Basics of dealing with a period

[Advice54321]

At 37 I feel like I should know this stuff by now but since having my children my periods have got really heavy and I no longer feel like I’m doing it right.

So can you please share with me your tips on:

1. I have to wear the largest tampon and a big pad to make sure I don’t leak through. Anything else worth trying?

1. How to get out the shower and dry yourself properly without getting any blood on the towel.

1. How to make sure you don’t get any blood on your bed, without fail I leak at least once every period. It’s so annoying!

1. How to explain to your 3 year old why you’re bleeding. She genuinely seems concerned for me each time and I don’t know what’s the best thing to say.

Any other basic tips for managing a period would also be appreciated!

If you're using double protection / leaking that much you should see your GP.

Wipe with loo roll when you get out of the shower.

1. Don't let her see

I have to wear period pants maternity pad and tampon. And change every 20-50 minutes at the worst.

It's why I'm off to see a gynae.

Tena pants or period pants with long overnight pad help at night. Also mattress protector.

Dry in the shower and have pair of pants with pad ready to put on before you exit or wear a tampon in the shower.

Your 3yo doesn't need to be in the bathroom with you? (I guess if out and about this may be different)

Take the shower head off & rinse your bits just before getting out of the shower if possible. Hopefully any leakage will be rinsed away. Then dry off with a wad of loo roll. Also, use a dark towel or flannel for drying your bits at that TOTM.

1. I now use a moon cup and period pants as back up and have hardly any leaks now.
2. I wear the mooncup in the shower so don't have that problem.
3. see point number 1.
4. I told my children when they were that young that inside mummy is a cushion and if she is growing a baby the cushion stays there but if not it has to come out so a clean one can grow, there is a bit of blood but it doesn't hurt (well apart from cramps but small children don't need to know that!). They accepted that explanation!

1 and 3 - period pants
2 - mooncup that you keep in while you shower
4 - a breezy age appropriate explanation - mummy isn't hurt darling, no need to worry

👍

1. Call a doctor
2. Don’t touch your fanny with a towel while it’s bleeding
3. see number 1
4. Stop wiping your bum in front of a 3 year old

Thank you for all the replies. I can assure you I’m not a troll but understand why you might think that. It’s just not the sort of thing you can ask people you know or that anyone teaches you is it, well my mum never did.

I pretty much do what you’ve all said about washing down there at the end, using tissue, having knickers and sanitary towel ready so I guess I am doing the same as everyone else on that.

I’ve never heard of period pants before so I’ll look into them, thank you.

We’ve just come back from a weekend away and I unexpectedly came on whilst there. I bought some supplies but only had their white bedding and white sheets to use generally and I was so stressed about getting anything on them that I thought what do other people do, surely I can’t be the only one who has been in this situation.

I also try to not let me 3 year old see when I’m on but if my DH is working and I need to shower she’ll be in the bathroom with me or if we are out and about on our own and I need to go to the toilet it’s not possible for her not to see.

Wear the tampon in the shower

Absolutely explain to your daughter exactly what is happening. Do not hide this from her. One day she will be having her own periods and needs to understand what they are and that they are normal and (hopefully) not painful. No shame or hiding attached.
Use a mattress protector and I use night pads.
For the day just changing regularly. I have some period pants for lighter days. On heavy days the pad bit gets full and i get paranoid I'll start to smell or leak through.

Am so sorry you are having this problem. I had it pre menopause and I used massive pads ..didn’t bother with tampons and had a hand towel in the bathroom to use after a shower .
Keep your daughter out of the way when you are showering/ using pads ...too young to be witnessing this . If problem gets worse contact your GP 💐

Ages ago I used sth like that:
example
And please see your gyn.

Can I suggest the coil? I had periods like yours after having children and getting the mirena coil has changed them to extremely light.

Huh. I never kept mine out of the way -- never had the option, what else are you meant to do if out and about and need the loo? It only gets scary if you make it mysterious! I'm quite happy with my boys knowing this is a thing that happens and nothing to worry about; the more so because they've lost a couple of relatives from cancer and if I started acting like it WAS something to hide they would worry!

I second the suggestion of a Mirena coil, unless you are planning to get pregnant again any time soon.

I’ve never hid it from any of mine, I just say ‘it’s ok it doesn’t hurt, I’m on my period, I have them every month when my body gets ready incase I want to have a baby and when I don’t my body flushes away the bed it made just in case. All girls get them when they get older.’ None of them scarred.

Mooncup. Empty it while in the shower. I enjoy the Carrie like experience.

Tranexamic acid tablets from your gp to reduce the flow.
Don't let your 3yo see!

Poor you. My periods went into overdrive post pregnancy. 4 years post DC2 and they have settled down but I do still have 1-2 seriously heavy days.

If you’re travelling to holiday accommodation and are worried, you could take those “puppy pad” bed liner things some people use to protect bed from waters breaking.

I wear my tampon in shower on heavy days, no question.

I don’t deliberately show DC but have never ever hidden it from them and always explained in matter of fact terms if they ask (every month there is an egg; if it doesn’t turn into a baby, the body gets rid of it; it doesn’t hurt and most older girls and women have this every month). They’ve never asked much more than that and I truly don’t see why I should hide it from them.