My Intro to Alternative Menstrual Products (AMPs)

I first heard of Alternative Menstrual Products (AMPs) a couple of years ago from a Facebook friend.  She wasn't advertising anything, just happened to 'like' a page and I checked it out.  I was intrigued, had done cloth diapering with my kiddos (until one got an allergic reaction to the lining), but had never even thought about AMPs.  I mentioned it to my husband, and he was immediately grossed out, so I dropped it.  

Fast forward to fall 2013.  We try to live a green life, and we are always looking for ways to cut out unnecessary expenses as well as unnecessary waste.  We just bought a new house, had slightly higher expenses than our previous house had, and I again began searching ways that I could save some money.  I started to feel guilty about the pads and tampons just going to the landfill and re-visited the idea of AMPs.  At the same time, I was worried about using tampons for health reasons, so I just was using disposable pads.  I happened upon some videos of reviews on Youtube.  I know how to sew, and have known how to for more than 20 years, and I decided I could make my own pads and start selling them too.  I contacted a few girls who had done plenty of reviews through Youtube and asked them if they would be willing to review my pads if I sent them a couple.  I got a response from two of them, and sent them off a little later.  

As well as a shop on etsy, www.etsy.com/shop/girlybitspads, I have a page on Facebook.  This helps me get the word out about my shop, but it is on the blog that I will post giveaways, reviews, and discuss all things AMPs.  I just wish that when I first started my period (it was the summer after I turned 12), I had more options out there than I was presented with, as well as had more education about those products.  I was introduced to OB tampons (the ones without the applicator, shown below - NO WAY!!!) and pads.  It took me a long time to find out what worked for me, but I had no one to turn to for more information.

  

I use a Diva cup, model 2, and absolutely love it.  It is my first and only cup right now, but it has been a life-saver so far!  The AMPs are so comfortable, that the only ones I can feel when I am wearing them are the heavy/overnight pads.