Thanks for all your info about divacup etc..
My ? is:
I had an emergency c section when I was fully open- does it mean that I should get the one for women who have given birth or ? - my uturus have been open - but no baby has passed it....

My periods are less painfull and more regular after BTD  with no clots...
I still bleed for  a long periode aprox 5-7 days- but not a lot...

I use organic cotton pads from wemoon
http://www.wemoon.com.au/
After I started with those I haven´t had a single bladderinfection!
- I always had the beginning of one after 2-3 days with regular pads.
I seemed to get an rash from regular pads as well
I don´t mind washing the pads..I don´t find it gross - but then again Emma was a cloth nappie/diaper child


Emma started her periode this spring and she doesn´t mind using theese wemoon pads- however in school she prefers http://www.natracare.com/index2.htm

They say that if you have had a pregnancy to term, then you should use the After Birth size, even if you had a c-section, due to changes in the pelvis from the pregnancy.  But after extensive discussion, it is generally agreed that it kind of doesn't matter in most circumstances - many women who have had children, or are over 30 still use the smaller size, and many women under 30 use the larger size (due to wanting the greater capacity.)  In fact, the Lunette only came in one size (larger) until about 3 weeks ago.

Cool about the natracare and reusables.  I used natracare tampons for almost 10 years until I switched to the cup.

Thanks Bomega I have been looking for this infomation for along time

In my case, my periods completely stopped after starting the BTD.

Not too sure what's happening there...

18 months and counting...

Quoted from Rhiannon

In my case, my periods completely stopped after starting the BTD.

Not too sure what's happening there...

18 months and counting...

Are you underweight now?  Not enough body fat will stop a woman's period.

I've been on the BTD for 3 or 4 years now.  I never had any problems when I was a vegetarian with periods, but I've noticed in the last year my 2nd day is so heavy I can hardly leave the bathroom!  then  it's over! so shorter periods, but one heavy heavy day.  
In the past, if you count day 1 as the start day, then 28 days later I'd start again.  Now it  is about 20 days... yuck! that's too soon.  Last month I was drinking soy milk in my green tea.  That month I went 30+ days before I started again.  I went  to plain  green tea this month.. no soy.. and was back to 20 days.. so I think I will put the soy milk back in JUST to have longer between periods!  by the  way.. I'm 47, so I'm heading towoards menapause, but I'm not there yet...

I just went in for my yearly pap smear and the doc said I might need to have a water ultrasound just to see if I had a polop that  might be causing the extra bleeding.. but I just think my body is changing... shoulda just kept my mouth shut.. lol... oh well.. I'll go have it done just to see...  
but I'd like to know more about the soy... it doesn't give me cramps or anything weird..

have you done the secretor test yet?

yes I have.. I'm a secretor...
does this scenario sound odd  or do other  women have similar cycles?

are you under a lot of stress?
it happened to me, 25 years ago, not following BTD and having a stressful job were the culprits, plus my lifestyle was not optimal, plus look at my nonnie status! lol

which part happened to you? the short periods? or  the heavy bleeding one day per period?  I am not under any real stress.. I do have three teenagers..   and a busy household!  but no  relationship or job stress ( I don't work)... no  financial stress.. I'm just  very type A.. ( but an O blood type!)... I'm a bit of a perfectionist, but I've always been like that... so what do you think about the periods, lola??

I meant Rhiannon s case.......the lack of periods, sorry for the confusion!


the heavy bleeding for the first two days sounds more like me now.

are you in pain during those days?

I have no pain whatsoever.......

Sheri... sounds like typical peri-menopause to me. I am almost 46 now and my periods have been getting gradually lighter for years... now I've noticed becoming erratic which is rather disconcerting... but expected too in the mid-forties.

I've read that anyone over the age of 40 is considered peri-menopausal and the peri-menopause period can last for up to 13 years before the actual last period.

So no... I don't think that what you are experiencing is at all unusual... quite typical actually....  

Quoted from Kristin

So no... I don't think that what you are experiencing is at all unusual... quite typical actually....  

I'll concur here. My periods have been erratic for several years. I've had three "normal" cycles, 28 days apart, until the last one, which was just very light and only lasted three days. This often means that I'll bleed again in the next two to three weeks. *sigh*. I tried taking progesterone for a while, but that only lasted 4 months or so, then the irregularity set back in. I'm washing my hands of the whole thing. My period seems to have a mind of its own, and it comes when it wants; not necessarily according to the calendar.

Let's get back to the soy here...  the topic.. I'm hoping that this month, since I'm drinking a bit of soy in my morning tea, will lengthen the time between periods again.  I'll let you know!  It has worked in the past like clockwork.. so I think I'm going to keep it in my diet.  Plus, I love the Westsoy Plain soymilk.    And no, I never have any pain associated with a period.. just bad moods the week before.. very aggitated!!
I know I could probably get on the pill and regulate things, but I really do NOT like being on the pill for various reasons..

so ... soy will be my choice  here.. I'll let you  know

Quoted from Shane

Are you underweight now?  Not enough body fat will stop a woman's period.

Nowhere near: 172 cm (around 5 foot 7 or 8 inches) and I weigh 70 kilos (not sure in pounds). I've actually gained weight, but lost inches since starting. That's simply becuase I actually have muslces now instead of flippy-floppy-floobyness.

Quoted from lola

have you done the secretor test yet?

No I have not, since I am in no financial position to do so. I just kinda avoid both the secretor and non-secretor avoids as I can.

I made a post in the Encyclopedia forum awhile back and got a little useful feedback.

Since then, I decided to take the 10 day hormone treatment that my gyno prescribed to me, but still didn't get a period. I now have to make another appointment, but since I am returning to Canada for the summer in a couple weeks, the appointment will have to wait till September.

While I'm in Canada, I'm goingg to try to see a naturopath. I found a  practicionner who uses the BTD in Calgary where my father lives, so I was thinking of making an appointment with her.

When I come back to France, along with what my gynocologist and what my doctor (an homeopathic one) suggest, I will be lookingg into doing some accupuncture.

Thanks for the concern and I'm open to all sorts of feedback, suggestions...

I never thought I'd hhear myself say this, but I actually miss this part of me.

Got me thinking about this article:

http://www.westonaprice.org/women/fertility.html
Don´t pay so much attention to the food part - use BTD
- but the part about sleeping in darkness is rather intereting.

such an interesting article!!  the part about sleeping in darkness/ lightbulb  was intriguing.. I don't think  I'm going to  put the blackout stuff on my windows, though...  and  I know my husband wouldn't go for sleeping with the lightbulb..   but maybe if I get desperate!

Quoted from outdoordrea

I tried taking progesterone for a while, but that only lasted 4 months or so, then the irregularity set back in. I'm washing my hands of the whole thing. My period seems to have a mind of its own, and it comes when it wants; not necessarily according to the calendar.

I think that's a very healthy attitude to take Drea.... just let it be...  I was a little freaked out when I began noticing menstrual changes but it happens when it happens. I decided not to worry about it and to relax and be open to the changes occurring in my fertility. It does make birth control more of a challenge but with fertility waning I do not fret about an unplanned pregnancy like in my younger years. And that's a relief!!!

I'm not worried about birth control (had my tubes tied years ago), but it's a pain when traveling. Now I just plan as if I'm going to get my period on my trips and if I don't then that's great!

Quoted from Rhiannon

Nowhere near: 172 cm (around 5 foot 7 or 8 inches) and I weigh 70 kilos (not sure in pounds). I've actually gained weight, but lost inches since starting. That's simply becuase I actually have muslces now instead of flippy-floppy-floobyness.

That's a pretty good weight.  I agree that seeing a naturopath is a very good idea!

Speaking of lights at night....

I learned through the La Leche League that women who breasfeed on demand and still start their periods back really soon should sleep in total darkness and that helps keep their cycles from starting back.  I don't seem to have issues with night lights, as I sleep with the bathroom light on all the time just to be able to see the baby to nurse, and I never start cycling again till about 15 months after a baby is born.  But I understand that's a little unusual.

Wow, I never even considered that my blood type had anything to do with my periods. I have noticed changes with myself since I turned 38, I am 40 now and a week before my period, my breast hurt so bad I could cry. I am not a nice person at all and I have no control over it.  I think I am even happy being so miserable (odd). It comes as fast as it goes on the moods. Then I am happy again. My whole family notices. I have lots of cramps now. I used to not have any. I wake up so wet as if I took a shower several times a month. I guess I have just been ignoring the signs of getting older. I am going to see what happens with all of this on the BTD. It will be very interesting. Thanks for putting a great food for thought.

I just know I've gotten moodier... a week before my period, I'm a total grouch!  Wonder what I can do to help that?  I bought the BTD book on menapuause, but I haven't really seen anything different in it.  I'm 47 and guess I'm heading in that direction.  I know that st. john's wort is an avoid for O's , but I do find that it helps a ton to take this herb.  I'd rather find some other thing to try...
I am finding that when I do fall off of the wagon, especially with sugar if I slp and have some coffee, I get grouchier.  I'm finding, as most people  on here do, that the more compliant I am, the harder I'm hit when I  fall off of the wagon.  All the more reason to stay ON the BTD... but, of course we all slip once in awhile...
but anyone with any suggestions on the grouchy PMS week, please speak up!!

Well first of all you are not alone- aprox 40 %of all women feel like that
Some  benefit from supplements
with B6, magnesium, calcium and Black currant seed oil / other BT might use evening primrose oil.

Maybe eat a bit more carb up to the period . I need more carb theese days- and I do find it Ok as longs as it is neutral carb.
Avoid low fat apporaches ...makes you even more grumpy

so what kind of carb?  fruit?  I don't really do carbs anymore in the way of rice, Eziekiel bread or anything else for that matter... pretty much just meat, nuts, lots of veggies and salads.. olive oil.. some dried fruits..

and YES, amen on not watching the fats so closely.. like olive oil..  I've tried to do my salads without it some to watch the calories, and I just get grumpy...