

Answer 7

I use always super and overnight works like a charm!!!!! I've thought about tampons but never tried it. also some midol 12hrs. relief and I'm fine.

Answer 8

well you can try wearing the baby cloth like diapers ..and for cramps take some chamomile tea and some advils.

Answer 9

not a woman..not grossed..one of the ladies said to have a lot of sex...my kind of girl.

Answer 10

i don't know where u can buy cloth-pads; u can buy reg. hand-towels & use those. they're practically the same thing.