*Here on the blog I am reviewing reasons to make the switch to cloth pads, and what to do once you have made the decision to switch. This post was originally posted in Aug. 2011 and has been revised for today.
When I posted about my thong liner being featured on regretsy, it was all in fun. However, in reading the many comments on both of the featured posts, about the thong liner, and WHY would anyone even need one, it’s caused me to realize that there seems to be a WHOLE lot of misconceptions about liners!
For me, someone who has used liners pretty much their entire adult life, especially since having children, this was really quite surprising!
In my life, liners are as common place as underwear, even before I had this business.
I don’t wear one, without the other.
There were a ton of questions and comments regarding why anyone would even need or want to wear a liner, so I thought I’d explain some of the why’s here on the blog.
This topic can’t really be explained properly without at least a little TMI (too much info), but I’ll try to answer some questions as delicately as I can.
A Riainbow of Light Wrap Wing Pads.
Why do some women wear liners, every day?
I can answer with MY reasons for wearing a liner daily. Simply to keep me feeling fresh! I have always had a slightly ‘overactive’ body and I really hate feeling ‘damp’, so I wear liners. They keep me feeling fresh, and on days my body is a little more overactive then others (during ovulation is one of these times), I can simply change my liner through out the day as often as I need to. Changing underwear several times a day isn’t exactly easy.
Besides, if you’re working outside of the home, which I did for many years, it’s really not practical to be carrying around extra underwear, now is it? However, keeping a small stash of liners in your purse, in a small wetbag, is very practical, and simple!
*double sided pad wetbag by sweetslings
Now that I’ve had five children, there is another reason to use liners, and I know I’m not alone.
I have issues with mild stress incontinence. Other women have issues with an overactive bladder. The article linked explains that 1 in five women 40 and over, have issues with incontinence. Can you imagine how many women that is?
I ship world wide. There are Homestead Emporium liners being used not just in Canada and the US, but France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Malaysia, China, Japan, Africa, Norway, Mexico, Greece, Sweden… and more.
Check out our map which some of our customers have added themselves to, and add yourself if you’re also a Homestead Emporium customer!
Another reason to use/need liners is as a backup. Whether you’re a menstrual cup user, or even if you use tampons, having a liner protecting you “just in case” is a great preventative measure.
I once had a customer share a story with me. She had just gone back to work after being home on maternity leave. She wore a liner that day, as her monthly cycle had not returned yet and she had no idea when it would. She wanted to be safe, just in case.
Sure enough, her cycle began THAT day. She was concerned because all she had worn was a liner. However, the liner kept her completely protected until she got home!
I always love hearing these stories.
And that is one last great reason to wear liners. Just in case.
Just in case your period starts while you are out.
Just in case you KNOW your cycle is going to begin soon, but you don’t know exactly when. Use a liner, and be confident you won’t have a ‘mess’ to worry about when you’re out and about!
Just in case you THINK your period is over, but your body decides to ‘shed’ just a little bit more, at the end of your cycle. Wear a liner until you can be 110% sure your body is finished ‘cleaning itself’ for another cycle.
So that brings us to more questions asked in the comments section of those regretsy posts.
Why would anyone need a thong liner?
To me, the answer is quite simple. Some women need to wear liners on a daily basis, some of those women wear thong underwear.
Why would anyone wear a ‘breathable’ liner? Isn’t that defeating the purpose of a liner?
Some women, like myself, don’t always need waterproof protection. They simply need a little extra absorbency for the day. Something to keep them feeling dryer then just underwear. That’s who I make breathable liners for. Consider these an ‘extension’ of regular breathable underwear.
All of these liners also work for another issue many women face. Even if they never have a problem with any sort of incontinence, or overactive bladder, they may experience times of ‘discharge’, especially while pregnant and/or during ovulation.
Why are there so many types of styles and sizes?
Because there are so many types of women! We are not ‘cookie cut outs’. We come in different sizes and shapes, and so do Homestead Emporium liners. Each woman will find some styles of pads, and sizes of pads, will work better for them then others. There are also different needs. Some only need a little extra protection (pantywraps are good for this) and other’s need a more full absorbency protection, like for mild incontinence (our 8 inch liners and light pads are good for this).
I’ve also added a 7 inch Tiny Liner to the mix, and changed the thong liner. It is no longer rounded at the end.
I’m working on some new photos, hopefully coming soon, of all our liners together, front and back.
So there you have it. Some of the reasons why women use liners and light pads.
*If you have more examples of why women use liners, or would like to share your own story, leave a comment! If you’d like to leave a comment, but would like it to remain anonymous, simply say so at the top of your comment and I will be sure to leave out any of your information (email addy, name etc.) when approving the comment to be posted to the blog.
Yup, yup, and yup. I NEED to wear liners daily, too. I’m envious of those who don’t! 😛
Here’s another reason for you: I used to notice my darker pairs of underwear would actually get “bleached” on the gusset from my discharge over time, but had no idea how that could be. (Sorry for the TMI.) After reading up on fertility stuff while trying to conceive, it finally made sense — sometimes, we’re very alkaline “down there”, so it kind of IS like a bleach of sorts.
Maybe I’m unusual and this problem is unique to me. *blush* But, if not, liners help solve that one, too!
I love the liners! It makes me feel safe to wear white pants! I too am over active during ovulation and have loved not being worried.
As someone who has read up quite a bit on fertility cycles, and various methods of charting fertility, I’m totally comfortable with discussing things “down there.” Seriously – it’s a normal part of life, and many, if not most women experience some discharge during the days leading up to and including the days immediately around ovulation. Some women are blessed with pretty much constant mucus. I know some women have LOTS of discharge particularly around ovulation. That mucus serves a function, even if it is annoying to have damp/wet underpants. It’s unfortunate that girls and women aren’t educated in what is “normal” for a body.
Anyway, as for use during pregnancy – hello, yes! discharge for me is much more noticeable during pregnancy, and having a liner totally makes me happier.
As for additional uses for a liner – I’ve encountered some women who like to use liners to catch, uh, the dribbles that can occur after spending some quality time with their husband/partner 😉
I use liners everyday because I don’t like the feeling of damp panties against my body. As women, our cervical fluids change throughout the month and although some days the discharge is heavier than others, I love the security and ‘clean/fresh’ feeling of wearing liners daily.
My transition away from disposables STARTED with liners. I then became more aware of what I was putting in contact with my body and switched to cloth pads, as well as, a menstrual cup (I was a tampons-only wearer before).
I also use liners for ‘spotting’ (last days of period), as cup backup, and after intercourse (to catch bodily fluids or spermicide exiting my body).
I totally love liners for after making love with DH. It can take quite a while for everything to work out!
Also love them during travel. I always manage to get hot and sweaty and anxious when traveling. I always use a liner during air travel…it just keeps me feeling drier and fresher when the next shower may be 18+ hours away! Even if it’s been a short and calm trip, something about just sitting for hours makes me damp “down there”, so a liner is super nice.
And the huge variety of sizes and shapes is the SINGLE thing that brought me to HE. I like that you always have the perfect pad/liner for each day/use. Thanks!
Fan of The Keeper.
Recently blogged about this stuff: http://tinyurl.com/4523au5
I’d like to sew a few pads to donate to girls in Third World countries.
It also happened to me..