What are they?
They are reusable Pads, which can be used for your menstrual cycle. They come in many different shapes and sizes, and are designed for different types of flows. They are usually made from cotton or bamboo materials.
why do I use them?
I found out that regular Period pads and tampons have chemicals which are supposedly linked to dryness, cancer, and hormone disruption (research further on google). I don't want to put my body at risk, and regular period pads are expensive to buy when you have a heavy flow (like me). I combine them with organic tampons and find that it provides me with a "happy period". I will wear the cloth pads during the night, towards the end of my period, and to catch any possible tampon leaks.
Pros of using cloth pads
Can be reused. All you have to do is rinse them out in the sink, store them in a wet proof bag, and put them all in the washing machine when your cycle is over.
No smell. I found that sometimes a weird odour is created when the blood reacts with the chemicals in normal period pads. This is not an issue with cloth period pads.
Snap buttons. These keep the pads securely in place, and there are usually two buttons depending on how tight or loosely you want the pads to sit.
Cons of using cloth pads
Expensive to invest in. When you first buy them you'll likely be spending £30-£50, because you need to buy enough to last for a whole period. But it is a life long investment.
Leakage. I personally find that the Bamboo Topped Pads allow the blood to spread to the buttons. This means that your thighs will sometimes feel moist...and disgusting. I tend to avoid the bamboo topped pads on heavy days for this reason.
Stains. Sometimes there are stains on the top layer of the pad which will not wash out. You cannot use regular detergent on most cloth pads which also makes this harder. But I am a "raggo/free spirited" kind of girl...and do not care about the stains. It's only me who will see them anyway.
llondon leopard
xoxo
