9dp5/6dt - Still two lines!

I tested again this morning with another crappy old cheapie since the tests that bestie mailed still haven't arrived. One package has literally been sitting and collecting dust in my local FedEx office but they won't let me go pick it up. Super annoyed with FedEx right now. Even though yesterdays tests were positive, I think I held my breath from the appearance of the control line to the moment the second line popped up. It still feels surreal, though I'm doing my best to enjoy it in the here and now.

The lines look purple because I took the photo after the tests were dry. I think the lines are getting darker!

I also received my cloth pad order from Cozy Folk! I took a chance and ordered a couple postpartum/overnight sized pads along with my liners, telling myself that I could always use them just as overnight pads. If all continues to go well, I'll actually get to use them postpartum :) I bought two 14" heavies and two 12" moderates. The colors and patterns are super bright and adorable but her design is something I've never seen before!

Two 14" on the left, two 12" on the right

I'm not sure if you can tell because I snapped these photos quickly but her pads are backed in Wind Pro fleece with a raw edge. The backing extends past the core as it does in most pads, but instead of continuing the absorbent top material to the edge, she finishes the top fabric edges a couple cms in from the backing edges. I think this is done to prevent leaking off the edge, the backing fabric is water resistant so it won't absorb any liquid, although the single layer around the edges feels somewhat flimsy and floppy compared to the double layers on other pads. In theory, I think liquid will bead and head towards the core and the soft edges will probably be pretty comfortable.

For liners, I decided to try minky, which is especially stain resistant, because I ordered them before I started the Endometrin. I think they'll be just fine and comfy but my plain cotton topped liners have actually been the best for Endometrin thus far. As it dissolves, the pill comes out as a sort of chalky, powdery paste that gets caught in the fibers of longer fabrics but rinses easily off plain, flat cotton. I actually prefer the flannel for my period, but thus far the smooth cotton fabrics win for suppositories. I'll have to see how the minky does tomorrow.

Sorry for the crappy photo!

More importantly, tomorrow is my first official beta! I've been trying to keep my mind off of it so I stay relaxed but it's much easier said than done. I'm not really nervous, but I feel like I'm filled with restless energy. I keep sitting down and then popping back up and I can't seem to settle down.  Unfortunately, walking around a lot seems to give me more little cramps so I feel reluctant to get it out by taking the dog for a walk or something similar.  I might try packing since E and I are heading to San Diego for a couple days for E's work. I'm hoping relaxing in the hotel will be a nice distraction to waiting for my levels to rise for the next anticipated beta on Monday. Or I could end up pacing the room, sitting down and popping back up just like I'm doing here. When does it stop? When my betas rise correctly? When we see a heartbeat? When we get to 12 weeks? When do I relax, or do you never really relax after IVF?

1dp5/6dt - R&R

Today is the first day after our transfer or 1 day post 5 day transfer. After transfer I received two sets of instructions - one from Dr. D and one from my acupuncturist S. Dr. D recommends 48 hours of bed rest post transfer, not super strict but definitely stay home and chill in bed. S's advice was actually more cautious, she wants her patients to have 4 full days off during which they're supposed to stay home and relax. For me, not only does this mean I'm home in bed, it also means Milou misses both of her classes and her vet appointment. Poor little lady, but there isn't anything I wouldn't do to help this embie stick.

I was feeling pretty normal for progesterone, hungry, bloated and almost a little crampy, until this afternoon when something randomly upset my stomach. I have no idea what it was, I'm not on any new medication nor have I eaten anything different, but I was stuck in the bathroom feeling miserable for an hour. I'm really hoping my embie is still nice and safe in there, in theory an upset stomach shouldn't effect them but I still worry. It's probably just the hormones and the juice I drank with a little anxiety mixed in.

In good news, I'm happy to report that my cloth pantyliners are holding up spectacularly to the Endometrin. I was worried it would stain them because it dissolves into a chalky paste but each one has washed completely clean on the first water rinse. I haven't had to soak a single one, just a little soap and hand wash if I need it straight away, or a rinse and toss in the washing machine if I can wait. I'm really impressed with them, they've been so much more comfortable than disposables, I'm so, so glad I made the switch, I can't imagine wearing disposables and getting hives for the next 12 weeks!

Progester-Woah!

I went in for my progesterone draw this morning, fingers crossed that my progesterone decided to climb, at least a little. We had to go in early since the lab closes by 9:30am on Saturdays and I was moving extra slowly from the lingering shadow of a migraine. I had a feeling some head aches would be forthcoming from the hormones I started yesterday and they certainly didn't disappoint. After this many medicated cycles, it's pretty much a guarantee that high estrogen and progesterone will give me at least one migraine within the first 12 hours.

Still, I made it there in time and was finished with the draw in just a few minutes. I had gotten home, put in a new Endometrin and changed my pad (ew - I got lucky yesterday with a clean pad but last nights pill pretty much dissolved and fell out this morning. GROSS) and started prepping breakfast when the phone rang with results.

By today, they're looking for your progesterone to be 8 or above. Since mine was only 1.5 when they were looking for 2.0, I was a little worried it might still be low but all that anxiety, and the chocolate bunny head I ate, were for nothing! The nurse immediately said my progesterone looks great and told me my level was 15 today! This officially clears us for our Tuesday transfer and we're now just waiting on the lab to assign us our official time. Only 3 days to go until our frostie is home!

Gratuitous photo of Milou that a fellow agility student took today. Look at my lady rocking that tire :)

Mama Cloth Stash

I posted about mama cloth previously but now that I've had a chance to use it, I figured it was time for a stash and usage update! Thus far, I've tried 8 different brands and will probably go ahead and order from one more, Cozy Folk. 

For my last period, I used nothing but cloth. The two light days from Cozy Cloth and the two blue and grey Bubu Bibi pads just arrived in the past few days so I didn't have them during my period, but I was surprised to discover that even though it looked like I had a lot, I was a few pads short of a full cycle. It wasn't a big deal to wash them in the middle but if I want to get through a whole period without washing, I'll need a few more now that I've figured out what I like best in a cloth pad.

After using disposables my whole life, I've found that my preferences in cloth are pretty much the same. I want a long, really thin pad, with wings. I think my favorite size is 12", the same as an Always Infinity long, not because I need it to absorb that much fluid, but because I move around a lot and find myself needing different parts of the pad while I'm doing different things. A 12" pad pretty much covers everything, no matter what I'm doing, and it's basically impossible to leak. I don't have a strong preference on flared vs straight, but I do think flared gives you more protection, especially in the front when you're sitting down. 

All folded up :)

For thickness, my two absolute favorites are Yurtcraft and Party in my Pants. I custom ordered my Yurtcraft pads backed in PowerShieldPro, which makes them ultra thin and totally water proof, and all Party in my Pants pads are crazy thin and backed with nylon which also makes them water proof. These guys are no thicker than an ultra thin disposable, are way more comfortable, and stood up to my heaviest days with no leaks. I bought two 10.5" and two 12.5" from Yurtcraft and two 12.25" from Party in my pants.  ErinSewSweet also deserves an honorable mention here, although her 12" pad with a cotton top, layer of PUL, double Bamboo core and fleece backing was a hair thicker than Yurtcraft (with PowerShieldPro) and Party in my Pants, it was still super thin, really comfortable and didn't leak. This pad was also a trimmer fit for narrower panties which some people might prefer and I liked it just as much as the other two brands.

For overnight, I absolutely love my Earth Mama Goods 14" pads. These guys are a tiny bit thicker, more like a thin maxi than an ultrathin, but not too thick to wear during the day with leggings if you were having a really heavy day. These guys are super soft and feel cozy when you wear them, they're perfect for overnight when you might be bleeding up the back. She has a ton of other sizes and absorbances, but I ordered these in the beginning when I kept thinking I'd need a huuuuge pad to contain a pretty light period.  I also really liked my BubuBibis for night time, although they work just as well as a day pad. These guys win the award for budget friendliness, they're $15 for 4 pads with free shipping and with a thick bamboo core, these guys can absorb a ton. They feel more like a cushy maxi pad when you have them on, a bit thicker than I usually wear, but not too thick to wear during the day. They have a sort of silky polyester fabric for the wings and although you can't customize them, they come in several different colors and patterns and two different absorbances.

For liners I've got three Party in my Pants 10" and my two freebies, a 6" Luna Pad and 8" Glad Rag. The Party in my Pants liners, like their regular pads, are backed in nylon but these have no core so they're designed for spotting or medication. The Luna Pad and Glad Rag are both layered cotton flannel so they're not water proof but are super comfy and didn't leak with regular spotting. I haven't had a chance to use the two 8" Cozy cloth Pads that arrived but they're definitely pads, not liners, even though they're for light days.  These guys are flannel topped with two layers of flannel and a layer of PUL in the core with a fleece backing. They feel a little bit cushy and I imagine their heavier absorbancy pads would be a lot like Earth Mama Goods.  I'll probably use these at the beginning or end of a period, or hopefully, with my medication while I'm pregnant :)

For usage, cloth pads were no more difficult than a disposable to use and were a hell of a lot more comfortable. You lay them in your undies, snap the wings around the crotch and you're good to go. For washing, I decided to skip the bucket that most people use (for now, I reserve the right to change my mind lol) and I use a wet bag for storage. If I'm out an about, I fold the pad in half, snap the wings together to keep it closed, and stick it in my tiny waterproof wet bag in my purse. There's no odor, no dripping, the cores absorb any liquid while you're wearing them and holds onto it until I can rinse them out later. 

If I'm home, I take it right to the sink and rinse it out until the water runs clear. If it looks like it might stain, I throw a little oxy clean on it and depending on how I'm feeling, will leave it in the sink for about 10-15 min and hand wash or just fold it up and stick it straight in my big wet bag. I'm probably going to get one of the natural stain sticks to replace or use with the oxy clean, just because I think it will apply and stay in place better. At this point, all the pads I've washed in the sink have been clean, without stains or signs of wear, but I wash them in the machine anyway, even if it's only to remove the oxy clean. Once my period is over, or I'm out of pads, I chuck them in the wash with our towels and wash them on cold. Although they're perfectly safe to put in the dryer on low, I air dry mine since I'm drying my nylon anyway and I think it will help them last longer.

The next big test for my cloth stash will be Endometrin. Our transfer is getting closer and closer and since it IS going to work, I'm going to be on Endometrin for about 12 weeks. That's 12 solid weeks of wearing panty liners to keep gunk off my panties and I'm not sure how the medication is going to affect the fabric. Several of the sellers have offered me really good tips, from dish soap, gentle, grease cutting hand soap to minky topped liners which are harder to stain so I'll probably get a little of everything right before we transfer. This embryo is going to be sticking around for 40 weeks and I need to be prepared for them!

(Mama) Cloth Pads

In an incredible moment if irony, I decided the month before (hopefully) getting pregnant, while frantically packing for Cancun, that I want to officially make the switch to cloth menstrual pads. I usually use disposables but since I'm allergic to latex, I've had problems on and off with latex and chemicals in the adhesive. If they're not completely stuck down or if they shift while I'm wearing them and the adhesive touches my skin, I'm guaranteed a miserable set of hivey welts. It's awful and after last month with more welts, I'm done.  I'm hoping that with the laws of the universe, buying all of these cloth pads will mean I won't need them for quite some time...though when this little embryo sticks, I'll probably be on Endometrin for at least 12 weeks which will mean 12 straight weeks of wearing a panty liner. I should probably go order several more since I'll be using those most. 

Current Cloth Stash! I have others in the mail :)

From my cursory research, it looks like most manufacturers make cloth pads out of cotton flannel, minky, bamboo velor, cotton and bamboo terry, fleece, organic/un-dyed cotton or bamboo, zorb and PUL, a waterproof polyurethane laminate used in cloth diapers, bibs etc. They stay in place with cloth wings that connect with a snap, sometimes color coded for light, moderate and heavy. You can get everything from little 6" panty liners to thong pads to 16"+ heavy pads for overnight or postpartum use. You can even get them wingless but I'm not clear on how they stay in place. Most are an all in one construction but some brands have removable inserts that are usually held in place with two elastic straps. If you want something special, there's someone out there who can custom make it.

From left to right: 14" Earthy Mama Goods overnight pad, 9" Party in my Pants liner, 

8" Glad Rags Liner and 6" Luna Pads Liner

For me, living in a crazy hot climate, I figured cotton flannel was a better topper option than minky and I ordered most of my pads in that variety. I didn't want anything warm, nothing that might hold in the heat while I'm roasting my tush off in this 96 degree weather.  I ordered a variety from several different sellers to start and I haven't had a chance to use them yet, so I'm not sure whether my preference will be for the pads backed with fabric or fleece or those backed with PUL or Nylon etc. PUL is lightweight and waterproof so a lot of people really like it but I think that a fabric without laminate will breathe better. Thus far the PUL pads seem to be really nice and thin while the fleece ones are a little cushier.

                            All stacked up!                              Earthy Mama Goods Pads, they're technically overnight pads
                                                                                        but they're not too bulky to wear during the day as a heavy pad.

For something that no one really talks about, there are a remarkable amount of crafty ladies selling cloth pads on Etsy and their own personal websites . There are also several more commercial manufacturers, three of whom offer free pantyliners (just pay shipping) that I took advantage of: Luna Pads, Glad Rags and Party In My Pants. I think they all come out to be about $5 per pad which is a pretty good price for a liner that will last several years. I also ordered several pads from Etsy sellers EarthyMamaGoods, ErinSewSweet,  Yurt Craft, and Cozy Cloth in various lengths and absorbances and a 4 pack from the company BubuBibi.

                     My three overnight pads from Earthy Mama Goods              ErinSewSweet pad, in the mail!

The first thing you'll probably notice about these pads is that they are friggin' adorable. They come in every color, pattern and print you can imagine and they make me smile every time I see them in my drawer. I've read that they don't stain as long as you give them a soak or use a stain stick, but you could always get black or dark pads if you were worried. I'm pretty good at getting stains out of clothing as it is and I have a particular fondness for owls and foxes so I'm building up a few different varieties and brands in those prints regardless of color. And like a cloth diaper, I could probably stick the pad in the sun if I end up with stubborn stains. The second and more important point is that they are SO much more comfortable than disposable pads. They feel just like your undies against your skin, with a little cush, and while the pads with a PUL liner or backing are slightly more noticeable, they're still a million times more comfortable than disposables. I tried on each pad variety as they came in and was immediately kicking myself for not switching sooner. They feel so, so much better than that chemical filled plastic and here I've been getting hives and rashes for years.

BubuBibi pads, also in the mail. I got the blue and green set :)

As for use and care, from what I've read, there's no "wrong way" to do cloth. People handle washing a million different ways and they all work. I haven't had a chance to use mine since they started arriving after my period ended but I plan to rinse them well, maybe spot them or briefly soak with some oxy clean if needed, ring them out, fold them up and pop them in my shiny new wet bag. Then you just toss them, wet bag and all into the laundry and wash them like you would anything else. Some people do something with a bucket of soapy water that they change every day instead but that sounds a little too germy for me. Other people skip the rinsing entirely and just toss them straight in the wash which also works. You can wash them with your regular laundry, maybe in with the towels, or do them separately. If you're cloth diapering a baby, toss them in with the dipes. I'd probably wash on cold but some use warm, and I'll definitely dry on low, especially if the pads have PUL. If you want to air dry, I'd toss them in the dryer for a few minutes after so they soften up and aren't crunchy like any other air dried clothing item. If you're out and about, pop a clean pad and wetbag in your purse so you can just fold up the used one and store it till you get home.

My snazzy new wet bag with a little strap to hang it, from SnugglesofLove. I also tossed around using a mesh laundry bag but I think I'm going to skip it since the pads got sort of tangled up in there during my trial wash

My period isn't actually due until after we get back from Cancun, but I'm super excited to give these adorable pads a try. As soon as the other brands come in, I'll take an updated stash photo and let you know which I like best!