Postpartum: pads, tampons, menstrual cup?

After delivery we have a bleeding that will last several weeks. The intensity will not be the same throughout the entire "quarantine" and we will ask ourselves which possibility is the best; The menstrual cup, the tampon, the pad?

Compressed

I'm sure I won't discover anything if I say that they are possibly the most used device to collect menstrual flow. There are a thousand shapes and materials and in recent years they have evolved from being a "towel" without adhesion and that transferred to compresses "of the future" that neither move, nor penetrate, do not allow bad odor and have an increasing capacity to absorption.

The problem is that to achieve this, processes of bleached and addition of substances deodorants that can cause allergies and skin reactions.

On the other hand, by retaining moisture alter the flora of the genitals and vagina, which can cause yeast infections.

After delivery the skin of the perineum has suffered very important changes, on the one hand it has been dilated to allow the passage of the baby's head, on the other hand you may have some point, all this together with a significant alteration of the bacterial flora make the Chemicals that are added to these compresses frequently cause reactions and discomfort. You also have to take into account that the bleeding will not be the normal one of your menstruations, you will bleed several weeks and that with a compress that does not perspire almost certainly implies fungal infections. So these compresses they are not suitable for postpartum.

Tampons

Do you think that tampons are an invention of the XNUMXth century? Well it turns out that no, the first known prototype was invented by Hippocrates around 500 BC. Later tampons have been used in all cultures, from Egypt to Rome to Japan. In each culture a different material and they were used throughout history. Although in the first half of the 2th century they were considered "unsuitable" during World War II, they were again very popular and used. From the second half of the twentieth century they have been perfected to the present day, which are formed by a compressed nucleus of a Absorbent material covered by a mesh.

For proper placement, they must be placed at the fundus of vagina, absorb the flow and swell as they become soaked. They can drying the vaginal walls and damaging them When removed, they retain moisture and can cause changes in the vaginal flora. For all of it are not suitable for postpartum, if we have a suture, its placement will be painful, in addition to being able to damage said suture, but in the event that we do not have any stitch it is not adequate because it causes dryness in the vaginal walls, already damaged by childbirth, which can cause lacerations, in addition they retain the flow and our cervix will not be closed, which can cause infections.

menstrual cup

The menstrual cup is a little bell that is inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual flow. Unlike tampons or pads, the menstrual cup does not absorb the discharge, but collect it inside the cup until it is removed from the vagina and the fluid is discharged. They are made of surgical silicone they are not porous, absorbent or fibrous, so they do not scratch or dry the vaginal walls, being able to be used whatever the amount of flow, they are not uncomfortable to extract during the last days of menstruation or leave traces of fibers.
Es reusable and it can last around 10 years if it is cared for well.
It really is not such a new invention, they have existed since the first half of the 1930th century. By XNUMX they were already manufactured and although until now it was not widely used or known compared to tampons and pads, in recent years its use has increased thanks to Word of mouth between women.
The opinions of specialists about the cup are usually positive, although with some "buts": In general it seems property for all women, although there is no consensus on the possibility of its use in girls. There are 3 sizes (P, M, G) and can be chosen in various colors.
It can be a bit tricky to position the cup correctly at first, and it can even move if this is not done right. but once properly placed it will remain fixed. There is the possibility of a vacuum that prevents removal if you do not know how to do it.
Sometimes it is difficult to choose the size well and we may not choose it well the first time and we need to buy a second glass of another size.

Its capacity is about 30 ml, they need to be emptied with less frequently of which you would have to change tampons or pads, so they could stay up to 12 hours (although it is recommended not to have it more than 10) without the need to empty.
It does not contain bleaching substances, bleaches, deodorants or absorbent gels and does not cause allergies.
Once learned its use is placed very easily and is removed just as easily, because it is placed in the lower part of the vagina and it is accessed with a finger that “breaks the void”.
It can also be left on overnight, if it is well placed it will not leak. The cup closes hermetically the vagina, neither fluid nor smell can come out.

Although it has many advantages it is not recommended to use it to collect bleeding after delivery since the cervix is ​​not closed and insert any device into the vagina increases the risk of serious infections.

My recomendation

I recommend using postpartum cotton or cellulose pads. They are natural fibers, they do not usually have bleaches or deodorants or plastics that prevent perspiration. They are usually sold in pharmacies, although lately you can also find them in big surfaces, are available in different sizes, so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs according to the postpartum moment you are in, although generally they are thicker than the normal ones and do not have a good fixing system to the underwear.

Anyway change the pad very often and do not use creams, disinfectants or ointments that your doctor or midwife has not recommended. Do not "douche", it will be enough to wash the genitals once or at most twice a day with soap. Neutral ph.