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Cloth Diapering
SkyBee
member
Diva cup ?
SkyBee
member
I am contemplating on getting one, however, I just can't decide what on earth I would do when I am in public. I also have other questions:
1. How do you "change" it? Especially in public!
2. How often does it need to be emptied?
3. Is it uncomfortable? (Like can you tell it is there all day?)
4. Does it leak if you are sitting, moving, exercising, etc?
5. Overall is it worth it?
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Re: Diva cup ?
2 answers 1: every ~ 12 hours
1. I don't do it in public. I do it in the morning and at night. I take it out, dump it in the toilet, rinse it, and put it back.
3. I can't feel it. I had to cut the stem off.
4. Not if it's in right. Wear backup for a few months until you're confident.
5. Looooove it. I'll never use tampons or pads again.
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PP got it all. Rarely do you have to empty it in public, but if you do, just carefully pull it out as you would anywhere and let it empty, then swoop in with some toilet paper (before pulling it away from the toilet; at least for me, there's often some... stringiness that needs to be wiped, or else it will fall on the floor/my pants/etc if I just pull it straight out!) to wipe it out really well and then put it back in.
Only once did I risk a leak because I was in a huge hurry and didn't make sure it sealed inside me. I left the bathroom and after walking for a few minutes I realized it just didn't feel right, so I went in and fixed it. That was my fault for not doing it properly. I guess there's a learning curve for some people but I used it normally right away and I never needed backup or anything. Wonderfully worth it!
blog! thescenery.net
I used the Keeper, which is similar to the Diva Cup, and it changed my life. Haven't bought a pad or tampon in ten years. Is it worth it? $50 over 10 years compared to however much you've spent on tampons in that time...
You can clean it as often or infrequently as you like because there is no risk of toxic shock. It's easier to clean it often, especially if you are have a heavy flow, but theoretically, you can go days. I've gone more than 24 hours on some occasions while camping and whatnot. It can hold a lot, you just have a higher 'spill' chance if you wait a long time.
Like a PP said, just dump in the toilet and wipe with tp in a pinch in public. At home I dump in the toilet, wash it in the sink with soap and water, and then am good to go.
It's not uncomfortable at all but it did take a wee bit of getting used to at first. You have to be comfortable reaching up there, pulling it out. I've had next to no leak problems, and always from user error (not making sure it sealed, which frankly, was due to my laziness. You just have to give it a tiny tug to seal it).
I've known a few people who've gotten toxic shock, one whose kidneys failed and almost died. I seriously don't understand how anyone can use tampons when there is such a perfect alternative.
Sorry my answers are out of order with respect to your question list... Good luck with your decision!
I agree with the PPs except to say that on my heavy flow days, I need to empty it about every 4-6 hours, and definitely need backup at night (actually it is usually ok at night, just leaks when I get up). And in public, I usually get a paper towel from when I wash my hands before that is then a little wet to wipe it out. It works a little better than TP which breaks up more easily.
I have used one when not pregnant for over 10 years now and love it. I have only used disposable anything when I had a m/c, which is a whole different story. And I actually have both a Diva and Keeper and do prefer that the Keeper is more rigid, but not everyone agrees...I am in the minority here.
I've only used mine for one AF, so take it for what it's worth.
1.I have only changed mine at home and there was definitely a learning curve-both getting it in and out, but by the second or third day I had the hang of it.
2. I changed it every 5 hours or so, but I could've waited longer.
3. It's not uncomfortable.
4. It leaked a couple of times on my, but, like I said, it was the first time I used it and I'm sure that it will take time to perfect my insertion.
5. I very much preferred it to tampons.
So funny that this was asked because I just tried it yesterday for the first time.
I was at a girls weekend this past week and one of the girls was raving about it and since I had been considering it I thought this was the best time. I actually used the instead cup. It is disposable and can be used for up to 12 hours at a time. I like the disposable option because there is no cleaning involved. I might switch to the reusable one later though.
I got these at CVS for $8. It worked really well. I didn't feel it and it was really easy to put in and take out.
The Diva cup did not work well for me. I think the silicone was a smidge too rigid. The Lunette cup fits me much, much better and I'm so glad I didn't give up on cups just because of my experience with the Diva.
I have a super heavy flow, so for the first three days of my cycle, I have to empty every hour, and I wear a cloth pad for backup. While emptying it so often is annoying, it does hold more than even a super plus absorbancy tampon, and it's saved me a ton of money, plus I never have to worry about running out of tampons with how fast I go through them. (At night, I sleep with it in, plus backup pads, and I sleep on a towel and get up multiple times throughout the night, but the same routine applies when I use disposable products.) Emptying it in a public restroom hasn't been an issue, except the one time I accidentally dropped it in a toilet. I tossed it in my wetbag and relied on pads until I could get home and boil it.
Mine only leaks when I'm in those super heavy days, and that's not the cup's fault. If I change it within the hour, I do not leak. I cannot feel the cup, but I know in the super rare occassions that I've had to rely on a tampon, the wet string grosses me out so, so much more than inserting and removing the cup.
Hell yes, it's worth it. TMI for sure, but I had no idea how dry tampons made me feel until I stopped using them. I've been using a cup since 2007 and now when I walk through the disposable product aisle at the drugstore, the chemical smell of those products is super noticeable.
It's been over a year since I've used mine (see siggy), but I'll answer anyway...
1. How do you "change" it? Especially in public!
Unless I was having a particularly heavy day, I only changed mine in the morning and in the evening. I've never had to change it while at work or out in public.
2. How often does it need to be emptied?
Same answer as #1. About every 8-12 hours.
3. Is it uncomfortable? (Like can you tell it is there all day?)
Can't feel it at all unless it's full (sort of like when you're using a tampon).
4. Does it leak if you are sitting, moving, exercising, etc?
No, but I use cloth liners if I'm doing yoga for extra precaution.
5. Overall is it worth it?
Yes, absolutely! It paid for itself after a few months of use. I don't think I'll ever go back to tampons.
DD 8/28/2014
DD 5/24/2016, stillborn at 40 weeks