Re: Various sorts of runny stuff. (sorry!)..

August 18, 2001

>...

>

>how do you find those menstrual cups...I have always been a bit

>worried about TSS, so never tried one!

I was a tampon user for the most part, so clearly TSS doesn't weigh

*that* heavily with me :-)

Their website (www.keeper.com) says that no cases of TSS in

association with it have been reported - but that isn't the kind of

thing that convinces me. What does reassure me is that it is merely a

collection device, not absorbent and absorbency does seem to be a

significant factor in TSS. That said I think there have been cases of

TSS using contraceptive diaphragms (but of course they *have* to be

left in for six hours and it could be something to do with the

spermicide too).

We've found it can often be left in longer than a tampon - so I

wouldn't be confident for Vicki's reasons. (It is one of my sister's

reservations, her not being as much of a bleeder as I am) However,

because it isn't absorbent and it is reusable, there's no concern

about taking it out 'too soon' which would be uncomfortable with a

tampon. I generally empty and rinse it every time I use the toilet.

I've found it a real liberation - financially (when I was really

impoverished my mother used to buy me boxes of tampons as presents),

for the crowded bathroom cupboard, the memory at the shops and

avoiding small boys using tampons as playthings. It took 3 cycles

before I could feel confident that I wouldn't get any more leaks.

I've had it 18 months or so now and don't use anything else.

Incidentally I have not trimmed the stalk as they advise, hasn't

seemed necessary). And for the squeamish, I find it *less*

distasteful than tampons or pads, especially now that 'disposables'

can't be disposed of straight down the toilet and need to be bagged

and binned. (Then again, if you so choose, it does give you the

opportunity to assess much more precisely how much you are losing

should this be necessary)

It doesn't seem to suit everyone - quite a few coffee subscribers

have tried it. I have a friend in the US who was worried about

developing allergies to the rubber and she has something similar made

from polyurethane, but has congenital vaginal abnormalities which

makes it uncomfortable for 24 hour use, but she finds it invaluable

for swimming.

>As far as yoghurt goes, I always make it in the slo cooker, overnight

>It turns out OK in there.

Aha - you answered the question that I really wanted to ask but

forgot. Do you have instructions for doing this - I can't find the

instructions that go with mine (family size)

>I had a yogurt maker but that didn't work

>so well...

I have a wide mouthed frog...sorry...flask.

>leaving milk on the doorstep all day seems to be pretty

>effective too ;-)

Yum! We used to have a milkman who delivered at about 2am - which

made for rather too organic milk :-(

Oh well, last night's batch (which I suddenly remembered I was still

in the middle of making half way through this) worked! I thought the

milk was still a bit hot but anxious to get to bed so poured it in

from a height to cool it a bit. Maybe it's been *too* cold recently -

I've had a whole succession of batches that have either failed

completely or been extremely runny and I like mine quite solid.

--

jennifer@...

Vaudin

August 18, 2001

It doesn't seem to suit everyone - quite a few coffee subscribers

have tried it. I have a friend in the US who was worried about

developing allergies to the rubber and she has something similar made

from polyurethane, but has congenital vaginal abnormalities which

makes it uncomfortable for 24 hour use, but she finds it invaluable

for swimming.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, I have tried a lot of cloth pads. These are what I have found to be the best

in washable cloth!

These are made out of 100% organic cotton. Consisting of a flannelette base that

wraps around your underwear and fastens with small plastic snaps. The base

contains a thin layer of breathable nylon (you can't see, hear, or feel it) that

helps prevent soaking through. The liner pads are made out of fleece, very

comfortable. There are little extra wings that sit against your legs for better

coverage. The best thing about these pads is that instead of putting the liner

inside of the holder, there are little bands that hold the liners in place. So

the liner is what sets against you, not the holder. If the liner gets soiled,

you change the liner, not the entire holder and liner! This is what I love!!

Also available are Minis. These are made of the same great material only there

aren't the extra wings or liner. They are also about 2 " shorter. Use these on

your light days or if you just have a light flow.

Nighttime/postpartum pads are here!

These can be for postpartum, night time or heavy days.

You get two heavy flow pads and two liners in each Nighttime pack.

Washing, you ask?

If you all ready wash nappies, just rinse your lunapads in cold water and toss

in with your diapers. How easy is that? If you don't wash nappies, rinse with

cold water store in a container until ready to wash. Don't use bleach or fabric

softener. These products will wear down the material and cause them to be less

absorbent.

Luna Pads come in packages you can use again and again:

www.lunapads.com

They are quite discrete and nobody comments when I put them on my line but I

guess they probably don't realise what they are alongside my washable nappies

and nappy pads.

I've been using them for quite a while now and think they are brilliant, also

I've not had thrush since I stopped using tampons, which was a real problem for

me.

I have tried lots of different washable pads somebody on this list very kindly

loaned me a load, I won't mention her name just in case she would prefer I

didn't. But she leant me four or five brands I tried them out decided I much

preferred the Lunapads and bought some direct from their Canadian website.

I did try the keeper but found it leaked too much, think it was because I

couldn't get a very good seal as I have rather a lot of scar tissue from my 1st

birth.

Tupman

Mum to Matt 13, 10, Jonty 2 & Phil 36

Torbay & S.Devon Branch

NCT Houseswap Register Coordinator

NCT UK Trustee

Go placidly amidst noise and haste.

Why not visit www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com

Or go shopping with NCT Maternity Sales www.nctms.co.uk

August 18, 2001