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!

I have heavy periods and used to bleed over clothes and at night. I found wearing second knickers over very helpful - it keeps the pad in place. Plus pj bottoms for nighttime, never a nightshirt.
Also my sleep is shorter now and I usually wake up in the middle of the night so it gives me a chance to change night pad. Whereas before (happy sleepy days before DD) I could have 10 hours or more of sleep uninterrupted but would wake up with sheets all covered.
For shower as PPs said: piece of toilet paper in between legs, then knickers on quickly with the pad already in, wipe with baby wipes afterwards.
I take dark coloured towel and sheet with me if stay overnight in someone’s house on the first 2 days.

However I would go to GP just to be sure that everything is ok and yes, they do offer coil for heavy bleeding.

Why are some posters on MN just horrible

AnotherSunrise,
Lol 😳, you haven’t seen anything yet .
Get used to it.

Tranexemic acid changed my life.

@BerniesMittens

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

Transexamic acid is definitely worth a try. Wish I’d been put onto it sooner. It certainly would have made my teen years bearable. I was worried because posts on Mumsnet described it as making their periods more clotty (I’ve always got clots) but I actually got less clots and a whole lot less blood.

I went from having to shuffle, bent over as far as I could to make it to the toilet in the morning without flooding (toilet bowl would then be dark blood red) to just getting up and out of bed normally. Total life changer.