My Period Journey: From a Trusted Pad Brand to a Safer Alternative

Disclaimer: This blog is based on my personal experience only. No brand paid or asked me to write it.

My Early Menstrual History

I got my first period in 6th grade (age 12) in 2000. I then had very regular cycles (roughly 28–30 days) with about 3 days of moderate flow. From the start, my mom introduced me to a leading sanitary pad brand’s maxi pads, and I stuck with that brand exclusively for nearly 25 years. I tried all its versions (thin, thick, soft, clean, long “night” pads, etc.) and never had leaks or discomfort until after childbirth. During non-period days, I used panty liners (mostly Bella, and sometimes Sirona, Femisafe, PeeSafe aloe vera, Evereve, Plush, etc.) with no irritation. 

I always wore comfortable hipster-style cotton underwear (Jockey hipsters: size L/XL before marriage, XXL after), which kept pads in place. In short, for decades, periods meant that one brand’s pads and I got along perfectly – awful cramps and backache, yes, but no pad problems.

Postpartum Bleeding and Initial Struggles

Everything changed after my daughter’s birth (C-section on June 15, 2021). In the hospital, I was given maternity pads and actually told to avoid my usual pads for a few days. After discharge, I experienced what felt like extremely heavy bleeding. Indeed, postpartum bleeding can last 2–6 weeks and is often the heaviest period ever in the first 3–10 days. I bled for about 16 days straight. I was using the brand’s largest “XXXL” overnight pad, yet it often could not keep up. I had to change pads every 1–2 hours, or I would stain my underwear and clothes, despite being very careful. This nonstop heavy flow gave me painful red rashes in my inner thigh area, something I had never experienced before.

Health sources note that changing pads very frequently (even at night) and bleeding longer than 7 days are signs of heavy menstrual bleeding. By the end of those postpartum two weeks, I needed pads around the clock. Thankfully, after about 16 days post-childbirth, my periods paused, and I only used thin panty liners and occasional pads. Even then, because my waist had enlarged, I switched fully to XL+-sized pads (a few models from my trusted brand) to avoid any leaks.

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

My period returned in Jan 2022, and it was different. Instead of 3 days, I now had about 5 days of heavy flow plus 2 days of spotting. I used a combination of thin/medium pads on light days and the huge “XXXL” pads on heavy days. But the heavy flow kept leaking. If I sat for a long meeting and didn’t change in 2–3 hours, I would find blood outside the pad. My doctors checked me, and I learned that heavy periods after childbirth are common: many women lose over 80 mL of blood and need frequent changes. Symptoms like mine, soaking a pad top-to-bottom quickly, leaking at the sides, and bleeding for a total of 7+ days, match the medical definition of menorrhagia.

Even aside from leaks, the pad rash got worse. The skin on my inner thighs turned pink, tender, and itchy. Health experts say this is usually contact dermatitis from friction or irritants in the pad. I spent hours putting on diaper rash creams (since I had them for my daughter) as a barrier. Despite pain meds and flow-suppressing pills, I was just managing every month – carrying 6–8 pads in my bag and changing constantly. I even started canceling social plans whenever I got my period, because I was terrified of staining myself at work or in meetings. This heavy, week-long bleeding was terrifying and exhausting, far beyond the lighter three days I’d had all my life.

Health sources confirm that anything beyond 7 days of bleeding is considered prolonged, and needing so many pads is a red flag. I was caught in a vicious cycle: heavy flow → more changes → more sweat and friction → more rash → even heavier bleeding.

Discovering a New Pad (Nua)

In late 2025, my sister urged me to try a new brand called Nua. I was skeptical but desperate. I ordered the largest Nua pads (XXXL, 400 mm long) to match my heavy days. On the first day, I wore a Nua pad with so much fear that I checked it after 2 hours and it was not even half full! I couldn’t believe it. Thinking it was a fluke, I switched back to my old (trusted-brand) XXXL pad and within 2 hours it was completely saturated again. The next day (the heaviest day of flow), I only used Nua pads. Again, every 2–3 hours, I checked, and each Nua pad was far less full (just damp on top) while keeping me dry. No leaks, and no new rashes. I kept testing: I’d use Nua for 2 hours, see minimal output, then swap to my old pad for 2 hours, the difference was night and day.

Nua markets itself as a 100% toxin-free sanitary pad made of pure cotton with a wider design for heavy flow. This aligned with my experience. After that first month, I never wanted to go back to my old brand. My period lasted 7 days, and with Nua, I had zero stains or leaks and no rash flare-ups. My skin returned to normal as soon as I stopped wearing the old pads during periods.

My “test” continued for several months. Each cycle, even on the heaviest days, Nua handled the flow easily. Even at night, instead of wearing multiple pads (as I used to layer), I could use one Nua pad (and a backup liner) and wake up dry. The difference was profound: I felt clean, dry, and calm. The uplifting designs/quotes printed on the pads also gave me a little psychological boost (a surprisingly nice bonus).

It seems what helped was going from a plastic-based pad to a breathable cotton one. Sources say cotton, chemical-free pads prevent rashes by eliminating harsh dyes and plastics. This matches what happened to me: once I switched to the all-cotton Nua pad, the constant moisture and irritation went away. I also read that some pad adhesives contain bisphenol A (BPA) and other irritants, so not having those in Nua probably helped too. 

Downside

The only downside I found was that Nua’s adhesive strip is a bit less tacky than the old brand’s. In very loose underwear, a Nua pad can shift. But by using my usual snug Jockey hipsters (or a tighter, smaller size), the pad stayed firmly in place. So this minor issue was easy to work around.

Benefits I Gained from Switching

• Better absorbency: Nua pads allowed me 4–6 hours of wear on heavy days without leakage (vs. 1–2 hours before). I could even sleep through the night with one pad.

• No more rashes: My skin finally healed completely. This fits medical advice that cotton, unscented pads prevent pad dermatitis. I felt clean and pain-free.

• Increased confidence: I no longer worry when traveling or in long meetings. I canceled my plans due to my period. No more mid-day “leak panic.”

• Convenience: Each Nua pad comes wrapped for disposal, and I could carry fewer spares. Fewer pad changes in public restrooms was a huge relief.

After over 6 months of using Nua pads, my periods are back to being just “a normal day.” The bleeding itself is still moderately heavy (post-baby levels) but completely manageable. I am no longer afraid of stains or leaks. I feel proud that I solved this problem on my own. As of now, I’m even experimenting with XL+ Nua pad for daytime use, since it seems to handle my flow too.

My journey taught me that even a decades-long trust in a single product can change. Bodies change after pregnancy, and so did my needs. Switching to a cotton-based, chemical-free pad gave me exactly what I needed: dignity, comfort, and peace of mind. 

This is my honest experience and not an advertisement. Just the facts of what worked for me (and what didn’t). If my story helps even one woman find a better solution for her periods, I’ll be glad I shared it.