There are still some things that I haven't really had to deal with yet regarding eliminating or reducing waste. One of those things I will have to face any day now... it's those feminine hygiene products (this is your warning to skip this post if you don't want to read about them).
So today I took the plunge and ordered myself a diva cup. It was time.
Back when my middle girl was a newborn baby, I wanted to be environmentally friendly so I got a keeper. It was a bad decision to start using something like this so soon after my second vaginal delivery, and I kind of got scared of it so I tucked it away in a deep dark corner with the general intention to forget about it. I always figured that someday I would come back to it - and I was right... however, I didn't expect it to take so long. I still have that keeper but something tells me that I should get something new... I mean, it has been 11 years. The keeper was made from natural rubber, and I'm not sure if it is still safe to use. I did email the company and ask them if there was any chance that it was still usable, but I haven't heard from them yet (I am not counting on it still being good).
Meanwhile, I won't have enough tampons to get me through the next flow, and I didn't want to take the risk with that old keeper, so I ordered the diva cup. The more that I think and read about it, the more I wonder why it took me so long to get one! If I consider that the average woman will use about 10,000 tampons and pads in her lifetime, then I can only hope to be one less contributor of these things to our landfills now.
And let's not forget about pads and liners - there are many options here. I have some old glad rags (or maybe they are luna pads) that I still use a bit, but I need more now. So, I could check out etsy and see what other people are making and try to support them, or I could just make my own. I kind of like this idea best because I have plenty of cloth lying around and it's a no cost solution.
Here is a nice list of the alternatives that are our there for alternative and environmentally friendly menstrual products.
And let's not forget the cost savings when I no longer have to buy tampons and liners anymore... I'm looking at saving at least $100 a year.
If you are looking for more info on the diva cup, check here.
:D I just got a divacup about a month ago. I actually won it which was a super score! I had been wanting to try one for awhile but didn't have the extra cash.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny because not too many years ago I rolled my eyes at stuff like that (cups/cloth pads). Not because I didn't think it was a better option but because I figured there was no way I would want to deal with it.
I got some lunapads about 3 months ago but pads have NEVER been my thing. They are much nicer then the disposable crap though. I love the divacup. Not sure I would want to deal with it in a bathroom where the sink isn't in my reach from the toilet though...
But for being at home I am so happy with it! No more crap in me and no more crap in the landfills woot!
Also it so nice to not have to worry about running out of stuff. No more last minute runs to the store for me!
EM, did you have any issues finding comfort with the Diva cup at first?
ReplyDeleteI just got word back from the keeper company that my old keeper should be fine if it's still firm (it is). I plan on trying it any day now, but it's definitely a bit intimidating... not sure if the diva cup would be any different (haven't gotten that yet).
I dunno, I mean I can feel that it is in there. I think I have read that you shouldn't but honestly it is IN you so I wouldn't expect to not feel it at all.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I had as much trouble as some seem to with it. Although I did notice that after it was full to a certain point it would leak on me a little. I am not comfortable using it without a pad underneath at this point for my first few cycle days for that reason.
I would love to try another brand just to see if one worked better for me then the other but unless another company throws a giveaway that I win it won't be any time soon lol. So for now I am much happier with the Diva then the disposable options and very happy for the switch!
I just wanted to thank you for posting on this - after I read your thoughts and plan, I bought a Diva cup myself, and tried it for my last cycle. I was so much more pleased with it than I expected to be! There was a little leakage, but I think that this was partially because I wasn't putting it in just right. Once I got the hang of it, I truly didn't feel it, and it didn't leak. There were some good tutorials on youtube (using a thin drinking glass as the model) that really helped. So, thank you for freeing me from pads and tampons, both of which I hated!!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome Christina!
ReplyDeleteI agree that I was much happier with it than I expected it to be. What a simple solution that is pretty much hassle free. I will check out some of those tutorials...
Thanks for reading!