This post is a special, little, extra post for you ladies!
I mentioned in my last post that we would be focusing on more "private" personal products. Well, I'm a Birth Educator and a firm believer in teaching my kids about their REAL body parts, not avoiding those conversations with some cute name. So... lets talk about VAGINAS!
Vaginal health is a big deal. Anyone who suffers from chronic Urinary Tract Infections or Yeast Infections can attest to that. Most of us are never taught how to care for this sensitive part of our bodies early enough in life. Honestly, most of our moms didn't have a clue either!
So, how DO we care for our vaginas in a natural, healthy way? Here's my TOP 7 ways to give your vagina it's best health:
7. Wear loose fitting clothing/pants
Vaginas need air... and circulation! This isn't 24-7, but if you choose to wear tighter clothing one day, make sure you change when you get home & give your lady bits some fresh air! I'm not saying you should never wear skinny jeans, leggings or yoga pants. Honestly, I would not wear pants if it weren't for those. Speaking of not wearing pants...
6. Sleep without underwear
I freaked out the first time I read this. This little church girl could never... but my vaginal health depends on it. Dr. Robert Bradley of The Bradley Method of Childbirth suggests women abstain from wearing underwear as much as possible to avoid perineal tearing in birth. Women in nudist communities naturally have healthier vaginas and tear less during childbirth... coincidence? Probably not. I'm not saying everyone has to sleep nude. That could get chilly! Even if you wear pajama pants, but no undies, you're improving the atmosphere for your vag! Encourage your girls to do the same. My girls and I choose 2 days a week to go without panties at bedtime. Any improvement is better than none!
5. Wear only 100% cotton panties
No synthetic fibers, no flame retardent material (read more about that subject HERE), no funny fabrics... While on the topics of synthetics...
4. No synthetic fragrances or scents near the vaginal area
That goes for toilet paper, lotions, soaps, bubble baths, pads and tampons.
3. No tampons or synthetic maxi pads
Okay, so most of us have this routine of running to the store when Aunt Flo is coming to town. Well, that has to change. There are numerous health reports and studies on the dangers of synthetic materials and toxins being inserted into our bodies via tampons, not to mention rubbing against such sensitive skin via pads. Check out these articles to get you started:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/23/dangers-of-feminine-hygiene-products-every-woman-should-know.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/08/06/tampons-feminine-care.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/22/feminine-hygiene-products.aspx
There are several great options for vagina-friendly tampon alternatives:
http://shop.mercola.com/catalog/feminine-products,65,0,0.htm
http://divacup.com/
And wonderful, small business supporting options for pads:
https://www.etsy.com/search?q=reusable%20cloth%20pads&ref=auto7
2. No soaps
This is another hard one. Many times we use soaps and cleansers because they think it will keep things smelling better down there, but they actually do the opposite. Our vaginas are beautiful self-cleaning organs. A normal vaginal pH is 4.5... At this pH level, your vagina contains a delicate balance of necessary bacteria, even some yeast. This balance can be easily messed up. So when this happens, things like odor, irritation, discomfort and infections are more likely to occur.
1. Pat-pat-pat!
We all should know to wipe front to back, right? This helps our vaginas keep clear of bad bacteria that comes from our bottoms. However, many women do not know that wiping is often too harsh. Our vaginas are sensitive, delicate body parts! Rather than wiping (or rubbing, or chafing) we should be patting the area dry. If there is any irritation at all, spraying the vaginal area off with water first is also acceptable. So, remember... DON'T WIPE... instead just pat-pat-pat!
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/09/05/vaginal-health-stay-healthy-clean-_n_1854398.html
Vaginal Yeast Infections 5/24/03
Causes and Natural Remedies for Yeast Infections
Hope this has been a helpful piece of info for you mommas and also to share with your girls! Here's to healthy vaginas! See you all on Monday!
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