It's your special day, mom!

Parenthood has redefined the goals in my previously well-organized life, moved my boundaries, and changed my value system to some extent. I have been a mother for over 7 years, and during that time I have learned what chronic sleep deprivation is, lost the ability to enjoy evening social life outside my home for a while, and because of my children’s allergies and food intolerances, I had to forget about some of my favourite meals while breastfeeding. So much has changed! My children have given me unconditional and immense love, and I have gained new experiences. I am a Mom. Children are always close, loving and loved, always in close contact. Loud, true, demanding, absorbing — but the closest ones to my heart.

Being a mom does not free me from the duty of taking care of myself and liking myself. The older the children are, the better my condition, endurance, and above all, my calmness should be. We walk through life together, we learn together, support each other, and achieve common goals. We want to be together as long as possible (of course, until the kids become independent — not until they turn 40 or 60). For this reason, I carefully choose food, our place of residence, hygiene products, and care products for my family. I decided that I would use not only reusable diapers, but also reusable and eco-friendly products dedicated to moms. Because I take care of myself, because not only my children matter.

I tried to recall what was most important to me when my children were very little. Besides the fact that the main goal was simply surviving another day with an infant, I spent most of my time breastfeeding. My day began with a race against time — change the diaper, feed, cuddle, eat anything myself… Around noon I sometimes managed to find a moment for a shower, then came a walk, an attempt to eat lunch, and waiting for my husband to return so I could rest even for a moment. Through all this I was almost constantly breastfeeding — my children refused pacifiers, and breastfeeding was their main, even favourite, activity during the first year of life.

Over the years of breastfeeding, my body has produced a river of milk. And like every breastfeeding mother, I had to deal with leaking milk and stained tops, irritation and inflammation of the breasts, oversupply and undersupply. During breastfeeding — especially at night — a good bra and good-quality nursing pads were essential items. That is when I discovered reusable nursing pads, which turned out not only to be gentler on my skin, but above all healthier than synthetic disposable ones.

Pupus breast pads are sewn from the same PUL fabric we use for diapers. They are therefore breathable and waterproof at the same time, safe for the skin and our environment, and free from unnecessary chemicals. On the inside they have two layers of bamboo gentle to the nipples. You can choose a version with an additional coolmax layer. They are trimmed with delicate thread, and we intentionally placed all seams and thicker finishing on the outside.

Proper washing of breast pads is very important. To achieve maximum absorbency, new pads must be washed several times. Milk can reduce absorbency, so after use it is worth rinsing the pad or storing it in a container filled with cold water, and during washing using an additional rinse cycle. This will not only increase absorbency but also rinse out laundry chemicals. Breast pads are small, about 12.5 cm in diameter, and they can easily get caught in the rubber around the washing machine drum. Therefore I recommend washing breast pads in small mesh laundry bags.

How many sets of breast pads might we need? Unfortunately, this is difficult to predict. There are periods when we produce more milk and lactation is not yet stable. This is usually the case during the first months of breastfeeding — then we need more pads. Toward the end of breastfeeding, when children are older, we use far fewer pads during the day, and lactation is stable; milk leakage during feeding gradually disappears. I believe that an average of 5 or 6 sets should be enough. Let’s remember that reusable pads will last throughout the whole breastfeeding period — not only for one child but also for the next.

One of the biggest advantages of reusable pads is the comfort of using them. The good airflow thanks to the PUL fabric is especially noticeable in spring and summer. The pads are easy to put on, do not shift, and are similar in thickness to disposable ones. And we don’t have to worry about running out of pads in the middle of a long weekend or on a holiday. We simply put them on after washing and drying and after use throw them into the laundry basket or a small bucket of water.

The second reusable Pupus product dedicated to moms that I really like and recommend is the reusable sanitary pads. These are also made from PUL fabric and bamboo terry. If you prefer, you can choose a version with an extra layer of coolmax. This is a polyester fabric used in sportswear that allows the skin to breathe. They are breathable, extremely absorbent, and soft. They do not irritate the skin, do not leak, and with proper washing and drying can be used for many years.

We sew reusable pads in two sizes. The smaller ones can be used both as a pad and as a pantyliner. The larger one is about 23–24 cm long, the smaller about 17–18 cm.

You place the pad with the PUL fabric against your underwear and fasten the snap so that it does not shift or curl.

With reusable pads it is crucial to take care of stain removal. While used reusable diapers are usually stored dry (in a bucket without water), reusable sanitary pads should be rinsed several times in cold water after use or stored wet — in a container filled with cold water. This may be a small bucket or bowl. It is important that the water be cold — cold water helps remove stains. Warm water has the opposite effect and sets stains. I wash reusable pads either with regular clothes or with my child’s diapers. Thanks to the antibacterial powder Nappy Fresh I wash them at a low temperature — max 40°C. They can also be washed at 60°C without a disinfectant. If I see that stains remain despite rinsing, I add Bio-D stain remover to the wash or treat the stain with gall soap.

I believe that reusable pads are much more absorbent than disposable ones thanks to the properties of bamboo. Bamboo is not only extremely absorbent but also antibacterial and resistant to washing. Buying reusable pads is similar to buying reusable diapers — the initial cost of the whole set is higher, but the investment pays off quickly.

And now a little surprise. Since Mother’s Day is coming soon, I invite you to a contest. The prize will be a set of pads — one small and one large.

The rules of the contest are as follows:

1. Like the Pupus Facebook profile.

2. Leave a comment under the blog post describing what your ideal Mother’s Day would look like

The winner will be chosen by drawing lots.

And on the occasion of Mother’s Day, I wish you, dear Moms, restful nights, long relaxation with a book or a good movie, problem-free teething, health, and peace