Warning: Vagina Talk! But it could be helpful...

Have you ever heard of a menstruation cup? Mama cloth? I have found that a lot of people have no idea what these things are. A menstruation cup is a small flexible cup that you insert into your vagina to collect the menstruation blood. Mama cloth is simply a cloth pad. Neither is a new concept. Some cultures had women sit on a large cup for the entirety of their period, others used natural sea sponges, others used cloth. We have developed disposable everything, so it's not surprising that we have one for our periods.

Disposable options are not always the best choice. Personally, I react to them. I also don't like to use disposable pads and tampons because of the chemicals and the insane amount of trash that they cause.

When I first heard about the Diva cup, my first thought was, "You want me to put that where?"

Then I researched it. Researched some more. And a little more for good measure.

Then I bought one, and waited. I'm still breastfeeding Britches, so I hadn't had my first postpartum period at the time. While I waited, I made some more mama cloth too. I used cloth during my postpartum bleeding, but it was more of a "Hey, I am having a bad reaction to these pads, let me whip up something that will work temporarily." I sew cloth diapers all the time, so mama cloth was a piece of cake. I knew from the reaction I had to postpartum pads that disposable would not be an option for me long term. Oddly enough, I hadn't had a regular period since conceiving Tater (who is now 8). The pad/tampon thing had not been an issue for a long time.

I waited and waited. Then on Britches' first Birthday (how's that for timing?), Aunt Flo came to town.

I tried the Diva cup with a mama cloth liner. It is... weird. When I first put it in, it was a very different sensation. It has a learning curve. Most people seem to make leaks their first couple of days, until they figure out how to place it. Mine was pretty easy, I just popped it in. In the directions it will tell you to turn it, I didn't. I tried, but quickly figured out that wasn't going to happen. It worked perfectly. No leaks. By the end of the first day, that "weird" sensation was gone, and I was a convert.

Taking it out is really not any harder than removing a tampon, or Ben Wa balls. Every 12 hours I took it out, emptied it, washed it with mild soap, and popped it back in. Worked like a charm.

I loved the mama cloth too. I tried just that for a day, and it worked perfectly. I used the same materials I use to make soakers for cloth diapers. I topped one with a wicking material (pulls moisture through it) for a stay dry feeling. The other I made with all natural absorbent materials. Both felt great, so much better than disposables.

I would highly recommend the Diva cup and mama cloth to anyone.

I have to share a chuckle too. Grizzly acted completely grossed out talking about the cup for the first time. He even made a face. We talk about everything, so it is totally normal for us to discuss my cycle. I swear, he knew it better than I did when we were trying to conceive. I asked if he'd rather I used disposable, and his tune did a 180. He said, "No, I love that you use these. It's natural, better for you, no trash, and the best part: it's cheaper!" He's 100% behind me using the cup and cloth, even if it is largely due to financial reasons. He is even willing to do the laundry, now that's love...

Update: $100 Challenge

I have an update to my $100 Challenge! I have recently tried a couple more options that I think everyone should know about.

First up are Alvababy diapers. These are similar to Sunbaby diapers. I find the fit a little larger, so they might be better if you are starting with an older baby. They are very affordable. I found a 20 diaper package for $84.00 and free shipping. 20 diapers should be enough for every other day washings for many babies (not my lovely frequent wetter though).

Here is the link: alvababy.com

Next up is an ultra affordable option, 60 flannel prefolds for $29.95. 50 cents a diaper! Unbelievable. Free shipping again too. I thought these were too good to be true when I ordered them, but they work! I live by the idea that you can never have enough prefolds, but this will get you close. I have used them with a snappi, folded in a cover, stuffed in pockets, as a soaker in all-in-2s. They are so useful. They are a made from a few layers of flannel and are fairly thin, so heavy wetters might need 2 diapers to be effective. A couple of mine frayed a bit on the edge, but it didn't change the effectiveness of the diaper. You can't beat this deal! Pair them with 4 diaper covers of your choice (econobums, thirsties, etc. can be found on Amazon too), and you are good to go. Here is the link: amazon super cheap prefolds

I will keep trying more options and passing on anything I find worthwhile. Remember, I have personally used each of these options, so they do work for me. Hope this helps!

The Crunchy Side

Crunchy is the new way to describe someone who likes to do things the natural way. There is a whole spectrum ranging from crunchy to silky (crispy seems to be somewhere in the middle). I definitely fall on the crunchy side. Thankfully my husband puts up with enjoys being slightly crunchy too. He fits more in the survivalist category, but the point is we mesh. I want to grow a garden, he is all for not relying on the chain stores for food. I want to make candles for some light around the house, he goes on a rant about "the man" (not sure where that one cam from). I mention a dislike for being in a populated area, he starts searching for a cabin in the middle of no where (he's slightly anti-social, wink). I want to cloth diaper the kids, well, this one is mostly about money for him. Either way, it works.

In today's economy, it seems like many people are going towards the crunchy side when it suits them to save money. That is a fantastic bonus, but there is more to it than that. Cloth diapers for example, are great for saving money (as long as you can resist WAHMs), but they are even better for your baby's bum. The chemicals in sposies these days are horrific. Looking at any birth board or mom group, there will be questions about rashes and chemical burns from diapers. Chemical burns from diapers! I consider cloth much safer. I knew I never wanted to use sposies again after my beautiful new baby was in the hospital for 2 weeks using sposies, and her bottom bled. Since being in cloth, she hasn't even had a hint of redness.

Personal hygiene products are another awesome crunchy area! They are so much healthier and save money too. My latest adventures in this area include OCM (oil cleansing method) and no poo (no shampoo). Now before you scoff at my methods, listen to the logic. Our bodies make natural oils. Most of us can get by without chemical products as long as we aren't constantly throwing our bodies out of whack. OCM includes using oils to gently cleanse your face, it works wonderfully for me (so far). No poo is similar. It includes using natural products to wash your hair, working your way to totally natural, plain old water. I'll talk about both of these more later, but they save a fortune in traditional products and work better. I call that a win-win. (Another area hubby totally supports for the $)

There are opportunities to go crunchy in every aspect of our lives. Whether it's using vinegar instead of a chemical cleaner, or no poo'ing, cloth diapering, cooking organic from scratch, gardening, making candles, etc. it is definitely better for my family. I will be exploring more crunchy ways in the weeks to come.