a peek into my PP cloth... advice welcome!

[bsebabe]

I want to use cloth for postpartum, and want to make sure that I'm prepared! I've done tons of research and scoured the archives to get ideas of what I'll need, etc. I decided to use things I already had at home instead of spending money on them. I use a Diva cup exclusively for periods and haven't worn a pad in almost 3 years! This is what I've done so far:

I took the center of a prefold (it was the kind that had batting or something between the outer layers), cut it in half, put fleece on one side and cotton on the other. I made 10 rectangle pads that are 9"X4.5". I'm thinking those could be like "regular" pads??

I then took the sides of the prefold, folded a side in half length wise and put fleece on one side and cotton on the other. Those made 10 rectangle pads that are 8"X4". I'm thinking those could be like "normal/light" pads.

I also have 6 prefolds that are 18"X9" that I was thinking I could use in the very beginning when things are super heavy. I thought about trying to make pads out of those, but DH figured if I just trifolded them and stuffed them in my undies, we could reuse them later for other things.

Thoughts/suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated! My mom and sis are going to be here in the beginning and then my MIL is going to come, and I want to be confident in my decision to use cloth and not look silly trying to make it work!

[MariaLA]

They will be fine! I've used lots of things, LOL. Regular infant prefolds trifolded, trifolded wash cloths, thirsties hemp inserts (my current choice for heavy overnight...)

[bsebabe]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[aumismommy]

I got a not fun heat rash from sposie pads with first pp experience and ended up using prefolds out of desperation (I didn't know about mama cloth then). I just folded them and stuffed in my panties, then when it lightened up I cut them up and used the single layer pieces.

I'm going to do basically what you're doing. I was planning on getting a bunch of pp mc from the amazing wahms I've talked to but I'd rather save the money for other things..like having Dh be off work a little longer.

[bsebabe]

Originally Posted by aumismommy I was planning on getting a bunch of pp mc from the amazing wahms I've talked to but I'd rather save the money for other things.

That's what I was thinking! I thought about buying some, but then that was adding up and DH threw out the idea of using stuff we already had around the house. It's nice to know other moms do the same!

[MotherMoonPads]

I think your "regular" pads will work just fine for postpartum too, but they might be a touch wide

[ecocentric]

I used trifolded prefolds and sometimes random doublers. A little bunchy and bulgy, but not at the top of my concerns during that time. Worked for me, and I did go on to use those prefolds and doublers for other things.

[bsebabe]

Thanks ladies! I realize the pads I made are not very contoured, but I don't use pads when I'm having a normal period (I use a cup) so I didn't want to have a bunch of stuff I'd never use again. I can use these pads as doublers and such for the baby after I'm finished. It's nice to know that other moms just used what they had and it worked out fine!

I actually had a dream last night that the baby came and part of my dream had to do with me realizing the pads I made worked and I was relieved.

[GEM Cloth]

I think these are going to work just fine and lots of mamas just trifold prefolds and use them for pads. All kinds of stuff around the house works wonderfully for making pads ... cotton clothes and sheets, towels, and fleece blankets for the backing. I used these things to make my own stash.