Pool outing

[stresshousemove]

Help. Lone parent, swimming birthday outing today (just my kids, all booked). Just come on my period, medium heavy. Should I rely on mooncup to see me through, or not go in the pool? Does anyone have any super period hacks? I don’t want it to turn into a Jaws party.

You are being unreasonable = mooncup is fine get in!

You are not being unreasonable = sit it out, lifeguard can handle it.

How old are the kids and how good is their swimming?

10 and 12 and they’re alright. Taught by me rather than lessons. But they like us all going together.

Should be ok. I always put a pad in the swimming costume inside for extra protection (sounds weird but it did seem to work)

I would stay out

Can you not buy some super tampons and change it just before you go in?

You can change it half way too or even a couple of times.

When you’re in the water your period shouldn’t come out anyway.

It is just as soon as you leave the water it will and so just make your way quickly to the bathroom.

You shouldn’t leak from the time you leave the pool to the time you get to the toilet.

Tampon/mooncup, period pants under costume and shorts over it. It’ll be fine.

I don't use a mooncup so no experience. DD is competive swimmer though. Lots of girls don't use anything, you don't leak in water only when you get out. You'll be fine.

Mooncup is fine - does yours leak?

It doesn’t leak, it’s just it feels a bit dodgy

If it doesn't normally leak, it'll be fine. I once ran a half marathon with a full mooncup (heavy period, forgot to empty it beforehand), and no ill effects except for a weird sloshing noise on the downhills.

I wouldn’t go in a pool without a tampon during my period.

If you're near an Argos they do love Luna period swimwear. I wouldn't trust it on its own but as an emergency back up it might give you confidence.

I had a moon cup somehow fill up with water which I realised as I got out of the pool during a baby swimming lesson, it didn’t leak but I needed to change it asap before getting changed as it felt precarious! With the ages of your kids you should be able to go to the loo to sort it if the same thing happens fairly easily, I had gone before with one in and it was fine so I don’t know what happened that time!

I find that it never comes out in the pool, the water pressure keeps it in, so it’s more the getting in and out that’s the issue. Are the changing rooms close to the pool?

Sorry I’m lost - my mooncup goes in in the morning and is emptied / cleaned at night then back in.

Why wouldn’t it be ok for an hour in the pool??!

This is what I do. Super tampons work 👍

I tried a mooncup once and had to empty it every 45 mins on my heavy days and it was full. Clearly you have light periods.

How have you got to this age (presumably not a teenager as you have a 12 year old child) and never figured out how to go swimming while on your period?

This is what usually happens to me. Thanks for those offering solidarity and suggestions, it was fine. ‘How have you got to this age’ poster I am glad you are not in my real life, you’re cruel.

Freshly emptied mooncup will be fine 👍