Period and D of E expedition

[Leumurshavethumbs]

DD 13 is heading off on a D of E type expedition - a hike and a wild camp, canyoning, canoeing, abseiling etc.

She has just started her period the day before she leaves. She doesn't yet use tampons and she's really worried - mainly about the water activities. She'll be fine when in the water, but will need to wear a wetsuit with considerable travel/waiting around times before and after being in the water.

She'll take a kit of ziplock bags/wipes etc for the hike and camp. Privacy will be an issue but she'll also let the instructor know.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and have any tips or advice? Thanks!

Are you able to get hold of any of the drugs that slow down/stop bleeding for her by tomorrow? Some pharmacies are able to sell them, tranexamic acid or mefenamic acid. I was prescribed mefenamic acid for the exact same reason 30 years ago!

Failing that, buy her several pairs of period pants today. Primark, M&S, and Sainsbury's all sell them, you might even be able to get some swimming ones for the water activities.

DD went on a watersport camp and 2/3 of all girls were on their period. They wore tampons with a period swimwear.

Can you practice with applicator tampons and try to get hold on some period pants as backups?

Definitely let the team leader know.

Thank you both. We won't be able to get hold of any drugs by tomorrow, but she does already have period pants. I think the best thing to do will be to try and get to grips with tampons.

@Leumurshavethumbs try the tampax pearl tampons, my teen DD found those applicators much easier than the standard cardboard ones - they are plastic, very smooth and easier to ‘slide’ in.

Ibuprofen lessens my flow, might be worth a try as easy to get hold of in a hurry.

I came on unexpectantly on my DofE gold hike. It was a nightmare. Plus my walking trousers were beige and I'd bled right through before I realised. One of the other girls kindly let me know, and I had to spend the rest of that day with a jumper tied around my waist so the boys didn't see. I still cringe thinking about it now.

I definitely think period pants are the way to go with this - can just shove them all in a large ziplock bag in bottom of pack and worry about sorting them out when get home, rather than having to worry about finding a sufficient bush to change a pad or tampon in, or trying to change it inside your sleeping bag without everyone realising, and then have to worry about what to do with the dirty ones for the rest of the hike.... It will be a big outlay to get enough for the trip, but they are amazing and I wish they had existed when I was a teenager. Definitely a trip to a shopping centre this morning to get enough pairs for the trip, and then get them through the wash asap so that they're hopefully dry enough to pack in the morning.

@Catopia what an absolute nightmare! My DD is grateful to have at least started before the trip, so she isn't starting unexpectedly.