Women only

[solgent]

I learned about the Diva Cup on the DISboards! And I have been using it since last fall. It is great-- so comfortable and I feel good about not creating trash and not spending money. I do find that I have to check/empty it during the day and I work at an office with stall-type bathrooms. I just follow the instructions (skip the hot water wash). It is very convenient for travel. I only wish I had learned about this product sooner.

 

[Mulan'sMom]

I got caught short when we were there two years ago - my gyno system goes into overdrive whenever I cross state lines or get near a body of water and some sand. I had nothing with me, so I stopped at the GF's shop to grab some tampax - got a box of 10 for $4.00!!! That's right, $4.00!!! At least my anger at the prices made my cramps go away!

 

[Finny]

Diva cup user here too! And cloth for back up. I brought a box of organic disposable pads with me, and my diva cup on my last trip. They came in handy...

 

[jenrein]

Never heard of the Diva cup - I am definitely interested after reading the site. I usually go through a box of super, a box of regular and a pack of pads (for backup because it gets bad!) for every cycle. That alone is like $15 a month.

 

[loriandmatt]

agreeing with Mulans Mom - yes, they have them in vending machines, but if you are looking to buy any onsite and not have to use the machine each time....buying them on property is very very steep!

do yourself a favor and toss some in your suitcase just incase.

 

[Elmo888]

Oh, and I think my cycle may still be delayed after so long because not only am I still nursing my daughter, but also Pooh Bear, Elmo, Curious George, and countless other dolls and teddy bears all day!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I would love to see the face on security (at WDW) while checking that bag (BTW, I never heard of these before but I just checked the website - interesting)

Yeah, you should have seen them checking my electric breast pump!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

OP, you said you're used to cloth? Why not bring some, just in case? We have travelled all around using cloth diapers, and it's not hard at all (we've even gone camping), so why not just bring your cloth with ya?

As for that long without a cycle, you are SO lucky. Despite absolute cavewoman type of nursing, I got my cycle back at 4 months, a mere month after my ridiculous lochia stopped (I was doing too much).

Since I haven't been able to get pg again, despite all the cycles (yes I chart), I just WISH I could forgo all that goes along with having cycles! Lucky woman!


By the way, POTC is lovely for nursing a toddler.

 

[PaMom001]

I would KILL for going that long without Auntie Flo. My last visit last 20 days. The current visit is on day # 13.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

You can bet your maxis it will come back! I am a nurser and had the joy of getting it the first day of one of our trips for the first time since childbirth. I was so not prepared and sent dh down to the gift shop to pick up my supplies! He's such a good man. Then to add insult to injury I didn't get it for another couple of months after that! I guess Aunt Flo wanted to vacation with us. We quickly put a stop that nonsense by getting pregnant again! I figured it out once that I have only had about 7 periods in about 5.5 years!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

My concern about the Diva Cup dohickey is having to empty/clean it when out of the house. How do you deal with that?

 

[utahkennedys]

This thread convinced me to try the diva and I ordered one. Got it for $24 with shipping which I think is worth a try. I have been loving the "Instead" ones for several months now.

 

[Whosemom]

OK, you've got my attention I have a couple of situations I'd like to hear if any diva users have dealt with. Nitty gritty, sorry.

Do any of you backpack? Would you just dump it in a cathole and cover it? what about washing it? Boil the water...what do you do while you're cleaning it? Take a few pads for that time? We are just starting to talk about backpacking, and the whole period thing sounds like a pain. With tampons, you are supposed to wrap em, bag em and pack em out. How would you be descreet with a diva cup (washing etc), DD and I are going to go with the girl scouts, so I guess everyone would get an education.

The other thing is (I suppose I'm getting old and perimenopausal) during recent periods, its like I have 90% of the thing on one day, and sometimes the majority of that in a matter of a couple hours. Any one in this situation using the cup?

Sorry for gross questions, but how else do we find out importnt woman stuff

 

[Finny]

A couple answers to above questions about the Diva.

When out and about shopping, working, and having to use a public restroom. I will dump the cup, wipe it out with tissue paper, and pop it back in.

For the camping question, I would just get the water ready before hand, wash and re-insert. And I would bury the contents. I haven't taken mine camping where there wasn't clean water available, if there is, I wouldn't worry whether the water is even hot. But I'm a bit of hippie. And am not a germ freak at all...

Here is how I care for my diva cup:

I wash it morning and night with soap, during my cycle. I use a cold-process handmade soap, not an anti-bacterial one; or Dr. Bronner's liquid soap. I suds it up, then clean the air holes around the top by filling it with water and placing my hand over the top, and squeezing it to shoot the soapy water out. Rinse well, and re-use. If I am at home when I empty it during the day, and on my heavier days, I do empty it a lot... I rinse it out with water in the sink. At the end of my cycle I wash it very well, and store until the next month. I wash it when I start to use it each month.

And for the person who commented about having it in your luggage? I think you were joking, but if not, you can actually wear it whether you are using it for its purpose, or just don't want a stranger asking questions.

The biggest plus for me, since changing to a Diva and cloth pads, I have gone from a nine to twelve day period, to an average of five to seven. And my cycle has gotten much easier to deal with.

 

[Oceana]

I would love to see the face on security (at WDW) while checking that bag (BTW, I never heard of these before but I just checked the website - interesting)

Ya know Security never even looked that deep... its a cute pink flowered drawstring bag... even if security saw what was inside he would never in a million years know what it was.... If on happenstance he did pull it out open the bag and ask what it was my DH would have been very happy to explain it and even show off some folding techniques

 

[Oceana]

Yeah what Finny said!

I bought my 1st cup nearly 10 years ago. It was a keeper and it is fantastic to just dump and go... no purse no grocery store. 9 times out of 10 if someone sees it they wont know what it is.

The only strangeness I have had with my cup... my 3 year old and 1 year old often are around when I am in a public bathroom... my 3 year old wants his own... cause it looks "cool" and my 1 year old wants a drink... it looks like a really neat sippy cup. Now if I know I am going to empty I get my 1 year old a sippy before I go in the bathroom

 

[Deesknee]

I didn't read all the replies, so forgive me if this has already been suggested.

Provera... It's a medication. You might want to ask your OB/GYN. I used to have irregular cycles. I know some have used it to regulate their cycles. I don't know if that is an option for you, but IMO worth the piece of mind. BTW, I used it about 17yrs ago. As far as I know I have never had a side effect, long or short term.

Good luck.

 

[Monkeyfeet]

I didn't read all the replies, so forgive me if this has already been suggested.

Provera... It's a medication. You might want to ask your OB/GYN. I used to have irregular cycles. I know some have used it to regulate their cycles. I don't know if that is an option for you, but IMO worth the piece of mind. BTW, I used it about 17yrs ago. As far as I know I have never had a side effect, long or short term.

Good luck.

It is perfectly normal for the OP not to be menstrating right now. Since she is nursing, she wouldn't want to add any meds into her system.

My only advice is to nurse her more until you leave if you can, so that it will increase your chances of not getting it back.

Mine came back when dd was 18 months, I am not sure why because she ever decreased how often she nurses (she is now almost 2 1/2 and is still nursing).

I tried the Diva cup, but was not patient enough with it. For those that ordered it, give it several tries before you give up. For me it felt like the ring of fire inserting it, but I think I may have had success if I hadn't given up so easily.

 

[laceemouse]

You can bet your maxis it will come back! I am a nurser and had the joy of getting it the first day of one of our trips for the first time since childbirth. I was so not prepared and sent dh down to the gift shop to pick up my supplies! He's such a good man. Then to add insult to injury I didn't get it for another couple of months after that! I guess Aunt Flo wanted to vacation with us. We quickly put a stop that nonsense by getting pregnant again! I figured it out once that I have only had about 7 periods in about 5.5 years!

LOL! The 90's were like that for me! I had 4 kids in 6 years and nursed them all. As soon as I got my cycle back I was pg again shortly. It was kinda nice, having so few visits. But it is also nice now, I must be getting close to menopause because my "." is very, very light and short each month! And so far I have had no other nasty symptoms.....I'm happy !
The diva thing looks very uncomfortable to me, I have no desire to try it, looks like a lot of trouble. I tried the sponge a few times for b/c many years ago and hated that, it was scary to me trying to get it out! JMHO

 

[Zoesmama03]

Get yourself a diva cup... slip it in your diaper bag and you will be prepared =)

DITTO.. They are wonderful and easy to be prepared since you only gotta carry that one small thing. Plus if you have lighter flows they will only need to be emptied once or twice the whole day.

I had mine right before we left so I didn't worry about getting it in fact we had actually "moved" there(we only stayed 3 months though) and I didn't have one period the entire time there it finally blessed me with its presence just in time for the 2 day drive back to Arizona. LOVELY!!'

I managed to not have AF until dd turned 11 months and quit nursing. I've had I believe 13-14 cycles maybe in the last 4 1/2 years or so. But I have very irregular cycles and could go short at 25 days or as long as 3 months between periods when not on birth control pills.