aibu to think period pain shouldn't be that bad? [title edited by MNHQ]

[scarredforlife]

My girlfriend has her period today, granted she always says the first day is the worst. I've had to hand wash three cushion covers because she bled through them, now she's just sheepishly taken the bedsheet down with blood on it and is basically crawling back up the stairs!
I sound like a typical man but is it normal to be that bad? Genuinely concerned

First periods after birth are often very heavy and painful.

Not a chance she's having a miscarriage is it? I had an early one and bled a lot more than a normal period.

Same thought meglet

Just look after her.

It is possible to have heavy periods without pain and painful periods that aren't heavy.
I used to get dreadful pains but my periods have always been fairly light.

She will know what is normal for her.

Periods can be horrific but if it's not normal for her, she should see the GP.

Talk to her.

Terrible pain and disastrous bleeding are "normal" for some women, but there are medical options available - just because it's normal doesn't mean they just have to put up with it.

Or it might be a one-off if it's the first period after birth (unlikely at 17 months surely).

Talk to her, tell her you're worried, suggest she sees a doctor, give her a big hug, a large brandy and a hot water bottle.

scarredforlife

"I sound like a typical man"

No you don't, you sound like a dick, go talk to her and find out what she needs.

Mine have been horrendous at times and yes I became anaemic. She needs medical advice, ibuprofen for the pain and a hot water bottle can help.

Mine used to cause me to pass out, that's how painful they were. Get her a towel to put between herself and the sheets, a hot water bottle, her favourite hot drink and painkillers. Also be free with the cuddles if she wants them. It can be like this sometimes. If it's no better tomorrow call nhs direct

OP it sounds like you're concerned and asking how usual this is. It doesn't sound like your girlfriend usually suffers like this.

Why are people being so nasty?

OP I can tell you're concerned and asking for advice. Sorry I can't help as I don't have bad period pains myself but I wanted to say I think your post has been misread my some.

I echo meglet

What Pipbin says. I used to have horrendous pain when I was younger (I use to vomit repeatedly on the first day of my period and couldn't eat at all and needed to spend the whole day in bed. The pain was as overwhelming as an orgasm but painful rather than pleasurable). Not drinking and having a better diet helped as I got older but the pain didn't go until I had children in my late 30s. Now I have an IUD and I have a single very heavy day (change mooncup every couple of hours but need a pad as well to catch leakage) but no pain at all. It's very strange.

It does sound like it might be a miscarriage rather than a normal period so look after her if she doesn't normally bleed like this. But try not to worry too much, most of the loss during a period/miscarriage isn't actually blood, it's mucus and cells and what not so she's not bleeding to death however hideous it looks.

Bloody hell, OP is copping some abuse....

No, it doesn't sound normal. Talk to her, look after her, make sure she sees her GP if this drags on.

Sorry OP it seems this is genuine, so apologies for my first post.

After having children my periods changed massively for the worst and became debilitating, so yes it can be this bad, and things change after carrying a child. You should encourage your DW to visit her GP for help.

Ok my title should read aibu to think period pain SHOULDN'T be this bad
No, it shouldn't be. I used to get killer periods - real painful - about every 18 months, but unusually heavy bleeding, as a PP said, might be a miscarriage.

Ibuprofen, cup of tea, keep an eye, see how she is tomorrow.

It's the worst pain I've ever known, worse than childbirth, and I've had 33 years of it. Please change her sheets for her, make her a very very hot water bottle, wrapped in something to prevent burns. Placed directly on the centre of pain it can really help. She can take two paracetamol and two ibuprofen every four hours. Codeine if you have it. Make a GP appointment on Monday. She will be fine, it's sortable, just an awful pain, so lots of sympathy is in order.

If I don't take medication to control mine I flood and soak through everything in sight.

I am peri-menopausal though, and it is quite common at that stage.

When it became like that I did have an ultrasound scan to check all was well, so she should perhaps consider asking her GP about one.

Painful or not, very heavy periods are horrible, and over time can cause or exacerbate problems such as anaemia, so her GP should be made aware.

Just give her space - ask if she needs you to get anything

try hot water bottles, pain killers, cup of tea (although some feel sick with it)

I get terrible back pain with mine - so enjoy a back rub.

Some people bleed more heavily than others - it depends if this is normal for her or not - I find I get heavy ones once in a while and severe pain (cramps a lot like labour!) I like to sit with back against radiator watching crap films hot drink and hot water bottle on belly and lots of nurofen!

I can't get past your name on here.
A lot of women have heavy periods

My first reply to your thread title was going to be "Fuck you" as I am currently curled up in bed trying not to cry from the pain in my abdomen.

Go see if your partner needs anything and be sympathetic. Don't badger her about this. It is hopefully a one off. If the heavy periods continue for a few months then she should go to the doctor.

this isnt a aibu thread soundd like ur asking for a second opinion. Id shes just had a baby id anemicand is bleeding heavy id take he a&e straught away to be safe.

get heaviest pads tampons canr usw after birth toopainful. Akways night long 2 placed together work wonders after birth.

I hope she gets well soon try not to worry too.much.

Perhaps get the thread moved. AIBU is a strange choice of topic for a thread about a woman's health.