To be shocked at teacher telling DD to 'hold in' period.

[yaela123]

DD is 15 and her school have a no going to the toilet during lesson time rule, which I completely agree with on the whole as I know how disruptive it can be if people are constantly in and out, and how everyone just uses it as an excuse to bunk off (I am a teacher too - very different environment though)

Only exception is if you have a medical note from a doctor.

Today in one of her lessons DD says she could feel that she really needed to change her pad, she was getting quite worried about it leaking. She eventually asked the (male) teacher if she could go to the loo.

Teacher: No, you know the rules
DD: I really need it.
Teacher: What did I just say?
DD: It's a girl problem...
Teacher: What do you mean?
DD: Umm... I'm on my period
Teacher: Break is only in half an hour, hold it in til then

Obviously those aren't the exact words said but she says it's pretty accurate.
DD is quite shy so did just wait til break (no leakage btw).

She doesn't seem overly bothered but AIBU to be pretty shocked at him telling her to hold it in? Surely even men have some basic idea that it doesn't work like that?

Right

having leaked through a super plus tampon in an hour and somehow a clot forcing its way past the tampon and out .... I really feel for your DD and the school need to show sensitivity to this.

In the mean time OP have you considered Thinx undies for your DD? These may help her with the anxiety around leakage, you can still use pads with them if you like but any leakage is caught by the kickers themselves

there are lots of brands that do similar and I am about to invest in a couple of pairs because 20yrs after my first period i still have to deal with sudden gushes - if I sit for a long time then stand up I can flood etc - and think these will help reduce any fear of leakage. I'm actually excited to get them because apparently you dont need to even use pads with them but I would personally given my heavy flow.

Got my periods aged eight and it was a bloody nightmare (pun intended). I used to regularly leak through clothes right up until mid teens due to heavy/ unpredictable periods. I was lucky that I was supported by a few fantastic teachers (especially at primary schoo). This teacher clearly has no clue. I would complain at the very least so he can be educated about how periods actually work.

*You have been on here all day lol

Maybe she couldn't leave the house with her flooding period

I keep looking at those Thinx ones. I don't know how they work, it's all witchcraft and magic.

It turns out Pengggwn is as bizarre about periods as she is about rape.

As to teacher - I'm not convinced.

Teachers can use a bit of common sense: if a usually well-behaved non-timewasting pupil asks, in a euphemistic way (the "girls' problem" thing) to go to the loo then just let her go, FFS.

Is it fair that a usually badly behaved girl could end up with a leak ?

I appreciate I don't really have the answer here but I just don't think going after the teacher with all guns blazing is the solution.

I know!

I have never known someone who has said they aren't going to comment on a thread any more come back and comment quite so much.

It turns outPengggwnis as bizarre about periods as she is about rape.

I dread to think

I have PCOS, I have never had a "normal" period. Never known when they would start, how long it would last, but always knew it would be heavy. I have spent my entire adult life not wanting to leave the house for any length of time when I had my period, of standing up with a nervous glance at the chair I was sitting on just in case I'd made a mess.

I’m not sure I’d trust the Thinx ones to work.

I’d probably in the loo every half an hr checking they were still working. Which obviously wouldn’t be allowed.

I'd be complaining as well, normally I take the side of the school but this is wrong on so many levels.

Interesting actually pengggwn as we have next to no snow in the place you claimed to live in yesterday.

Ah yes, the vitriol. Right.

Are you off now then?

I thought teachers, on a snow day, would be busy planning and marking all day not titting about on mumsnet.

Me too Rafa, wondering how they were containing it all and where it went. Defeating the whole object.

That's a statement anyone can make. I'm more interested in how it was obvious.

Of course you're interested and not just being a childish GF

pengggwn im so pleased to hear that it's not possible for a woman to flood a pad! This wonderful news means I can have my mirena coil taken out, after all the extremely heavy periods i used to get and the having to change my bed sheets every day whilst on my period was all in my head!!

I keep looking at those Thinx ones. I don't know how they work, it's all witchcraft and magic.

Its period related witchcraft and magic. The best kind

lots of ladies I know who have purchased them have said good things about them. I think they are made from a form of microfibre a bit like hi etc sports clothes that keep you dry from sweat and sweat rashes.

either way anything that means periods are stress free would be awesome!