Help! What to get? Obsidian Star pads

[Areca]

Ok so I'm trying to decide what to get for use post baby (for when AF returns...happened straight away with DD even though I breastfeed) but it's all a bit overwhelming! I'm not worried about pp bleeding....I have disposables for that but want it to be my last lot of disposable pads.
I know the supplier I want to get it from (Obsidian Star) but have a couple of questions.

Sorry for the TMI coming up!

Pre kids and post DD1 my periods have lasted 4-5 days. Day 1 and 2 they are heavy (for me), day three normal (as in I don't have to worry about leakage if I'm out and can't get to a toilet in three hours or so), day 4 and 5 light...just too much for a panty liner but don't fill a pad.
I never used super absorbency pads so I'm assuming that the medium absorbency one's will be fine for my heavier days? Can anyone confirm? They just need to be as absorbent as a disposable pad.

Length - she does have a smaller pad but only compares the length of her pad to a goodnight's pad...one I've never used. I used to use cotton's brand when using disposable. I have used libra before but just your regular with wings...I just found the plasticy feel of them irritated my skin too much (not nice I know) which is why I switched in the first place. I'm thinking 'maiden' (previously called small) would be the size to go....is it similar to a regular pad size?



The only time I ever really leaked was overnight on my heavy days. I'm assuming if I get a heavy, long winged pad that I wouldn't have that problem. I was leaking (and not even always) in a regular pad with wings. Do they feel really bulky? I'm trying to decide whether I should get all my overnight pads like this, or just a couple for the heavier nights and normal for the rest. The bulky feeling has never bothered me, but then I've only ever used ultra-thin pads too (except for pp bleeding in the first couple of days but I also had icepacks down there too while using them so I don't really know what they feel like on their own).

I do want to get a cup too......what cup is the best and where is the best place to get it from? I'm not really a tampon kind of person....but only because I get cramps from wearing tampons and I'm only really heavy enough for a tampon for a couple of days. I'm guessing that without the chemicals the cramping wouldn't be an issue with the cup, nor would the absorbency feeling (or lack there of when changing one). In saying that I live within walking distance to the beach and don't want to not be able to go swimming.....and want to get away from all things disposable, hence the cup. If I like it I'd possibly use it more than my pads but I won't know until I try it so I'm not too concerned with that just yet.

How many pads do you have to get you through your cycle? I know she says to not get them all at once, but I'd like an idea on how many I'd need. Ideally I'd only like to have to wash them every second night (I wash nappies every 2nd night but they also go through the dryer, which she doesn't recommend for the pads so I couldn't wash them together. We have a washer/dryer in one and the nappies go on just before bed so I won't be pulling my pads out before the nappies go in the dryer).

Ok that's long enough for now.....anything else I should know?

[gremily]

Ok so I'm trying to decide what to get for use post baby (for when AF returns...happened straight away with DD even though I breastfeed) but it's all a bit overwhelming! I'm not worried about pp bleeding....I have disposables for that but want it to be my last lot of disposable pads.
I know the supplier I want to get it from (Obsidian Star) but have a couple of questions.

Sorry for the TMI coming up!

Pre kids and post DD1 my periods have lasted 4-5 days. Day 1 and 2 they are heavy (for me), day three normal (as in I don't have to worry about leakage if I'm out and can't get to a toilet in three hours or so), day 4 and 5 light...just too much for a panty liner but don't fill a pad.
I never used super absorbency pads so I'm assuming that the medium absorbency one's will be fine for my heavier days? Can anyone confirm? They just need to be as absorbent as a disposable pad.

Length - she does have a smaller pad but only compares the length of her pad to a goodnight's pad...one I've never used. I used to use cotton's brand when using disposable. I have used libra before but just your regular with wings...I just found the plasticy feel of them irritated my skin too much (not nice I know) which is why I switched in the first place. I'm thinking 'maiden' (previously called small) would be the size to go....is it similar to a regular pad size?



The only time I ever really leaked was overnight on my heavy days. I'm assuming if I get a heavy, long winged pad that I wouldn't have that problem. I was leaking (and not even always) in a regular pad with wings. Do they feel really bulky? I'm trying to decide whether I should get all my overnight pads like this, or just a couple for the heavier nights and normal for the rest. The bulky feeling has never bothered me, but then I've only ever used ultra-thin pads too (except for pp bleeding in the first couple of days but I also had icepacks down there too while using them so I don't really know what they feel like on their own).

I do want to get a cup too......what cup is the best and where is the best place to get it from? I'm not really a tampon kind of person....but only because I get cramps from wearing tampons and I'm only really heavy enough for a tampon for a couple of days. I'm guessing that without the chemicals the cramping wouldn't be an issue with the cup, nor would the absorbency feeling (or lack there of when changing one). In saying that I live within walking distance to the beach and don't want to not be able to go swimming.....and want to get away from all things disposable, hence the cup. If I like it I'd possibly use it more than my pads but I won't know until I try it so I'm not too concerned with that just yet.

How many pads do you have to get you through your cycle? I know she says to not get them all at once, but I'd like an idea on how many I'd need. Ideally I'd only like to have to wash them every second night (I wash nappies every 2nd night but they also go through the dryer, which she doesn't recommend for the pads so I couldn't wash them together. We have a washer/dryer in one and the nappies go on just before bed so I won't be pulling my pads out before the nappies go in the dryer).

Ok that's long enough for now.....anything else I should know?

Nice essay:D

Her pads are longer than a regular disposable pad. Most of my pads are Obsidian's and I really like them, but if you don't like a really long pad then I'd probably try to get some smaller ones.

I don't find them overly bulky, she makes them quite thin. I have shorter pads (ie Girly Bits) that feel bulkier.

If you're able to, look at hemp and bamboo for your most absorbent pads (perhaps the O/N ones). I have a couple of my O/N pads with microfleece on top, that way I don't get that wet feeling all night (it just goes straight through). Plus PUL backing is a must for O/N imo.

The number of pads you need is pretty much the same as what you would use with disposables. I have about 15 (I think) and that would probably get me through a cycle. I put them in the wash whenever I have a load of stuff to do so I have never actually run out of pads. I'd say between 3-5 pads/day, depending on how heavy your period.


On to cups. Have you looked on Obsidian's page? She has comparisons between all the cups and where you can buy them. I decided on the mooncupUK and I really like it. I'd really like to also get a Lunette - I've heard some really great things about them.
Divacup would be one of the more popular ones, but you need to remember that they are the most readily available in the US hence they are the most talked about on forums.
They would be the 3 to look at, imo. There is also The Keeper, who have their original latex cup, but they have also brought out a silicone cup with the name MooncupUS. It's enraged many people, seeing as MooncupUK was already a well established brand.
The Keeper is the only cup available to buy in Aust. The other cups need to be bought through ebay or international stores, which is extremely easy to do. I got my cup from GreenBeansNZ, she has an Aust account so I did a dd and the cup was at me within 1 week! The stores that sell them on ebay are extremely reputable aswell. Have a look on Obsidian's site though, as she has a list of sites that sell the cups.

Anyway, I better go, my dd2 is crying out for a bf! HTH :)

[Areca]

Thanks sooo much for reading my essay and replying!
I didn't look at the cups on her page, will check them out, thanks! I didn't even realise they were there, I was getting too overwhelmed with the info on pads.
That's good to know that they wash fine with other clothes. I'd rather do that then put on a seperate load.
Thanks again!