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Some of the BEAUTIFUL cloth pads available in the giveaway! Make sure you entered! 

(Sorry the blue set is a little blurry, small file size. They’re Mamabear LadyWear.)

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These fabrics though!!<3

When depression-era farmwomen had to start using flour bags and feed sacks to make clothes for their families, manufacturers began making their bags out of brightly-colored and printed fabrics to boost sales and add a little flair to the common sack dress. 

Once the trend caught on to the point that manufacturers were confident it would stick, they started making fabrics in an even wider variety of patterns and colors:

They even gave instructions on how to remove the ink, if you didn’t like the pattern:

Source 

Photos and info via: Kindness Blog, My Old Kentucky Tales, 

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Ahhh so I get more back pains instead of abdominal pains during my period! I’m glad that I made the switch from hormonal to copper though...the other side effects were too real for me.

8 Weird Side Effects Of The IUD You Never Knew Existed

I don’t know about you, but I honestly never knew what an IUD was until about a year ago. As a newbie to birth control (I just went on the pill last summer), I knew about the two typical methods- the pill and condoms. I recently learned that an IUD, more formerly known as an intrauterine device, is a tiny t-shaped plastic piece that is inserted into your uterus to prevent pregnancy.

gurl on instagram and pinterest

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I have to feature this adorable cotton flannel cloth pad I just made! I'm still working on my needle control (is that the correct term for it?) but I can see visible results already! It helps that the fabric is crazy adorable.

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Evolution of my machine-sewn cloth pads. In order from left to right: Cotton, Bamboo Velour, Cotton Flannel, Cotton Flannel. The straight edge pattern was something I created from scratch.

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Evolution of my hand-sewn cloth pads! Both pads to the left are Bamboo Velour, both pads to the right are both 100% cotton.

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First IUD Period 3/18/16

Day One. So I was wondering last night and today this morning as I was walking to the bathroom, that I haven’t had my period yet. Just large amount of discharge. So I thought to myself that maybe this month was just going to be an ordinary discharge month, and my real period would occur when I’m at the Philippines (yikes). But when I went to do my business, I found blood in my underwear! I was curious to see that, and I noticed at the same time when I wiped, that there was a spot of blood…then another spot of blood when I wiped with a fresh pile of toilet paper! You’ll have to forgive my excitement...I haven’t had a period for about 3 years, and I was excited to give my menstrual cloth pads a go.

When I turned around to flush, I saw blood in the toilet bowl too. I knew, it was time. So, a little nervous, since my pads weren’t clean just yet, I started laundry and had a fresh cloth pad to use (my first foxes pad).

I didn’t know what was going on, it could have been that I was dehydrated and that’s why my back has been hurting where my kidneys are. Not to mention, I had a nightmare about someone squeezing me so tight that I felt like I had severe flank pain on both sides when I tried to breath in.

Anyway, I have it right now and I feel comfortable although slightly nauseous. No period cramps just yet (or at all right now), and I’m blogging, watching Netflix, and just got off a phone call with my good friend phi. I’ve been watching Youtube videos on period vlogs and cloth menstrual products, even cloth diapers. I’m excited. It’s so weird. I’m actually excited about my period. I get to more accurately judge/review my cloth pads now :).

After the 5 Day Cycle. Boy, the internet sure wasn’t lying about these IUD periods. It was my first one, and it was heavy. Not normal heavy. It was so heavy that even with a menstrual cup I would leak past it onto my heavy pad and saturate the pad after 4-6 hours. I realized I needed to empty the menstrual cup a lot more than I needed to before I started any type of birth control. I found that having 7 menstrual cloth pads was doable, but not nearly what I needed for the type periods that were to come. So begins the birth of cloth pad making with my sister. toward the end of my first cycle, I texted with my sister and already bought fabric and tools to create menstrual cloth pads to fulfill my needs.

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Guess whose started sewing their own rumps! These feature my hand-sewn items, I’ve experimented with this shape and have already ventured with other shapes. I’ve recently practiced with the sewing machine! More challenging but easier on my thumb and significantly faster than hand stitching.

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Dinky Dots Bots is famous for their beautiful stitching designs. 

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RusticSpiritBoutquie 9.5″ Heavy Flow Cloth Pad

Purchase Source: Etsy

Purchase Date: February 12, 2016

Arrival Date: February 22, 2016 (10 Days)

Purchase Distance: Utah to California

Overview of Item:

Handmade item

Materials: Cotton top, Flannel, PUL, Zorb

Advertisement Snippet: “Quality pads at an affordable price - Thin light pad that can protect during heavy flow menstrual cycles Care instructions will come with your order • Number: 3 • Size: 9.5X2.5 • Layers of absorbency: 6 Layers including PUL and Zorb • Resin snaps that will not rust. NOTE Snaps are tight so open and close them with care the first few times you use them to avoid popping them off”

My Review:

[Look] GORGEOUS craftsmanship...they are so adorable and it even came with a lavender pouch! I got my order in 10 days, and every day was absolutely worth it. 

[Softness and Comfort] Soft and comfortable in my underwear. 

[Leaking and Staining] I ran once with a menstrual cup and this pad as a backup on a heavy IUD copper period (basically, an incredibly heavy period), and I saturated over the entire pad, but not THROUGH the pad...and that’s amazing! The light blue flannel parts would stain pretty easily, but that’s to be expected from all light blue flannels. Overnight soaking in Oxiclean helps a ton, though.

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Purchase Source: Etsy

Purchase Date: February 9, 2016

Arrival Date: February 20, 2016 (11 Days)

Purchase Distance: Oregon to California

Overview of Item:

10″ Heavy Flow; Handmade item

Materials: Bamboo Velour, Windpro Fleece

Advertisement Snippet: “Here is a custom listing for a single 8", 10", or 12" bamboo velour cloth pad. Choose your absorbency and thread color. Each pad has a snap closure and measures approximately 2.5" when snapped closed around undergarment. Each pad has a black windpro fleece backing to add breathable security to those heaviest days. Materials: Top: Organic bamboo velour Core: One layer of zorb for regular absorbancy OR one layer zorb/one layer hemp fleece for heavy absorbency. Back: 100% black windpro fleece Tell the absorbency of your pads by the color of the snap cap on left wing: White: liner Red: regular absorbency Black: heavy/postpartum flow description: Liner= everyday liner, very light flow Regular= light to moderate flow Heavy= moderate, heavy, and postpartum Please allow 1-2 weeks max for your order to complete.”

My Review:

[Look] Although plain looking, the pad itself is very well-crafted, professional looking. I thought it was very nice that I could personalize the purple thread for the stitching around the pad! The stitching is absolutely immaculate, perfectly symmetrical with a smooth serge stitch around the pad.

[Softness and Comfort] It was the most comfortable pad I put in my underpants...and I am now officially a Bamboo Velour lover! I still have yet to try this on my heavy flow, but during my light flow, it kept me feeling wonderfully dry. When I was just starting out my stash, I found that I washed this over and over because I would enjoy this pad the most.

[Leaking and Staining] NO problems with leaking on a heavy period. However, WHITE bamboo velour has staining problems...but nothing that couldn’t be dealt with overnight Oxiclean soaking. 

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Very good to know!

Menstrual cups CAN cause TSS

A common misconception about menstrual cups is that they are free from any risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome. This is NOT TRUE. You can get TSS from anything inserted internally into the vagina, including menstrual cups. While the risk is much lower than that of tampons, it’s still something to be weary of. Make sure you’re keeping your menstrual cups clean and sanitary, and never leaving them in for more than 10-12 hours.

First reported case of TSS from menstrual cup use: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4556184/

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We went to a local organic/vegan/vegetarian shop today and I was super stoked to see that they were selling cloth pads and “The Keeper” menstrual cup! All I could think was “how great is this?” look at all of the different shapes and sizes they are selling, at totally reasonable prices! I hope to see more stores carrying reusable menstrual products in the future! 

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IUD Day 3

My bleeding has thinned out from a clumpy consistency to an egg-white, and its amount has increased to about 3mL. I started using my DivaCup yesterday because my cloth pads were starting to saturate from front to back and it was feeling uncomfortable against my skin (I don’t like the feeling of being wet). Additionally, I didn’t have enough cloth pads to work with (still have about four more on the way in the mail.

I’ve lined my underwear with a bamboo velour cloth pad, it feels absolutely divine. I’m so comfortable in my underpants, it’s such a great feeling.

In terms of cramping, its very minimal. I’m not sure if its the IUD or the DivaCup, but before I started using IUD cups, I’ve never had problems with cramping or discomfort while using the DivaCup.

I hope that my future periods will be this comfortable despite the changes.

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Post-IUD Paragard Insertion (and Removal)

It helped a lot to have my sister there. She’s on the way to be a medical student, so she was curious as to how the doctor was and what it was going to be like.

By 1030-1040 I could already feel a little loopy from the Ibuprofen.

Prior to the visit, normal procedure (checking to make sure I don’t have any contraindications for insertion, if I’m at risk or currently being abused, if I’m pregnant, etc). Thankfully I wasn’t pregnant.

After that, my sister was brought in and I could already feel myself get nervous.

The cold speculum was uncomfortable for me, and I could feel myself shaking, although things have not started yet. My very kind doctor did her very best to tell me what was going on whilst trying to sooth my nerves, but I couldn’t help but grow with nervousness with the slight clinking and clanking of the sterile devices/tools from her sterile field.

I had a pap smear, which was nothing but uncomfortable, then she told me to cough very hard during removal of the IUD Mirena…which I surprisingly didn’t feel at ALL. I was like “Oh wow..really?” Hoping that the Paragard insertion would be similar, but knowing that the level of pain afterwards would definitely not be.

I’m not sure how long the insertion itself lasted, but it was about 1-2 long minutes of dull/sharp/deep cramping pains. I couldn’t help but breath really hard.

I didn’t understand why I could have the replacement/implantation of the IUD at ANY time of my cycle during the IUD Mirena…but it makes a lot of sense now. I haven’t been having periods the entire time, so it wouldn’t matter what time that I had my IUD replaced with the Paragard, my cervical space was always going to be small whilst having the IUD Mirena. As expected, there was pain, but my doctor was very swift about it, and extremely caring. I was trying to lengthen my breaths, and at the end, I found it odd that the doctor and the medical assistant were both very soothing and apologetic, because I came into the office knowing what I was getting myself into, pain and all.

Otherwise, my sister was fine with keeping me company while I laid down for a little bit, still feeling very sore at the uterus, then after that, I was able to sit up for a couple of minutes before making two walks: one to the car with my sister, then one out of my car to go home.

I’ve been feeling off and on waves of uterus pain up until now, but it’s much bearable now. Thank goodness my hot water bottle pack came in the mail as soon as I got home, it was a God-send.

By now its tapered down, it still feels sore, but bearable.

I’m just extremely glad that it’s done and over with. I’m actually pretty excited about this part, going hormone-free. I’ll take the pain over how the hormones affected my moods and my emotions, and my ability to regulate them.

Let’s see how this goes.

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Morning Thoughts

0947, and almost 1000 when my sister will pick me up for my 1030 appointment with the gynecologist. After I had made my avocado-toast and guzzling 800mg Ibuprofen, I thought to myself...should I put a little makeup on? Will it matter? Would the doctor be more careful if I looked more presentable? Then I realize, I'm being absolutely ridiculous. I'm going to wear makeup for myself. Because somehow, looking nice will help me feel better about voluntarily experiencing pain. Or will it? Fuck.

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