Doing The Right Thing: March 2009 Archives

I am not putting this here to start a debate. There are choices to be made by all of us and we make our choices based on what is best for us as individuals.

This is not something I am doing because it is the green thing to do. I am not doing it because it is one of those crazy self sufficient fads.

I am doing this because I really can't justify exposing myself and my daughters to toxic dioxines left behind in the bleaching process of cotton and the  chemical process of forming wood pulp into rayon and cellulose fiber. The FDA is allowing 'harmless' trace amounts of dioxines left in these products and are listing them as having no health hazards. The EPA however states that continued or repeated exposure to dioxines of any level can and will become toxic. Think about toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Toxic -

-adjective

1.	of, pertaining to, affected with, or caused by a toxin or poison: a toxic condition.

2.	acting as or having the effect of a poison; poisonous: a toxic drug.

-noun

3.	a toxic chemical or other substance.

 

4 - 6 tampons daily for 3- 9 days out of the month for a stretch of 40 - 50 years in my opinion is extreme exposure to dioxines.

This is the choice I am making. You don't have to. If you do this is an aid to help you help yourself. Honestly, all the people who are using cloth diapers again for any number of reasons have no reason not to do the same for themselves in this area. It takes the same commitment to do a load of laundry for yourself as it does washing theload of diapers for the baby.

*****

To make your own products you can search google and find any number of patterns and instructions. I simply pulled out one of the products I had leftover and created my own patterns from it  tweaking and adjusting as needed to make for a better fit.

Let's be honest. All women are not the same shape and size. What a size 2 teenage girl uses is hardly the same as what a size 10 woman uses and you can't even compare that to what a woman who is a size 18 and has had upwards of 3 or 4 children will need. Just like products come in all shapes and sizes and absorbancies you can make them the same.

Also DIY products are very cost effective. Once you make a stash of them they will last several years. Nothing to buy and nothing to throw out. Just wash and wear and replace as needed.

Once you have your pattern and have used old scrap fabric to customize it to your use and preference you are all set to start.

For the inner absorbant portion you can use any number of things. Some people use flannel rags, some use thin cotton toweling. For me I am just not comfortable with the idea that something could leak through  a few layers of flannel.

I went out and purchased a very inexpensive flannel back vinyl tablecloth. (You know the kind like your grandma kept on her kitchen table for years before buying a new one and throwing out the old one.) Also a yard or two of (depending on the size and number you plan to make) needled, unbleached cotton batting. 

My pattern is two parts. One is the inner absorbant layer and the second is the outer cover with wings to hold in place. For this part you will cut the inner layers. Cut one of the vinyl and 2 - 4 layers of the cotton. These are for overnight protection and are longer and thicker. Leakage is not a thing we plus women care for. Waking up the next morning to find your products have leaked in the night is really more like a nightmare and adds more work to your already full day.  

I used my surger (overlock machine) and joined the pieces together. This solid pad sew this way will prevent the pieces from shift and moving around inside the cover. Put a movie in your DVD player and cut the pieces and sewi them together. If you work steadily you'll be finished in no time.

I figure such a trying time is obviously not a happy and thrilling time for most of us. To be honest I have never met someone who actually enjoys the monthly appearance of our dear old friend. We may as well make the best of it because most of us spend 40+ years, 480+months entertaining Aunt Flo. So why not have some fun?

For the cover part with the wings I chose some really fun 100% cotton flannel prints. The pink with frogs is my favorite! I need to find something else to mke with some of that fabric. LOL 

Using your second pattern cut 2 of each of the flannel pieces for your cover. We are going to make a sandwich of sorts.

The flash on my camera has just about washed out the inner pad but if you look close you can see it. Also if you are like me and the idea of staining sends you whirling out of control, cut a small pieces of red to line the outer part that will be against your body.

Stitching around the inner pad secure it to the bottom layer of your covering. 

To keep things thin and neat I use one layer of flannel for the red piece and using the surger stitch around the edges to prevent fraying. 

Put the red piece in place on the upper layer of the covering and stitch it into place. 

With both layers together I use my sewing machine and follow the shape of the red pad and stich the layers together much like a quilt and then do the same following the shape of the inner pad. Using the surger I sew all around the edges  locking them together. If you don't have a surger you can place the pieces right sides together, sewing the hem leaving an open place to the article right side out them stitch the opening closed.

Add a snap or a button or even velco tabs to keep the wings secure. 

One functional and fun pad. You can almost smile secretly knowing you are wearing Angie's Happy Pants pattern. 

So what happens when you use them?

Well, there are lots of different ways to deal with them. Generally most women keep a small tight lidded pail in their bathroom. The pads are rinsed, folded into thirds and snapped closed. They are put into a bucket with a strong solution of laundry soap with a tbsp of  something like oxyclean added for stain fighting.

It really isn't any different from a diaper pail used for cloth diapers.

I know some of you will be grossed out but all I can say is - get over it. This is life and we all have to deal with it. There are millions of women the world over who have to make due with worse things and in our position we have the option of choices.

***** 

Trivia -

Feminine hygeine products are regulated by the FDA and are considered a medical devise.

The same as pregnant women are labled as 'ill' or 'sick' and requiring medical attention your period is labled by a group of men (originally) as to your being ill.

Kotex and other brands of sanitary napkins were first used as a type of bandage in WWI and the nurses found they worked excellently for their own monthly needs.

You can learn alot by visiting MUM.

For tampon users have you considered the keeper?  

*Never use your fabric scissors to cut anything other than your fabric.  I use my utility scissors to cut the vinyl. My kids have learned over the years and before they touch scissors they ask, "Momma, can I cut XXXXX with this pair?" LOL