Adventures: Menstruation After Childbirth

My entire life, I was told how awful and disgusting menstruation was. The only excitement that menstruation brought was that of the oncoming puberty and breast growth following the blood.


I won't lie to you. When I found out I was pregnant, I was pretty relieved to no longer have to worry about a little surprise in my panties every month. That being said, not having my period for over a year made me realize how sacred and beautiful menstruation is.

Enough about that.

Since January, I've been making an effort to reduce my home's waste as much as possible. Be as eco friendly as we can. We've started recycling. We buy biodegradable wipes and toilet paper made from recycled paper. We open our windows to the beautiful Colorado wind on hot days instead of running fans or air conditioning. However, I was extremely hesitant to change my ways when it came to menstruation products. I'd read about Diva Cups, but wasn't sure if I was ready for the transition, until I read this. That discovery was enough for me to say: NO WAY.
At that point in time, my cycle hadn't reappeared (ah, one of the many beauties of breastfeeding), so I started researching reusable menstrual products.
Over the next few months, I will be sampling and reviewing various reusable menstrual products. I feel that just like with my experience with cloth diapers, this will involve some experimentation. 



so HERE WE GO!



First review: Natracare Natural Pads
A very subtle and easy transition into reusables. Although not reusable, these pads ARE plastic free, chlorine free, perfume free, biodegradable, and very soft/comfortable.

I loved the fact that I wasn't exposing my lady parts to all kinds of nasty chemicals. The pads have three layers (corn starch, cellulose, and organic cotton) and an adhesive strip. I loved the coverage they gave me, and they were great for night time. After I was done with them, I could throw them away guilt free. BIODEGRADABLE! YES!!

PRICE: I paid about $4.50 for a pack of 14 regular flow pads. From my understanding, prices vary by the products. Natracare offers tampons as well as pads. If you're interested in their product, visit their website.

COVERAGE: I had no leaks, no overflows, and no skin irritation whatsoever. :)!

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: 95% biodegradable. I'm pretty sure it's the adhesive strip that doesn't dissolve. The label said that under the right circumstances, these pads could compost! that's awesome news... I wish I had enough room/time/commitment to start composting. aahh... one day.

OVERALL RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars- okay price. since they are disposables, you'd pay the same price every month. with reusables, you pay a pretty steep price one time... so technically it's a price spread out over all the months that you use them.