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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask, how do you handle your period at night?

143 replies

IconicKitty · 13/02/2023 18:17

I used to be so blessed. I would change tampon at about 10:30, sleep until 6:30 and change. There would rarely be a leak at night.

Since I entered my 30s, I bleed heavier at night, and I also find I need more sleep when I'm bleeding. I want to sleep at around 9-9:30. But I wake up at 1am ish leaking. So it seems I can't leave protection for more than 3 hours, even at night time. I'm knackered in the morning as I can't get back to sleep easily.

I hate sanitary towels, I wake up in the night and have to change those due to the heavy bleeding and also have the additional mess to clean up too.

Am I resigned to getting up every 3-4 hours on my heaviest days? Do other women do this, is this just an accepted part of life if you have heavy periods? I don't know how it's possible to sleep through the night without changing now. It makes me dread those days even more so.

OP posts:

Hankunamatata · 13/02/2023 20:09

Before I got mirena fitted I wore the heaviest tampax with heavy period pants (cant cope with normal sanitary towels) and took ibuprofen to slow flow.

Suzi888 · 13/02/2023 20:10

DuchessDandelion · 13/02/2023 19:23

While I think its normal for flow to change over the course of a lifetime if you're periods have become that much heavier I think first port of all call is the gp to check everything's OK.

Me too.

After reading replies I cannot comprehend how many women suffer like this every month. How do you cope in summer, I would hate it. It must cost you a small fortune too!

SBAM · 13/02/2023 20:11

@LancashireSquirrel I use the love luna pants from sainsburys/Argos. They’re about £10 a pair, but they were included in a 25% off womenswear offer in the autumn so even cheaper. I have 8 pairs, my period can be unpredictable so I wear them on the days I’m expecting to start so I don’t need to worry about leaking through clothes, and then use them as backup for my mooncup once I’ve started.

Otterock · 13/02/2023 20:13

Period sleep shorts from flux plus period cup. Haven’t had a single accident

Paq · 13/02/2023 20:16

Please see your GP. Changes in periods could be a sign of something else, e.g. fibroids.

Step99 · 13/02/2023 20:19

Mooncup and period pants...

Hallelujah2020 · 13/02/2023 20:19

Super plus tampon and always infinity night time pad on heaviest days

Lighter days a tampon and period pants

Arou · 13/02/2023 20:31

Period pants have saved my life. No idea what I did without them! For ages I was so scared/sceptical to sleep with one I first wore with a pad and shorts for protection… then just the shorts and now just the pants. They are almost magic - If it wasn’t for the horrendous cramps forget I’m even on my period tbh (and having to change underwear)

Firestones · 13/02/2023 20:34

I wear 2 x bodyform night towels in period pants. I can’t wait for periods to be over. Cheap bedding too.

I’m sitting here 2 days before my period, feeling sick, sore boobs and headache.

PleaseStopSayingHuBbY · 13/02/2023 20:35

Sorry if repeating haven't rtft. Tranexamic acid and mefenamik acid. They've been a godsend since I leaked thru clothes all over a (thankfully plastic) seat. Speak to GP or Nurse Practitioner.

bumpytrumpy · 13/02/2023 20:42

LancashireSquirrel · 13/02/2023 19:01

Those that use period pants day/night- isn't the initial cost high? Don't you have to change your knickers a few times throughout the day? And at £25-30 per pair I can't afford that initial outlay. I currently use washable pads and have about 10 that I use/wash on rotation.

I use them with tampons. So still regularly change the tampon and aim not to soil the period pants too much. But they are absolutely brilliant as that back up for unexpectedly heavy days or when you can't change often enough. Use 2 pairs per day on first couple of days and then just one a day like normal pants. I have 5 pairs in total.

PurpleFlower1983 · 13/02/2023 20:45

Tampon plus pad for me.

Mykittensmittens · 13/02/2023 20:48

Same as most. I’m peri and it’s a chuffing pain.

days 1-3 regime:

2 ibuprofen at bedtime.
switch to modibodi heavy flow night time pants - the absorbent bit goes right up the back.
start out with the pants PLUS a body form heavy flow night pad. Bed around 10.30.

before going to bed I prepare a few bits - basically so I don’t have to wake up quite so much in the middle of the night! By the loo I take all the rustly, sticky packaging off another night pad and leave it by the loo good to go.

get up 2ish and change pad for pad. Back to bed.

get up 6ish and remove pad but just leave pants for last hour or so.

after day 3 I can skip the double change and just remove the pad at 2 and have just pants.

day 4 and 5 just pants all night. I can then use modibodi regular, or Luna pants.

1ittlegreen · 13/02/2023 20:51

I use a waterproof undersheet, super tampons, 2 x towels plus period pants. I usually change everything 1 or 2 times a night.

I think some people ate just that way. You are not alone!

IvyIvyIvy · 13/02/2023 20:52

For those struggling - you could try post birth pads or tenna lady pants? Those are designed to absorb a huge amount of liquid.

Fluffygreenslippers · 13/02/2023 20:53

I use a tampon (can only go up to super as super plus is uncomfortable on my episiotomy scar) and use a night time pad, and black knickers.
last night I put on a pad and forgot to put a new tampon in-absolute bloodbath!

Thereluctantgrownup · 13/02/2023 21:03

The Saalt soft menstrual cup! It has changed my life! Holds 3-4 tampons worth. I empty it before bed about 10.30pm and then I'm OK until about 6.30am. If your periods are super heavy maybe use period pants too overnight.

Songbird54321 · 13/02/2023 21:10

I used maternity pads for heavy nights as I had some left over after my second dd.
I also wear tight/stretchy shorts for bed to keep the pad in place more.
Thankfully they've settled down a bit more now.
Not tried period pants but they sound good

thenightsky · 13/02/2023 21:13

Ultra tampon, plus Bodyform night time pad. Set alarm for 3 hours.

thenightsky · 13/02/2023 21:16

Having said that... I still get nights when I accidentally sleep on my back the blood trickles down my bum crack, missing the pad completely, and ending up round my waist, so blood bath of pjamas and bottom sheet.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 13/02/2023 21:21

I use a mooncup and period pants. I used to use pads sometimes but they give me thrush so I stopped.

I used the M&S heavy flow underwear which are comfy and don't have a swimwear layer like some others, and a cup called Fun Cup which has no stem. Normally I don't actually need the pants but I like the added security.

StressedToTheMaxxx · 13/02/2023 21:22

I have endometriosis and bleed very heavily. I wear those disposable incontinence pants that you get out of supermarkets. Lasts me till morning.

DoNotGetADog · 13/02/2023 21:23

On the worst night (night 2) 2x Lillets Ultra at the same time (yeah, I know - don’t tell me it’s dangerous - you just make sure they both come out!) and period pants.

TheLostNights · 13/02/2023 21:29

37 and barely have periods anymore which is beyond depressing.
Have one heavy day, a light day then that's it. Guess I am approaching menopause early. 😔

KangarooKenny · 13/02/2023 21:36

The period pants that have the absorbent bit front waist band to back waist band, then two nighttime towels placed front to back.

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