Alternative Products

[daisybones.livejournal.com]

I am not a happy mama.... having my second period since the baby. Breastfeeding, so they're irregular and I had none at all for 18 glorious months, including pregnancy. So: I'm thinking of ways to make this time more enjoyable. It shouldn't suck so bad, you know? Here are my questions for you:

1) Has anyone used the minipill while nursing? How was your supply? I wouldn't start for a few months when she's a year old at the earliest. She's a skinny girl, so I need to protect my milk supply for an extended length of time and don't want to introduce foreign hormones if they'll cause her to wean early. Also with the minipill, did you have less moodiness?

2) I hate tampons. I can't get them in right, I guess because I had an operation on a septum in my vagina and so my canal is shaped like an 8 with a line cut through where the two 0's of the 8 connect. (Does that make any sense?) Since a sea sponge is organic, would it fit better? What about a Keeper or Diva cup? Of course you guys may have no idea....

Thanks for any feedback:)

Comments

[autumn-sylver.livejournal.com]

I really wouldn't know about the septum in the vagina thing, but you could try emailing info@divacup.com (mailto:info@divacup.com) and ask them.
Also, I use a divacup with cloth pads, and it's so much better than disposable pads and tampons.

[daisybones.livejournal.com]

heh...cool icon.

Thanks, I do want to get some cloth pads eventually too. I just hate feeling the icky squish- I have a crazy heavy flow, so something internal would be great. Just not commercial tampons. Ew.

That's a good idea- I'll email the DivaCup peeps.

[ladyartemisa.livejournal.com]

if you havent tried cups before i would try using the instead cup. i started off with those and they were very easy so that I could get used to the placement, etc and I could test drive the whole "putting something in my vagina and having to pull it out" thing and see if I liked it or not. i prefer the keeper to the cup 100%.

[jennifer19.livejournal.com]

instead cups sit behind the pelvic bone, which is much higher than the reusable cups. I hated Insteads but I love my Diva.

Cloth pads are great too.

I have never had children, however, so i know NOTHING on breastfeeding. But I'd be very interested in anything says for the future.... :-)

[ladyartemisa.livejournal.com]

yeah they do but for some people there is a learning curve with the process and getting used to it. not for everyone but for some. i love clothpads but it seems the OP would prefer something internal. i really disliked the diva. its an either love or hate thing IMO... thats why i suggest trying a few types before giving up on cups all together. all our bodies are different so it is always a good idea to not discount one type or another.

[daisybones.livejournal.com]

Thank you:) I do think I'm fed up with pads, although I think I'd like cloth much better. I am very broke right now but I'll try a couple of kinds eventually before I give up:)

[daisybones.livejournal.com]

Thanks- I'll have to do some comparison shopping. It'll be weird to get used to- I have such bad luck with tampons I am a little uncomfortable with internal stuff but I just bleed too much for pads.

[lady-amorika.livejournal.com]

I have heard that a baby sock rolled up into tampon shape works well for internal menstrual collection. Since it is softer, it might work out better for you. I haven't tried it, but my friends who use them say they are comfortable.

[daisybones.livejournal.com]

That is awesome. Too awesome, since I have like 3,742 orphan baby socks lying around. Think I'll sterilize one and try, and try to avoid expliaing this to my husband...lol. This amuses me completely:)

[lady-amorika.livejournal.com]

I figured you would, with the little one ;)

I hope it works out for you, but no matter what you will always be able to claim having had a baby sock in your vagina...hehehe.

[rose-sunshine.livejournal.com]

Sorry this is later than other posts, but thought it could help. I have very heavy periods too after my second child (bleed through a super tampon and a pad in an hour or two), and was afraid to go back to cloth pads because of this. But i tried and actually found they seem to be more absorbant (and WAY more comfy/less "squishy" feeling) than disposables. Don't know if you will be able to with the septum issue, but if you can use a cup I highly recommend them as well. I've had a Keeper for my past 2 periods and although I am still learning to get it in just right, I really like it. I have to empty it more than the lucky girls who leave 'em in all day, but its still much better than tampons!! Good luck!

[daisybones.livejournal.com]

Thanks:) I'm hoping to try a cup or sponges soon:) And I definetly want some cloth pads. Do you know anyone who sells them for less than Lunapads?

[rose-sunshine.livejournal.com]

I do like Lunapads, but they are expensive!! You might want to just do a search on the internet for cloth menstrual pads, there are TONS of work-at-home moms and such that make them much cheaper than Luna's! I have been rather addicted to trying different kinds lately and so far I really like HagRags. A lot of places let you buy one at a special price to try before investing in a whole lot, which I think is wise (I am stuck with 3 Sckoon pads which were really expensive and I don't like at all)!

[daisybones.livejournal.com]

Oh, great, that's awesome! I'll try to do a trial purchase:) Thanks for the idea.

[auralarua.livejournal.com]

The Keeper. 100% It's the best.

[mokie]

No children here, but I'll second recommendations to try the Keeper, not least because you can return it within three months if it doesn't suit you. Also, on my first use of it, a freakishly heavy and painful four day flow turned into two days of reasonable and painless bleeding.

Maybe that kind of miracle doesn't happen for everyone who uses it, but it's enough to make me worship the cup.

[mokie]

Er. I should also say, sea sponges = fit anywhere, very comfy, easy to clean, and if you can't find a veganriffic all-natural granola sponge-selling store near you, you can usually find them at an art supply or craft store instead, so, yeah.

Aaaaand now I'll just make sure there's nothing else to say before hitting Post...