Craft Scrappy: Period Poverty; Part 2

Today is part 2 of the continuing topic of period poverty.

Now I know when people hear of reusable pads their first thought might be eww! But really, it isn't much different than cloth diapers. Personally, I have been using them myself and absolutely love them. I have been using the same ones for about 4 years now. So, right there I saved over $600. My only regret is that I hadn't learned about these sooner. Disposable pads are relatively new, as they weren't a thing until after World War I. In 1921, Kotex came out with the closest prototype to the modern day menstrual pad. However, rural areas didn't catch on until the mid 1960's. Have you ever thought about what pads are made out of? Without doing our own research we may not ever know because the companies who make pads and tampons are not require to list what they are made from. So let's take a look, shall we?

Today's menstrual pads are more absorbent, thinner and softer than even just a few years ago. What that means is that new chemicals are being used. Chemicals that we don't know too much about or the effects on our health. What makes the general composition of today's disposable pad? Cellulose mixed with a super absorbent polymer powder make up the absorbent layers. The polymer is a fluid absorbing chemical from petroleum or wheat. It turns into a gel when absorbing liquid. Cellulose is also known as rayon. It makes up the cell wall of plants and trees. The cellulose is turned into a pulp by being grounded and moistened. The pulp will be shredded until it becomes a fine fluff and then mixed in with the polymer powder. It will then be measured and molded into the shape of a pad. Two layers are needed to make a "regular" flow absorbent pad. Those two layers will be placed between sheets of plastic. The top will be perforated so liquid can pass onto the absorbent layer. The bottom layer is left solid to avoid leakage.

Odor control have been added to the pads as well. That will be added to the absorbent layers. Let's look at ingredients to prevent odors. Active carbon, active silica, active alumina, ion exchange resin and chlorophyll. But that's not all. The top of the pad also includes sodium potassium aluminosilicate, sodium bicarbonate and carbonates, biocarbonates, phosphates and biphosphates, sulfates and bisulphates, ascorbic acid, boric acid, citric acid and maleic acid. Don't forget additives like fragrance and alcohols for scented pads.

Let's put that into perspective shall we? This means that one- quarter of your child bearing years, we as women, are coming into direct contact with chemicals that are known to cause cancer. Not to mention cramps, nausea, vomiting that these chemicals can also cause. Plus, an array of infections from the plastic. This information should make all of us angry! Why are we using these products? But the bigger question, why are these companies using such ingredients?

Now, let's look at what reusable pads are made from. Cotton or flannel for the top, flannel or terry cloth for the middle (the absorbent layers) and blizzard fleece for the bottom layer. That is it. Oh, and snaps to hold them in place. Now, the more they are washed, the more absorbent they become.