One for my ladies...
It’s been a while since I’ve regaled you with my period cup progress…goodness even knows if anyone is interested in this sort of thing but if you are…read on!
If you keep up with my posts then you’ll know I jumped on the cup buzz a wee while back. For many reasons, but a big one the sheer amount of tampons one goes through in their lifetime and the amount of waste that creates. Read my earlier blog for the low down on that and the organic vs non organic cotton situation.
So anyway, I started with the mooncup, because I had heard that one was great. Maybe it just had a catchy name, and maybe it looked the nicest out of the ones at the shop at the time I’m not sure. But regardless, that’s what I started with but here’s the thing, it never felt that comfortable. I had leakage issues, mainly just on the heavy days, but quite bad and even so - who wants that? The whole point is to not get that. I felt disheartened, maybe this cup thing wasn’t for me? Was I doing it wrong? Was it a case of it’s not you it’s me? I was determined to persevere…
As luck would have it – or not - I misplaced said mooncup and was forced to try another (and you know I found it as soon as the other one arrived right). I’d heard so many good success stories from others using cups and was encouraged to maybe try another to see if that made a difference. I was a little sceptical to be honest, I thought that a cup would be a cup and they’d all basically be the same. I mean, how different could they really be? In a nutshell they’re just collection cups right so seriously how different could they be?
Well, as it turns out, they’re not all the same.
I was drawn to the hello cup for a few reasons. Firstly I’d heard good things about it, what can I say but word of mouth is powerful. The design of it looked great – it looked easy to use (and remove) with the seemingly easy to grab base thing. The colours of it appealed and to top it all off the packaging is beautiful.
Not knowing what size to get (because, full lolz but how does one know how big they are?!?! I’ve had three caesareans so presumably no wizard sleeve here ROFL) I got the double pack. I figured this way I’d cover my bases and could always have one in my bag or in the car in case I got caught short when out and about around my time of the month. Which by the way used to be on the full moon until some intense detoxing (with ANF therapy) caused a switcheroo to the new moon – another blog post all it itself that one.
As a side note, did you know that our natural state as females is to menstruate in accordance with the moon? Yep. It’s true. If you’re not chemically altering your cycle and your hormones are in balance then you’ll either be menstruating on the new moon and ovulating on the full, or ovulating new moon and menstruating on the full moon (or very close to). Of course if your hormones are out of balance then it’s worth getting them sorted especially if you’re looking to become pregnant.
Fun fact – our bodies will sync with the alpha female in our environment, say if you live together for example. Amazing huh! Our poor male flatmates in a flat of 6 girls, and my poor dad with five daughers.
Anyway, I digress.
Thoughts on the cup? In short - love it!
It was what I thought this whole period cup thing was supposed to be about. It’s not uncomfortable, it’s easy to change and clean, I have a spare in case I ever get caught out. Some tips I’ve picked up from cupexperts along the way are – when you put it in pull it back down a bit as it may naturally ride up a little. Do some lunging and a couple squats – similar to how you’d lunge when your jeans are a bit tight – if it’s not feeling quite right. You may need to do the paper trick on your very heavy days but the leakage should be very minimal.
Stick with it it’s worth it, and if you’re not feeling it’s right for you then try another cup – it’s definitely worth persevering because they are not, as it turns out, all the same.
Keep going!
F x