Mama cloths - do you/ would you use it?

[asha]

I just read about these in a couple of posts since yesterday. Never heard about it before. I am really curious to find out more. SO, here are my questions.

For mamas using it already:

why did you decide to switch?
What do you like the most about it?/ Review
How many did you have to buy?
Is it hard to clean? Does it really come out very clean?
Does the cloth lose its softness over time?

For mamas not using it

Would you consider using it?
If not, what is the reason behind your decision?

I am just trying to get some thoughts from people.
After I read about it, I was talking to my mom and she told me that when she was younger, they would make it themselves in India. I have never used it, never even knew about it.

My biggest concern is cleaning/ hygiene. I have problems if my underthings are not rinsed well (I run the rinse cycle twice for those loads), so I am very particular about the cleaning part.

Edited to fix a gramatical error.

TIA ladies.

[bcky2]

why did you decide to switch? i heard it helps shorten your cycle and to lessen your cramps. also they are chemical free :)

What do you like the most about it?/ Review i never run out, i just wash and reuse. they are alot more comfortable. after having ds #2 i have had problems using tampons so pads are my first choice right now.

How many did you have to buy? right now i have 1 for heavy days/overnight and 3 day time ones and 2 liners. i am in need of buying more :)

Is it hard to clean? Does it really come out very clean? very easy to clean, but i also cloth diaper so i just rinse them out and throw them in the wash with my diapers. they come very clean, i have one little stain on one of them and that is it.

Does the cloth lose its softness over time? i have only been doing this for about 6 months but so far so good, they are as soft as day one :)

[papal]

Hi Asha!
I switched to mama cloth about 6 months ago I think.. used it for 4 cycles.
I love mama cloth. I used to be a tampon user before Leela.. but after Leela, they were just not as comfortable for me. So I had to use disposable pads and those were really uncomfortable as well. So i switched to cloth. I will have to go back and count how many I generally changed the pad about 4-5 times a day just to keep things fresh. :D
My fear when switching was the hygiene factor.. like you, I do an extra rinse on the undies.. lol. But then again, we use cloth diapers so I was used to mini-showering them. Anyway, honestly, i do not think it is gross.. i rinse them out the best i can (till the water runs clear) and add them to a wet-bag. Every 2 days, I throw them in the wash.. usually on the 2nd cycle of the diaper laundry. They do come out clean.

I would definitely urge you to try them.. your mom will be surprised at how much time and technology have changed mama-cloth! Much like cloth diapers are no longer just flat pieces of cloth, mama cloth has also gone hi-tech!
Maybe you can try them as underpant-liners first... once you feel the comfort (velour!), i think you might just go for mama-cloth instead of dispies!
The cramping has been almost eliminated and I just feel so much better and comfortable using them! Come check out Butts, we are having a discussion there about mama cloth right now.

[DebbieJ]

If you do a search in the Butts forum, you will find more info than you will ever need!

~ deb
DS 12/03
And a niece or nephew arriving in early August!

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/10029.gif

[mudder17]

Hey, Asha, I switched to mama cloth about a year ago and to the Diva Cup with backup cloth liners about 8-9 months ago. It's wonderful! I switched because I was already using cloth with my babe and we had a discussion in Butts about it and I thought, hey why not? The sposies always made me itch, tampons were so uncomfortable (which is why I rarely used it), so I thought cloth would be more comfortable. I also tried the Diva Cup a couple cycles later and I LOVE it. It's so much more comfortable than tampons (I don't even realize I have it in sometimes) and I feel so secure knowing I'm not going to have a leak and I can go swimming. My cramps have gotten much better, and my cycles are more regular and not quite as heavy as they used to be.

For cleaning, review of types, etc., come visit us in Butts. There's a bunch of threads about mama pads and the cup, and we're even discussing it at the moment! See you there! :)


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 15 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[amazz]

Here are some that I have bookmarked already. :)

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=60&topic_id=36662&mesg_id=36662&page=

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=60&topic_id=30199&mode=full

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=60&topic_id=30879&mode=full

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=60&topic_id=33306&mode=full

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=60&topic_id=33418&mode=full

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=60&topic_id=33854&mode=full

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=60&topic_id=34737&mode=full

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=60&topic_id=28590&mode=full

And this probably doesn't even make a dent in all the threads, LOL! :D But it should be enough to get you started thinking and possibly getting some of your questions answered. Though for me I think I just keep coming up with new questions. :)

HTH,
Angela
Mama to Kami Allyse (10/10/04)http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/otn/love/luvlove.gif[/IMG]
A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on. ~Carl Sandburg
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

[jasabo]

I've never used them, mostly b/c I have a hard time keeping up with the laundry and it would totally gross me out if I wasn't able to wash them right away, which I know would end up happening b/c I'm lazy.

That said, I think they're interesting, even more so since reading that they decrease cramping b/c mine are really bad. Can someone fill me in on how that works? I don't understand how cramping is effected by the kind of pad you wear.

TIA!

Lisa - mom to 2 yr old twin boys

[calebsmama03]

Lisa-
The reason they can help with cramping is because of the chemicals used in the manufacture of sposie pads/tampons. The bleah used to make the cotton pristine white creates dioxin as a biprodut. Dioxin is quite toxic and when absorbed into the body has been implicated in causing various maladies - including endometriosis. The effet is worse from tampons for obvious reasons, but pads are still in close proximity to the vaginal mucosa. Also, the chemicals in the "super absorbant gel beads" that nearly all pads now contain are not known to be entirely safe. I have endometriosis and am a coimplete believer in mama cloth! I have NEVER had a pain free period until my 3rd or 4th cycle on cloth! Various lifestyle changes have helped to varying degrees (avoiding hormones in dairy/meats, eating a healthy diet, exercise, etc.) but NOTHING gave as much relief as switching to cloth pads!
Here are some articles with info - http://www.mercola.com/2002/jul/3/feminine_hygiene.htm
http://www.allnaturalmamas.com/period_predicament.asp

To the OP, the reason I switched was because I had switched to cloth dipes for environmental reasons as well as health reasons so figured I should treat myself with the same "respect" :) I use the Diva cup and cloth pads and my cycles are lighter with less cramping. I don't find it difficult to keep up with them at all. I used them PP with Sophie and it was great. I agree with all Eileen said - and do come check out Butts. Lots of good info there!

Lynne
Mommy to Caleb 3/3/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif[/img][/url]
And Miss Purple, Sophia Grace 5/18/05

[asha]

WOW!, Thats a lot of threads. I am not sure how I missed all that. Probably because, I am never on the butts.

Thanks so much for the links.

[asha]

Hey Rashmi,
Thanks for the info. I know this sounds stupid, but what is a wet bag?

I use dispies for DS also and am not familiar with the CD terminology. I had no idea cramping was realted to the dispies. I thought it was just hormones in your body and nothing else.

[asha]

Tell me about the itching. Once I thought I had a yeast infection and went to the doc right after my preiods. She checked me out and said, it was probably just the dispies. I am not comfortable with tampons for some reason. May be I should try this out. Only part I am not too happy about is the cleaning. I do laundry mostly on the weekends and that might not be OK.

[asha]

Thanks for the link Lynne.
Now off to the butts to check out more info.

[nitaghei]

Asha,

Do check out the links in Butts - you'll find a lot of raves about mama cloth for a lot of us. Switching to mama cloth was one of the best things I ever did for me. We also cloth diaper, but I switched to mama cloth about 6-7 months ago. And I cannot tell you how much more comfortable it is. And it does help with cramps, and in my case, with the irritation that the disposable pads caused. I had screwy hormones a while back and had to use pads for 18 days straight. I amd SO glad I had cloth; just the thought of the discomfort of disposables for that long makes shudder.

And really, laundry isn't that big a deal. You can always run a small load mid-week if you need to. I always do one diaper load on Wednesday night, after we get home from work/daycare, and I've not found it to be particularly burdensome. And mama cloth laundry is easier than diapers. I rinse out the pads in cold water and just toss them into a wetbag until I need to do laundry. Run a hot cycle with an extra rinse, and toss them in the dryer. That's it. For the work-day, I keep clean pads in Happy Tushies wipes bag (though any little cosmetic case would also work - I just had this bag), with a small wetbag for the used ones. I rinse them out when I get home, and throw them into the wetbag until laundry day.

For us, one thing that helps is that my DH and I have separate bathrooms. Mama cloth is one of those things he doesn't want to know about or be reminded about. :) BTW, my mother thought I'd lost my mind too, until I showed her what modern mama cloth is like. And just having pretty pads is one way to make a miserable time of month a little happier. :) Check out the fabric choices at
www.daisygirldesigns.com

which are the bulk of my stash, and very straight-forward to use.

HTH

Nita (fleece is my friend)
mom to Neel, January 2003
dog mom to a PWD and a cocker (at the Rainbow Bridge)

[aliceinwonderland]

I used this as a teenager and hated it so I will not use again. I have no time for one more piece of laundry, and I'm not likely to ever have time for this the rest of my reproductive life. But I can see where it makes sense for ladies who have problem with the disposable pads, like my own mother. I never had a problem with them.

It's just like any trend, it works for some people, and not for others. I now cloth-diaper part time, but this is for my own enjoyment of the cute fluffies rather than my son's health or well being, because, quite honestly, he could not care less.

e.

[daisymommy]

Just wanted to po my head in and say Hi! I'm a Mama Cloth user as well, and could never back to those damp, itchy, papery disposable pads, or tampons which always felt like they were doing internal damage when I removed them (they probably were!).

I have been using cloth pads for almost 9 months now. I used to have 8 day long cycles, full of cramps and pain, and took 800mg. of Motrin plus a day on the couch with a heating pad. Not mention the irritation down below.
But on the very first time I used cloth pads, my cycle went from 8 days to 4, I had only a few mild cramps which didn't require even Tylenol, and I had just as much energy as I usually do to go on with life without feeling miserable. I also used to go through a ton of Super-plus pads, and the amount was cut in half with cloth. Not to mention that they are so soft and comfy you feel like you are wearing soft underwear, not a paper diaper.

This past month we went on vacaction and I brought disposable pads (of course AF has to show up the day before we left--UGH!)--and I tell you, my period was right back to being as bad as it was 9 months ago before I switched. That right there proved to me it wasn't a coincidence!

I am sooo squemish about many things and thought I could never use cloth for myself, but it really isn't a big deal. And the benefits are so worth it!

[asha]

I will probably keep them in the garage before laundry day. Thats the last thing I want Akshay's hands in.

Still not sure what wet bags are. Can I just use any waterproof bag as a wetbag? Does it have to be one of those 15$ things available online?
Example:
http://www.jacksmagicbeanstalk.com/categories/Potty-Time/Bags/Wet-Bags/

Thanks Nita.

[mudder17]

The itching seemed to be from the sposies rubbing against me (plastic?) and possibly because of the chemicals in it. Tampons were never really comfortable for me, but I LOVE the Diva Cup. If you're not thrilled about doing laundry every 2 days (or so) during your period, you could go with a Diva Cup and backup liners. That's what I mostly use. With the Diva Cup, I just rinse it out between emptying it and reinsert. Once a day, I might wash it out with soap and water. In any case, with the Diva Cup, I find that I rarely have more than just spotting on my cloth liners. You could maybe have 7 of these or so and use them with the Diva Cup and then wash once a week with the rest of your laundry.

A wet bag is something that is often made with PUL (polyurethane laminate) or some other waterproofing material that is still breathable (so that stink doesn't build up) and you can just rinse out the pad with cold water and toss in the wet bag.

ETA: The reason I didn't like tampons is that they were pretty uncomfortable to insert and then I felt like I had something "stuck" there, if that makes any sense. Then I was always nervous I'd leave them in too long (probably not possible since they were usually uncomfortable), so I would never relax with them in. I have none of these problems with the Diva Cup. Another plus is that I've gotten to know my body a bit better, and as an aside, the sex is much better (no longer painful and err...better).

Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 15 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[mudder17]

You could probably just use any waterproof bag. That said, I don't use plastic bags because they're not breathable and I just hate to think of the stink after a couple days. The PUL or Nylon bags are waterproof and breathable, so they're less likely to stink as bad. You could probably get one of the small ones of these (http://www.lilbunz.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=315). They're only 6.00 and Trish has free shipping. Since you're not dealing with large diapers, the small bags would be plenty big. Also, if you DO decide to try the Diva Cup (see my other post), you would probably only need backup liners and you could easily get 7-14 liner pads in one of these bags.

ETA: These have a loop/drawstring, so you could put a small nail in the wall up high in the bathroom and just hang it up, out of Asha's reach.

Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 15 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[mudder17]

Hey Amy, just wanted to say "Hi!" :)


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 15 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[asha]

Thanks Eileen.

The last sentence cracked me up for some reason. Asha is my name. DS is Akshay.

[amazz]

I just did a search for Mama Cloth and then I waded through to find those. :)

Angela
Mama to Kami Allyse (10/10/04)http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/otn/love/luvlove.gif[/IMG]
A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on. ~Carl Sandburg
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

[mudder17]

Oops! Sorry, I knew that. Chalk it up to another exhausted mommy moment. :P


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 16 months & counting


http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_4_Kaya+is.png

[amazz]

I just wanted to thank you for all your posts on mama cloth b/c it helped me so much in making decisions on what I need and what I don't.

Thanks again!!
Angela
Mama to Kami Allyse (10/10/04)http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/otn/love/luvlove.gif[/IMG]
A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on. ~Carl Sandburg
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif