Oh no, I've gone to the...green side?

Warning: In this post I talk about feminine cycles and products. If this makes you uncomfortable, STOP and don't read it! I'm not writing about it to be gross, but to help others make informed decisions and read about the experiences I've had.

So, first I have to write about my whole experience with menstrual cycles. I was totally oblivious to the world of womanhood until I turned 10 and learned about it during the "puberty" talk at school in 5th grade. It totally floored me! I was unprepared! This is because talking about, dicussing, even mentioning "period" was taboo in my house. At least, that is how it was treated.

So, I entered middle school, and in the process started my first cycle. I was mortified. How AWFUL! How GROSS! Every time I tried to discuss it with my mother I could tell it made her extremely uncomfortable, and consequently I felt very uncomfortable about it. I remember trying to hide the fact that I was having a cycle by being very quiet in the restroom, so no one would know.

To top it off, I couldn't use a tampon. I have my suspicions that this was mostly because I was uninformed and didn't know that there were special tampons made for young women who hadn't had sex yet, but all I knew was that I couldn't put the tampons my mom used in. (shocker, I know.) Again, when I tried to discuss this with my mom, it was not a good conversation. I don't hold this against my mom at all, I mean, she was also raised to view a woman's cycle as something gross and disgusting. Something you DON'T talk about in polite company.

When I entered college, that was the first time I openly discussed what it was like to be a woman and have periods. I liked being able to talk about it. I lived on a dorm floor with 20 other girls. We talked about our cycles ALL the time. We talked about the problems we had. It helped me realize that I was not the only female out there who had a cycle and problems.

When I got married, I told my husband, multiple times that our house would be OPEN to menstrual conversation. It would not be a closed topic. I did not want any girls who were born into our family to go through the experiences I had. I didn't want them to think that they were dirty or had a disgusting thing that they had to deal with once a month. He agreed. He has slowly gotten to the point where openly talking about what I am experiencing, doesn't even gross him out.

So, now we come to today. A few months ago I started looking into reusable feminine hygiene products. The main reason I did this, was because we always try to be prepared with items to use for 72 hours to a year. I kept thinking about what I would do for pads when I had a period. A years worth of pads stored in my basement? CRAZY! I knew there had to be another way. When I started reading about the products out there, I was pleasantly surprised at all the information there is, and that not just totally green women used these products.

The thing that surprised me the most was reading about how women's cycles would change once they started using reusable pads. Women who had extremely heavy periods, would find that after a few months their cycle got lighter and shorter. Symptoms of PMS and cramps lessened and disappeared. All because they switched to a reusable pad.

Then I started reading about the chemicals they used to make disposable pads and all the garbage it creates. I just never thought about it before. It is HUGE!

So, this month is the first month that I have really used the pads. I bought a pack from Gladrags, and since I have had heavier periods for the past year, bought some extra inserts. There are other small businesses that make reusable pads, but I went with gladrags because I could change the amount of protection that I had.

They are a little pricey initially, but when I thought about how I would be using them for YEARS instead of just once, it didn't bother me.

So, for month one, mind you, this has been the first heavy period I have had for 3 months, it has been interesting. Most women don't have to use more than one or two inserts, but mine has been heavy enough that I actually switched to the night pads for two days. Today I just put 4 inserts into a regular holder, and yeah, I kind of felt like I was sticking a matress between myself, but once I sat down, I haven't noticed it was there.

I don't know if it is just because it is the first month I have had to use them so my period is extremely beyond heavy this month (no, I'm not hemorrhaging) and so, it has been quite interesting to see how long I could go without putting a new liner on. Yesterday I actually had them leak onto my underwear, and I had only worn it for 2-3 hours with 2 inserts.

This is where my stubborness kicks in though...these pads are SOOOOO comfy! Even though I'm having to experiment with how many inserts I have to put in, I don't want to put in a disposable! So, I guess my advice, coming from a complete novice to reusable pads, is to try these when you can be at home first! Gladrags themselves recommends that you not switch cold turkey, but rather gradually get used to using reusable pads.

I know, most of you are probably wondering what I do with the pads after they are used. Well, I rinse them, and place them to soak in a pretty crock jar that matches my bathroom. Rinsing them doesn't bother me at all. I mean, I had to do it anyway when a disposable failed. So, that hasn't been an issue.

On to month 2! I'm excited to see if my cycle changes at all.