Cloth Pad Review - Part 3: Party in My Pants (PIMPS)

From the Party in My Pants website:
"Party In My Pants is a sister-owned and operated mini business. All our pads are handmade with love in Ashland, Wisconsin. We are a multi-talented bunch: product, graphic & web design, marketing, and sewing – we do it all. "

Their Mission & Vision
Party In My Pants is about finding style and comfort in unexpected places. Party In My Pants is about smart women living happily and having fun. Party In My Pants is about revolutionizing the way women experience menstruation by shifting attitudes and empowering through education, all with a healthy dose of humor. Instead of "shh", we're saying, "Hooray!"
We envision a society where:

1. women are happy, comfortable, and confident from menarche through menopause.
2. men and women are comfortable talking about menstruation, without embarrassment.
3. menstrual products have a positive impact on women's health and a neutral impact on our environment.

I ordered the Deluxe Starter kit, which contains 1 Large (10.5" X 3") and 1 Overnight pad (12.25" X 3")  and 1 Luxe Liner (9.5" X 3") . I also ordered an additional Overnight pad and a Queen Pad (15.5" X3.5", flaring to 5.5" at back). Before taxes these cost $63.97 before taxes. 

The pads are an All-In-One design with breathable nylon leak-proof shield & nickel-free plated snaps. They are offered in Flannelette or Cotton (100% cotton upper, 100% cotton inner) as well as Organic material or either cotton flannel or hemp muslin (100% organic upper, 100% organic cotton inner).

I ordered 3 in the Flannelette and 2 in the cotton. The picture shows the cotton on the top and the flannelette on the bottom.

Overnight Pad Folded and not folded

Using these pads are just as easy as using regular disposable pads. Lay pad in underwear and snap the wings together. Just as regular pads, or the Luna pads, when you are done you fold the pad into itself and snap the wings together.

Overnight Pad folded

There are so many different patterns and colous available, that you can have a little fun with them. :)


I was afraid of using these pads at first. They are super thin and I thought that would not hold very much, and leak. These pads proved me sooooo very wrong!!! These are much more absorbent than disposables and no leak issues. 


These are also very comfortable, so much I forgot I was wearing a pad. The cotton pads just felt like your own cotton underwear. I ordered more of the flannelette than the cotton as I thought that they would be more comfortable, but I find the cotton more comfortable and natural. I did not feel wet, and I did not feel bulky.

I do have some issues with the Queen pad. I thought being plus sized, this pad would be great for me, as it is recommended for those with heavy flows or plus sized. I found that the pad was a little wide, and bunches a little, so it does not absorb properly.









Cleaning instructions from The PIMPS website:
The easiest, most effective cleaning method is to machine wash pads just like any other piece of clothing. Just pop ‘em in the washing machine (warm or cold) and toss ‘em in the dryer on low. Some women soak their cloth pads before washing, but with Party In My Pants it's generally not necessary. However, if you have an older washing machine, you might find it doesn't clean pads as throughly and you may opt to soak them very briefly in cool water (5 min max) to loosen any dried fluids before machine washing. If your washing machine has a pre-wash setting, you could also use that instead of soaking.
 
If hand washing is your only option, take care to do so as gently as possible while still cleaning the pad thoroughly. In the case of hand washing, we recommend soaking very briefly in cool water and a stain treatment (5 min max) to loosen any fluids before washing. Then, rinse and squeeze pads until the water runs clear, rather than scrubbing out the soiled areas. If scrubbing is necessary, lift top layers away from the nylon shield (bottom layer) and scrub the top layers with the same action you would to wash out your underwear. The nylon layer is what makes pads leak-resistant, so take care to treat it gently. 
 
Pads can be washed using most any detergent, although we recommend an eco-friendly option like Ecos or Seventh Generation. Be sure to avoid using super-hot water, a scorching hot dryer, bleach, dryer sheets or fabric softener. All will damage the nylon backing and bring about your pad's untimely demise. Tip: Double check that your detergent doesn't contain bleach so that you don't inadvertently damage your pads.

These was easily, and after a few cycles I have not had any staining issues.


I would recommend these to ANYONE looking to use cloth pads, especially if you have a heavy flow. Easy to use, easy to clean, very comfortable and very absorbent!!!!

Quiche♥

Cloth Pad Review - Part 2: Luna Pads

From the Luna Pad Website:
"Lunapads International is a women-owned and operated mission-based business based in Vancouver, Canada. Our mission is to help individuals have healthier and more positive experiences of their menstrual cycles, and by extension, their bodies overall. Our team is made up of a passionate group of women who believe that using natural menstrual products is a creative and empowering way to honor and care for ourselves and the planet."


Luna Pads have been making their collection of menstrual products since 1993.
Supply Luna Pads, Luna Panties and Diva Cups.

I ordered the Heavy Flow starter kit in the Apple Blossom pattern. This contained 2 Maxi Pads with 2 Maxi Basic Liners & 2 Maxi Wing Liners (10" X 2.5") and 2 Long Pads with 2 Long Basic Liners & 2 Long Wing Liners (12" X 2.5"). It cost me $79.14 US before taxes and shipping.

Back of Pads

They are made from a 2 layer 100% cotton flannel base topped with an absorbent panel made of 2 layers of cotton fleece, and 1 layer of ultra-thin nylon to minimize soaking through.  The liner is made from 2 layers of 100% cotton fleece. You have the option to choose regular or organic cotton pads. There are many different colour/pattern options to choose from, which you can view here.

To use these pads, you would place the basic liner or the winged liner (or both for more absorbency) onto the pad. You would then place the pad into your underwear, just as you would a disposable, and snap the wings together. The pattern side of these pads go against your underwear. When using the winged liner, the wings just hang over the pad, and will lie against the inside of your thigh when wearing the pad.

Pad with Winged Liner

Pad with liner and winged liner

When you are done using the pad, you just fold it into itself, and button the wings together 

 

Moon Pad Bag Opening

Along with the pads, I also purchased a Moon Pad Bag for $19.99. This bag  has 2 separate zippered compartments, lined with water-resistant PUL.One side is used for unused pads, while the other side is used for the used pads. This pad is 5.5" X 7" and fits great into a purse, and easy to take to the bathroom when needed.

The pad with both liners feels a little bulky, but is still comfortable. The material is very soft and doesn't really feel like it's a pad that you are wearing. I thought that the rippled material on the front and back of the pad, that holds the liners in, would be uncomfortable, but you wouldn't even know that they were there.

I found that on my heavy day, I leaked through the liner and soiled the pad quickly. On my normal flow day, these were the perfect pad. I was able to just replace the liner and reuse the same pad for the better part of the day. They wicked the moisture away from my body and did not leave me feeling wet or yucky. 

Cleaning Instructions from the website:

"Lunapads can be washed by hand or machine in any temperature with your regular detergent. Pre-soaking or rinsing in cold water prior to washing is recommended (but not always necessary) particularly if the pads are heavily saturated. Please note that if Lunapads are being soaked, soaking water must be changed daily.

We recommend natural cleaning products such as Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda for regular cleaning, and Buncha Farmers Stain Remover to perk up stained pads. Heavily stained pads may also benefit from occasional machine wash and dry in hot settings or air drying in direct sunlight.

Please avoid the use of chlorine bleach or fabric softeners to clean Lunapads, as this will decrease the performance of the products and is harmful to the environment."

Washing these pads are VERY easy. After 2 days I put all of my used cloth pads in the wash and nothing was stained.

For anyone looking to try cloth pads, I would definitely recommend these.

Quiche♥

Cloth Pads Review - Part One

I decided a long time ago that when I had a baby that I was going to Cloth Diaper them. Well if I am going to cloth diaper my baby, why do I not use cloth pads myself?
So I did!!!
This last cycle I used cloth pads for the first time, and I have decided that I am DEFINITELY going to keep using them. They were so much more comfortable, and cleaning them was a breeze!


I decided to try three different kinds:
Luna Pads
Party In My Pants
New Moon Pads


I am going to review all three kinds that I used and let you know in the end which was my favourite :)


Some General Cloth Pad Information:

• Can be thrown in with your normal laundry
• Should be washed in cold water, without fabric softener
• Have less odour than disposable pads
• More breathable than disposable pads
• Can save money using cloth
• Better for the environment
• Change them as often as disposables
• Can be more absorbent than disposables

Quiche♥

blah blah blah......

Not too much to update on the TTC side.....things are same ole same ole here......another cycle and I'm spotting at 12dpo. It's pretty much inevitable that AF will be arriving any day now. I have been so slacking this month when it comes to my meds. Havent been taking my metformin, havent been taking my prenatals. Next cycle I need to fix that.

Is it odd that I am kinda excited for AF.....Yes?!?
I agree.
The only reason is because I decided to start using cloth pads :)
I have bought items from 3 different companies, and I cant wait to try them all. I plan to do a review....which I guess I should start before I actually use the pads, you know so I can take some pics pre use.

Quiche♥

CD30 - 13DPO

So I am near the end of my cycle and the last couple days, my temps have plummeted. (CHART).  This kinda sucks.....but nothing really new for me. Looks like this cycle and month 27 have come and gone. I wish there was something more that I can do. Since I had a MC, its not like I cant get pregnant, but I dont really want to wait another 2 years to have a baby.

Quiche♥

34 weeks......well supposed to be.

I have been feeling a little sorry for myself lately.
I am getting closer and closer to my original due date, and it makes me feel kinda crappy.
I didn't think I would feel like this, like the date would come and go, but I feel like I will have a hard time. I should be about 34 weeks now.

I really hope it happens again for me soon.

Quiche♥

Week 1 following GI Diet

I have been eating healthy (for the most part) and following the GI diet for a week now. Until Saturday I was doing great and following it perfectly. I weighed myself last Saturday and I was 285lb. This morning I am 280.2lb. I lost almost 5lb and I am so happy with that. I just need to keep up with it to see more success!! :)

I think the what helped out a lot was planning my meals out for the entire week.... and avoiding Tim Hortons when working. I was going there every single day, and I didnt go once last week :)
Quiche♥